RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Letting Resume Mistakes Ground Your Aviation Career
Identify and fix the top errors that keep hiring managers and ATS from noticing your technical expertise.
How This Page Helps
Help aviation technicians create error‑free, ATS‑optimized resumes that showcase their maintenance, inspection, and safety skills.
Spot the 7 most common resume blunders
Learn why each mistake hurts your chances
Step‑by‑step fixes with real examples
ATS‑friendly formatting tips
Download a ready‑to‑use checklist
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using generic job titlesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your specific role
- ATS may not match industry keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with precise aviation terms
- Add certification numbers if applicable
❌ Before
Mechanic at XYZ Airlines
✓ After
Aviation Maintenance Technician – Airframe & Powerplant (FAA Cert #12345)
ATS Tip
Include exact titles from the job posting.
Detection Rules
Title lacks aviation-specific keywords
Title length < 5 words
Resumly Tip
Our parser flags generic titles and suggests industry‑standard alternatives.
Listing duties instead of achievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- ATS looks for quantifiable results
How to fix
- Turn duties into results with numbers
- Start bullets with strong action verbs
❌ Before
- Performed routine aircraft inspections
✓ After
- Completed 150+ scheduled airframe inspections, reducing unscheduled downtime by 12%
ATS Tip
Add metrics like % improvement, # of inspections, or hours saved.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with verbs like "Performed" without outcome
No numbers or percentages present
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights duty‑only bullets and suggests achievement‑focused rewrites.
Omitting FAA certifications and ratingsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Certifications are mandatory for many roles
- ATS filters out candidates lacking required licenses
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications & Licenses section
- List each FAA rating, number, and expiration date
❌ Before
Certifications: A&P
✓ After
FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License – Cert #A1234567, Expires 08/2027
ATS Tip
Use exact certification names as they appear in job ads.
Detection Rules
No separate certifications section
Only generic abbreviations present
Resumly Tip
Our tool auto‑detects missing FAA credentials and prompts you to add them.
Incorrect date format causing parsing errorsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may misread employment periods
- Hiring managers can’t gauge tenure accurately
How to fix
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Align start and end dates consistently
❌ Before
June 2020 – Present
✓ After
06/2020 – Present
ATS Tip
Avoid words like "June"; use numeric month format.
Detection Rules
Month written in full or abbreviated text
Inconsistent separators
Resumly Tip
Resumly scans for non‑standard dates and auto‑converts them.
Submitting a PDF with embedded images that ATS can’t readMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may skip sections containing images
- Important information gets lost
How to fix
- Use a clean, text‑only PDF or DOCX
- Avoid logos, icons, or graphics in the body
❌ Before
Resume includes company logo and skill icons
✓ After
Resume is plain‑text PDF with bold headings only
ATS Tip
Stick to standard fonts and simple formatting for maximum readability.
Detection Rules
File contains embedded images
Resume layout includes decorative graphics
Resumly Tip
Our upload validator warns you if your file contains non‑text elements.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Technical Experience, Certifications & Licenses, Education, Additional Training
Naming: FirstName_LastName_AviationTechnician_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for early‑career, up to 3 pages for senior technicians
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (e.g., Seattle, WA)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use FAA‑approved job titles
- Quantify maintenance tasks with numbers
- List every A&P or specialized rating
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Save as a text‑only PDF or DOCX
- Include core aviation keywords
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Taleo, Greenhouse, Workday, Bullhorn
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'airframe maintenance', 'FAA Part 145', 'engine overhaul', 'A&P license', 'logbook compliance'
Heading Format: Use clear headings such as 'Technical Experience' and 'Certifications & Licenses'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text
- Standardize date format
- Replace generic titles with aviation‑specific titles
- Add missing certifications
- Convert bullet points to action‑oriented statements
- Optimize keywords for ATS
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