RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Cartographer Resume Into a Hiring Magnet
Identify and correct the most common pitfalls that keep you off the map of top candidates.
How This Page Helps
This page helps cartographers pinpoint frequent resume mistakes, understand why they hurt their job prospects, and apply concrete fixes that satisfy both human recruiters and applicant tracking systems.
Spot the 5 most damaging cartographer resume errors
Learn why each mistake reduces interview chances
Get stepâbyâstep rewrite examples
Apply ATSâfriendly formatting tips instantly
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Skill Descriptions Instead of Specific GIS SoftwareHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters canât gauge your technical depth
- ATS keywords miss critical tools like ArcGIS or QGIS
- Hiring managers assume generic mapping experience
How to fix
- List each GIS platform you master (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, MapInfo)
- Pair software with proficiency level (Advanced, Intermediate)
- Include years of handsâon use
â Before
Skilled in mapping and spatial analysis software
â After
ArcGIS Pro (Advanced, 5âŻyears), QGIS (Intermediate, 3âŻyears), MapInfo (Advanced, 4âŻyears)
ATS Tip
Use exact product names; avoid synonyms like âGIS toolsâ
Detection Rules
Contains phrase "software" without brand names
Missing any of ["ArcGIS","QGIS","MapInfo"]
Resumly Tip
Replace generic terms with the exact GIS applications you use.
Including Unrelated Job Duties Without ContextMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Dilutes focus on cartography expertise
- ATS may flag irrelevant keywords
- Recruiters waste time parsing unrelated experience
How to fix
- Only keep duties that involve spatial data, map creation, or geospatial analysis
- If you must list unrelated work, frame it with transferable skills (e.g., data validation)
â Before
Cashier â Handled transactions, managed inventory, and assisted customers.
â After
Retail Associate â Managed inventory data integrity, performed daily sales reporting, and trained staff on POS analytics (transferable dataâmanagement skills).
ATS Tip
Add cartographyârelated keywords to any nonâfield experience if you keep it
Detection Rules
Job titles unrelated to mapping without any GIS terms
Resumly Tip
Trim or reâwrite unrelated roles to highlight dataâhandling or visualization tasks.
Omitting Map Scale, Projection, and Datum ExperienceHIGH
Why it hurts
- Key technical competencies are invisible to recruiters
- ATS keyword searches for âscaleâ, âprojectionâ, âdatumâ will miss you
- Project managers may doubt your precision handling
How to fix
- Create a dedicated bullet for each map product you produced, noting scale (e.g., 1:24,000), projection (e.g., NAD83), and datum
â Before
Produced topographic maps for regional planning.
â After
Designed 1:24,000 topographic maps using NAD83 datum and UTM ZoneâŻ15N projection for regional planning projects.
ATS Tip
Include exact terms: "scale", "projection", "datum"
Detection Rules
Missing any of ["scale","projection","datum"] in experience bullets
Resumly Tip
Add specific map specifications to showcase technical precision.
Overusing Decorative Graphics That Confuse ATSMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot read images, causing loss of critical content
- Large graphics increase file size and may be rejected
- Recruiters may view the resume as unprofessional
How to fix
- Stick to clean, textâonly formatting; use simple bullet points
- If you need a visual portfolio, link to an online map gallery instead
â Before
[Embedded map thumbnail] Created interactive webâmaps for tourism.
â After
Created interactive webâmaps for tourism (see portfolio: www.mycartography.com/portfolio)
ATS Tip
Replace images with descriptive text and a hyperlink
Detection Rules
Contains image tags or mentions of "thumbnail"
Resumly Tip
Remove embedded graphics; provide a URL to an online portfolio.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Technical Skills, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Projects
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Cartographer
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State/Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a headline with "Cartographer" and key GIS tools
- Quantify map projects (e.g., number of maps, area covered)
- List software, scale, projection, and datum for each map
- Keep fonts to 10â12âŻpt and margins at 0.5â1âŻin
- Save as PDF with searchable text
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Workday
Keyword Strategy: GIS, Cartography, Spatial Analysis, ArcGIS, QGIS, Map Design, Geodatabase, Remote Sensing, Scale, Projection, Datum
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Professional Experience" and "Technical Skills"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current cartographer resume text below
- Standardize GIS software names
- Add map scale, projection, and datum details
- Convert generic duties into actionâoriented statements
- Insert ATSâfriendly keywords
- Replace graphics with portfolio links
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