RESUME MISTAKES

Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes as an E‑Commerce Manager

Turn your experience into a high‑impact resume that passes ATS and impresses hiring managers.

How This Page Helps
Help e‑commerce managers identify and correct resume pitfalls that hinder ATS parsing and recruiter interest.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Learn industry‑specific wording
Apply proven formatting rules
See before‑and‑after examples
Access a quick fix workshop

Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances

Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples

Generic Objective StatementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • Provides no value to hiring managers
  • Triggers ATS filters for vague language
  • Wastes prime resume space
How to fix
  • Replace with a concise professional summary highlighting measurable e‑commerce achievements
  • Incorporate relevant keywords such as 'conversion rate optimization' and 'Omni‑channel strategy'
❌ Before

Objective: Seeking a challenging position in a dynamic company where I can grow.

✓ After

Professional Summary: Results‑driven E‑Commerce Manager with 5+ years increasing online sales by 35% YoY through data‑driven merchandising, SEO, and paid media strategies.

ATS Tip
Start with a summary, not an objective, and embed core keywords early.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective'
Length < 30 words
Lacks quantifiable metrics
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags generic objectives and suggests a data‑rich summary.
Listing Responsibilities Without ImpactHIGH
Why it hurts
  • Fails to demonstrate results
  • Makes resume look like a job description
  • Reduces recruiter engagement
How to fix
  • Convert duties into achievement statements with numbers
  • Use action verbs and quantify outcomes (e.g., revenue growth, traffic increase)
❌ Before

Managed product listings and coordinated with vendors.

✓ After

Managed 200+ product listings, optimizing titles and images, resulting in a 22% increase in organic traffic and $1.2M incremental revenue.

ATS Tip
Begin bullet points with strong verbs and include metrics.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with 'Managed' or 'Responsible for' without numbers
No % or $ symbols
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights bullets lacking quantifiable results.
Omitting Key E‑Commerce Platforms & ToolsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • Misses critical keyword matches
  • Undermines credibility with hiring managers
  • Limits ATS relevance for platform‑specific roles
How to fix
  • Add a dedicated 'Technical Skills' section listing Shopify, Magento, Google Analytics, Klaviyo, etc.
  • Mention tools within achievement statements where used
❌ Before

Worked with various software.

✓ After

Leveraged Shopify Plus and Magento 2 to streamline checkout, reducing cart abandonment by 15%.

ATS Tip
Include exact platform names; ATS scans for them.
Detection Rules
No explicit platform names
Generic 'software' mention
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests adding missing platform keywords.
Inconsistent Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
  • Confuses ATS parsers
  • Creates a sloppy appearance
  • Makes timeline unclear for recruiters
How to fix
  • Use a uniform format like 'MMM YYYY – MMM YYYY' (e.g., Jan 2020 – Present)
  • Align dates to the right margin for readability
❌ Before

June 2018 – 2020

✓ After

Jun 2018 – Dec 2020

ATS Tip
Consistent month‑year format improves parsing accuracy.
Detection Rules
Mixed month spelling, numeric vs text
Missing end month
Resumly Tip
Resumly normalizes date formats automatically.
Overloading with Jargon & AcronymsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • ATS may not recognize uncommon acronyms
  • Recruiters may need to decode terms
  • Reduces clarity of achievements
How to fix
  • Spell out acronyms on first use (e.g., 'Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)')
  • Prioritize plain language while keeping industry relevance
❌ Before

Improved KPI across CAC, LTV, and ROAS.

✓ After

Improved key metrics: reduced Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) by 12%, increased Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) by 18%, and boosted Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) by 25%.

ATS Tip
First‑use expansion ensures both ATS and humans understand.
Detection Rules
Bullets contain three or more unexplained acronyms
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags unexplained acronyms and offers expansions.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Skills, Awards
Naming: FirstName_LastName_EcommerceManager_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for mid‑level managers, 2 pages max for senior roles
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
  • Use a concise professional summary with metrics
  • Start each experience bullet with a strong action verb
  • Quantify results for every major responsibility
  • Include specific e‑commerce platforms and tools
  • Maintain consistent date and location formatting
  • Save as PDF with searchable text
  • Run through an ATS simulator before sending
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Lever, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: e‑commerce, conversion rate optimization, SEO, SEM, omnichannel, A/B testing, Shopify, Magento, Google Analytics, ROI
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Technical Skills' to match ATS expectations
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text or upload a file
  • Convert generic duties into achievement‑focused bullets
  • Add missing platform keywords
  • Standardize date format
  • Expand acronyms
  • Insert quantifiable metrics where absent
Download Checklist PDF
Ready to transform your e‑commerce resume? Get expert feedback now!
Start My Free Review

More Common Resume Mistakes

Check out Resumly's Free AI Tools