RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Fashion Designer Resume into a runway hit
Identify and correct the biggest resume errors that keep hiring managers from noticing your talent.
How This Page Helps
Help fashion designers craft error‑free resumes that capture creative flair while meeting hiring standards.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Showcase portfolio links effectively
Highlight relevant design software skills
Structure experience for quick scanning
Use industry‑specific terminology
Maintain a clean, professional layout
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Overly Creative Layout That Confuses ATSHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS can't parse graphics
- Hiring managers may miss key info
- File size may be too large
How to fix
- Use a clean, ATS‑friendly template
- Keep fonts standard and sizes readable
- Limit decorative elements to a header or portfolio link
❌ Before
A resume with a full‑bleed background, custom fonts, and embedded images of sketches.
✓ After
A minimalist PDF with clear headings, standard fonts, and a clickable portfolio URL.
ATS Tip
Stick to simple bullet points and avoid tables.
Detection Rules
Contains images or graphics
Uses non‑standard fonts
Has background colors
Resumly Tip
Our parser flags any non‑text elements that could be ignored by ATS.
Missing Quantifiable AchievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge impact
- Resume looks vague
- Hard to differentiate from others
How to fix
- Add numbers: % increase in sales, number of collections launched
- Use specific project names
- Show measurable results of design work
❌ Before
Designed seasonal collections for a major retailer.
✓ After
Designed 3 seasonal collections for XYZ Retail, boosting sales by 18% YoY.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'increased', 'launched', 'revenue' with numbers.
Detection Rules
Lacks digits
No percentages or dollar amounts
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights sentences without metrics for improvement.
No Portfolio Link or Poorly Presented PortfolioHIGH
Why it hurts
- Creative roles rely on visual proof
- Hiring managers must click to see work
- Broken links look unprofessional
How to fix
- Add a short, clean URL to an online portfolio
- Ensure link is clickable in PDF
- Provide a brief description of portfolio content
❌ Before
Portfolio: mysite.com/portfolio (not hyperlinked)
✓ After
Portfolio: https://behance.net/janedoe (clickable) – Showcases 20+ runway looks and editorial shoots.
ATS Tip
Place the URL in the contact section, not in the summary.
Detection Rules
Contains 'portfolio' without http
URL not hyperlinked
Resumly Tip
Resumly checks for active hyperlinks and suggests a short URL.
Listing Irrelevant Retail Jobs Without Design FocusLOW
Why it hurts
- Dilutes design narrative
- Clutters resume
- ATS may rank lower for design keywords
How to fix
- Focus on design‑related responsibilities
- Combine unrelated retail roles under a single 'Customer Service' line
- Emphasize transferable skills like trend research
❌ Before
Sales Associate – XYZ Store – 2018‑2020
✓ After
Retail Experience – XYZ Store (2018‑2020): Assisted visual merchandising, tracked sales trends, supported seasonal floor set‑ups.
ATS Tip
Include design‑related keywords in each role.
Detection Rules
Job titles unrelated to design
No design keywords
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests merging non‑design roles into a concise section.
Incorrect Date or Location FormattingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may misinterpret dates
- Hiring managers can’t see timeline
- Inconsistent locations look sloppy
How to fix
- Use MM/YYYY format
- Place city, state after each role
- Keep dates aligned to the right
❌ Before
June 2019 – Present
✓ After
06/2019 – Present
ATS Tip
Standardize dates to MM/YYYY for ATS parsing.
Detection Rules
Dates written as words
Inconsistent date separators
Resumly Tip
Resumly normalizes date formats automatically.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF (preferred), DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Key Skills, Experience, Education, Portfolio Link, Awards & Certifications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_FashionDesigner_Resume
Consistency
Length: One page for early‑career, up to two pages for senior designers
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clean, ATS‑friendly template
- Include a clickable portfolio URL
- Quantify achievements with numbers
- Tailor keywords to fashion design roles
- Keep dates in MM/YYYY format
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Save as PDF with searchable text
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Greenhouse, iCIMS, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Use terms like 'collection development', 'trend forecasting', 'CAD', 'Adobe Illustrator', 'fabric sourcing'
Heading Format: Standard headings such as 'Professional Summary', 'Experience', 'Education', 'Skills' are best recognized.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste the bullet point you want to improve
- Add a measurable result
- Replace vague verbs with action verbs
- Include relevant design software
- Trim to one concise line
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