RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes as a Market Research Analyst
Turn your data‑driven expertise into a compelling resume that passes ATS and impresses hiring managers.
How This Page Helps
Help market research analysts identify and correct resume pitfalls that hinder job prospects.
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
- Doesn't convey specific value
- Often ignored by ATS
- Wastes recruiter time
How to fix
- Replace with a concise professional summary
- Highlight key analytical skills and industry experience
- Include quantifiable achievements
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position in a reputable company.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Market Research Analyst with 5+ years delivering actionable insights that increased client revenue by 12% through advanced survey design and statistical modeling.
ATS Tip
Use keywords like 'market analysis', 'statistical modeling', 'insight generation'.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'Objective'
Length under 30 words
Lacks industry keywords
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags generic objectives and suggests a data‑focused summary.
Listing Responsibilities Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Fails to demonstrate impact
- Makes resume look like a job description
- Reduces recruiter interest
How to fix
- Convert duties into results
- Quantify outcomes (e.g., % increase, cost saved)
- Start bullet points with action verbs
❌ Before
Responsible for conducting surveys and compiling reports.
✓ After
Designed and executed 30+ consumer surveys, delivering insights that drove a 15% product adoption increase.
ATS Tip
Begin bullets with verbs like 'Designed', 'Analyzed', 'Delivered' and embed numbers.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with 'Responsible for' or 'Managed' without metrics
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights bullets lacking numbers and suggests adding metrics.
Missing Relevant Technical SkillsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may filter out resumes lacking key tools
- Hiring managers look for software proficiency
- Shows outdated skill set
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Technical Skills' section
- List tools such as SPSS, Tableau, SQL, Python, Qualtrics
- Prioritize skills mentioned in job ads
❌ Before
Skills: Microsoft Office
✓ After
Technical Skills: SPSS, Tableau, SQL, Python (pandas, NumPy), Qualtrics, R
ATS Tip
Match exact tool names from the job posting.
Detection Rules
Skills section contains only generic items
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests adding missing industry tools based on the job description.
Improper Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- Confuses ATS parsers
- Makes timeline unclear
- Looks unprofessional
How to fix
- Use consistent month-year format (MMM YYYY)
- Align dates to the right
- Avoid words like 'Present' without a month
❌ Before
June 2020 – Now
✓ After
Jun 2020 – Present
ATS Tip
Standardize to 'MMM YYYY' for all entries.
Detection Rules
Date strings not matching pattern MMM YYYY
Resumly Tip
Resumly auto‑formats dates to the recommended style.
Overly Long Resume (>2 pages)MEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim quickly
- ATS may truncate content
- Dilutes key achievements
How to fix
- Trim older roles older than 10 years
- Focus on most recent 5-7 years
- Use concise bullet points
❌ Before
5-page resume with detailed duties from every role since 2005.
✓ After
2-page resume highlighting senior analyst roles from 2018 onward with quantified results.
ATS Tip
Keep resume under 2 pages for mid‑level analysts.
Detection Rules
Page count > 2
Resumly Tip
Resumly alerts when length exceeds optimal page count.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Technical Skills, Certifications, Publications
Naming: FirstName LastName – Market Research Analyst
Consistency
Length: Maximum 2 pages for mid‑level analysts
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional summary with quantifiable impact
- Start every bullet with an action verb and include numbers
- Include relevant tools (SPSS, Tableau, SQL, Python)
- Format dates as MMM YYYY
- Keep resume to 2 pages
- Tailor keywords to each job posting
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'market segmentation', 'consumer insights', 'statistical analysis', 'survey design', 'data visualization'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Professional Experience' and 'Technical Skills' to ensure ATS parsing.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text or upload a file
- Convert generic objectives to data‑driven summaries
- Add missing technical skills
- Reformat dates
- Trim content to 2 pages
- Insert quantifiable metrics where absent
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