RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Letting Resume Mistakes Stall Your Mechanical Engineering Career
Identify and correct the top errors that keep hiring managers and ATS from noticing your expertise.
How This Page Helps
This page helps Mechanical Engineers spot frequent resume pitfalls, understand why they matter, and apply proven fixes to boost interview callbacks.
Learn the 7 most damaging resume mistakes for Mechanical Engineers
Understand how each error affects ATS and hiring managers
Get concrete before-and-after examples
Apply actionable fixes you can implement in minutes
Access a downloadable checklist and mini-workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Quantifiable AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge impact
- ATS often scores low on result-oriented keywords
How to fix
- Add specific metrics (e.g., % increase, cost saved)
- Use action verbs followed by numbers
❌ Before
Designed a new gear assembly for a transmission project.
✓ After
Designed a new gear assembly that reduced transmission weight by 12% and cut production cost by $45,000 per year.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'reduced', 'improved', 'saved', and numeric values.
Detection Rules
No numbers or percentages in bullet points
Bullets start with generic verbs without results
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags bullets lacking digits and suggests adding measurable outcomes.
Overly Technical Jargon Without ContextMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Non-technical recruiters may miss relevance
- ATS may not map niche terms to standard skill categories
How to fix
- Translate technical terms into business impact
- Pair jargon with plain-language explanations
❌ Before
Performed FEA on CFD models using ANSYS Workbench.
✓ After
Performed finite element analysis (FEA) on CFD models using ANSYS Workbench, improving simulation accuracy by 15% and reducing design iteration time.
ATS Tip
Combine industry terms with common equivalents (e.g., 'finite element analysis (FEA)')
Detection Rules
Bullets contain acronyms without definition
No explanation of why the task mattered
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights unexplained acronyms and suggests adding a brief description.
Unclear Career Progression TimelineHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t see growth
- ATS may misinterpret dates as gaps
How to fix
- List positions chronologically with clear dates
- Include promotions or added responsibilities
❌ Before
Mechanical Engineer, XYZ Corp.
✓ After
Mechanical Engineer → Senior Mechanical Engineer, XYZ Corp. (Jan 2018 – Present)
ATS Tip
Use consistent month-year format for all roles.
Detection Rules
Single date range for multiple roles
Missing month in date entries
Resumly Tip
Resumly checks for multiple titles under one date range and prompts separation.
Generic Objective StatementLOW
Why it hurts
- Adds no value, wastes space
- ATS ignores objectives
How to fix
- Replace with a concise professional summary highlighting key skills and achievements
- Tailor summary to target role
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position in mechanical engineering.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Results-driven Mechanical Engineer with 5+ years designing high-performance powertrain components, delivering 12% weight reductions, and leading cross-functional teams to meet ISO 9001 standards.
ATS Tip
Start summary with keywords like 'Mechanical Engineer', 'design', 'project management'
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'Objective'
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests swapping objective for a summary with metrics.
Improper File Format or NamingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may reject non-PDF files
- Hiring managers may overlook poorly named files
How to fix
- Save as PDF/A
- Name file as FirstName_LastName_MechanicalEngineer.pdf
❌ Before
Resume.docx
✓ After
John_Doe_MechanicalEngineer.pdf
ATS Tip
PDF preserves formatting and is universally readable.
Detection Rules
File extension not .pdf
File name contains spaces or generic terms
Resumly Tip
Resumly checks upload type and suggests proper naming.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF (PDF/A preferred), DOCX (if requested)
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Skills, Projects (optional)
Naming: FirstName_LastName_MechanicalEngineer.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages (max 2 for senior roles)
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2020)
Location Format: City, State (e.g., Detroit, MI)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional summary with metrics
- Include at least 3 quantifiable achievements per role
- List core competencies with ATS-friendly keywords
- Show clear career progression with dates
- Save as PDF with proper naming
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Tailor each resume to the specific job description
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Taleo, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Use terms like 'CAD', 'SolidWorks', 'FEA', 'GD&T', 'project management', 'cost reduction', 'lean manufacturing'
Heading Format: Standard headings such as 'Professional Experience', 'Education', 'Technical Skills' are recognized by most ATS.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste a bullet point from your Mechanical Engineer resume
- Add a measurable result
- Replace vague verbs with action verbs
- Include relevant technical keywords
- Keep the bullet under 2 lines (≈ 150 characters)
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