RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid These Resume Mistakes
Tailored fixes for ML Ops Engineers to get past ATS and land interviews
How This Page Helps
Help ML Ops Engineers identify and correct common resume errors that hinder ATS parsing and recruiter interest.
Identify hidden ATS blockers
Learn concrete rewrite examples
Apply formatting best‑practices
Boost keyword relevance
Save time with a ready‑to‑use checklist
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Quantifiable ImpactHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t gauge your contribution
- ATS scores lower without numbers
- Your achievements appear vague
How to fix
- Add specific metrics (e.g., % improvement, cost saved)
- Use the format: Action + Metric + Result
- Tie numbers to business outcomes
❌ Before
Implemented CI/CD pipelines for model deployment.
✓ After
Implemented CI/CD pipelines that reduced model deployment time by 45% and cut infrastructure costs by $30K annually.
ATS Tip
Include numeric values early in bullet points to catch keyword parsers.
Detection Rules
contains 'implemented' without digits
ends with period and lacks % or $
Resumly Tip
Quantify every project – numbers speak louder than adjectives.
Overusing Generic BuzzwordsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may ignore filler words
- Hiring managers see lack of depth
- Reduces readability
How to fix
- Replace buzzwords with concrete tools or outcomes
- Show how you applied the concept
- Limit buzzwords to 1‑2 per resume
❌ Before
Led a team to deliver innovative solutions using cutting‑edge technologies.
✓ After
Led a 4‑engineer team to deploy a Kubeflow pipeline that processed 2M data points daily, improving model training throughput by 30%.
ATS Tip
Swap 'innovative' and 'cutting‑edge' for specific tech names like Kubeflow, Terraform, or Airflow.
Detection Rules
contains 'innovative' or 'cutting‑edge'
Resumly Tip
Swap buzzwords for the actual technologies you used.
Unclear Technical Skill SectionHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS may miss key skill keywords
- Recruiters skim and miss relevant tools
- Hard to match job description
How to fix
- Group skills by category (Cloud, Orchestration, Monitoring)
- List each tool separately, no commas inside a single entry
- Align with job posting keywords
❌ Before
Skills: Cloud, CI/CD, Monitoring, Automation
✓ After
Technical Skills: • Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP, Azure • CI/CD & Orchestration: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Kubeflow, Argo • Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation • Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack
ATS Tip
Use bullet points and exact product names; ATS parses them better than grouped phrases.
Detection Rules
skills line contains commas without specific tool names
Resumly Tip
Break down your skill set into explicit, searchable terms.
Inconsistent Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may treat dates as text and mis‑order experience
- Hiring managers struggle to follow timeline
How to fix
- Use a uniform format like 'MMM YYYY' for all entries
- Place dates on the right side for readability
- Avoid words like 'Present'—use 'Current' if needed
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – 2022
✓ After
Jan 2020 – Dec 2022
ATS Tip
Standardized dates improve chronological parsing by ATS engines.
Detection Rules
date strings contain only year or mixed formats
Resumly Tip
Pick one date style and stick to it across the entire resume.
Missing Location on Experience EntriesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS often filters by location
- Recruiters need geographic context
- Can appear incomplete
How to fix
- Add city and state/country after each company name
- Place location on same line as company or in a separate column
- Keep format consistent
❌ Before
Google – Senior ML Ops Engineer (2021‑2023)
✓ After
Google – Senior ML Ops Engineer (San Francisco, CA) (Jan 2021 – Dec 2023)
ATS Tip
Include location to satisfy location‑based filters in ATS.
Detection Rules
experience line lacks parentheses with city
Resumly Tip
Always pair company name with its location for ATS and recruiter clarity.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Summary, Technical Skills, Professional Experience, Education, Projects, Certifications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_MLOpsEngineer_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State/Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, keyword‑rich headline
- Quantify every achievement
- List exact tools (e.g., Kubeflow, Terraform)
- Standardize dates to MMM YYYY
- Include location for each role
- Keep resume under 2 pages
- Save as PDF with searchable text
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Workday
Keyword Strategy: CI/CD, Kubeflow, ML pipelines, Docker, Terraform, AWS, GCP, Azure, monitoring, model deployment, data engineering, automation
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Technical Skills'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current ML Ops Engineer resume text below
- Remove generic buzzwords
- Add quantifiable impact
- Standardize skill categories
- Apply uniform date and location format
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