RESUME MISTAKES
Elevate Your NGO Resume
Avoid common pitfalls and showcase your mission-driven experience.
How This Page Helps
Help NGO professionals create compelling, error‑free resumes that pass ATS and impress hiring managers.
Identify mission‑focused wording gaps
Correct volunteer‑experience formatting
Show measurable impact
Align with humanitarian sector keywords
Ensure ATS compatibility
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Impact StatementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your contributions
- ATS may miss quantifiable keywords
How to fix
- Add specific numbers or percentages
- Describe the outcome of projects
❌ Before
Managed community outreach program.
✓ After
Managed community outreach program reaching 3,000 beneficiaries, increasing participation by 45%.
ATS Tip
Include action verbs and metrics.
Detection Rules
Contains generic verbs without numbers
Lacks % or $ signs
Resumly Tip
Quantify your impact to stand out.
Mixing Volunteer and Paid ExperienceMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Confuses hiring manager about employment status
- Reduces perceived professionalism
How to fix
- Separate sections: Professional Experience and Volunteer Experience
- Use consistent formatting for both
❌ Before
Volunteer Coordinator – XYZ NGO (2019‑2021)
✓ After
Volunteer Experience Volunteer Coordinator – XYZ NGO (2019‑2021)
ATS Tip
Label sections clearly with standard headings.
Detection Rules
Volunteer roles listed under Work Experience
No separate Volunteer section
Resumly Tip
Create distinct sections for paid and unpaid roles.
Omitting Funding or Grant DetailsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Misses key sector skill
- ATS may not match grant‑writing keywords
How to fix
- Add bullet points about budgets managed
- Mention grant amounts secured
❌ Before
Assisted in project funding.
✓ After
Secured $150,000 grant from Global Fund for clean water initiative, covering 5 villages.
ATS Tip
Include monetary figures and grant names.
Detection Rules
No mention of dollar amounts
No grant names
Resumly Tip
Highlight fundraising achievements.
Using Non‑Standard Section HeadingsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may not map content correctly
- Recruiters skim for familiar headings
How to fix
- Use conventional headings like 'Professional Experience', 'Education', 'Skills'
❌ Before
My Journey
✓ After
Professional Experience
ATS Tip
Stick to common headings.
Detection Rules
Custom headings not in standard list
Resumly Tip
Use ATS‑friendly headings.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Professional Experience, Volunteer Experience, Education, Skills, Languages, Certifications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_NGO_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages, preferably one page for early‑career NGO workers
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear professional summary
- List achievements with metrics
- Separate volunteer and paid roles
- Include relevant humanitarian keywords
- Keep formatting consistent
- Proofread for grammar
- Save as PDF with ATS‑friendly file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday
Keyword Strategy: grant management, stakeholder engagement, program monitoring, fundraising, capacity building
Heading Format: Use headings like Professional Experience, Volunteer Experience, Education, Skills
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Convert generic statements to quantified achievements
- Reorder sections to match NGO standards
- Replace non‑standard headings with ATS‑friendly ones
- Add missing grant/funding details
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