RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Resume Mistakes From Holding You Back
Targeted fixes for Personal Care Assistant resumes that get noticed by hiring managers and ATS.
How This Page Helps
Help Personal Care Assistants identify and correct resume mistakes that reduce interview chances.
Identify the top 5 resume errors for caregiving roles
Learn ATS‑friendly formatting tips
See before‑and‑after examples
Get actionable checklists
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
Using vague job titlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your exact role
- ATS may not match keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific ones like 'Certified Personal Care Assistant' or 'Home Care Aide'
❌ Before
Personal Care Worker
✓ After
Certified Personal Care Assistant – Home Health
ATS Tip
Include the exact title from the job posting.
Detection Rules
title contains generic terms like 'worker' or 'assistant' without certification
Resumly Tip
Add any certifications or specialties next to the title.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- ATS looks for action verbs
How to fix
- Quantify results, use action verbs, focus on outcomes
❌ Before
• Assisted clients with bathing, dressing, and meals.
✓ After
• Provided daily personal care to 5 clients, improving hygiene compliance by 30% and receiving 98% satisfaction scores.
ATS Tip
Start bullet points with strong verbs like 'provided', 'managed', 'improved'.
Detection Rules
bullets start with generic verbs without metrics
Resumly Tip
Add numbers and percentages where possible.
Missing relevant certificationsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers filter for CPR, CNA, etc.
- ATS keywords missing
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications section and list CPR, First Aid, CNA, etc.
❌ Before
Skills: patient care, communication
✓ After
Certifications: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), CPR & First Aid (2023)
ATS Tip
Match certification names exactly as in the job ad.
Detection Rules
no Certifications section
keywords 'CPR' or 'CNA' absent
Resumly Tip
Place certifications near the top, under the headline.
Incorrect date format causing parsing errorsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may not read employment dates
- Hiring managers may think you have gaps
How to fix
- Use month-year format (MM/YYYY) consistently
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – 2022
✓ After
Jan 2020 – Dec 2022
ATS Tip
Use numeric month (01) or three‑letter abbreviation.
Detection Rules
date strings missing month or year
inconsistent separators
Resumly Tip
Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY.
Overly long resume (more than 2 pages)LOW
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers skim quickly
- ATS may truncate after 2 pages
How to fix
- Trim to 1‑2 pages, focus on recent 5 years, use concise bullet points
❌ Before
5‑page resume
✓ After
2‑page resume highlighting most relevant experience
ATS Tip
Keep file size under 1 MB.
Detection Rules
page count > 2
file size > 1MB
Resumly Tip
Use bullet points and remove older roles older than 5 years.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Experience, Certifications, Skills, Education
Naming: FirstName LastName – Personal Care Assistant
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2 pages)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, specific job title
- Start each bullet with an action verb
- Quantify achievements
- Include relevant certifications
- Format dates as MM/YYYY
- Keep resume to 1‑2 pages
- Save as PDF with searchable text
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo
Keyword Strategy: Personal Care Assistant, Home Health Aide, Certified Nursing Assistant, CPR, Patient Care, Mobility Assistance
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Summary', 'Experience', 'Certifications', 'Skills'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text or upload a file
- Standardize job titles
- Add quantifiable results
- Insert certifications section
- Convert dates to MM/YYYY
- Trim to two pages
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