RESUME MISTAKES
Polish Your Policy Analyst Resume
Avoid costly mistakes and showcase your analytical expertise to hiring managers.
How This Page Helps
Help policy analysts identify and correct resume mistakes that hinder their job search, improve ATS compatibility, and highlight their policy research and analysis skills.
Identify hidden ATS blockers
Learn industry‑specific wording
See before‑and‑after examples
Apply quick formatting fixes
Boost interview callbacks
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Job DescriptionsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your impact
- ATS keywords are missing
- Your expertise appears generic
How to fix
- Quantify achievements with metrics
- Use policy‑specific verbs (e.g., drafted, analyzed, advocated)
- Include relevant policy areas and outcomes
❌ Before
Responsible for research and report writing.
✓ After
Conducted quantitative analysis of healthcare policy, producing 12 briefing reports that informed senior legislators and contributed to a 15% increase in program funding.
ATS Tip
Insert keywords like 'policy analysis', 'regulatory impact', 'stakeholder engagement'.
Detection Rules
Contains generic verbs without metrics
Lacks policy domain terms
Sentence length under 10 words
Resumly Tip
Add numbers and specific policy topics to make your impact measurable.
Incorrect Date FormattingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may misread dates
- Creates timeline gaps
- Reduces professionalism
How to fix
- Use consistent month‑year format (MMM YYYY)
- Align dates to the right margin
- Avoid abbreviations like 'Jan‑20'
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – Dec 2021
✓ After
Jan 2020 – Dec 2021
ATS Tip
Standardize to 'MMM YYYY' (e.g., Jan 2020).
Detection Rules
Date contains two‑digit year
Inconsistent month format
Uses slashes or dashes without spaces
Resumly Tip
Resumly auto‑formats dates to the ATS‑friendly style.
Missing Policy‑Specific KeywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resumes lacking core terms
- Recruiters think you lack expertise
- You miss out on niche roles
How to fix
- Research job ads for terms like 'regulatory analysis', 'legislative drafting', 'impact assessment'
- Integrate them naturally into bullet points
- Create a dedicated 'Core Competencies' section
❌ Before
Skills: Research, Writing, Data Analysis
✓ After
Core Competencies: Policy Research, Legislative Drafting, Regulatory Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement, Data‑Driven Evaluation
ATS Tip
Match at least 80% of keywords from the posting.
Detection Rules
No policy‑related terms
Generic skills list
Missing 'Core Competencies' heading
Resumly Tip
Our keyword scanner highlights missing policy terms.
Unprofessional Email AddressLOW
Why it hurts
- Creates a sloppy impression
- May be flagged as spam
- Hard to remember
How to fix
- Use a simple firstname.lastname@domain.com
- Avoid nicknames, numbers, or unrelated domains
- Create a dedicated professional email if needed
❌ Before
coolguy123@yahoo.com
✓ After
jane.doe@gmail.com
ATS Tip
Keep email under 30 characters and domain reputable.
Detection Rules
Contains numbers or slang
Uses non‑professional domain
Length >30 characters
Resumly Tip
Resumly validates email format and suggests a professional alternative.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Experience, Education, Certifications, Publications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_PolicyAnalyst_Resume
Consistency
Length: One page for early‑career, two pages max for senior analysts
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a concise professional summary with policy focus
- Quantify achievements in each role
- Incorporate at least 8 relevant policy keywords
- Standardize dates to MMM YYYY
- Proofread for grammar and spelling
- Save as PDF with a clear file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Focus on terms like 'policy analysis', 'regulatory impact', 'legislative drafting', 'stakeholder engagement', 'data-driven evaluation'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Professional Summary', 'Experience', 'Education', 'Core Competencies'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current policy analyst resume text
- Standardize date format
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Insert policy‑specific keywords
- Reformat contact line
- Replace unprofessional email
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