RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes
Turn your purchasing expertise into a compelling story that gets noticed
How This Page Helps
Help purchasing managers identify and correct resume mistakes that hinder ATS parsing and recruiter interest.
Spot hidden errors that cost you interviews
Learn industry‑specific keyword strategies
Apply quick fixes to improve ATS scores
Get a ready‑to‑use formatting checklist
See before‑and‑after resume transformations
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Quantifiable ResultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t gauge impact without numbers
- ATS often scores lower when achievements lack metrics
How to fix
- Add specific percentages, dollar amounts, or unit counts
- Frame results with the formula: Action + Metric + Outcome
❌ Before
Managed supplier contracts and reduced costs.
✓ After
Negotiated contracts with 15 suppliers, reducing annual spend by 12% ($1.2M).
ATS Tip
Include numeric values (e.g., 12%, $1.2M) to trigger cost‑reduction keywords.
Detection Rules
Contains phrase 'reduced costs' without a number
Lacks currency symbols or percentages
Resumly Tip
Quantify every cost‑saving or efficiency improvement.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Duty‑focused bullet points sound generic
- ATS favors action verbs and outcome‑oriented language
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb
- Convert responsibilities into results
❌ Before
Responsible for purchasing office supplies.
✓ After
Streamlined office‑supply procurement, cutting order processing time by 30% and saving $25K annually.
ATS Tip
Use verbs like 'streamlined', 'optimized', 'accelerated' to match ATS verb libraries.
Detection Rules
Bullet starts with 'Responsible for' or 'Handled' without follow‑up result
Resumly Tip
Swap duty phrases for achievement statements.
Non‑Standard Job TitlesLOW
Why it hurts
- Recruiters may not recognize unconventional titles
- ATS keyword mapping can miss equivalent roles
How to fix
- Align title with industry standards (e.g., 'Purchasing Manager' instead of 'Acquisition Lead')
- Add a parenthetical clarification if needed
❌ Before
Acquisition Lead – XYZ Corp
✓ After
Purchasing Manager (Acquisition Lead) – XYZ Corp
ATS Tip
Include the canonical title 'Purchasing Manager' to capture keyword hits.
Detection Rules
Title contains uncommon terms like 'Acquisition Lead' without 'Purchasing Manager'
Resumly Tip
Use the standard title and optionally note the internal title in parentheses.
Omitting Supplier Relationship MetricsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Supplier performance is a core KPI for purchasing roles
- Lack of metrics makes the resume less compelling
How to fix
- Add stats on supplier count, on‑time delivery rates, or quality scores
❌ Before
Managed relationships with vendors.
✓ After
Oversaw a network of 25 vendors, achieving a 98% on‑time delivery rate and a 4.5/5 supplier satisfaction score.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'on‑time delivery' and 'supplier satisfaction' with percentages or scores.
Detection Rules
Bullet mentions 'vendors' or 'suppliers' without performance data
Resumly Tip
Show measurable supplier performance outcomes.
Unclear Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- Inconsistent dates confuse ATS parsers
- Recruiters struggle to assess career timeline
How to fix
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Use consistent dash separators
❌ Before
Jan 2018 – Present
✓ After
01/2018 – Present
ATS Tip
MM/YYYY format is universally recognized by ATS engines.
Detection Rules
Date strings contain month name or mixed formats
Resumly Tip
Adopt a uniform MM/YYYY date style throughout.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a headline with 'Purchasing Manager'
- Add a 3‑sentence summary highlighting cost‑saving expertise
- List core competencies as bullet keywords
- Show achievements with numbers for each role
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Save as PDF with file name FirstName_LastName_Resume
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Strategic sourcing, cost reduction, supplier negotiation, contract management, spend analysis
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Core Competencies'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Purchasing Manager resume text
- Add quantifiable results
- Replace passive verbs with action verbs
- Standardize date format
- Insert industry‑specific keywords
Ready to transform your Purchasing Manager resume?
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