RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Railway Engineer Jobs to Bad Resumes
Identify and fix the most common resume errors that keep hiring managers from noticing your rail expertise.
How This Page Helps
Help railway engineers craft error‑free, ATS‑friendly resumes that showcase technical expertise and project leadership.
Spot hidden formatting flaws
Learn industry‑specific keyword strategies
See before‑and‑after resume snippets
Apply quick fixes with our mini‑workshop
Boost your interview call‑back rate
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Generic Objective StatementHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn't convey specific rail experience
- Gets filtered by ATS keywords
- Fails to capture hiring manager's attention
How to fix
- Replace with a concise summary highlighting years in railway engineering, key projects, and certifications
- Include rail‑specific keywords like 'track design', 'signalling', 'rail safety standards'
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging engineering position where I can utilize my skills.
✓ After
Summary: Railway Engineer with 7+ years designing high‑speed track systems, leading safety audits, and delivering projects on time and under budget.
ATS Tip
Lead with a keyword‑rich summary; ATS often scans the first 150 characters.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective' and is longer than 30 characters
Lacks rail‑specific terminology
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a results‑focused summary to boost relevance.
Listing Every Job Chronologically Without RelevanceMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Dilutes focus on rail experience
- Creates a long, skim‑unfriendly document
- ATS may down‑rank due to low keyword density
How to fix
- Prioritize rail‑related roles, combine early unrelated positions under a 'Additional Experience' heading
- Use bullet points that emphasize rail‑specific achievements
❌ Before
2015‑2020: Mechanical Engineer at XYZ Corp – designed HVAC systems.
✓ After
2015‑2020: Railway Mechanical Engineer at XYZ Corp – designed and maintained rolling stock HVAC, ensuring compliance with EN 15273.
ATS Tip
Keep the most relevant rail roles in the first two sections; ATS gives weight to recent, relevant experience.
Detection Rules
More than 3 non‑rail job entries after the first 5 years
Job titles lack 'rail' or 'track' keywords
Resumly Tip
Group unrelated jobs and highlight rail‑specific duties to keep the resume focused.
Missing Quantifiable ResultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can't gauge impact
- ATS may miss action verbs
- Resume looks generic
How to fix
- Add numbers: % cost savings, miles of track designed, project budgets
- Start bullets with strong verbs like 'engineered', 'optimized'
❌ Before
Managed track maintenance projects.
✓ After
Engineered track maintenance program for 120 km of mainline, reducing downtime by 15% and saving $200K annually.
ATS Tip
Include at least one metric per bullet; ATS often scores resumes with numbers higher.
Detection Rules
Bullets lack digits or % signs
Verbs are weak (managed, worked)
Resumly Tip
Quantify achievements to make your impact measurable.
Improper File Naming and FormatLOW
Why it hurts
- Recruiters may discard if filename is unprofessional
- ATS may fail to parse non‑PDF files
- Wrong format can break layout
How to fix
- Save as PDF with name FirstLast_RailwayEngineer.pdf
- Use standard fonts and avoid headers/footers that split content
❌ Before
Resume_June.docx
✓ After
JohnDoe_RailwayEngineer.pdf
ATS Tip
PDF preserves formatting and is universally accepted by ATS.
Detection Rules
File extension not .pdf
Filename contains spaces or generic terms
Resumly Tip
Rename and convert to PDF before uploading to any job portal.
Omitting Industry Certifications and StandardsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Missed keyword opportunities
- Shows lack of professional development
- ATS may filter out non‑certified candidates
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Certifications & Standards' section
- List certifications like 'IRSE Member', 'EN 50126', 'Track Safety Audit (TSA)'
❌ Before
Skills: AutoCAD, Project Management
✓ After
Certifications: IRSE Member (2022), EN 50126 – Railway Applications for the Specification and Demonstration of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS).
ATS Tip
Place certifications near the top; many ATS search for them explicitly.
Detection Rules
No section titled Certifications or Standards
Keywords 'IRSE', 'EN 50126' missing
Resumly Tip
Add a certifications block to capture key rail credentials.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Key Projects, Experience, Education, Certifications & Standards, Technical Skills, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName LastName – Railway Engineer
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State/Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a keyword‑rich summary
- Show quantifiable results for each rail project
- Include IRSE membership and relevant standards
- Limit resume to 2 pages
- Save as PDF with proper filename
- Proofread for rail‑specific terminology
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: track design, signalling, rail safety standards, EN 50126, IRSE, project budgeting, high‑speed rail, maintenance planning
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Summary', 'Experience', 'Education', 'Certifications' to ensure ATS parses sections correctly.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste the bullet point you want to improve
- Add a measurable outcome
- Insert a rail‑specific action verb
- Trim to 2‑3 lines
- Align with ATS keyword list
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