RESUME MISTAKES

Stop Losing Jobs Over a Bad Resume

Fix the 5 biggest advertising manager resume mistakes and land your next campaign‑leading role faster.

How This Page Helps
This guide helps advertising managers identify and correct the most damaging resume mistakes, ensuring their experience shines through ATS filters and hiring managers alike.
Identify the 5 most common resume errors for advertising managers
Learn why each mistake hurts your candidacy
Get step‑by‑step fixes with real before‑and‑after examples
Boost ATS compatibility with keyword and formatting tips
Download a ready‑to‑use checklist and mini‑workshop

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
  • Provides no value to the recruiter
  • Consumes prime space that could showcase achievements
  • Often flagged by ATS for lack of keywords
How to fix
  • Replace the objective with a concise professional summary
  • Highlight 2‑3 core competencies aligned with advertising leadership
  • Insert industry‑specific keywords such as "brand strategy" and "media planning"
❌ Before

Objective: Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and grow professionally.

✓ After

Strategic Advertising Manager with 8+ years driving award‑winning brand campaigns for Fortune 500 clients. Expert in integrated media planning, creative direction, and ROI‑focused performance metrics.

ATS Tip
Lead with a summary that includes 3–5 high‑impact keywords from the job posting.
Detection Rules
Contains the word "Objective"
Length under 30 words
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a summary that quantifies your impact and mirrors the job description.
Missing Measurable ResultsHIGH
Why it hurts
  • Hiring managers can’t gauge your impact
  • ATS often looks for numbers to rank relevance
  • Your resume appears vague and generic
How to fix
  • Add specific metrics (e.g., % increase in brand awareness, budget size, ROI) to each bullet
  • Use the formula: Action + Context + Result
  • Prioritize the most impressive numbers at the top of each role
❌ Before

Managed multiple advertising campaigns for various clients.

✓ After

Led a cross‑functional team to execute 12 integrated campaigns, increasing client brand awareness by 35% and generating $2.4M in incremental revenue within 6 months.

ATS Tip
Include at least one numeric KPI per bullet to satisfy ATS scoring algorithms.
Detection Rules
No digits in bullet points
Bullets start with generic verbs without outcomes
Resumly Tip
Quantify every achievement—percentages, dollar amounts, audience reach—to make your impact undeniable.
Overuse of Jargon & BuzzwordsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • Reduces readability for human recruiters
  • ATS may not map obscure acronyms to standard keywords
  • Can appear pretentious and unfocused
How to fix
  • Replace niche acronyms with plain language (e.g., "DSP" → "programmatic demand‑side platform")
  • Limit buzzwords to 2–3 per resume and back them with results
  • Use industry‑standard terms that match job postings
❌ Before

Leveraged synergistic omni‑channel initiatives to drive KPI‑centric outcomes.

✓ After

Coordinated omni‑channel campaigns that boosted click‑through rates by 22% and lowered cost‑per‑acquisition by 15%.

ATS Tip
Align your terminology with the exact phrasing used in the target job description.
Detection Rules
Contains more than three buzzwords in a single bullet
Uses undefined acronyms
Resumly Tip
Swap jargon for clear, results‑focused language that both humans and bots understand.
Poor Layout & Visual HierarchyHIGH
Why it hurts
  • ATS may misread sections if formatting is unconventional
  • Recruiters skim quickly; a cluttered layout hides key info
  • Inconsistent fonts or spacing can trigger parsing errors
How to fix
  • Use standard headings (Professional Summary, Experience, Education, Skills)
  • Keep fonts to 10‑12 pt, single column, and use bullet points consistently
  • Save as PDF or DOCX with simple formatting
❌ Before

[Centered bold title] ADVERTISING MANAGER [Two‑column layout with graphics]

✓ After

Advertising Manager john.doe@email.com | (555) 123‑4567 | LinkedIn.com/in/johndoe Professional Summary ...

ATS Tip
Stick to a clean, ATS‑friendly template with clear section headers and no tables or text boxes.
Detection Rules
Uses columns or tables
Contains graphics or images
Resumly Tip
Adopt a single‑column, ATS‑compatible template to ensure every keyword is read correctly.
Not Tailoring Keywords to Advertising RolesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • ATS ranks resumes lower if keywords don’t match the posting
  • Hiring managers may think you’re a generic candidate
  • You miss the chance to showcase role‑specific expertise
How to fix
  • Extract 8–12 core keywords from the job ad (e.g., "brand positioning," "media buying," "client stewardship")
  • Weave these keywords naturally into your summary and bullet points
  • Use the exact phrasing (singular/plural) as in the posting
❌ Before

Responsible for managing client relationships and overseeing campaigns.

✓ After

Managed client stewardship for $10M media buying portfolio, delivering brand positioning strategies that increased market share by 12%.

ATS Tip
Place top keywords in the first 100 words and repeat them throughout the Experience section.
Detection Rules
Less than 5 industry keywords present
Keywords appear only in the Skills section
Resumly Tip
Distribute high‑impact advertising keywords across summary, experience, and skills for maximum ATS visibility.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Skills
Naming: FirstName_LastName_AdvertisingManager_Resume.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for mid‑career advertising managers
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
  • Replace generic objective with a keyword‑rich summary
  • Add measurable results to every bullet
  • Swap jargon for clear, outcome‑focused language
  • Use a single‑column ATS‑friendly layout
  • Incorporate 8–12 advertising‑specific keywords
  • Proofread for spelling and consistency
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: brand strategy, media planning, ROI, integrated campaigns, client stewardship, programmatic buying, creative direction
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Professional Summary" and "Professional Experience"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Advertising Manager resume text below
  • Convert generic bullets into quantified achievements
  • Swap buzzwords for plain language
  • Reformat headings to standard ATS tags
  • Insert top industry keywords
Download Checklist PDF
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