RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid These Resume Pitfalls and Grow Your Agricultural Career
Learn the exact changes that make hiring managers and ATS notice your experience on the field.
How This Page Helps
Help agricultural workers create clear, ATS‑friendly resumes that showcase their hands‑on experience and reliability.
Identify the most frequent formatting errors
Learn how to phrase seasonal work for maximum impact
Understand ATS keyword requirements for farm roles
Get actionable before‑and‑after resume snippets
Access a printable checklist and mini‑workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see results
- ATS looks for quantifiable metrics
- Makes you blend with other applicants
How to fix
- Turn tasks into outcomes
- Add numbers (acreage, yield, livestock count)
- Show impact on productivity or cost
❌ Before
• Planted corn seeds
✓ After
• Planted 150 acres of corn, achieving a 12% increase in germination rate
ATS Tip
Include verbs like 'increased', 'managed', and specific numbers
Detection Rules
Contains only verbs without numbers
No action results
Bullet starts with generic verb
Resumly Tip
Swap plain duties for results‑focused statements.
Using vague job titlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may not match your role to keywords
- Employers can’t gauge seniority
- Reduces searchability
How to fix
- Use standard titles like 'Field Laborer', 'Crop Technician'
- Add a brief descriptor if needed
- Align title with job posting keywords
❌ Before
Job Title: 'Worker'
✓ After
Job Title: 'Field Laborer – Corn Production'
ATS Tip
Match titles to common industry terms.
Detection Rules
Title is generic (e.g., 'Worker', 'Employee')
No industry keyword present
Resumly Tip
Replace generic titles with specific, searchable ones.
Omitting dates or using inconsistent formatsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may reject entries with missing dates
- Hiring managers can’t see employment continuity
- Creates confusion about experience length
How to fix
- List month and year for each role
- Use consistent format (MM/YYYY)
- If seasonal, indicate season and year
❌ Before
Farmhand – Summer 2022
✓ After
Farmhand – 06/2022 to 08/2022
ATS Tip
Use MM/YYYY for all date entries.
Detection Rules
Date missing or only year
Mixed date formats
Resumly Tip
Standardize all dates to month/year.
Neglecting relevant certifications and equipment skillsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS keywords missing
- Hiring managers miss key qualifications
- Reduces perceived expertise
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Certifications & Equipment' section
- List OSHA safety, pesticide handling, tractor operation
- Include any licenses (e.g., CDL)
❌ Before
Skills: Hardworking, Team player
✓ After
Certifications & Equipment: OSHA 10‑hour certification, Certified Tractor Operator, Pesticide Applicator License
ATS Tip
Add industry‑specific certifications as keywords.
Detection Rules
No certifications listed
Skills list is generic
Resumly Tip
Add a focused section for certifications and machinery.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Certifications & Equipment, Skills
Naming: FirstName_LastName_AgriculturalWorker_Resume
Consistency
Length: One page for entry‑level, up to two pages for senior roles
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a concise summary highlighting farm experience
- List work experience in reverse chronological order
- Quantify achievements with numbers
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Use industry‑standard job titles
- Add a Certifications & Equipment section
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'crop production', 'livestock management', 'equipment maintenance', 'harvest', 'pesticide application'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Work Experience' and 'Certifications & Equipment'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text
- Convert duties to results
- Standardize dates
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Insert relevant certifications
- Optimize headings for ATS
Ready to turn your farm experience into a winning resume?
Start My Free Review
