RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Content Writer Resume into a Hiring Magnet
Identify and correct the most common pitfalls that keep your resume from standing out.
How This Page Helps
Help content writers spot and correct resume mistakes that hinder job prospects, ensuring both ATS compatibility and human appeal.
Spot vague objectives that dilute your brand
Learn how to showcase writing samples effectively
Optimize for ATS with the right keywords
Structure your experience with measurable results
Polish formatting for readability
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
- Fails to convey your niche expertise
- Gets filtered out by ATS keyword scans
- Leaves hiring managers unsure of your value
How to fix
- Replace with a concise summary highlighting your writing specialties
- Include 2-3 relevant keywords
- Show a brief achievement that demonstrates impact
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills.
✓ After
Summary: SEO‑focused content writer with 4 years experience crafting high‑traffic blog posts and whitepapers, increasing organic traffic by 35 %.
ATS Tip
Lead with a keyword‑rich summary instead of a generic objective.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective' and lacks industry keywords
Length under 30 words with vague language
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a summary that packs your niche and results.
Missing Portfolio LinksMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t verify writing ability
- Reduces credibility
- ATS may miss embedded URLs
How to fix
- Add a dedicated Portfolio section with clickable links
- Use short, trackable URLs
- Provide a brief description of each sample
❌ Before
Experience: Content Writer at XYZ Corp.
✓ After
Experience: Content Writer at XYZ Corp. Portfolio: https://bit.ly/jane-portfolio (Blog posts, case studies, SEO articles)
ATS Tip
Include URLs in plain text; avoid hyperlink formatting that ATS can’t read.
Detection Rules
No URLs present in the resume
No section titled 'Portfolio' or 'Writing Samples'
Resumly Tip
Create a Portfolio section with up to 3 top links, each on its own line.
Overusing Passive VoiceLOW
Why it hurts
- Makes achievements sound less impactful
- Reduces readability
- ATS prefers action verbs for parsing
How to fix
- Start bullet points with strong verbs (e.g., 'Created', 'Optimized')
- Rewrite sentences to active voice
- Quantify results where possible
❌ Before
• Articles were written for the company blog.
✓ After
• Created 30+ SEO‑optimized blog articles, boosting monthly page views by 20 %.
ATS Tip
Begin each bullet with a verb; ATS often scores action‑verb density.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with 'was'
Bullets start with 'were'
Resumly Tip
Replace passive constructions with active verbs and add numbers.
Lack of Measurable ResultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hard to gauge impact
- ATS may miss quantifiable keywords
- Hiring managers prefer data‑driven achievements
How to fix
- Add metrics (traffic %, conversion, engagement)
- Use numbers to illustrate scope
- If exact numbers unavailable, use estimates with context
❌ Before
• Wrote blog posts on industry trends.
✓ After
• Wrote 25 blog posts on industry trends, generating 15 k monthly readers and a 12 % increase in newsletter sign‑ups.
ATS Tip
Include numbers and percentages; ATS parses them as keywords.
Detection Rules
Bullets contain no digits
Resumly Tip
Insert at least one metric per achievement bullet.
Inconsistent FormattingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Confuses ATS parsers
- Looks unprofessional to recruiters
- Reduces scanability
How to fix
- Use a single font (e.g., Arial 11)
- Align dates and locations uniformly
- Apply consistent bullet style and spacing
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – March 2021 Content Writer XYZ Corp. - Developed content.
✓ After
Content Writer | XYZ Corp. Jan 2020 – Mar 2021 - Developed content.
ATS Tip
Stick to simple headings and plain text; avoid tables and graphics.
Detection Rules
Mixed date formats
Multiple font sizes
Resumly Tip
Apply the formatting guidelines below for uniformity.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Skills, Experience, Education, Portfolio, Certifications, Awards
Naming: FirstName_LastName_ContentWriter_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2 pages for 5+ years experience)
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2022)
Location Format: City, State (or remote)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a keyword‑rich summary
- Include a Portfolio section with live links
- Start every bullet with a strong action verb
- Add measurable results to each achievement
- Maintain consistent formatting and fonts
- Save as PDF with file name per naming convention
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: SEO, content strategy, copywriting, editorial calendar, keyword research, audience engagement
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Summary', 'Experience', 'Skills', 'Portfolio' to ensure ATS mapping.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Convert generic objective to summary
- Add portfolio URLs
- Rewrite passive bullets to active voice with metrics
- Standardize date and location format
- Apply uniform font and spacing
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