RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Letting Resume Errors Hold You Back in Elder Care
Identify and correct the most common mistakes to showcase your compassion and expertise.
How This Page Helps
This page helps elder care workers recognize frequent resume pitfalls and provides actionable fixes to improve ATS compatibility and hiring manager appeal.
Learn the most common resume errors specific to elder care roles
Get step‑by‑step fixes that boost your chances with hiring managers
Ensure your resume passes major applicant tracking systems
Create a professional, error‑free document that highlights your caregiving expertise
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using a vague objective statementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesn't convey specific value
- ATS may skip generic text
How to fix
- Replace with a concise summary highlighting experience and certifications
- Include keywords like 'resident care', 'medication administration'
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position in elder care.
✓ After
Summary: Certified Nursing Assistant with 3+ years providing compassionate daily living support to 30+ senior residents, skilled in medication administration and fall prevention.
ATS Tip
Start with a keyword‑rich summary, not a generic objective.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective' and less than 15 words
Lacks industry keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a summary that showcases measurable impact.
Omitting relevant certificationsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers look for CNA, CPR, etc.
- ATS filters for required credentials
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications section
- List each certification with issuing body and expiration date
❌ Before
Work Experience: ...
✓ After
Certifications: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) – State Board, Expires 2026; CPR & First Aid – American Red Cross, Expires 2024
ATS Tip
Use exact certification titles as keywords.
Detection Rules
No 'Certifications' heading
No mention of CNA, CPR, BLS
Resumly Tip
Add a Certifications section to pass credential filters.
Failing to quantify achievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hard to gauge impact
- ATS prefers numbers for skill validation
How to fix
- Add metrics like number of residents cared for, reduction in falls, satisfaction scores
- Use action verbs and percentages
❌ Before
Provided daily care to residents.
✓ After
Delivered personalized daily care to 25+ residents, achieving a 15% reduction in fall incidents over 12 months.
ATS Tip
Include at least one number per bullet.
Detection Rules
Bullet points without digits
Generic verbs only
Resumly Tip
Turn vague duties into measurable results.
Inconsistent formatting and typosHIGH
Why it hurts
- Creates unprofessional impression
- ATS may misread sections
- Spelling errors trigger rejection
How to fix
- Use a clean, single‑font layout
- Proofread with tools
- Standardize date and location formats
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – March2021 Senior Care Aide - helped elders
✓ After
Jan 2020 – Mar 2021 Senior Care Aide - Assisted 20+ elders with ADLs, maintaining 98% satisfaction rating.
ATS Tip
Stick to bullet points, consistent dates, and avoid special characters.
Detection Rules
Mixed date formats
Inconsistent bullet styles
Spelling errors detected
Resumly Tip
Run the resume through Resumly’s formatting checker for uniformity.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Certifications, Work Experience, Education, Skills
Naming: FirstName_LastName_ElderCareWorker_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages, focusing on the most recent 5 years
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2022)
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Include a keyword‑rich professional summary
- List all relevant certifications with dates
- Quantify achievements with numbers
- Use consistent formatting and proofread thoroughly
- Save as PDF with the proper file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse
Keyword Strategy: Use terms like 'resident care', 'ADL assistance', 'medication administration', 'CNA', 'BLS', 'care planning'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Professional Summary', 'Certifications', 'Work Experience', 'Education', 'Skills'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Convert generic objective to summary
- Add certifications section
- Insert measurable metrics
- Standardize dates and locations
- Proofread for spelling
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