RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Jobs Over Your Resume
Fix the critical mistakes that keep electrical engineers from landing interviews.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps electrical engineers identify and correct the most damaging resume mistakes, ensuring their experience shines and passes ATS filters.
Identify the five most common resume errors for electrical engineers
Learn step‑by‑step fixes that showcase your technical impact
Optimize your document for both recruiters and ATS
Boost your interview rate with proven formatting tricks
Get actionable tools and templates to implement instantly
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Generic Objective StatementMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Fails to convey engineering value
- Doesn't include keywords
- Looks outdated
How to fix
- Replace with a concise professional summary
- Highlight years of experience and specialties
- Incorporate role-specific keywords
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position in a reputable company.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Electrical Engineer with 5+ years designing high‑voltage power distribution systems, proficient in PLC programming, AutoCAD, and NEC code compliance.
ATS Tip
Start the summary with key terms like 'Electrical Engineer' and core competencies.
Detection Rules
contains word 'objective'
length < 30 words
no technical keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a summary that sells your engineering impact.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Provides no proof of impact
- Hard for recruiters to scan
- ATS favors quantifiable results
How to fix
- Rewrite bullets to start with action verbs
- Add measurable outcomes
- Focus on what you delivered
❌ Before
• Designed circuit schematics for various projects.
✓ After
• Designed and delivered 12 circuit schematics, reducing prototype time by 20% and cutting costs by $15K.
ATS Tip
Include numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts.
Detection Rules
bullets start with verbs like 'Designed' without metrics
no numbers present
Resumly Tip
Turn every duty into a result‑driven achievement.
Missing Core Technical SkillsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS may filter out the resume
- Hiring managers can't see fit
- Reduces keyword density
How to fix
- Create a 'Core Competencies' section
- List relevant tools and standards
- Align with job description keywords
❌ Before
Skills: Microsoft Office, Project Management.
✓ After
Core Competencies: PLC programming (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens), AutoCAD Electrical, MATLAB/Simulink, Power system analysis, NEC 2023 compliance, PCB layout.
ATS Tip
Use exact terminology from the job posting.
Detection Rules
skills section missing or contains generic terms
no industry-specific tools listed
Resumly Tip
Add a dedicated technical skills block with precise engineering tools.
Complex Formatting That Breaks ATSHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot parse tables or graphics
- Important info gets lost
- Resume may be rejected before human review
How to fix
- Use simple bullet points and standard headings
- Avoid tables, columns, and images
- Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Calibri
❌ Before
Experience presented in a two‑column table with icons.
✓ After
Experience presented as plain text with bold headings and bullet points.
ATS Tip
Save as PDF only after confirming plain‑text version passes ATS.
Detection Rules
contains HTML tables
uses multiple columns
includes images or icons
Resumly Tip
Keep layout linear and ATS‑friendly.
Not Tailoring Resume to Specific RoleMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Generic resume dilutes relevance
- Misses role‑specific keywords
- Reduces interview chances
How to fix
- Customize summary and skills for each application
- Highlight projects that match the job focus
- Adjust keywords to match posting
❌ Before
Resume includes all past projects regardless of relevance.
✓ After
Resume emphasizes power distribution projects for a utility company role, highlighting relevant standards and tools.
ATS Tip
Map the job description to your resume and mirror the language.
Detection Rules
same resume used for multiple job titles
no job-specific keywords
Resumly Tip
Create a master resume, then tweak sections per application.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Projects
Naming: FirstName_LastName_EE_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages (max 2)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, professional email address
- Include a headline with 'Electrical Engineer'
- Add a quantified professional summary
- List core competencies with industry tools
- Show achievements with metrics in each role
- Include relevant certifications (e.g., PE, EIT)
- Highlight key projects with outcomes
- Use consistent date and location formatting
- Save as PDF with standard fonts
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Jobscan, Lever, Greenhouse, iCIMS
Keyword Strategy: Power distribution, PLC programming, circuit design, AutoCAD, MATLAB, NEC compliance
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Technical Skills'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Convert bullet points to achievement-focused statements
- Add quantifiable results
- Insert industry keywords
- Standardize date and location formats
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