RESUME MISTAKES

Stop Losing Fishmongering Jobs to a Bad Resume

Identify the most common resume pitfalls for fishmongers and apply proven fixes that get you noticed by hiring managers and ATS.

How This Page Helps
This page helps fishmongers understand why typical resume mistakes hurt their job prospects and provides step‑by‑step fixes, formatting rules, and ATS alignment tips so they can create a market‑ready resume.
Learn the 4 most damaging resume errors for fishmongers
Get concrete before‑and‑after examples
Apply ATS‑friendly formatting in minutes
Download a quick‑fix worksheet tailored to seafood retail

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
  • Doesn’t show why you’re a fit for a fish market
  • Gets filtered out by ATS keywords
  • Wastes recruiter time
How to fix
  • Replace with a concise Professional Summary
  • Highlight 2‑3 key fish‑handling achievements
  • Insert industry‑specific keywords like "seafood safety" and "HACCP"
❌ Before

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

✓ After

Professional Summary: Experienced fishmonger with 5 years of expertise in fresh‑catch processing, HACCP‑certified, and proven ability to increase daily sales by 12 % through expert product knowledge and customer service.

ATS Tip
Lead with a summary that contains at least three core keywords from the job posting.
Detection Rules
objective\s*[:]?
seeking a position
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a results‑focused summary that speaks the language of seafood retail.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
  • Provides no evidence of impact
  • Makes the resume look like a job description
  • Hard for ATS to match performance metrics
How to fix
  • Quantify results (e.g., sales lift, waste reduction)
  • Showcase specific fish species you handled
  • Mention certifications applied on the job
❌ Before

- Responsible for cleaning fish and maintaining display cases. - Handled customer transactions.

✓ After

- Processed and displayed 200 lb of fresh fish daily, reducing waste by 15 % through optimal temperature control. - Trained 4 new staff on HACCP protocols, improving compliance scores from 85 % to 98 %. - Delivered personalized product recommendations, boosting repeat customer sales by 20 %.

ATS Tip
Include numbers and action verbs; ATS scores quantified achievements higher.
Detection Rules
responsible for
handled
Resumly Tip
Turn every duty into a measurable achievement that shows value to the market.
Missing Food‑Safety CertificationsHIGH
Why it hurts
  • Hiring managers look for HACCP, ServSafe, etc.
  • ATS often filters for certification keywords
  • Lacks proof of compliance with health regulations
How to fix
  • Create a dedicated Certifications section
  • List each certification with issuing body and date
  • Add related keywords like "food safety" and "seafood handling"
❌ Before

Work Experience Fishmonger, Local Market – 2019‑Present

✓ After

Certifications - HACCP Certified – National Seafood Safety Board, 2022 - ServSafe Food Handler – National Restaurant Association, 2021

ATS Tip
Place certifications near the top of the resume; many ATS parse this section for required credentials.
Detection Rules
certifications?
certified
Resumly Tip
If you have any food‑safety credentials, showcase them prominently to pass both human and machine screens.
Poor Formatting & Unreadable LayoutMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • ATS may fail to parse sections
  • Recruiters skim quickly and drop cluttered resumes
  • Inconsistent fonts and dates look unprofessional
How to fix
  • Use standard headings (Professional Summary, Work Experience, Skills)
  • Keep font size 10‑12 pt, single column layout
  • Format dates as MM/YYYY and locations as City, State
❌ Before

WORK EXPERIENCE Fishmonger – Jan 2018 – Present New York, NY * ...

✓ After

Work Experience Fishmonger, Fresh Catch Market Jan 2018 – Present | New York, NY - ...

ATS Tip
Save as PDF or DOCX; avoid tables or graphics that can break ATS parsing.
Detection Rules
WORK EXPERIENCE
\*
Resumly Tip
Adopt a clean, ATS‑compatible template; Resumly’s builder does this automatically.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Work Experience, Skills, Certifications, Education
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Fishmonger_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
  • Include a Professional Summary with seafood‑industry keywords
  • Show quantified achievements for each role
  • List HACCP, ServSafe, or other food‑safety certifications
  • Use standard headings and a single‑column layout
  • Save as PDF and name the file per the convention
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: seafood handling, HACCP, fish processing, inventory management, customer service, cold‑chain logistics
Heading Format: Use conventional headings like Professional Summary, Work Experience, Skills, Certifications
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste the full text of your current fishmonger resume below
  • Replace generic objectives with a keyword‑rich summary
  • Convert duty statements into quantified achievements
  • Add a Certifications section with HACCP/ServSafe details
  • Standardize dates to MM/YYYY and locations to City, State
Download Checklist PDF
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