RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Letting Resume Mistakes Block Your Game Dev Career
Identify and fix the top errors that keep hiring managers from seeing your talent.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps game developers spot and correct the most damaging resume mistakes, ensuring their experience shines and passes ATS filters.
Learn the 7 most common resume pitfalls for game devs
See before‑and‑after examples tailored to the industry
Get actionable ATS‑friendly fixes
Download a printable checklist
Boost your interview call‑back rate
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using generic job titlesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t tell what you actually did
- ATS may not match industry keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific roles like 'Gameplay Programmer' or 'Level Designer'
- Add a brief descriptor of your focus area
❌ Before
Software Engineer at XYZ Studios
✓ After
Gameplay Programmer – Core Systems at XYZ Studios
ATS Tip
Include exact role keywords from the job posting.
Detection Rules
Title lacks industry-specific terms
Title length < 5 words
Resumly Tip
Use our title optimizer to match common game dev titles.
Listing every tool you ever usedMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Clutters resume
- Dilutes focus on core competencies
- ATS may penalize irrelevant keywords
How to fix
- Highlight 3–5 tools most relevant to the target role
- Group tools under categories like Engine, Scripting, Art
❌ Before
Tools: Unity, Unreal, Maya, Photoshop, Blender, Git, JIRA, Trello, Slack, Perforce, Visual Studio, C#, C++, Python, Java
✓ After
Tools: Unity, C#, Git, Perforce (Core), Unreal Engine (Experience)
ATS Tip
Match tool list to keywords in the job description.
Detection Rules
Tool list > 8 items
Tools not grouped
Resumly Tip
Our tool relevance scanner trims the list to top matches.
Omitting measurable achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Provides no evidence of impact
- Hard for ATS to rank achievements
- Hiring managers miss quantifiable results
How to fix
- Add numbers: % increase, time saved, revenue impact
- Use the STAR format for bullet points
❌ Before
Worked on multiplayer networking.
✓ After
Implemented netcode for 20-player matches, reducing latency by 30% and supporting 10,000 concurrent users.
ATS Tip
Start bullet with action verb and include a metric.
Detection Rules
Bullet lacks numbers or percentages
Verb only
Resumly Tip
Our achievement enhancer suggests metrics based on your role.
Using a one‑page layout for senior rolesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Leaves out critical experience
- ATS may miss keywords buried in hidden sections
- Hiring managers think you lack depth
How to fix
- Expand to two pages for senior/lead positions
- Ensure each page has a clear header and consistent formatting
❌ Before
One-page resume for Lead Game Designer with 8 years experience.
✓ After
Two-page resume highlighting leadership, shipped titles, and team size.
ATS Tip
Keep each page under 14pt font and use standard headings.
Detection Rules
Page count = 1 and years experience > 5
Missing leadership section
Resumly Tip
Our length advisor recommends page count based on experience.
Neglecting soft skills and collaborationLOW
Why it hurts
- Game dev is team‑centric; missing soft skills signals poor fit
- ATS may filter for communication keywords
How to fix
- Add a 'Collaboration & Communication' bullet under each role
- Mention cross‑functional work with artists, QA, producers
❌ Before
Developed AI systems.
✓ After
Developed AI systems, collaborating daily with designers and artists to align behavior with gameplay vision.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'team collaboration', 'agile', 'scrum'.
Detection Rules
No mention of teamwork
Soft skill keywords absent
Resumly Tip
Soft‑skill inserter suggests phrasing for each project.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Summary, Technical Skills, Professional Experience, Projects, Education, Awards & Certifications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_GameDev_Resume
Consistency
Length: 2–3 pages for mid‑level, up to 4 pages for senior
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2020)
Location Format: City, State/Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, role‑specific title
- Include a 2‑sentence summary with keywords
- List technical skills in order of relevance
- Show measurable achievements for each role
- Tailor each bullet to the job description
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Save as PDF with searchable text
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, Workday, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: Gameplay programming, Unity, Unreal Engine, C#, C++, shader development, AI, physics, multiplayer networking
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Technical Skills' to ensure ATS parsing.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Game Developer resume text
- Convert generic titles to specific game dev roles
- Trim tool list to top 5 relevant
- Add metrics to achievement bullets
- Reformat dates to MMM YYYY
- Insert collaboration keywords
Ready to transform your Game Dev resume? Get our free fix guide now!
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