RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes as a Health & Safety Officer
Turn common slip‑ups into hiring advantages with expert fixes.
How This Page Helps
Help Health and Safety Officers identify and correct resume mistakes that keep them from getting interviews.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Learn industry‑specific language
Apply proven formatting rules
Boost impact of safety achievements
Create a recruiter‑friendly layout
Save time with actionable checklists
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague safety responsibilitiesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t see the scope of your impact
- ATS may miss key safety keywords
- Hiring managers doubt your expertise
How to fix
- Replace generic phrases with specific duties
- Quantify results (e.g., % reduction in incidents)
- Mention standards like OSHA or ISO 45001
❌ Before
Responsible for safety and compliance across the plant.
✓ After
Led OSHA‑compliant safety program that reduced recordable incidents by 32% over 12 months and conducted 25 quarterly risk assessments.
ATS Tip
Include exact certification names and action verbs such as "implemented," "audited," and "trained."
Detection Rules
Contains generic phrase "responsible for safety"
Lacks measurable metrics
Resumly Tip
Use numbers and industry standards to make duties concrete.
Missing certifications and trainingMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Safety roles often require proof of credentials
- ATS filters out resumes without key certs
- Employers may overlook you for senior positions
How to fix
- Create a dedicated "Certifications & Training" section
- List certifications with issuing body and date
- Add relevant refresher courses or workshops
❌ Before
Completed various safety courses.
✓ After
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) – Board of Certified Safety Professionals, 2022; OSHA 30‑Hour General Industry – OSHA, 2021; ISO 45001 Lead Auditor – PECB, 2023.
ATS Tip
Use exact certification titles; avoid abbreviations unless widely recognized.
Detection Rules
No "Certifications" heading
Only generic "courses" mentioned
Resumly Tip
Place certifications right after the summary for maximum visibility.
Inconsistent date formatLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse employment dates
- Hiring managers struggle to follow career timeline
- Inconsistent dates look unprofessional
How to fix
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Use the same separator throughout (e.g., "01/2020 – 06/2023")
- Align dates to the right for readability
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – June 2023
✓ After
01/2020 – 06/2023
ATS Tip
Avoid month names; use numeric month format.
Detection Rules
Mixed month formats (e.g., "Jan" vs "01")
Missing end dates for current role
Resumly Tip
Apply the date format globally with Resumly’s bulk edit tool.
Unclear career progressionMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t gauge growth or readiness for senior roles
- ATS may treat multiple similar titles as duplicate entries
- Lack of narrative reduces impact
How to fix
- Show promotions with new titles and dates
- Highlight added responsibilities at each level
- Use bullet points that reflect increasing scope
❌ Before
Health and Safety Officer – ABC Corp (2018‑2022)
✓ After
Health and Safety Officer – ABC Corp (01/2018 – 12/2020) Senior Health and Safety Officer – ABC Corp (01/2021 – Present) – Managed a team of 5, oversaw multi‑site compliance, and introduced a digital incident reporting system that cut reporting time by 40%.
ATS Tip
Keep each role under a distinct heading; avoid stacking multiple titles in one line.
Detection Rules
Single title spanning many years
No indication of promotion
Resumly Tip
Use the "Career Timeline" feature to auto‑detect and suggest promotion entries.
Using PDFs with embedded images that ATS can’t readHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS parsers ignore text inside images, losing critical info
- Key sections like certifications may be omitted
- Resume may be rejected before human review
How to fix
- Submit a text‑based PDF or DOCX
- Avoid placing important details in graphics or logos
- Use standard fonts and simple bullet symbols
❌ Before
[Image of a stylized certificate block]
✓ After
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING • Certified Safety Professional (CSP) – 2022 • OSHA 30‑Hour General Industry – 2021
ATS Tip
Save the file as “PDF (Standard)” from Word or export as DOCX for maximum compatibility.
Detection Rules
File contains embedded images
Key sections rendered as graphics
Resumly Tip
Run the ATS Scan to automatically convert image‑based sections to editable text.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Certifications & Training, Education, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_HealthSafety_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear professional title
- Include OSHA or ISO certifications
- Quantify safety improvements
- Tailor keywords to the job description
- Keep formatting simple and ATS‑friendly
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: OSHA, ISO 45001, risk assessment, incident investigation, HSE metrics, compliance audit
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Professional Experience" and "Certifications"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Health and Safety Officer resume text
- Replace generic duties with measurable results
- Add relevant certifications
- Standardize dates
- Convert to ATS‑compatible headings
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