• Hiring managers may not understand specialized terminology
• ATS may not recognize niche phrases
• Makes the resume feel inaccessible

• Replace discipline‑specific terms with plain‑language equivalents
• Use action verbs that are ATS‑friendly
• Add a brief lay‑person explanation for complex projects

Conducted a diachronic analysis of epigraphic corpora utilizing palaeographic stratigraphy.

Analyzed ancient inscriptions over time using modern dating techniques to uncover historical trends.

• Recruiters can’t gauge impact
• ATS looks for numbers and results
• Your contributions appear vague

• Add metrics such as publications, grant amounts, or visitor numbers
• Show percentage improvements in research efficiency
• Mention awards and citations

Published articles on medieval trade routes.

Published 5 peer‑reviewed articles on medieval trade routes, cited 120 times, and secured a $30,000 research grant.

• Employers assume inactivity or career instability
• ATS may penalize unexplained employment gaps
• Gaps can raise red flags during interviews

• Add a brief “Research Sabbatical” or “Independent Scholar” entry
• Explain volunteer work, consulting, or coursework during gaps
• Use years only (e.g., 2018–2020) to keep format clean

2015‑2017 – No entry

2015‑2017 – Independent Scholar (conducted archival research for a forthcoming monograph)

• Doesn’t tell the employer what role you’re targeting
• ATS may misclassify your resume
• Leaves recruiters guessing your fit

• Write a concise 2‑sentence headline that states desired position and key value proposition
• Incorporate target‑role keywords
• Align the objective with the rest of the resume content

Objective: To obtain a position where I can use my skills.

Objective: Seeking a Curator of Historical Collections role where my 8 years of archival research and exhibition design drive public engagement and scholarly collaboration.