RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Merchandiser Jobs to Resume Mistakes
Identify and correct the hidden flaws that keep hiring managers from seeing your retail expertise.
How This Page Helps
This page helps merchandisers pinpoint frequent resume errors, understand why they hurt their job prospects, and apply actionable fixes that improve ATS scoring and recruiter appeal.
Spot the 5 most damaging resume mistakes for merchandisers
Learn why each mistake reduces your chances of getting an interview
Get step‑by‑step fixes with before‑and‑after examples
Boost your resume’s ATS compatibility with keyword and formatting tips
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Generic Objective Instead of Targeted SummaryHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your specific merchandising value
- ATS filters for role‑specific keywords and may skip generic text
- Fails to differentiate you from other candidates
How to fix
- Replace the objective with a 2‑sentence professional summary
- Highlight years of retail/visual merchandising experience
- Insert 3–4 key merchandiser keywords (e.g., planogram, visual display, SKU management)
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Results‑driven Merchandiser with 4+ years of experience optimizing store layouts, increasing sales by 12% through data‑driven planograms, and managing a 10,000‑SKU inventory across 25 locations.
ATS Tip
Lead with a summary that contains the exact job title and top 3 industry keywords.
Detection Rules
objective line length < 30 words
absence of job title in first 2 lines
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a concise, keyword‑rich summary that sells your impact.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim for results, not responsibilities
- ATS scores higher when numbers and action verbs appear
- Makes you look like a task‑taker rather than a driver of growth
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify results (percent, dollars, units)
- Focus on the outcome of your actions
❌ Before
- Managed product displays. - Coordinated with suppliers. - Conducted inventory counts.
✓ After
- Designed and executed weekly planograms that lifted category sales by 15%. - Negotiated with vendors to secure 8% cost reductions on high‑margin SKUs. - Implemented cycle‑count procedures, decreasing stock‑outs by 20%.
ATS Tip
Include at least one numeric metric per bullet to trigger ATS relevance algorithms.
Detection Rules
bullets start with verbs like "Managed" without quantifiers
no numbers in bullet points
Resumly Tip
Turn every duty into a measurable achievement using the formula: Action + Task + Result.
Missing Quantifiable ResultsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Numbers are the language of performance; without them you appear vague
- ATS often ranks resumes with measurable data higher
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your impact
How to fix
- Add sales uplift percentages, inventory turnover rates, or cost‑saving figures
- Use the format: Improved X by Y% through Z
- If exact numbers are unavailable, use reasonable estimates backed by context
❌ Before
Improved visual presentation of merchandise.
✓ After
Improved visual presentation of merchandise, resulting in a 10% increase in foot‑traffic conversion within 3 months.
ATS Tip
Place the metric early in the bullet to catch both ATS and human eyes.
Detection Rules
bullets lack any numeric characters
Resumly Tip
Whenever possible, attach a concrete metric to every accomplishment.
Omitting Core Merchandiser KeywordsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS scans for industry‑specific terms; missing them leads to low match rates
- Recruiters use keyword searches to shortlist candidates
- Your expertise stays invisible
How to fix
- Research the job posting for terms like "planogram compliance," "visual storytelling," "SKU rationalization," "sales uplift," and "inventory turnover." - Sprinkle these keywords naturally throughout summary, skills, and experience sections
❌ Before
Experienced in product placement and store layout.
✓ After
Experienced in product placement, planogram compliance, visual storytelling, and SKU rationalization to drive sales uplift and improve inventory turnover.
ATS Tip
Create a master keyword list and embed each term at least once in the resume.
Detection Rules
absence of words: planogram, SKU, visual merchandising
Resumly Tip
Run a keyword match check; add any missing high‑impact terms.
Inconsistent Formatting That Breaks ATS ParsingLOW
Why it hurts
- Unusual fonts, symbols, or spacing cause ATS to misread sections
- Recruiters may discard a resume that looks unprofessional
- Key information can be omitted from the parsed output
How to fix
- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) 10‑12pt - Stick to bullet points (solid circles or dashes) – no images or tables - Ensure uniform margins and line spacing - Save as PDF or DOCX
❌ Before
• Managed product displays ★ Coordinated with suppliers — Conducted inventory counts
✓ After
- Managed product displays - Coordinated with suppliers - Conducted inventory counts
ATS Tip
Avoid special characters and tables; keep headings simple (e.g., Experience, Skills).
Detection Rules
presence of non‑ASCII bullet symbols
use of tables or text boxes
Resumly Tip
Standardize fonts, bullets, and spacing to guarantee clean ATS extraction.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Key Skills, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Merchandiser
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a targeted professional summary with merchandiser keywords
- List achievements, not duties, for every role
- Quantify results with percentages, dollars, or units
- Include core terms like planogram, SKU, visual merchandising
- Maintain consistent fonts (Arial/Calibri) and bullet style
- Save the file as PDF or DOCX
- Limit resume to 1‑2 pages
- Add a Skills section with both hard and soft skills
- Proofread for spelling and grammar errors
- Test the resume with an ATS preview tool
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse
Keyword Strategy: visual merchandising, planogram compliance, SKU management, sales growth, inventory turnover, retail analytics
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as Professional Summary, Experience, Skills, Education
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current merchandiser resume text below
- Convert duty‑based bullets into achievement‑focused statements
- Add quantifiable metrics to each accomplishment
- Insert top merchandiser keywords identified from job ads
- Standardize date format to MM/YYYY
- Replace non‑standard bullets with simple hyphens
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