RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes as a Mining Engineer
Turn your experience into a compelling story that lands interviews.
How This Page Helps
Help mining engineers identify and correct common resume pitfalls to improve ATS compatibility and recruiter appeal.
Spot hidden errors that reduce interview chances
Learn industry‑specific formatting rules
Apply quantifiable achievement examples
Optimize keywords for mining software and safety standards
Use a step‑by‑step checklist for a polished final draft
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using a generic objective instead of a targeted summaryMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skip resumes that start with vague goals
- ATS scores drop when role‑specific keywords are missing
How to fix
- Replace the objective with a 2‑sentence professional summary
- Highlight your mining discipline, years of experience, and key achievements
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Mining Engineer with 5+ years delivering 15% cost reductions on underground projects and certified in MSHA safety standards.
ATS Tip
Place the summary at the top and embed keywords like "underground mining" and "cost optimization" early.
Detection Rules
Contains the word "Objective"
Lacks industry-specific keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a concise summary that showcases mining expertise and measurable results.
Missing quantifiable results in experience bulletsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge impact without numbers
- ATS algorithms favor metrics such as percentages or dollar values
How to fix
- Add concrete figures (e.g., % increase, $ saved, tons processed)
- Use the STAR format to link actions to outcomes
❌ Before
- Managed drilling operations for a mine.
✓ After
- Managed drilling operations for a 200‑kt/year underground mine, increasing drill efficiency by 12% and reducing downtime by 3 days per month.
ATS Tip
Include numbers and units (tons, %, $) within the first 100 characters of each bullet.
Detection Rules
Bullets lack digits or measurement units
Resumly Tip
Quantify every achievement; replace vague verbs with data‑driven results.
Omitting safety certifications and compliance detailsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Mining firms prioritize safety compliance above all
- ATS often filters for certifications like MSHA, HAZWOPER
How to fix
- Create a dedicated "Certifications & Licenses" section
- List certifications with issuing authority and expiration date
❌ Before
- Performed routine equipment inspections.
✓ After
- Performed routine equipment inspections; MSHA Certified Miner (Valid through 12/2027) and HAZWOPER Level 2 certified.
ATS Tip
Use exact certification names; avoid abbreviations that ATS may not recognize.
Detection Rules
No "Certifications" heading
Missing known industry certifications
Resumly Tip
Add a certifications block to showcase compliance and boost credibility.
Inconsistent date and location formattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may misinterpret irregular dates, causing parsing errors
- Recruiters view inconsistent formatting as unprofessional
How to fix
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- List locations as City, State/Province, Country
- Align dates to the right margin for readability
❌ Before
June 2019 – March 2021 Toronto, Canada
✓ After
06/2019 – 03/2021 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ATS Tip
Consistent formatting helps ATS map employment timelines correctly.
Detection Rules
Dates appear in varied textual forms
Location lines lack country
Resumly Tip
Apply a uniform date and location template across all experience entries.
Overusing technical jargon without contextMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters outside the niche may not understand specialized terms
- ATS may flag uncommon acronyms as irrelevant
How to fix
- Pair each technical term with a brief outcome or skill context
- Limit acronyms to those listed in the job description
❌ Before
Utilized Surpac for 3D modeling and executed HAZOP studies.
✓ After
Utilized Surpac for 3D geological modeling, improving ore reserve estimates by 8%; conducted HAZOP studies to enhance mine safety protocols.
ATS Tip
Include both the tool name and the result it drove.
Detection Rules
Bullets contain technical terms without accompanying metrics
Resumly Tip
Balance technical language with measurable impact to satisfy both humans and ATS.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications & Licenses, Technical Skills, Projects
Naming: FirstName_LastName_MiningEngineer_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages for early‑career, up to 3 pages for senior roles
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State/Province, Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a targeted professional summary
- Quantify every achievement
- List MSHA, HAZWOPER, and other relevant certifications
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Include mining‑specific keywords (e.g., MineSight, Surpac)
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Taleo, Workday, Greenhouse, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like "underground mining", "open‑pit operations", "MineSight", "Surpac", "HAZOP", "MSHA", "cost reduction", "production optimization"
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as "Professional Experience" and "Technical Skills" to ensure ATS parsing
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text or upload a file
- Replace generic objective with summary
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Insert relevant mining software keywords
- Standardize date and location format
- Highlight safety certifications
Ready to transform your mining engineer resume? Get expert feedback now!
Start My Free Review
