RESUME MISTAKES

Avoid These Resume Pitfalls and Land Your Dream Motion Graphics Role

Identify and correct the mistakes that keep hiring managers from seeing your creative talent.

How This Page Helps
Help motion graphics designers create error‑free, ATS‑friendly resumes that showcase their creative and technical expertise.
Spot hidden formatting errors
Learn industry‑specific keyword strategies
See before‑and‑after resume examples
Understand ATS detection rules
Apply quick fixes to improve readability

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 tailored summaryMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • Objective statements are often vague and add little value
  • Hiring managers skim resumes and may skip generic sections
  • ATS may not match keywords found in a tailored summary
How to fix
  • Replace the objective with a 2‑sentence professional summary
  • Highlight your motion‑graphics expertise, years of experience, and key tools
  • Incorporate 2‑3 role‑specific keywords
❌ Before

Objective: Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills.

✓ After

Professional Summary: Creative Motion Graphics Designer with 5+ years crafting dynamic visual content for broadcast and digital platforms. Proficient in After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Blender, delivering award‑winning animations that boost audience engagement.

ATS Tip
Lead with keywords like "motion graphics", "animation", "After Effects" in the summary.
Detection Rules
objective_section_present
contains_generic_phrases
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a concise summary that showcases your niche expertise and top tools.
Listing software skills without context or proficiencyLOW
Why it hurts
  • Recruiters cannot gauge your actual skill level
  • ATS may overlook skills buried in a long list
  • The resume looks like a keyword dump
How to fix
  • Create a "Core Skills" section with categories (Design, 3D, Editing)
  • Add proficiency levels (Expert, Advanced, Intermediate)
  • Tie each skill to a project or achievement in the experience section
❌ Before

Skills: After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, etc.

✓ After

Core Skills: - Motion Design: After Effects (Expert), Premiere Pro (Advanced) - 3D Animation: Cinema 4D (Advanced), Blender (Intermediate) - Visual Effects: Photoshop (Expert), Illustrator (Advanced)

ATS Tip
Use exact software names; ATS parses them as keywords.
Detection Rules
skills_section_contains_long_unstructured_list
Resumly Tip
Structure your skills with categories and proficiency to improve readability and ATS matching.
Including too many unrelated freelance projectsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
  • Clutters the resume and dilutes impact
  • Hiring managers lose focus on relevant experience
  • ATS may penalize excessive entries with low relevance
How to fix
  • Select 3‑5 most relevant projects that align with the target role
  • For each, include role, client, dates, and measurable results
  • Group older or peripheral work under an "Additional Projects" subsection
❌ Before

Freelance Projects: - Wedding video editing (2021) - Social media graphics for a bakery (2020) - Animated logo for a local gym (2019) - ... (10 more)

✓ After

Selected Freelance Projects: Motion Graphics Designer – Tech Startup (Jan 2022 – Jun 2022) - Designed UI animations for mobile app, increasing user interaction by 22%. - Created explainer video (60 sec) that generated 15k views on launch. Motion Graphics Designer – Marketing Agency (Mar 2021 – Dec 2021) - Produced 12 promotional videos for product launches, contributing to a 30% sales lift. Additional Projects (see portfolio): wedding video editing, bakery social media graphics, etc.

ATS Tip
Prioritize projects that contain target keywords and quantifiable outcomes.
Detection Rules
experience_section_contains_more_than_7_entries
entries_without_quantifiable_results
Resumly Tip
Trim to the most relevant projects and quantify impact to keep the resume focused.
Using non‑standard date formatsLOW
Why it hurts
  • ATS may fail to parse employment dates
  • Hiring managers may misinterpret timeline gaps
  • Inconsistent formatting looks unprofessional
How to fix
  • Adopt a uniform format: "MMM YYYY" (e.g., Jan 2020)
  • Place dates on the right side of each entry for easy scanning
  • Ensure all dates are reverse‑chronological
❌ Before

June 2019 – March 2021

✓ After

Jun 2019 – Mar 2021

ATS Tip
Use three‑letter month abbreviations and four‑digit year; avoid words like "Present"—use "Current" instead if needed.
Detection Rules
date_strings_not_matching_regex
Resumly Tip
Standardize all dates to the recommended format to improve ATS parsing and visual consistency.
Embedding videos or GIFs directly in the PDFHIGH
Why it hurts
  • Many ATS cannot read embedded media and may reject the file
  • File size can become too large, causing upload issues
  • Recruiters may view a broken or blank placeholder
How to fix
  • Remove embedded media; instead, add a short, clickable URL to your online portfolio or demo reel
  • Host videos on platforms like Vimeo or YouTube and use a clean hyperlink
  • Keep the PDF under 2 MB
❌ Before

[Embedded video of animated intro]

✓ After

Portfolio: https://vimeo.com/yourname/animated‑intro

ATS Tip
Hyperlinks are ATS‑friendly; ensure the URL is plain text and not hidden behind an image.
Detection Rules
pdf_contains_embedded_media
Resumly Tip
Replace embedded videos with a concise, trackable portfolio link to stay ATS‑compatible.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Skills, Experience, Education, Awards & Certifications, Portfolio Link
Naming: FirstName_LastName_MotionGraphicsDesigner.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for mid‑level designers, up to 3 pages for senior roles
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2020)
Location Format: City, State (optional)
Resume Quality Checklist
  • Use a clear, descriptive headline
  • Tailor the professional summary to motion‑graphics roles
  • Include key software with proficiency levels
  • Show measurable impact in each project description
  • Keep dates consistent and reverse‑chronological
  • Add a link to an online portfolio or demo reel
  • Save as a searchable PDF under 2 MB
  • Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Lever, Greenhouse, iCIMS, Workday
Keyword Strategy: motion graphics, animation, visual effects, After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, storyboard, motion design, UI animation
Heading Format: Use standard headings like Professional Summary, Experience, Skills, Education
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text or upload a DOCX file
  • Convert objective to summary
  • Add quantified achievements
  • Standardize dates
  • Insert relevant keywords
  • Optimize file for ATS
Download Checklist PDF
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