RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Museum Technician Jobs to Resume Mistakes
Identify and correct the most common errors that keep hiring managers from seeing your technical expertise.
How This Page Helps
Help Museum Technicians create error‑free, ATS‑friendly resumes that showcase their conservation, exhibition, and maintenance skills.
Identify the five most frequent resume pitfalls for museum technicians
Learn actionable fixes that boost ATS match rates
Get ready‑to‑use examples before and after each correction
Follow formatting rules that impress curatorial hiring teams
Access a quick‑check checklist for final proofing
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Job TitlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t quickly see your level of responsibility
- ATS may misclassify your role
- Reduces relevance for museum‑specific searches
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific ones (e.g., 'Exhibit Maintenance Technician')
- Add department or museum name if relevant
- Align title with industry standards
❌ Before
Technician, Museum
✓ After
Exhibit Maintenance Technician – Conservation Department, City Museum
ATS Tip
Use exact titles that appear in job postings to improve keyword match.
Detection Rules
title contains generic words like 'Technician' without qualifier
title length < 3 words
Resumly Tip
Add the specific area you support to make the title searchable.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- Fails to show measurable results
- ATS looks for action verbs and metrics
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb
- Quantify results (e.g., % reduction in artifact damage)
- Show how you improved processes
❌ Before
• Responsible for cleaning galleries and handling artifacts.
✓ After
• Reduced artifact handling errors by 15% through implementation of a double‑check protocol while cleaning and installing 30+ gallery displays.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'maintained', 'restored', 'documented' alongside numbers.
Detection Rules
bullets start with weak verbs like 'Responsible for'
no numbers or percentages present
Resumly Tip
Turn tasks into outcomes that hiring managers can measure.
Missing Museum‑Specific KeywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resumes lacking key terms
- Recruiters skim for industry language
- Reduces chance of passing initial screening
How to fix
- Review job ads for recurring terms
- Add skills such as 'Preventive Conservation', 'Exhibit Installation', 'Collections Management'
- Incorporate these keywords naturally in summary and experience
❌ Before
Skilled in maintaining equipment.
✓ After
Skilled in preventive conservation, exhibit installation, and HVAC system maintenance for climate‑controlled collections.
ATS Tip
Mirror the exact phrasing from the posting (e.g., 'preventive conservation')
Detection Rules
absence of words like 'conservation','exhibit','collections'
skills section lacks industry terms
Resumly Tip
Use our keyword scanner to match the top 20 museum technician terms.
Inconsistent Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse employment dates
- Hiring managers can’t gauge tenure
- Looks unprofessional
How to fix
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Use consistent separators (e.g., ‘–’)
- If a role is ongoing, write ‘Present’
❌ Before
Jan 2019 – June 2022
✓ After
01/2019 – 06/2022
ATS Tip
Avoid month names; use numeric month/year.
Detection Rules
dates contain month names
mixed separators
Resumly Tip
Our formatter will auto‑convert dates to the correct pattern.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Technical Skills, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_MuseumTechnician_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages, 400‑800 words
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a headline with the exact title 'Museum Technician'
- Add a concise 2‑sentence summary with key museum keywords
- List technical skills in a dedicated section
- Show achievements with numbers for each role
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Save the file as PDF with the naming convention
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Conservation, Exhibit Installation, Preventive Maintenance, Collections Care, HVAC, Safety Protocols
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Technical Skills'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Museum Technician resume text
- Convert bullet points to action‑oriented statements
- Add quantifiable results
- Insert industry‑specific keywords
- Standardize dates and locations
Ready to land your next museum role? Optimize your resume now!
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