RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Resume Mistakes Holding Back Your Physical Therapy Career
Identify and correct the top errors that keep hiring managers from calling you back.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps physical therapists spot and correct the most damaging resume mistakes, ensuring their experience shines and passes ATS filters.
Learn the 5 most common PT resume errors
See before‑and‑after examples
Get actionable ATS‑friendly fixes
Download a printable checklist
Use Resumly’s AI tool to auto‑correct
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using generic objective statementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesn't show specialization
- Fails to capture recruiter interest
- Often filtered out by ATS keywords
How to fix
- Replace objective with a concise professional summary
- Highlight years of experience and key PT specialties
- Include measurable outcomes
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position as a Physical Therapist.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Licensed Physical Therapist with 5+ years delivering orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, improving patient mobility scores by 30%.
ATS Tip
Lead with keywords like 'orthopedic', 'rehabilitation', 'patient outcomes'.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective'
Length < 30 characters
Lacks specialty keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a summary that showcases your expertise and results.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Provides no proof of impact
- Makes resume look bland
- ATS prefers action verbs and metrics
How to fix
- Start bullet points with strong verbs
- Quantify results (e.g., % improvement, number of patients)
- Focus on outcomes rather than tasks
❌ Before
• Performed patient assessments and created treatment plans.
✓ After
• Conducted over 200 patient assessments, designing individualized treatment plans that reduced recovery time by 15%.
ATS Tip
Begin bullets with verbs like 'administered', 'improved', 'reduced' and include numbers.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with verbs like 'Performed','Assisted'
No numbers present
Length > 15 words without metrics
Resumly Tip
Turn duties into achievements by adding action verbs and quantifiable results.
Omitting licensure and certificationsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers need proof of eligibility
- Licensure is often a filter in ATS
- Missing certifications can signal lack of expertise
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Licensure & Certifications' section
- List state license number, expiration, and relevant certifications (e.g., CPT, CSCS)
- Place this section near the top of the resume
❌ Before
Education: B.S. Kinesiology, XYZ University
✓ After
Licensure & Certifications: • Licensed Physical Therapist, State of California, #123456 (expires 06/2026) • Certified Clinical Trainer (CCT), 2023
ATS Tip
Use exact certification names; include expiration dates.
Detection Rules
No section titled 'Licensure' or 'Certifications'
Only education listed
Missing state license number
Resumly Tip
Add a clear Licensure & Certifications section to satisfy both recruiters and ATS.
Unclear employment dates or gapsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Creates uncertainty about continuity
- ATS may misinterpret gaps
- Recruiters may assume lack of experience
How to fix
- Use consistent month/year format (MM/YYYY)
- If gaps exist, include brief explanations or freelance work
- Align dates with each position clearly
❌ Before
Physical Therapist, ABC Hospital – 2018 to 2020
✓ After
Physical Therapist, ABC Hospital – 06/2018 to 08/2020
ATS Tip
Standardize dates to MM/YYYY for ATS parsing.
Detection Rules
Date format not MM/YYYY
Contains only years
Gaps > 6 months without explanation
Resumly Tip
Standardize dates and address gaps to keep the timeline clear.
Using non‑standard section headingsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may not map content correctly
- Recruiters skim for familiar headings
- Reduces readability
How to fix
- Stick to conventional headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Licensure, Skills
- Avoid creative titles like 'My Journey' or 'What I Do'
- Use bold, title case for headings
❌ Before
What I Do
✓ After
Professional Experience
ATS Tip
Match headings to common ATS templates.
Detection Rules
Heading not in list of standard headings
Contains colloquial language
Resumly Tip
Replace creative headings with standard ones for ATS compatibility.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Licensure & Certifications, Education, Professional Affiliations, Continuing Education
Naming: FirstName_LastName_PT_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for most PT roles; 2 pages acceptable for senior or academic positions
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional summary instead of an objective
- Showcase achievements with numbers
- Include licensure number and expiration
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Use standard section headings
- Incorporate PT‑specific keywords (e.g., orthopedic, gait analysis)
- Keep resume to 1‑2 pages
- Save as PDF with searchable text
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'rehabilitation', 'manual therapy', 'patient outcomes', 'evidence‑based', 'CPT', 'orthopedic', 'sports medicine'
Heading Format: Use exact headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Licensure & Certifications, Skills
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Physical Therapist resume text
- Convert objective to summary
- Add quantifiable achievements
- Insert licensure section
- Standardize date format
- Replace non‑standard headings
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