RESUME MISTAKES
Stop PR Resume Mistakes From Holding You Back
Identify, correct, and optimize every section to impress hiring managers and ATS alike.
How This Page Helps
Help Public Relations Specialists recognize and correct common resume pitfalls, ensuring their experience shines and passes ATS filters.
Identify the top 5 resume errors that keep PR talent from getting interviews
Learn why each mistake harms both human reviewers and applicant tracking systems
Get step‑by‑step fixes with real‑world before‑and‑after examples
Apply proven formatting rules to make your resume scan‑ready
Access a quick‑fix workshop to rewrite any bullet in seconds
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague, buzzword‑filled summaryHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your unique value
- ATS may miss critical PR keywords
- Lacks measurable impact, making you blend with other candidates
How to fix
- Replace generic adjectives with concrete achievements
- Add quantifiable results (e.g., media reach, placement count)
- Insert core PR keywords early (media relations, crisis communication)
❌ Before
Dynamic PR professional with strong communication skills.
✓ After
Strategic PR specialist who increased media coverage by 40% for Fortune 500 clients, securing placements in top‑tier outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.
ATS Tip
Include at least three high‑impact PR keywords within the first 100 characters of your summary.
Detection Rules
summary contains words like "dynamic" or "strong" without numbers
absence of media outlet names or percentages
Resumly Tip
Focus on measurable impact in the first three lines of your summary.
Listing duties instead of achievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim for results, not responsibilities
- ATS scores experience based on action verbs and metrics
- Makes you appear passive rather than a driver of outcomes
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify results (e.g., "secured 15 media placements")
- Show the business impact (e.g., "boosted brand sentiment by 25%")
❌ Before
Managed daily media outreach and drafted press releases.
✓ After
Led daily media outreach, drafting 12 press releases that secured 15 placements and lifted brand sentiment by 25% within three months.
ATS Tip
Begin bullets with verbs like "Led," "Secured," "Amplified," and include numbers.
Detection Rules
bullets begin with verbs like "Managed" without follow‑up numbers
lack of percentages or counts
Resumly Tip
Turn every duty into a result‑focused statement.
Missing metrics for media placementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Metrics demonstrate ROI to employers
- ATS often ranks resumes with numeric data higher
- Without numbers, impact appears vague
How to fix
- Add total reach, impressions, or audience size
- Specify outlet tier (national, regional, trade)
- Include percentage growth or award recognitions
❌ Before
Secured coverage in industry publications.
✓ After
Secured coverage in 8 industry publications, reaching 1.2M readers and increasing website traffic by 18%.
ATS Tip
Use numbers (%, $, reach) within the first 150 characters of each bullet.
Detection Rules
bullets mention "coverage" or "media" without accompanying numbers
absence of reach or audience metrics
Resumly Tip
Whenever you mention a placement, attach a concrete metric.
Improper formatting of press‑release samplesLOW
Why it hurts
- Cluttered layout confuses ATS parsing
- Hiring managers may overlook key achievements embedded in samples
- Inconsistent fonts/sizes look unprofessional
How to fix
- Use a clean, single‑column layout
- Label each sample with a brief result line above the excerpt
- Keep fonts uniform (e.g., Arial 11pt) and use bullet points for highlights
❌ Before
[Long block of press release text with varied fonts and no context]
✓ After
Press Release Sample – Result: Generated 500+ media pickups (see attached PDF)\n• Headline: "Company X launches innovative AI platform"\n• Key Quote: "Our solution will transform industry standards..."
ATS Tip
Place a concise result line before any attached sample; keep the sample as a downloadable PDF, not inline text.
Detection Rules
inline press release exceeds 150 characters
multiple font styles detected
Resumly Tip
Summarize each sample in one line and attach the full document separately.
Using non‑standard headingsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may not map unconventional headings to expected sections
- Recruiters quickly scan familiar headings for relevant info
- Can cause important content to be missed
How to fix
- Adopt standard headings: "Professional Experience," "Key Achievements," "Education," "Certifications"
- Avoid creative titles like "My Story" or "What I Do"
- Keep heading hierarchy consistent (H2 for main sections)
❌ Before
My Journey\nMy Wins\nLearning Path
✓ After
Professional Experience\nKey Achievements\nEducation
ATS Tip
Match headings to common ATS keywords; e.g., "Experience" maps to work history fields.
Detection Rules
headings contain words like "Journey" or "Story"
missing standard section titles
Resumly Tip
Stick to industry‑standard headings to ensure ATS compatibility.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Key Achievements, Education, Certifications, Awards & Honors
Naming: FirstName_LastName_PRSpecialist
Consistency
Length: 1-2 pages
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a LinkedIn URL with a custom PR‑focused headline
- Add a Core Competencies block with 8–10 targeted keywords
- Show measurable results for every PR campaign
- Keep margins at 0.5–0.75 inches and use a single clean font
- Proofread for spelling, grammar, and AP style consistency
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: media relations, crisis communication, press release, brand storytelling, stakeholder engagement, influencer outreach, event promotion
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Professional Experience" and "Key Achievements"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste a bullet from your current PR resume
- Add a quantifiable result
- Replace passive verbs with strong action verbs
- Insert relevant PR keyword
- Trim to 150 characters or fewer
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