RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Resume Mistakes From Holding Your Retail Management Career Back
Identify and correct the top errors that keep hiring managers from seeing your potential.
How This Page Helps
Help Retail Managers create error‑free resumes that pass ATS filters and impress hiring managers.
Spot the most common wording and layout errors
Learn ATS‑friendly formatting
See before‑and‑after examples
Apply quick fixes with our mini‑workshop
Boost your interview rate
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using generic job titlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your seniority
- ATS may not match keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific ones like “Store Manager – Electronics”
- Add measurable responsibilities
❌ Before
Manager, XYZ Store
✓ After
Retail Store Manager – Electronics, XYZ Store
ATS Tip
Include exact title keywords from the job posting.
Detection Rules
Title lacks department or scope
Title length < 5 words
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests title variations based on industry data.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- ATS looks for quantifiable results
How to fix
- Convert duties to bullet points with numbers
- Show sales growth, team size, cost savings
❌ Before
Responsible for daily store operations.
✓ After
Led a team of 12, increasing monthly sales by 15% and reducing shrinkage by 3%.
ATS Tip
Start bullet points with action verbs and include metrics.
Detection Rules
Bullet points contain verbs like “responsible for”
No numbers present
Resumly Tip
Our AI rewrites duty statements into achievement‑focused bullets.
Poor formatting and inconsistent datesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse sections
- Hiring managers view it as unprofessional
How to fix
- Use a clean, reverse‑chronological layout
- Standardize date format (MM/YYYY)
- Align margins and fonts
❌ Before
June 2018 – Present Store Manager XYZ
✓ After
Retail Store Manager, XYZ — 06/2018 – Present
ATS Tip
Use simple fonts like Arial or Calibri, 10‑12 pt.
Detection Rules
Mixed date formats
Multiple font types
Resumly Tip
Resumly formats dates and fonts automatically.
Omitting relevant retail keywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS won’t rank your resume
- Recruiters miss key competencies
How to fix
- Add keywords such as “POS systems”, “inventory management”, “visual merchandising”
- Mirror language from the job ad
❌ Before
Handled cash transactions.
✓ After
Managed POS transactions, processed $200K daily, and trained staff on inventory management.
ATS Tip
Scatter keywords throughout experience and skills sections.
Detection Rules
Keyword count < 3 for core retail terms
No industry‑specific tools mentioned
Resumly Tip
Keyword extractor highlights missing terms.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Awards
Naming: FirstName_LastName_RetailManager.pdf
Consistency
Length: One page for <10 years experience; two pages max if extensive multi‑store leadership
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a concise summary with target role
- Show measurable achievements
- Use reverse‑chronological order
- Incorporate 5–7 retail keywords
- Keep font size 10‑12 pt
- Save as PDF
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Focus on terms like ‘sales growth’, ‘team leadership’, ‘inventory control’, ‘customer satisfaction’, ‘POS’.
Heading Format: Use standard headings: Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Retail Manager resume text
- Standardize headings
- Convert duties to achievement bullets
- Insert quantifiable metrics
- Apply ATS‑friendly keywords
- Format dates uniformly
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