RESUME MISTAKES
Roofers: Stop Resume Mistakes From Blocking Your Next Job
Identify and correct the most common errors that keep hiring managers from calling you back.
How This Page Helps
Help roofing professionals create error‑free resumes that pass ATS filters and impress hiring managers.
Spot the 7 most frequent roofing resume blunders
Learn why each mistake hurts your chances
Step‑by‑step fixes with before‑and‑after examples
ATS‑friendly formatting tips for construction jobs
A downloadable checklist to keep your resume on track
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Trade CertificationsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers assume you lack required safety training
- ATS filters often search for specific certification keywords
- Without certifications you appear less qualified than competitors
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications section
- List each certification with issuing organization and date
- Use exact names like "OSHA 10" or "Certified Roof Trainer (CRT)"
❌ Before
Certifications: None
✓ After
Certifications: OSHA 10 – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (06/2022); Certified Roof Trainer (CRT) – Roofing Contractors Association (09/2023)
ATS Tip
Include certification names verbatim; they are common keyword matches in roofing job postings
Detection Rules
Resume lacks a Certifications heading
Search for keywords "OSHA", "certified", "license" returns no results
Resumly Tip
Add a Certifications section right after your Professional Summary to showcase safety credentials.
Using Generic Job TitlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters skim titles to gauge relevance; "Worker" provides no context
- ATS may not map generic titles to roofing roles
- You miss out on keyword matches for specific positions
How to fix
- Replace vague titles with industry‑specific ones
- Add a brief qualifier if you specialized (e.g., "Commercial Roof Installer")
- Align titles with those used in the job posting
❌ Before
Job Title: Worker
✓ After
Job Title: Residential Roof Installer
ATS Tip
Use exact titles like "Roof Repair Technician" or "Shingle Installer" to hit keyword filters
Detection Rules
Title line contains generic words such as "Worker", "Employee", "Staff"
Resumly Tip
Swap generic titles for precise roofing roles to improve both human and ATS readability.
Duty‑Heavy Bullet PointsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Bullets that list tasks don’t demonstrate impact
- Hiring managers can’t see measurable results
- ATS scores lower when achievements with numbers are missing
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify results (e.g., "Installed 1,200 sq ft of shingle roofing in 3 days")
- Focus on outcomes like safety compliance, cost savings, or client satisfaction
❌ Before
- Performed roof inspections. - Repaired leaks. - Assisted senior crew members.
✓ After
- Conducted 30+ roof inspections weekly, identifying safety hazards and reducing re‑work by 15%. - Repaired leaks on commercial roofs, restoring service for 12 clients within 24 hours. - Trained 5 junior crew members on proper shingle installation, improving team efficiency by 10%.
ATS Tip
Include numbers, percentages, and industry terms such as "shingle", "metal roofing", "waterproofing"
Detection Rules
Bullets lack numbers or measurable outcomes
Verbs are weak (e.g., "did", "helped")
Resumly Tip
Transform duty statements into achievement‑focused bullets with quantifiable results.
Unclear Employment DatesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge experience length
- ATS may reject resumes with ambiguous date formats
- Gaps appear suspicious without clear timelines
How to fix
- Use consistent MM/YYYY format for all positions
- List month and year for both start and end dates
- If a job is ongoing, write "Present" for the end date
❌ Before
Roof Installer ABC Roofing 2019 – 2021
✓ After
Roof Installer ABC Roofing 06/2019 – Present
ATS Tip
Standard MM/YYYY dates are parsed correctly by most ATS parsers
Detection Rules
Date lines contain only years or vague terms like "last year"
Resumly Tip
Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY to eliminate ambiguity for both humans and ATS.
Wrong File Type or LengthLOW
Why it hurts
- Many ATS only accept PDF or DOCX; other formats are ignored
- Hiring managers may discard overly long resumes
- Large files increase processing time and risk of truncation
How to fix
- Save your resume as PDF (preferred) or DOCX
- Keep it to one page if <5 years experience, two pages max otherwise
- Compress images and avoid embedded graphics
❌ Before
Resume saved as .txt, 3 pages long with a photo header
✓ After
Resume saved as PDF, 1.5 pages, clean layout, no photo
ATS Tip
PDF preserves formatting and is universally accepted by iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Bullhorn
Detection Rules
File extension not .pdf or .docx
Page count exceeds 2
Resumly Tip
Export to PDF using the recommended naming convention to ensure ATS compatibility.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Info, Professional Summary, Certifications, Work Experience, Skills, Education
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Roofer_Resume
Consistency
Length: One page for <5 years experience; two pages max for 5+ years
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, professional font (e.g., Arial 11pt)
- Include a Certifications section
- Quantify results (e.g., installed 1,500 sq ft of roofing)
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Tailor keywords to the specific roofing job posting
- Save as PDF with file name matching naming convention
- Keep resume under 2 pages
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Bullhorn
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like "shingle installation", "roof repair", "OSHA 10", "safety compliance", "lead generation"
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as "Professional Summary", "Certifications", "Work Experience", "Skills"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current roofer resume text below
- Add certifications
- Convert duties to achievements
- Standardize dates
- Insert roofing‑specific keywords
- Optimize bullet length
Ready to land your next roofing contract? Let Resumly polish your resume.
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