RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Sales Jobs to a Flawed Resume
Identify and correct the biggest resume mistakes sales reps make.
How This Page Helps
Help sales representatives create error‑free, high‑impact resumes that pass ATS and impress hiring managers.
Spot the most damaging resume errors
Learn actionable fixes for each mistake
Optimize for ATS used by top sales firms
Download a ready‑to‑use checklist
Apply proven formatting standards
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague or generic objective/summaryMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your sales value proposition
- ATS may miss key sales keywords
- Sets a bland first impression
How to fix
- Replace the objective with a 2‑sentence sales summary
- Highlight years of experience, target market, and top achievements
- Insert high‑impact keywords like "quota" and "pipeline"
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a sales position where I can utilize my skills.
✓ After
Professional Summary: 5+ years B2B sales professional who consistently exceeded quota by 20% and grew territory revenue from $1M to $3M in two years.
ATS Tip
Lead with keywords such as "quota attainment", "pipeline management", and "CRM" early in the summary.
Detection Rules
summary length < 30 characters
absence of sales‑specific verbs
Resumly Tip
Swap a generic objective for a concise, achievement‑focused summary that showcases your sales impact.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate results
- Fails to differentiate you from other reps
- ATS scores lower on impact‑oriented language
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify results (e.g., revenue, % growth)
- Focus on outcomes rather than tasks
❌ Before
- Managed client accounts. - Conducted sales calls. - Prepared proposals.
✓ After
- Managed a portfolio of 30 enterprise accounts, increasing renewal rate by 15%. - Conducted 120+ cold calls weekly, generating 25 qualified leads per month. - Crafted proposals that closed $2.5M in new business within Q3.
ATS Tip
Include measurable metrics and sales verbs like "closed", "generated", "exceeded".
Detection Rules
bullets start with "responsible for" or "duties include"
no numbers present
Resumly Tip
Transform duty‑based bullets into achievement statements with numbers to prove your sales success.
Omitting measurable resultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your performance
- ATS looks for numbers to rank candidates
- Reduces credibility
How to fix
- Add specific figures: revenue, % growth, units sold, ranking","Add time frames
❌ Before
- Exceeded sales targets. - Built strong client relationships.
✓ After
- Exceeded quarterly sales targets by 25% for 4 consecutive quarters, ranking in the top 5% of the sales team. - Developed relationships with 50+ key accounts, resulting in $1.2M incremental revenue.
ATS Tip
Use digits and percentages; ATS parses numbers more effectively than words.
Detection Rules
bullets contain no digits
phrases like "exceeded targets" without numbers
Resumly Tip
Whenever you claim success, back it up with concrete numbers and time frames.
Non‑standard headings and layoutMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may not map sections correctly
- Recruiters waste time scanning unfamiliar headings
- Can cause important info to be missed
How to fix
- Use conventional headings (Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Experience, Education)
- Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics
- Keep a single-column layout
❌ Before
Career Highlights --- Work History --- Skills & Tools
✓ After
Professional Summary Core Competencies Professional Experience Education
ATS Tip
Standard headings align with ATS parsing rules; stick to plain text and simple bullet points.
Detection Rules
heading contains symbols or uncommon titles
use of tables
Resumly Tip
Replace creative headings with industry‑standard ones to ensure ATS can read every section.
Using graphics, tables, or fancy fontsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Many ATS cannot read embedded objects
- Formatting may become scrambled when converted to PDF
- Reduces readability for recruiters
How to fix
- Use a clean, ATS‑friendly template with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Avoid tables, columns, and images unless absolutely necessary
- Save as PDF or DOCX with simple formatting
❌ Before
<table><tr><td>Revenue</td><td>$2M</td></tr></table>
✓ After
Revenue: $2M (2023)
ATS Tip
Plain text, single‑column layouts are parsed most reliably across iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, and SmartRecruiters.
Detection Rules
contains <table> tags
uses graphic elements
Resumly Tip
Strip out tables and graphics; keep the resume text‑only for maximum ATS compatibility.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Awards
Naming: FirstName_LastName_SalesRep_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for 6‑8 years of experience
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear professional summary
- Quantify sales achievements
- Include relevant sales keywords
- Use standard headings
- Keep formatting ATS‑friendly
- Proofread for typos
- Limit resume to 2 pages
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: Use terms like "quota attainment", "pipeline management", "B2B sales", "CRM (Salesforce)", "lead generation"
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Experience, Education
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current sales resume text
- Convert bullet points to achievement‑focused statements
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Replace generic language with sales‑specific keywords
- Standardize headings and dates
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