RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Screenwriting Portfolio into a Winning Resume
Spot the 7 biggest resume mistakes screenwriters make and fix them in minutes.
How This Page Helps
Help screenwriters create a polished, industry-ready resume that passes ATS and impresses producers, agents, and hiring managers.
Identify hidden ATS blockers
Learn how to highlight script credits
Showcase awards and festivals effectively
Use proper formatting for fast reading
Avoid common language pitfalls
Get a ready-to-download, error-free resume template
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Listing Every Script You've Ever WrittenHIGH
Why it hurts
- Overwhelms hiring managers
- Dilutes impact of your strongest work
- ATS may flag excessive entries as noise
How to fix
- Keep only produced, optioned, or selected scripts
- Limit the list to 5–7 key projects
- Use concise bullet points with title, year, and outcome
❌ Before
- My Scripts: Love in LA, Space Quest, Haunted House, Mystery Night, Comedy Gold, Drama Days, Thriller Edge, Romance Tales, Sci‑Fi Future, etc.
✓ After
- Selected Credits: • "Orbit" (Sci‑Fi Pilot) – Selected for Sundance 2022, 12,000 reads • "Midnight Sun" (Feature) – Produced by Indie Studios, premiered at Tribeca 2021
ATS Tip
Limit script entries to 5–7 and include clear titles and dates; ATS parses each line as a separate entry.
Detection Rules
Contains more than 7 script titles
Uses generic phrase "Various scripts"
Resumly Tip
Our parser flags excessive script entries and suggests a curated selection of your most impactful work.
Using Creative Fonts and GraphicsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Non‑standard fonts aren’t readable by most ATS
- Embedded images can cause parsing errors
- Hiring managers may struggle to scan quickly
How to fix
- Switch to Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri (10–12 pt)
- Remove decorative graphics; use simple bullet points
- Ensure all text is selectable, not part of an image
❌ Before
<div style="font-family:'Papyrus';color:#ff6600;">My Resume</div>
✓ After
John Doe – Screenwriter Arial 11 pt, black text, plain layout
ATS Tip
Stick to standard fonts and avoid images; ATS reads plain text best.
Detection Rules
Contains non‑standard font names
Contains embedded images
Resumly Tip
Resumly warns when non‑standard fonts are detected and offers a clean template replacement.
Omitting Measurable AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Provides no proof of impact
- Makes your work appear vague
- ATS often looks for quantifiable keywords
How to fix
- Add numbers, awards, or audience metrics to each credit
- Use action verbs and specific results
- Highlight festival selections, view counts, or budget sizes
❌ Before
Wrote a sci‑fi pilot called "Orbit".
✓ After
Wrote sci‑fi pilot "Orbit" – Selected for Sundance 2022, garnered 12,000 online reads and secured a development deal.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like "selected", "awarded", "viewed", and numeric values to boost ATS relevance.
Detection Rules
Missing numeric values in bullet points
Lacks award or selection keywords
Resumly Tip
Our AI suggests adding quantifiable results to each bullet for stronger impact.
Mislabeling SectionsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers may miss key information
- ATS may not map content to expected fields
- Reduces overall readability
How to fix
- Use standard headings: "Professional Summary", "Selected Credits", "Professional Experience", "Awards & Festivals", "Education", "Skills"
- Keep heading hierarchy consistent (H2)
- Avoid creative titles like "My Work" or "Storytelling Journey"
❌ Before
My Work --- ...
✓ After
Selected Credits --- ...
ATS Tip
Standard headings help ATS categorize information correctly.
Detection Rules
Section titles not in approved list
Resumly Tip
We recommend standard section titles for clarity and ATS compatibility.
Not Tailoring Resume to the Job PostingHIGH
Why it hurts
- Generic resumes get filtered by keyword‑based ATS
- Shows lack of research or enthusiasm
- Reduces chance of passing the first screening
How to fix
- Analyze the job description for key phrases
- Insert those keywords into your summary and bullet points
- Reorder credits to match the desired genre or format
❌ Before
Professional Summary: Experienced screenwriter with a passion for storytelling.
✓ After
Professional Summary: Award‑winning screenwriter specializing in drama series development. Proven track record in story structure, pilot scripting, and series bible creation for network TV.
ATS Tip
Match at least 80% of the job’s core keywords (e.g., "story development", "pilot", "series bible").
Detection Rules
Summary lacks job‑specific keywords
Bullet points do not contain required skill terms
Resumly Tip
Resumly scans the posting and highlights missing keywords to help you customize your resume.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Selected Credits, Professional Experience, Awards & Festivals, Education, Skills
Naming: FirstName LastName – Screenwriter
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages
Date Format: Month Year
Location Format: City, State (optional)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clean, ATS‑friendly font
- Limit script list to 5–7 most relevant titles
- Include measurable outcomes for each credit
- Add a concise professional summary with target keywords
- Use standard section headings
- Save as PDF with searchable text
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Use terms like "script development", "story structure", "pilot", "series bible", "award-winning", "festival selection"
Heading Format: Use headings such as "Professional Experience", "Selected Credits", "Awards & Festivals"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current screenwriter resume text
- Trim script list to top 5 credits
- Replace decorative fonts with Arial
- Add quantifiable results to each bullet
- Insert standard headings
- Optimize summary with job‑specific keywords
Ready to land your next writing gig? Get a polished screenwriter resume now!
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