RESUME MISTAKES
Transform Your Soldier Resume into a Mission‑Ready Asset
Identify critical errors, apply proven fixes, and get noticed by recruiters and ATS alike.
How This Page Helps
Help active‑duty and veteran soldiers spot and correct the most damaging resume mistakes so they can transition smoothly to their next assignment or civilian career.
Spot high‑impact errors that cause recruiters to skip your resume
Learn step‑by‑step fixes tailored to military experience
Align your document with ATS requirements used by defense contractors
Boost your credibility with clear, quantifiable achievements
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using Civilian Jargon Without Military ContextHIGH
Why it hurts
- Recruiters may not understand the relevance of generic terms
- ATS keywords miss the specific military equivalents
- It dilutes the impact of your specialized training
How to fix
- Replace vague phrases with official MOS titles and unit names
- Add brief explanations of mission scope for civilian readers
- Map military duties to comparable civilian functions
❌ Before
Managed a team of personnel and performed various tasks.
✓ After
Led a 12‑person infantry squad (MOS 11B) in tactical operations, achieving a 95% mission success rate.
ATS Tip
Include both the MOS code (e.g., 11B) and the civilian equivalent (Infantry Squad Leader).
Detection Rules
contains('team') && not contains('squad')
contains('tasks') && not contains('missions')
Resumly Tip
Swap generic verbs for rank‑specific actions and add unit identifiers.
Listing Duties Without Quantifiable AchievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Provides no evidence of performance
- Makes it hard for recruiters to gauge impact
- ATS often scores resumes higher when numbers are present
How to fix
- Add metrics such as mission success rates, equipment managed, or personnel trained
- Use the STAR format to highlight results
- Focus on outcomes rather than responsibilities alone
❌ Before
Responsible for equipment maintenance and logistics.
✓ After
Oversaw maintenance of 150+ weapons systems, reducing downtime by 22% and ensuring 100% readiness for three consecutive deployments.
ATS Tip
Insert numbers, percentages, and timeframes wherever possible.
Detection Rules
contains('responsible for') && not contains('%')
contains('maintenance') && not contains('downtime')
Resumly Tip
Turn every duty bullet into a result‑focused statement with measurable data.
Omitting Security Clearance InformationHIGH
Why it hurts
How to fix
- Create a dedicated line for clearance status near the top of the resume
- Specify the level (e.g., Secret, Top Secret) and date obtained
- If cleared, note “Active” or “Current” status
❌ Before
Served in intelligence operations.
✓ After
Intelligence Analyst – Active Top Secret clearance (obtained 03/2022) – Conducted threat assessments for multinational task force.
ATS Tip
Use exact clearance terminology: "Secret", "Top Secret", "TS/SCI".
Detection Rules
contains('intelligence') && not contains('clearance')
Resumly Tip
Add a one‑line clearance badge right under your contact info.
Using Non‑Standard Date FormatsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse employment dates
- Hiring managers can misinterpret gaps or tenure
- Inconsistent formatting looks unprofessional
How to fix
- Adopt the month‑year format (MM/YYYY) for all entries
- Keep the same style throughout the document
- Avoid abbreviations like "Jan"; use full month names or numeric month
❌ Before
Jan 2018 – Dec 2020
✓ After
01/2018 – 12/2020
ATS Tip
MM/YYYY is universally recognized by ATS parsers.
Detection Rules
matches('\b[A-Za-z]{3}\s\d{4}\b')
Resumly Tip
Standardize every date to MM/YYYY for consistency and ATS compatibility.
Overloading the Resume with Irrelevant SkillsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Dilutes focus on core military competencies
- ATS keyword density drops for essential terms
- Recruiters waste time scanning unrelated items
How to fix
- Prioritize skills directly tied to your MOS and target role
- Group related abilities under clear headings (e.g., "Combat Leadership", "Technical Operations")
- Remove generic soft‑skills unless backed by concrete examples
❌ Before
Skills: Teamwork, Microsoft Word, Cooking, Leadership, Driving, First Aid
✓ After
Core Skills: Combat Leadership, Tactical Planning, Weapons Systems Management, Advanced First Aid, Vehicle Convoy Operations
ATS Tip
Match skill keywords from the job posting (e.g., "logistics coordination", "risk assessment").
Detection Rules
contains('Microsoft Word') && contains('Combat')
Resumly Tip
Trim the list to 6–8 high‑impact, role‑specific skills.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Security Clearance, Core Skills, Military Experience, Education & Training, Certifications, Awards & Honors
Naming: First Last – MOS – Clearance – Contact
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages for enlisted; up to 3 pages for senior NCOs or officers
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Base), Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use official MOS and rank titles
- Add active security clearance line
- Quantify every achievement
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Include at least 5 relevant keywords from the target job posting
- Limit resume to appropriate length
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday
Keyword Strategy: Leadership, Tactical Planning, Weapons Maintenance, Security Clearance, Logistics, Risk Assessment
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Military Experience" and "Core Skills"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste a bullet from your current soldier resume
- Replace generic verbs with action‑oriented military language
- Add a measurable outcome
- Insert MOS and unit details
- Convert date to MM/YYYY
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