RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Top Talent Because of a Bad Resume
Identify and correct the most common tech recruiter resume mistakes in minutes.
How This Page Helps
Help tech recruiters craft error‑free resumes that showcase sourcing expertise, hiring metrics, and tech‑savvy skills, while passing ATS filters.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Learn industry‑specific language
Boost credibility with quantifiable results
Apply a proven formatting framework
Turn weaknesses into strengths
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Job TitlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge seniority
- ATS may misclassify the role
How to fix
- Use industry‑standard titles like 'Technical Recruiter' or 'Talent Acquisition Specialist'
- Add seniority level (e.g., Senior, Lead)
❌ Before
Recruiter
✓ After
Senior Technical Recruiter – SaaS & Cloud Hiring
ATS Tip
Match titles to common keywords used by ATS.
Detection Rules
title length < 5
title not in known title list
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests the most searched recruiter titles for your experience level.
Missing Recruitment MetricsHIGH
Why it hurts
- No proof of impact
- ATS often scans for numbers
How to fix
- Add placement rate, time‑to‑fill, cost‑per‑hire, and volume metrics
- Use percentages and absolute numbers
❌ Before
Managed full‑cycle recruiting for engineering roles.
✓ After
Managed full‑cycle recruiting for 45 engineering roles, achieving a 30% reduction in time‑to‑fill (45→31 days) and a 20% increase in placement rate.
ATS Tip
Include at least two quantifiable metrics per role.
Detection Rules
absence of digits
no % or $ symbols
Resumly Tip
Our metric extractor highlights missing numbers and suggests common recruiter KPIs.
Overly Generic Skills SectionMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS keyword match drops
- Hiring managers see no specialization
How to fix
- List tech‑recruiting tools (e.g., Lever, Greenhouse, LinkedIn Recruiter)
- Add sourcing techniques (Boolean search, talent pipelines)
❌ Before
Skills: Recruiting, Communication, Teamwork
✓ After
Skills: Boolean Search, LinkedIn Recruiter, Lever, Greenhouse, Candidate Relationship Management, Data‑Driven Sourcing, Diversity Hiring
ATS Tip
Align skills with the job description’s required tools.
Detection Rules
skill list < 5 items
no tool names
Resumly Tip
Resumly scans job ads and auto‑populates the top 10 recruiter‑specific keywords.
Incorrect Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse employment periods
- Hiring managers can’t assess career progression
How to fix
- Use MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY or Month YYYY – Present
- Keep consistent throughout
❌ Before
2019 – 2022
✓ After
Jan 2019 – Mar 2022
ATS Tip
Use numeric month for better parsing.
Detection Rules
date pattern not matching MM/YYYY
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags any date that doesn’t follow the recommended format.
Lack of Tech‑Recruiter KeywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resume
- Missed opportunity to show domain knowledge
How to fix
- Incorporate keywords like 'full‑stack', 'cloud', 'AI/ML', 'Agile', 'scrum', 'technical screening'
❌ Before
Recruited software engineers.
✓ After
Recruited full‑stack and cloud engineers for Agile teams, conducting technical screenings and coding assessments.
ATS Tip
Mirror language from the job posting.
Detection Rules
absence of domain keywords
Resumly Tip
Our keyword matcher highlights missing tech‑specific terms.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Tools
Naming: FirstName_LastName_TechRecruiter.pdf
Consistency
Length: One page for <10 years experience; two pages max for senior roles
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State (Remote optional)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, recruiter‑focused headline
- Add a concise professional summary with 2‑3 impact statements
- List core competencies with industry keywords
- Quantify achievements for each role
- Include specific recruiting tools and platforms
- Standardize dates to MMM YYYY
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Save as PDF with the recommended file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Lever, Greenhouse, iCIMS, Workday, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: Include tools, sourcing methods, and hiring metrics
Heading Format: Use clear headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Core Competencies'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text
- Standardize titles
- Add quantifiable metrics
- Insert recruiter‑specific keywords
- Reformat dates
- Optimize section headings
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