RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Resume Mistakes From Blocking Your Visual Merchandising Career
Identify and correct the most common errors that keep hiring managers from seeing your creative impact.
How This Page Helps
Help visual merchandisers create error‑free, ATS‑compatible resumes that showcase their design, sales, and project management skills.
Spot hidden formatting issues
Learn ATS‑friendly keyword strategies
See before‑and‑after resume examples
Apply quick fixes with our mini‑workshop
Boost interview callbacks
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Generic Objective StatementHIGH
Why it hurts
- Fails to capture creative vision
- Doesn't include measurable results
- Gets filtered by ATS keywords
How to fix
- Replace with a concise summary highlighting key achievements
- Incorporate industry‑specific terms like 'visual storytelling' and 'store layout optimization'
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position in retail.
✓ After
Summary: Award‑winning visual merchandiser with 5+ years driving 20% sales uplift through innovative window displays and data‑driven planograms.
ATS Tip
Include keywords such as 'visual merchandising', 'planogram', 'brand storytelling'.
Detection Rules
Contains the word 'objective'
Less than 30 characters
Lacks quantifiable metrics
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a results‑focused summary to grab attention instantly.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Provides no proof of impact
- Makes resume look bland
- ATS may miss action verbs
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb
- Add numbers or percentages to quantify results
❌ Before
Responsible for arranging product displays.
✓ After
Designed seasonal product displays that increased foot traffic by 15% and boosted accessory sales by $30K.
ATS Tip
Use action verbs like 'designed', 'implemented', 'increased'.
Detection Rules
Bullets start with 'responsible', 'duties', 'tasks'
No numbers present
Resumly Tip
Turn duties into achievement statements with metrics.
Missing Visual Portfolio LinkHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your design work
- Reduces credibility
- ATS may penalize missing URL fields
How to fix
- Add a clickable portfolio URL in the header
- Ensure link is short and professional
❌ Before
Phone: 555-1234
✓ After
Phone: 555-1234 | Portfolio: visualmerchportfolio.com
ATS Tip
Place URL in the contact section; use https://
Detection Rules
No URL field in contact section
No file attachment mention
Resumly Tip
Include a live portfolio link to showcase visual projects.
Inconsistent Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- Looks unprofessional
- Confuses ATS parsing
- Harder to scan quickly
How to fix
- Use month-year format consistently (e.g., Jan 2020 – Dec 2022)
- Align dates to the right margin
❌ Before
June 2020 – 2022
✓ After
Jun 2020 – Dec 2022
ATS Tip
Standardize to 'MMM YYYY' format.
Detection Rules
Dates contain mixed formats
Missing month abbreviation
Resumly Tip
Uniform dates improve readability and ATS parsing.
Overusing Graphics or ImagesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot read embedded images
- File size may exceed limits
- Screen readers miss content
How to fix
- Stick to plain text; use bullet points and bold for headings
- If using a PDF, keep graphics minimal and alt‑text included
❌ Before
Resume includes a full‑width banner with brand colors.
✓ After
Resume uses clean layout with bold headings, no large images.
ATS Tip
Save as PDF with text‑based content.
Detection Rules
File contains <img> tags
File size > 2MB
Presence of background graphics
Resumly Tip
Prioritize text; graphics can be shown in portfolio, not resume.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Key Achievements, Professional Experience, Education, Skills, Portfolio Link
Naming: FirstName_LastName_VisualMerchandiser_Resume
Consistency
Length: One page for <5 years experience; two pages max for 5+ years
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Include a professional summary with metrics
- Use action verbs and quantify results
- Add a clickable portfolio URL
- Standardize dates to MMM YYYY
- Save as PDF under 2MB
- Tailor keywords to the job description
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: visual merchandising, planogram, brand storytelling, window display, retail analytics, space planning
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Professional Experience' and 'Key Achievements' to ensure ATS recognition.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current visual merchandiser resume text
- Convert objective to summary
- Add quantifiable achievements
- Insert portfolio link
- Standardize date format
- Remove large graphics
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