Ever wondered why you’re not landing jobs even when you include all your experiences and expertise on your resume?
The truth is, job applications fall short if your resume isn’t optimized. It’s more than just a piece of paper highlighting your qualities and talents—it’s your first impression to potential employers. And it’s crucial, since most recruiters spend just 6 to 8 seconds deciding whether to move forward with your application or not.
In this article, we’ll show you how to improve your resume and boost your chances of standing out in a competitive job market.
Read more: 5 Advanced Tips to Craft a Job-Winning Resume in a Crowded Market
Why Are You Getting Rejections? 8 Ways to Optimize Your Resume
Being rejected for a job is normal—there are usually multiple applicants for any position. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make your resume work harder for you. What might you be doing wrong? Here’s what to avoid:
1. Your resume is too generic.
You might be tempted to submit a generic resume for every job since it contains the same experiences and skills. But this only reduces your chances of qualifying for the role.
There’s no one-size-fits-all resume since every job position has different requirements. Even for similar roles, you should adjust your resume to align with each company’s values and culture.
Furthermore, submitting generic resumes signals a lack of effort. While recruiters can’t verify if you’ve sent the same resume to multiple employers, misaligned information can be a red flag.
How to fix it:
Take time to tailor your resume for each manufacturing position. If applying for a CNC operator role, highlight your experience with specific machine brands they use. For a quality inspector position, emphasize your familiarity with their quality management systems.
Review the job description for relevant technical skills and consider the company’s manufacturing environment (automotive, food processing, electronics, etc.). This helps recruiters see you as a perfect fit for their production needs.
Read more: The Industrial Skills Employers Are Desperate for in 2025
2. You’re missing the right keywords.
Many employers today utilize applicant tracking systems to screen resumes and applicants. These tools offer faster and more accurate results, allowing recruiters to free up time and resources.
However, since ATS resume screening is automated, it can also become “too” accurate. This is why you need to utilize keywords to make your resumes stand out. Often, you can find relevant keywords from the job description itself. Keywords often vary per employer, making each resume unique.
How to fix it:
- Look for manufacturing-specific terms in the job posting like “5S,” “preventive maintenance,” “GMP,” “ISO 9001,” or “lean manufacturing.”
- Include industry certifications that match the position (NIMS, AWS, Six Sigma, forklift certification).
- Mention specific machinery, equipment, or software systems you’re familiar with that appear in the job description.
Keywords are valuable in manufacturing resumes, but don’t overcrowd your resume with industry buzzwords. Strike a balance and focus more on your concrete achievements on the production floor.
3. Your resume is hard to read.
Many candidates create messy layouts, cramming information into every inch of space. Some use tiny fonts or informal styles. Others put the wrong information at the top while burying important details at the bottom.
Remember that recruiters screen many resumes at once. If yours gives a bad impression from the start, they might not even read about your skills and experience.
How to fix it:
Use clean formatting with a dedicated “Technical Skills” section near the top that clearly lists:
- Machinery you can operate (specific models when possible)
- Computer systems you’re familiar with (ERP systems, MES software)
- Quality control processes you understand
Leave white space to make your content breathe—filling every gap only makes your resume look crowded. You can also use bullet points to make your resume more digestible. Stick to professional fonts and avoid overloading your resume with information.
4. You list responsibilities instead of achievements.
Simply stating that you led a team or managed projects won’t grab a recruiter’s attention—everyone else is highlighting the same skills.
How to fix it:
Use specific achievements and numbers to show your value.
For example, instead of “Performed quality checks,” say, “Reduced defect rate from 3.2% to 0.8% through implementation of new protocols.”
Even when exact numbers aren’t available, estimate the impact of your work on production efficiency, quality, or safety metrics. This demonstrates your value to manufacturing employers.
Read more: The Right Role, Right Now: How to Land an Industrial Job That Matches Your Skills
5. Your information is outdated.
Throughout your career, parts of your resume will become outdated. The most basic is your contact information—your address, phone, email, or LinkedIn profile might have changed. While these seem like simple details, mistakes here can make you appear careless and unprepared.
Your experience can become outdated too. If you’ve moved to a different role and your previous jobs aren’t directly relevant to your current career path, consider removing them—especially if it’s been many years since you worked those jobs.
Ten years is a good benchmark for determining whether job experience is still relevant. Since recruiters only spend seconds scanning resumes, include only what matters most—your relevant technical and soft skills.
How to fix it:
Ensure your contact information is updated every time you send out your resume.
For manufacturing positions, focus on current technical skills relevant to modern production environments. If you learned to program PLCs 15 years ago but haven’t used those skills since, either update your knowledge or don’t highlight those outdated skills.
Review your resume periodically and remove manufacturing experience from more than ten years ago unless it involves specialized skills directly relevant to the position.
Highlight your familiarity with current manufacturing technologies and processes rather than outdated systems.
6. Your language is weak and vague.
Your resume should speak confidently about your abilities. Passive phrases like “was responsible for” or “helped with” don’t highlight your contributions and can diminish your achievements.
Many manufacturing candidates make the mistake of understating their contributions with weak language. For example, writing “Was part of a team that improved production efficiency” sounds much less impressive than “Contributed key ideas that helped increase production line efficiency by 15%.”
How to fix it:
Use manufacturing-specific action verbs like “fabricated,” “engineered,” “assembled,” “calibrated,” “troubleshot,” “programmed,” “inspected,” “maintained,” and “optimized” to accurately reflect your contributions on the production floor.
Remember, manufacturing employers want problem-solvers who can keep production moving efficiently. Your language should show that you understand production priorities and can contribute to operational excellence.
Read more: 6 Traits That Get You Hired in Manufacturing: Secrets to Impressing Employers
7. You forgot the cover letter.
Cover letters offer a strong emphasis on why you should be considered for the job. Think of it as your initial defense for why you’re a valuable candidate. The letter should directly connect to the organization and role you’re applying for. Unfortunately, many applicants skip this step.
Unlike resumes, cover letters require more personalization and effort. For example, if you’re applying for a line worker position, you need to show enthusiasm for the craft or the equipment the company uses. The same cover letter will not work for a clerical or managerial role.
How to fix it:
Write a manufacturing-focused cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of production environments. Mention if you’ve worked in similar manufacturing settings and explain how your experience aligns with their specific production needs.
Keep a basic template on hand, but customize it for each manufacturing position to show you understand their specific production challenges.
8. You included irrelevant personal details.
Not all employers will react the same way to reading your hobbies and interests. While some may find them interesting, especially if they share the same interests, some may see it as irrelevant or unprofessional. In the end, you might stand out for the wrong reasons.
Furthermore, this information will only take up valuable space without guaranteeing success. It could even trigger unconscious bias. For example, mentioning that you’re passionate about hunting might create a negative impression if your hiring manager is strongly opposed to it.
How to fix it:
Instead of listing hobbies, include production-relevant details such as: “Comfortable working in various temperature conditions,” “Available for all shifts including weekends,” or “Experienced with physically demanding work.”
Focus on what manufacturing employers actually care about—your skills, experience, certifications, reliability, and ability to contribute to their production goals.
Continue your job search with Horizon America.
The hiring process can be challenging, and every document you submit is key to your success. Before applying to your next job, use these resume tips to increase your chances of getting hired.
If you need assistance, Horizon America Staffing can help! With over 30 years of combined experience as a staffing partner for light industrial and manufacturing roles, we can help you create targeted resumes that attract employers.
Contact us and browse our open positions today!
