Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and structure. They rank applications before a human ever reads them. For a Mine Surveyor, ATS look for skills like total station, GNSS/RTK, AutoCAD, laser scanning, UAV/drone mapping, mine control, topographic surveys, contouring, GIS, Trimble, Leica, MSHA, and surveying reports.

• Use clear section titles: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills", "Certifications".
• List tools and methods by name: "Total Station (Trimble)", "GNSS/RTK", "AutoCAD Civil 3D", "Terrestrial laser scanner".
• Use simple bullet points for achievements and duties.

Use plain text, not tables, columns, or images. ATS often drop content inside headers, footers, text boxes, or complex layouts. Save your file as a .docx or a readable PDF and avoid heavy design templates.

Choose standard fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman. Keep font sizes between 10 and 12 points. Use consistent date formats and list locations next to employers.

Avoid replacing exact keywords with creative synonyms. If a job asks for "GNSS" include "GNSS" and related terms like "RTK" and "base station". Don't bury certifications. Put MSHA or surveyor license under "Certifications" so ATS can find them.

Watch common mistakes. Don't use a photo, icons, or a multi-column layout. Don't put contact details in the header or footer. Don't rely on passive phrasing; write short active bullets like "Performed mine control surveys using Trimble total stations."

Pick a clean, professional template that shows your survey experience first. Use a reverse-chronological layout so your recent mine projects and roles appear up front.

Keep length tight. One page fits most early and mid-career mine surveyors. Use two pages only if you have long project lists, certifications, and publications tied directly to surveying.

Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for headers. That keeps text readable on screen and on paper.

Give each section room. Use 0.4–0.6 inch margins and 6–8pt space between lines. White space helps hiring managers scan your site plans, instrument skills, and software list.

Use standard headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Projects, Skills, Certifications, Education. Label project entries with dates, role, mine name, and a one-line outcome or metric.

Avoid complex columns, embedded images, and fancy icons. They often break parsing and hide key details like coordinates or instrument models.

Common mistakes include long paragraphs, unclear dates, and inconsistent bullet styles. Don’t stuff your resume with every minor task from field notes or safety logs.

Highlight measurable results: reduced staking errors, improved survey cycle time, or number of control points established. Keep entries concise and use action verbs like measured, engineered, or verified.

Why a tailored cover letter matters

You want to show you're more than a list of skills on your resume. A tailored letter links your survey experience to the mine's needs. It proves you read the job posting and care about this role.

Key sections

• Header: Put your contact details, the company's name, and the date.
• Opening paragraph: Name the Mine Surveyor role, say why you want it, and mention your top qualification or where you found the listing.
• Body paragraphs: Connect your day-to-day work to the job tasks. Highlight projects, software skills like GPS or AutoCAD, and field techniques like total station surveys. Show teamwork, safety focus, and problem solving. Use numbers where you can, for example hectares mapped or percent improvement in survey turnaround.
• Closing paragraph: Repeat your interest in this Mine Surveyor position and the company. Ask for an interview and thank the reader.

Tone and tailoring

Keep your tone professional, confident, and friendly. Write like you speak. Use one concrete example per paragraph. Swap generic phrases for specifics from the job description. That shows you read it.

Write short sentences. Cut filler. Use active verbs. Tailor every letter; avoid sending the same text to multiple employers.

Writing a resume for a Mine Surveyor needs precision. Recruiters look for technical skill, field experience, and attention to safety. Small slips can hide strong candidates or raise red flags.

Below are common mistakes you might make. Each item shows a mistake, a short example, and a clear fix you can apply right away.

This page gives targeted FAQs and quick tips to help you craft a Mine Surveyor resume. You'll find advice on skills to show, how to list projects, and how to present certifications and gaps. Use these points to make your experience clear and job-focused.