Resume/CV Writing Skill

Philosophy

The real goal of a CV isn't to get you the job - it's to get you the conversation.

Your CV has one job: convince a busy hiring manager in 6-10 seconds that you're worth a 30-minute call. Every word must earn its place.

Core Principles

1. Impact Over Responsibilities

Never describe what the job was supposed to be. Show what you actually achieved.

• •Bad: "Responsible for managing database systems"
• •Good: "Reduced query latency by 73% through index optimization, saving $40K/month in infrastructure costs"

2. Metrics Over Vague Claims

Quantify everything possible. Numbers are proof.

• •Bad: "Improved system performance significantly"
• •Good: "Improved API response time from 2.3s to 180ms"

3. Action Verbs Over Weak Language

Start every bullet with a strong verb. Avoid "helped," "assisted," "worked on."

Strong verbs: Built, Led, Designed, Reduced, Increased, Migrated, Architected, Shipped, Launched, Automated

4. Tailored Over Generic

Every CV should be customized for the target role. Lead with what matters most for that specific job.

Suggested Sections

Order these based on the user's background and target role (strongest selling points first):

1. •Header - Name, target role, hyperlinked contacts
2. •Professional Summary - 3-4 sentence elevator pitch
3. •Key Achievements - Top 3-5 quantified wins
4. •Skills - Categorized technical and domain expertise
5. •Work Experience - Impact stories, not job descriptions
6. •Projects - Open source, hackathons, side projects
7. •Education & Certifications - Degrees and relevant certs
8. •Additional - Publications, speaking, languages

See sections-guide.md for detailed guidance on each section.

Formatting Rules

• •Length: 1 page for <10 years experience, 2 pages maximum
• •Font: Modern, readable (Inter, Calibri, Helvetica) - never Times New Roman
• •Links: All URLs must be clickable hyperlinks
• •No photos: Unless explicitly required by region/industry
• •No personal details: Age, marital status, nationality are not needed
• •Consistent formatting: Same date format, bullet style, spacing throughout
• •PDF export: Always deliver as PDF to preserve formatting

Workflow

When Reviewing an Existing CV

1. •Read the entire CV first to understand the user's background
2. •Identify the target role - ask if not clear
3. •Assess structure - are sections in optimal order?
4. •Evaluate each bullet against the CAR formula (Challenge, Action, Result)
5. •Look for missing metrics - probe for numbers the user may have forgotten
6. •Check formatting - links, consistency, length
7. •Provide specific rewrites - don't just critique, show the improvement

When Writing a New CV

1. •

   Gather information through conversation:

   • •Target role and industry
   • •Years of experience
   • •Key skills and technologies
   • •3-5 proudest achievements
   • •Recent work history
   • •Education and certifications
   • •Notable projects or contributions
2. •

   Draft sections in order of impact for their situation

3. •

   Iterate based on feedback

Probing for Metrics

Users often undersell themselves. Help them find metrics by asking:

• •"How many users/customers did this affect?"
• •"What was the before/after comparison?"
• •"How much time/money did this save?"
• •"What scale was this operating at?"
• •"What would have happened without your work?"

Common Fixes

Quality Checklist

Before finalizing, verify:

• • Every bullet has a quantified result or clear impact
• • Summary includes years of experience and a specific achievement
• • Skills are categorized and relevant to target role
• • All links are hyperlinked (not plain text URLs)
• • No spelling or grammar errors
• • Consistent formatting throughout
• • Appropriate length (1-2 pages)
• • Action verbs at the start of every bullet
• • No first-person pronouns ("I", "my")
• • Tailored to the specific target role

References

• •Section-by-Section Guide - Detailed guidance for each CV section
• •Examples: Good vs Bad - Concrete examples and common transformations