TCW #011 | Debugging your Resume
If you're not getting called back on at least one in nine job applications, the problem is your resume. 5 common resume issues (and how to fix them).
Getting your resume right can boost your job search results 2x-3x overnight.
A bad resume impacts not just the speed of your job search but also your negotiation potential, future scope, title, and career trajectory.
Today’s post summarizes what I’ve learned over 10+ years as a tech hiring manager and 3+ years as a coach rewriting resumes for tech job seekers.
I cover foundational tips on how job posts and applicant tracking systems actually work, plus how to fix these five common resume pitfalls to boost your callback rates:
No ATS optimization (or incorrect optimization)
Missing key sections (that humans are looking for)
Non-skimmable (wall-to-wall text, no whitespace, long sentences, misuse of bullets, and more)
Lacking a clear relationship to the role being applied for
Lacking cohesiveness (who is this person? what are they aiming for in their career?)
We’ll cover:
Resume formatting best practices (font recommendations, font size, colors, page lengths, column formats, hyperlink inclusion, and more)
Readability standards (white space and margin settings, how much space to leave between lines, sections, and bullets)
The seven header sections (what to call them and what order to put them in)
How to write a professional objective (and where to put it)
When, how, and where to inject a Career Highlights section
How to format your experiences (with multiple visuals and examples you can pirate)
Writing zingy accomplishment bullets (extracting metrics, claiming your work, evocative verbs, and dozens of illuminating examples)
Education, certifications, and extras (what to write, dealing with exceptions like dates, global universities, and more)
Formatting your skills section (best practices, plus multiple examples you can steal and use).
Let’s dive in ↓