Tier 4

resume_optimization

Systematic approach to crafting resumes that pass ATS filters, capture attention,

Usage in Claude Code: /resume_optimization your question here

Resume Optimization

Overview

Systematic approach to crafting resumes that pass ATS filters, capture attention, and effectively communicate value to hiring managers.

Steps

Step 1: Gather and inventory all experience

Create comprehensive inventory of your professional history:

  1. List every job with:

    • Company, title, dates
    • Key responsibilities
    • All achievements (big and small)
    • Skills used and developed
    • Metrics and numbers available

  2. For each achievement, capture:

    • What was the situation/challenge?
    • What did you specifically do?
    • What was the measurable result?
    • Who benefited and how?

  3. List all skills:

    • Technical skills (tools, languages, platforms)
    • Domain knowledge (industries, functions)
    • Soft skills with evidence

This becomes your “master resume” for all future tailoring.

Step 2: Analyze target role requirements

Decode what the role actually requires:

  1. If you have a specific job description:

    • Highlight required qualifications
    • Note preferred qualifications
    • Identify keywords used repeatedly
    • Understand the implicit priorities

  2. If targeting a role type generally:

    • Review 5-10 job postings for this role
    • Note common requirements across postings
    • Identify industry-standard terminology
    • Check LinkedIn profiles of people in the role

  3. Map requirements to your experience:

    • Required: Must show evidence of these
    • Preferred: Include if you have them
    • Gaps: Address strategically or acknowledge

Step 3: Select and prioritize content

Choose what to include based on relevance:

  1. From your master inventory, select:

    • Experiences most relevant to target
    • Achievements that demonstrate required skills
    • Skills that match job requirements

  2. Prioritize ruthlessly:

    • Most relevant experiences get more space
    • Recent experience weighted over old
    • Cut irrelevant experience entirely if needed
    • Aim for 1 page (early career) or 2 pages max (experienced)

  3. Decide on sections:

    • Include summary if story needs context
    • Skills section if technical or for ATS
    • Projects if changing careers or new grad
    • Cut sections that don’t add value

Step 4: Write achievement-focused bullets

Transform your experience into compelling bullets:

  1. For each role, write 3-6 bullets:

    • Lead with strong action verb
    • Include context (scope, challenge)
    • Describe your specific contribution
    • End with measurable result

  2. Use CAR formula:

    • Challenge: What was the problem/opportunity?
    • Action: What did you specifically do?
    • Result: What was the outcome?

  3. Quantify everything possible:

    • Revenue, users, cost savings
    • Percentages of improvement
    • Time saved, efficiency gained
    • Team size, project scope

  4. Incorporate keywords naturally:

    • Use exact terms from job description
    • Don’t keyword-stuff, integrate naturally

Power verbs by category:

  • Leadership: Led, Directed, Orchestrated, Championed
  • Achievement: Achieved, Exceeded, Delivered, Accomplished
  • Creation: Built, Developed, Designed, Launched
  • Improvement: Optimized, Streamlined, Enhanced, Transformed
  • Analysis: Analyzed, Evaluated, Assessed, Identified

Step 5: Craft supporting sections

Complete remaining resume sections:

  1. Summary (if including):

    • First sentence: Who you are (title, years, domain)
    • Second sentence: Key achievements or expertise
    • Third sentence: What you’re seeking (optional)
    • Total: 2-4 sentences, no fluff

  2. Skills section:

    • Group by category (Languages, Frameworks, Tools)
    • List in order of relevance to role
    • Include both technical and domain skills
    • Match terminology to job description

  3. Education:

    • Most recent/relevant degree first
    • Include GPA only if >3.5 and recent grad
    • Add relevant coursework if new to field
    • Include certifications if relevant

  4. Optional sections if space allows:

    • Projects: For career changers or to show initiative
    • Certifications: If specifically required
    • Awards: If notable and relevant

Step 6: Format for ATS and humans

Apply formatting that works for both systems:

  1. Structure:

    • Clear section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
    • Reverse chronological within sections
    • Consistent date format throughout
    • No tables, columns, or text boxes

  2. Typography:

    • Standard font (Arial, Calibri, Garamond)
    • 10-12pt body text, slightly larger headers
    • Bold for company names and job titles
    • Bullets for achievements

  3. Layout:

    • 0.5-1 inch margins
    • Adequate white space
    • 1 page for <10 years experience, 2 pages max for senior
    • Name and contact info at very top

  4. File format:

    • Save as PDF (preserves formatting)
    • Use simple filename: FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
    • Keep .docx version for systems that require it

Step 7: Review and refine

Quality check before submission:

  1. Proofread thoroughly:

    • Read out loud to catch awkward phrasing
    • Check spelling, grammar, punctuation
    • Verify all dates and numbers
    • Ensure consistency (formatting, tense, style)

  2. Test ATS compatibility:

    • Run through free ATS scanner (Jobscan, Resume Worded)
    • Check keyword match percentage
    • Verify parsing is accurate

  3. Get feedback:

    • Ask someone in target industry to review
    • Request specific feedback on clarity and impact
    • Test: “After 10 seconds, what do you remember?”

  4. Final checks:

    • Contact info is current and professional
    • No personal info that could cause bias
    • Links work (LinkedIn, portfolio)
    • File size reasonable (<5MB)

When to Use

  • Creating a new resume for job search
  • Tailoring resume for specific application
  • Resume not generating interviews (conversion problem)
  • Career pivot requiring repositioning
  • Major accomplishments to add
  • Resume hasn’t been updated in 2+ years

Verification

  • Every bullet starts with action verb
  • Every bullet has measurable outcome or clear impact
  • Keywords from target role appear naturally throughout
  • Formatting is ATS-friendly (no tables, simple layout)
  • Length is appropriate (1-2 pages max)
  • Contact info is current and professional
  • Zero errors (spelling, grammar, consistency)

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Apply this procedure to the input provided.