How to Write a Reader-Friendly Resume

Most Resumes Are Worth $70K, Not $200K (Here’s how to upgrade yours in 7 days.) Let me break down exactly how I transformed flat, task-heavy resumes into career-launching assets that get recruiters to say: “We need to talk.” 1. Focus on Impact, Not Tasks I stopped writing bullet points that sounded like a job description. Instead, I asked: “What changed because I was there?” Removed vague duties like “managed projects” Rewrote them to show results: “Cut delivery time by 35%” Added real metrics: revenue, cost savings, speed Lesson: Numbers speak louder than adjectives. 2. Rewrite the Top ⅓ First impressions matter—even on paper. I turned the top 5 lines of my resume into a highlight reel, not an introduction. Crafted a sharp headline with my value prop Replaced “Objectives” with an Impact Summary Put my best wins front and center Lesson: Grab attention before the scroll. 3. Quantify Everything Hiring managers don’t scan resumes. They scan numbers. “Increased sales by 42%” beats “helped improve sales” If numbers weren’t available, I used words like “large-scale” or “enterprise-wide” Lesson: Metrics = trust. Trust = interviews. 4. Optimize for Keywords I started thinking like a recruiter and a robot. Analyzed job descriptions for target roles Sprinkled in keywords naturally Skipped buzzword stuffing—it needs to sound human too Lesson: No keywords = no visibility. 5. Cut the Fluff Fluff kills clarity. And hiring managers don’t have time. Replaced “responsible for…” with strong verbs like “led,” “created,” “launched” Cut the resume to 1 page if under 10 years’ experience 2 pages max for senior leaders Lesson: Say more with less. 6. Format for Modern Readers Design matters—even in black and white. Used clean fonts like Calibri or Helvetica Kept font size 11–12pt Avoided photos, borders, or fancy graphics Lesson: If it’s hard to read, it won’t get read. 7. Polish Like a Pro Final impressions matter as much as first ones. Proofread 3x Had someone else review it Saved as a PDF unless otherwise specified Lesson: Small mistakes = big judgment. 8. Bonus Moves That Make a Difference Synced my LinkedIn headline to match my resume Added a “Selected Achievements” section Highlighted promotions and internal growth Posted value-driven content to attract recruiters before applying Lesson: The best resumes don’t just tell your story. They sell it. When you shift from listing responsibilities to demonstrating results, your resume goes from “nice to have” to “must call.” You don’t need a new degree. You need a new narrative. ▶ Want more $200K+ job search strategies? Follow me for real, actionable career upgrades — no fluff. And follow Prashha Dutra for more.

I've reviewed 2,000+ resumes this year. Avoid these mistakes that 90% make. 1. Generic Summaries ❌ "Motivated professional seeking opportunities to leverage my skills..." ✅ "Marketing Director who increased e-commerce revenue 47% through data-driven campaigns and strategic partnerships." 2. Missing Numbers ❌ "Led large team and improved sales." ✅ "Led 15-person sales team to deliver $3.2M in new business, exceeding targets by 28%." 3. Cluttered Formatting ❌ Tiny margins, dense paragraphs, and multiple fonts. ✅ Clean headers, consistent bullet points, and enough white space for easy scanning. 4. Outdated Information ❌ Listing your high school achievements and every job since college. ✅ Your most relevant accomplishments from the past 10-15 years that showcase your career progression. 5. RESPONSIBILITY LISTS ❌ "Responsible for managing client relationships and handling complaints." ✅ "Retained 98% of key accounts and turned 3 dissatisfied clients into top referral sources." 6. ATS-UNFRIENDLY DESIGN ❌ Creative formats with graphics, text boxes, and unique fonts. ✅ Clean, standard formatting with relevant keywords that match the job description. Your resume has 7 seconds to make an impression.  Use these tips to make them count. Share this to help others level up their resume! 📈 And follow me for more advice like this.

Lately, I’ve been receiving more requests to review resumes—from friends who've been impacted by layoffs to job seekers eager to land their next role to students prepping for summer internships or jobs after graduation. I'm fortunate to come across a lot of resumes and enjoy reviewing them, so if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your resume is your first impression. I know it's an extremely competitive job market, so I hope these quick tips support anyone looking to stand out: ✅ Lead with impact—Start each bullet point with a strong action verb and highlight results, ideally with a % impact - could be improvement in satisfaction scores, time saved, money saved, etc. And if you're leading a lot with "Managed" or "Coordinated," there are likelier stronger verbs to choose. ✅ Keep it clean & brief—Recruiters and hiring managers often skim, so make sure your resume is easy to read, well-structured, and free of fluff. My rule of thumb is if you have less than 8-10 years of work experience, it should fit on one page. And keep the format simple and ensure your personal data is safe: I only need to see your name, phone, email, and LinkedIn profile. Sharing home or mailing addresses isn't necessary and may signal an unwillingness to relocate. ✅ Grammar & consistency matter—A simple typo can cost you credibility! Ensure your formatting, punctuation, and verb tenses are consistent throughout. ✅ Tailor, tailor, tailor—One-size-fits-all resumes? Nope. Customize your resume for each role or company by mirroring keywords from the job description. Here's where AI can help... ✅ Leverage AI tools—Think of Copilot or AI-driven writing tools as your personal editors. They can catch grammar mistakes, improve clarity, and optimize your resume for keyword searches. You can also ask them for suggested learning courses or articles to improve upon skills that may be helpful in jobs you're looking for. ✅ Showcase YOU—Your resume isn’t just about what you’ve done—it’s about what you can bring. Highlight unique skills, projects, or volunteer experiences that set you apart. I often find that the most interesting and insightful interview questions can come from someone reviewing your resume and asking you something at the very bottom of it. For me, I was often asked about teaching dance fitness classes and why that was a passion of mine. If it's on your resume, ensure YOU want to talk about it! And while this post was all around resume/CV tips, I hope you prioritize networking and finding warm introductions through people in companies or with career paths that inspire you. Those connections can help and be an extension of your professional brand! Comment below any other tips or what resonates most ⬇️ #ResumeTips #JobSeekers

Yesterday, I read 237 resumes for an open role. No fancy ATS. No AI screening resumes. Just me, a Google Sheet, one cup of coffee (🤡) and a to-do list that didn’t stand a chance. I’d hire everyone if I could… but I can’t. So, if you’re applying to small companies or startups, where a real person is reading your resume not some shiny ATS system. Here are a few simple things that help: 🧠 Use a standard, readable font. If your resume shows up teeny-tiny in the LinkedIn preview, I can’t zoom in without downloading it and with 100, 200, 300+ to get through, I’m trying to keep things efficient. 👀 Don’t shrink your text to 8pt. I’d rather scroll than squint. Use more pages if needed. 🗂️ Name your file something helpful. “YourName_Resume.pdf” goes a long way. 📄 PDF > Word doc. Always. ✏️ Proofread. Especially your contact info and the company name. 💼 Make your relevant experience easy to spot. If it aligns, don’t make me dig for it. If you're applying to a company with an actual human reading your resume (hi 👋), these tips apply. ATS-focused advice is a different game entirely. I want every great candidate to find the right fit, even if it’s not with us. You deserve that. But please don’t squish 10 years of experience into a 1-pager I can’t legibly read. 🙃

With the recent layoffs, here is my top resume advice from having reviewed 10,000+ resumes and conducted 2,500+ interviews. It is all about avoiding 3 simple things: (1) No clear objective. If I have to guess what you want to do or sort through a busy "personal statement", I won’t make it to the end. Also, remove “happy words” like "highly motivated" and "quick learner" from your resume and state clearly what you want to do so I know if you fit the role. (2) No impact / No data. Writing “what you do” inevitably makes you look junior. "Created reports" reads as "paper pusher" and "developed XYZ module" is hardly any better. Tell me why your work mattered with numbers: - How much money did you generate? - How much faster/more reliable/better was the system you developed? “Doers” get hired to take orders and do while people who make an impact get hired to make a difference. The latter pays a whole lot better. This point is another place where it is worth mentioning “Happy Words”. We often feel we must write that we are a "Collaborative, diligent worker" or a "Motivated self-starter", etc. Recruiters skip right past all that to see what you have DONE. Focus on the impact you can deliver and explain it in numbers. SHOWING that you are all of those “happy words” through your clear results is much stronger than claiming it in words. (3) Words. FAR TOO MANY. We feel that if the reader would just understand us and our struggles, they would hire us. But the reader is not there to care about our lives. They are there to answer a simple question: will this person accomplish what I need them to? By using fewer words, you make it easy for the reviewer to quickly see what you want to do and the high-impact things that you have done. If the reviewer wants to know more, they will call. What are some other common resume mistakes? Or what are some good things to include that will make your resume stand out positively? If you are worried about layoffs at your company, I am doing a free "Lightning Lesson" on Maven on Friday, February 23 at 10 AM PST. You can register to join the free 30 minute talk here: https://buff.ly/49xPyXO

After reshaping 200+ PM resumes, I’m finally checking my work against the Internet’s wisdom (and the results are surprising)! Here are the top 6 pieces of advice for improving your resume, gathered from multiple sources across the web. This is all great advice! (And aligns with my approach.) But the list leaves out the MOST important tip, which I'll share at the end. (Oh, and point #5 is not totally wrong, but it's misleading and tends to lead to BAD resumes.) 1. Start with a Strong Summary – Your resume should open with a brief, compelling summary that highlights your key skills and qualifications. This helps grab the hiring manager’s attention right away. And entices them to read more. 2. Use Action Verbs – Start each bullet point with strong action verbs like "developed," "led," or "implemented" to make your achievements stand out and show proactivity. 3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job – Customize your resume for each position you apply to by a) making it clear that you *are* the role they are looking for, and b) if necessary adding keywords from the job description into your Skills section. The keywords help pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) and reassure HR recruiters that you're qualified. (Note: The Internet doesn't know this, but the hiring manager doesn't care much about keywords.) 4. Focus on Achievements, Not Responsibilities – Don’t just list what you were responsible for. Instead, emphasize what you accomplished in each role and how it benefited the company. (Good, but not enough - refer to point #7.) 5. Keep It Concise – Stick to one or two pages, focusing on the most relevant experience. Hiring managers typically spend only a few seconds scanning a resume, so brevity is key. --> (#5 is actually wrong. That five second scan is only focused on the first half page. *If* they like what they see, they'll spend a lot more time on your resume.) 6. Use a Clean Format – Stick to professional, easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Georgia. Avoid overly flashy design elements, like multiple columns, that could confuse ATS systems and readers! And no typos - usually instant disqualification! A pretty good set of tips, especially if you take them the right way (e.g., #5). What's missing? Something that relates to #4: 7. Show Your Impact - Achievements are often boring. But put your achievement in the context of a problem worth solving and a meaningful transformation, and suddenly it's not boring. ** Before: Saved the company over $1.2M by renegotiating with suppliers. ** After: Renegotiated supplier contracts, reversing rising supply chain costs and saving $1.2M (10%), while improving supplier relationships, enhancing product quality, and reducing time-to-market. --- Want some "Internet approved" help with your resume? I can make sure you apply all these tips, especially #7. Click the "Make your resume amazing!" link on my LinkedIn profile page to learn more.

Recently, someone I know, felt frustrated with his job search. Despite having great experience, his resume wasn’t getting the attention it deserved. We thoroughly reviewed his resume and applied these 5 transformative steps. The result? He started receiving interview invitations within days! I understand that updating your resume can feel overwhelming, but it’s worth the effort. Here’s how you can give your resume a boost and catch the eye of your next employer: → Tailor it to the Job: Adjust your resume for each position you apply for. Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job description. → Use Action Verbs: Begin each bullet point with powerful verbs like 'Achieved,' 'Designed,' or 'Enhanced' to clearly convey your contributions. → Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers to illustrate your impact (e.g., "Increased revenue by 25%"). → Keep it Concise: Aim for clarity and brevity. Your resume should be easy to read, ideally one page unless extensive experience requires more space. → Format for ATS: Make sure your resume is compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems by using a straightforward format and standard fonts. When was the last time you updated your resume? Let’s make sure it stands out!

Recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds looking at a resume before making a decision. As a Recruiter, I’ve never actually counted the seconds, but I definitely do make a decision pretty quickly when reading a resume. SO when I am coaching my candidates and job seekers, one of my biggest pieces of advice is to KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly!) your resume. When I am reading a candidates resume, I don’t want to spend time figuring out where to find the information. I appreciate that you spent a lot of time making your resume look pretty, but honestly, I just need the facts. Here are a few things you can to do help make your resume more readable: 🤍 White space, white space, white space. Give my eyes a break so that the important information really pops 🖍️ Feel free to use bold, italics, and even colors (within reason) to help draw my attention and guide my focus 🗻 Only share relevant information (I love that you climbed Kilimanjaro but maybe share that on your LinkedIn instead and save the precious space on your resume) 💁🏼♀️ Remove the headshot, I don’t care what you look like, I only care if you can do the job (not to mention, headshots can make it more difficult to be certain of removing biases when recruiting) 📑 Keep the formatting straightforward and simple - I see so many resumes that are trying to be eye-catching and unique but end up overwhelming my brain when it’s the 57th resume I’ve looked at in the past hour, I promise you’ll stand out more by helping make my job easier I hope this helps! Go land that dream job of yours 💪🏻 #jobseekersupport #resumetips #recruiter #careercoaching #jobsearchtips