Resume Tweaks That Impress Recruiters

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 Outdated Information ❌ Listing your high school achievements and every job since college.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.

If I could improve just two things on most resumes, it’d be these: 💼 Give me context. Right next to (or just under) the company name, give me details like: Industry (software, healthcare, retail) Business model (B2B, B2C, marketplace, PLG, sales-led, etc.) Funding model (bootstrapped, VC-backed, PE-backed, public) Size (revenue, headcount, business unit, customer count) This helps recruiters immediately assess how relevant your experience is. A few examples from my own resume: • Column, Series A public information software for media companies, law firms, and businesses • Quorum, bootstrapped B2B SaaS for public affairs teams at corporations, nonprofits, and associations • Axon Enterprise, Post-IPO market leader in B2G public safety technology (TASERs, body cameras, digital evidence management) The company context should share what was true as of the time you worked at the company, not where they’re at today! It shouldn't disclose any proprietary or confidential information that would get you in trouble with the CIAA you very likely signed. 💥 Make every bullet an accomplishment — not a task. Here’s the formula, courtesy of Yale’s Office of Career Strategy: Action verb + project + result = accomplishment Example: "Moved 90% of employees into pay bands using a compensation philosophy, leveling framework, and market data — boosting satisfaction with pay transparency from 13% to 78%." Talent folks — what’s your biggest resume pet peeve or favorite tip? Drop it below. Let’s level up some resumes together. 👇

Yesterday I reviewed around 600 applications. 600. Here’s the truth: when the volume is that high, small details make a big difference. If you want to stand out, here’s what actually catches a recruiter’s eye in the middle of a sea of resumes: 🔹 Tell me what the company does. You worked at "X Corp"? Cool — but I don’t know every company on Earth. A single line like “SaaS company focused on AI-powered logistics” helps me immediately understand the context of your role. 🔹 Stick to the classic format. There’s a reason the traditional resume layout still dominates. Don’t get “creative” with colors, shapes, or 3-column designs. I’m not hiring a graphic designer (unless I am). Keep it simple, clean, and scannable. 🔹 Give me numbers. “Improved efficiency” sounds fine, but “Reduced processing time by 28%” gives me a reason to believe you’re effective. Quantifiables always beat adjectives. 🔹 Tailor your resume to the job. Generic resumes get generic results. A brief, targeted summary at the top — aligned to the role — sets the tone. 🔹 Make your LinkedIn match. If your resume catches my eye, your profile is the next stop. Make sure it’s updated, aligned, and includes a headline that reflects what you actually do. Most of all? 🔸 Help me help you. The clearer your story, the easier it is to advocate for you. And that’s all most recruiters really want — a reason to move you forward.