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20 resume prompts that get you past the first skim

Most resumes list duties because the model was never told what the job asks for or what you achieved. These prompts start from the posting and pull the numbers out of you, so every line earns its place.

Swap anything in [brackets] for your resume, the job posting or your story.

01. Read the job posting like the hiring manager

Before you touch your resume for a new role.

Here is a job posting:

[paste the posting]

Tell me:
1. The three things this person must be able to do on day one.
2. The problem the team is probably hiring to solve.
3. Which requirements are real and which are wish list.
4. The words and skills a screener will look for.

Do not write anything for my resume yet.

02. Turn duties into results with real numbers

Your bullets say what you did, not what changed.

Here are bullets from my resume:

[paste your bullets]

For each one, ask me questions until you can rewrite it as a result: what changed, by how much, for whom, compared with what. Ask one bullet at a time and wait for my answers.

Then rewrite each bullet starting with a strong verb, with the number in it. If I cannot give a number, use the scale instead (team size, users, budget). Never invent a figure.

03. Tailor your resume to one posting

Applying to a role you actually want.

Job posting:
[paste the posting]

My resume:
[paste your resume]

Reorder and rewrite my bullets so the most relevant experience comes first. Use the posting's words where they truthfully describe what I did. Cut anything this reader will not care about.

Show the tailored resume, then list every change and why. Do not add skills or experience I do not have.

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  1. Write a three line summary that names your edge
  2. Find the gaps a recruiter will ask about
  3. Write a cover letter that starts with their problem
  4. Check your resume against the posting's keywords
  5. Cut a two page resume to one
  6. Explain a career change in two sentences
  7. Rewrite your LinkedIn headline and About section
  8. Turn your experience into interview stories
  9. Predict the interview questions for this role
  10. Run a mock interview, one question at a time
  11. Answer "tell me about yourself" in 60 seconds
  12. Write the thank you email after the interview
  13. Negotiate the offer with a script
  14. Research the company before the interview
  15. Ask for a referral without making it awkward
  16. Explain a gap in your resume honestly
  17. Have a second model grade your resume against the posting