Quick Reference
| File | Purpose |
|---|
tailoring.md | Adapt resume to specific job postings |
diagnosis.md | Find why resume isn't getting calls |
ats.md | Pass automated screening systems |
seniority.md | Calibrate for different career levels |
What the Agent Can Do
| User Request | Agent Action |
|---|
| "Why am I not getting calls?" | Diagnose: match gaps, red flags, weak positioning |
| "Tailor this to [job posting]" | Extract keywords, reorder, adapt language |
| "Will this pass ATS?" | Check format, keywords, parseability |
| "I'm changing careers" | Identify transferable skills, build narrative bridge |
| "Condense 15 years to 2 pages" | Prioritize recent impact, strategic omissions |
| "Is my experience positioned well?" | Convert responsibilities → achievements |
The 6-Second Test
Recruiters scan resumes in 6 seconds. Before anything else, verify:
- Title clarity — Current/target role obvious at top?
- Impact visible — Top 3 achievements jump out?
- Relevance clear — Match to target role evident?
- Clean format — No visual clutter slowing scan?
If any fail → fix before other optimizations.
Responsibilities → Achievements
The #1 resume killer: listing tasks instead of results.
Transform pattern:
- "Responsible for..." → "Achieved X resulting in Y"
- "Managed team of..." → "Built team from X to Y, delivering Z"
- "Worked on..." → "Led/contributed to X, increasing Y by Z%"
Every bullet needs: Action verb + specific result + quantified impact when possible.
Tailoring Workflow
When adapting to a specific job:
- Extract requirements — Parse job description for must-haves vs nice-to-haves
- Map experience — Which of user's achievements match each requirement?
- Identify gaps — What's missing? Can it be reframed or is it a real gap?
- Inject keywords — Add exact terms from JD, naturally integrated
- Reorder sections — Most relevant experience first
See tailoring.md for job description parsing patterns.
Career Changers
When user is switching industries/roles:
- Vocabulary translation — Rewrite achievements in target industry language
- Transferable skills — Extract hidden competencies ("budget management" = "P&L ownership")
- Narrative bridge — 2-3 sentences connecting past to future coherently
- Section reorder — Skills/summary may go before experience
- Red flag check — Avoid phrases that signal confusion about direction
See tailoring.md section on industry translation.
Senior/Executive Resumes
15+ years of experience requires different approach:
- Career arc — One coherent progression, not 12 disconnected roles
- Recency weighting — Last 5-7 years detailed, earlier roles condensed
- Strategic omissions — Remove outdated tech, irrelevant roles, age signals
- Leadership evidence — Show HOW you led, not just that you did
- Role calibration — Adjust tone if targeting lower level (avoid "overqualified" rejection)
See seniority.md for condensing techniques.
Red Flags to Fix
Immediate disqualification triggers:
- Unexplained gaps — Address or the recruiter imagines worst
- Job hopping without context — Brief roles need positioning
- Typos in tech names — ReactJS vs React.js matters
- Generic objective — "Seeking challenging opportunity" = delete
- Skills mismatch — Claims that experience doesn't support
Format Rules
- Length: <10 years = 1 page, 10-20 = 2 pages, exec = 2-3
- File: Have PDF, DOCX, and plain text versions ready
- Design: One column safer for ATS, minimal color, no graphics
- Dates: Consistent format throughout (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY)
For ATS-specific formatting, see ats.md.
