Resume Builder

Comprehensive resume creation, review, and tailoring skill with ATS optimization, industry-specific guidance, and achievement-oriented formatting for career advancement and successful job applications.

Perfect for job seekers at any career stage who want to create compelling, ATS-optimized resumes that effectively communicate their value proposition and secure more interview opportunities.

Skill Structure

This skill is part of Nate's Substack Skills collection:

Main Files:

SKILL.md - Complete resume building framework
assets/ - Resume templates and examples
references/ - ATS optimization and industry guides

Full Collection: Nate's Substack Skills - Explore all skills!

Core Philosophy

Achievement-Oriented Over Duty-Focused Resumes

Effective resumes emphasize measurable accomplishments rather than job responsibilities:

Quantified Results: Specific metrics and outcomes that demonstrate impact
Value Proposition: Clear communication of unique skills and contributions
ATS Optimization: Strategic keyword usage for applicant tracking systems
Targeted Messaging: Customized content aligned with specific job requirements

Resume Success Factors

High-Impact Elements:

Quantified achievements with specific metrics
Industry-relevant keywords and terminology
Clean, professional formatting and layout
Compelling summary that captures unique value
Strategic use of white space and visual hierarchy

Common Mistakes:

Generic job duty descriptions
Missing quantifiable accomplishments
Poor keyword optimization for ATS
Inconsistent formatting and design
Outdated or irrelevant information

Resume Building Framework

Phase 1: Information Gathering and Strategy

Foundation Development

Career Assessment:

Professional background and progression
Core competencies and skill sets
Notable achievements and accomplishments
Career goals and target positions
Industry and role requirements

Content Collection:

Detailed work history with dates
Education and certifications
Key projects and initiatives
Awards and recognition
Professional development activities

Strategic Planning:

Target Role Analysis:

Industry standards and expectations
Required skills and qualifications
Preferred experience levels
Company culture and values
Compensation and career trajectory

Value Proposition Development:

Unique selling points and differentiators
Core competencies alignment
Achievement patterns and themes
Professional brand positioning
Career narrative consistency

Phase 2: Content Development and Structuring

Resume Architecture:

Standard Resume Structure

Header Section:

Full name and professional title
Phone number and email address
LinkedIn profile and portfolio links
Location (city, state/country)

Professional Summary:

3-4 sentence value proposition
Key skills and experience highlights
Career focus and objectives
Unique qualifications summary

Core Competencies:

8-12 relevant skills in columns
Mix of technical and soft skills
Industry-specific terminology
ATS keyword optimization

Professional Experience:

Reverse chronological order
Company, title, dates, location
3-5 achievement-focused bullet points
Quantified results and metrics

Education and Certifications:

Degrees with institutions and dates
Relevant certifications and licenses
Professional development courses
Academic achievements if relevant

Content Writing Guidelines:

Achievement-Oriented Bullet Points:

Instead of: "Responsible for managing team projects"
Write: "Led cross-functional team of 8 to deliver $2M software project 15% under budget and 3 weeks ahead of schedule"

Instead of: "Handled customer service inquiries"
Write: "Resolved 95% of customer issues on first contact, improving satisfaction scores by 18% over 6 months"

Quantification Strategies:

Revenue impact and cost savings
Percentage improvements and growth
Team size and scope of responsibility
Timeline efficiency and deadlines
Quality metrics and performance indicators

Phase 3: ATS Optimization and Formatting

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Best Practices:

ATS Optimization

Keyword Strategy:

Extract keywords from job descriptions
Include exact phrase matches
Use industry-standard terminology
Balance keyword density naturally
Include both acronyms and full terms

Formatting Guidelines:

Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Maintain consistent heading structures
Avoid images, graphics, and tables
Use standard section headers
Save in both Word and PDF formats

Content Structure:

Clear section delineation
Bullet points over paragraphs
Consistent date formatting
Standard job title formats
Geographic location consistency

Technical Formatting:

Design Standards:

Single-page format for most professionals
Two pages maximum for senior roles
10-12 point font size for body text
0.5-1 inch margins on all sides
Professional color scheme (minimal)

Visual Hierarchy:

Bold headings for section breaks
Consistent bullet point formatting
Strategic use of white space
Logical information flow
Easy scanning and readability

Phase 4: Review, Refinement, and Customization

Quality Assurance Process:

Comprehensive Review

Content Review:

Accuracy of all information
Grammar and spelling verification
Consistency in formatting
Achievement quantification
Relevance to target roles

Strategic Review:

Value proposition clarity
Keyword optimization effectiveness
Industry alignment assessment
Competitive differentiation
Professional brand consistency

Customization for Specific Roles:

Job-Specific Tailoring:

Keyword mapping from job descriptions
Priority adjustment for relevant experience
Skills emphasis based on requirements
Achievement selection for role alignment
Summary customization for position

Resume Types and Formats

Chronological Resume

Best For:

Traditional career progression
Strong work history in same field
Career advancement within industry
No significant employment gaps

Structure Focus:

Reverse chronological work history
Career progression emphasis
Company and role prominence
Timeline consistency importance

Functional Resume

Skills-Based Format

Best For:

Career changers and transitions
Employment gaps or non-traditional paths
Strong skills but limited experience
Freelance or consulting backgrounds

Structure Elements:

Skills and competencies emphasis
Achievement grouping by function
Minimized employment timeline
Education and certification focus

Combination Resume

Hybrid Approach:

Skills summary at the top
Chronological work history below
Best of both format types
Flexible content organization

Optimal Usage:

Mid-career professionals
Multiple skill areas
Career pivot scenarios
Strong experience and skills

Industry-Specific Guidelines

Technology and Engineering

Key Elements:

Technical skills and programming languages
Project outcomes and system impacts
Innovation and problem-solving examples
Certifications and continuing education

Metrics Focus:

Performance improvements and optimizations
User base growth and engagement
System reliability and uptime
Development efficiency gains

Sales and Business Development

Revenue-Focused Achievements

Essential Metrics:

Sales figures and quota attainment
Revenue growth and market expansion
Customer acquisition and retention
Deal size and cycle time improvements

Key Accomplishments:

Territory management and growth
Relationship building and partnerships
Process improvements and efficiency
Team leadership and mentoring

Healthcare and Sciences

Professional Requirements:

Licenses and certifications prominence
Patient outcomes and safety metrics
Research and publication records
Compliance and regulatory knowledge

Achievement Examples:

Patient satisfaction improvements
Process efficiency and cost reduction
Quality metrics and safety records
Research contributions and innovations

Education and Non-Profit

Value Demonstration:

Student outcomes and achievement gains
Program development and implementation
Grant acquisition and funding success
Community impact and engagement

Relevant Metrics:

Graduation rates and test scores
Program participation and retention
Budget management and resource allocation
Stakeholder satisfaction and feedback

Career Stage Considerations

Entry-Level Professionals

New Graduate Strategy

Content Emphasis:

Education and academic achievements
Internships and relevant experience
Projects and extracurricular activities
Skills and competencies development

Positioning Approach:

Potential and learning agility
Relevant coursework and projects
Leadership and volunteer experience
Technical skills and certifications

Mid-Career Professionals

Experience Optimization:

Progressive responsibility growth
Leadership and management experience
Cross-functional collaboration
Strategic contribution and impact

Career Narrative:

Professional development trajectory
Increasing scope and complexity
Industry expertise demonstration
Team and organizational impact

Senior Executives

Executive Positioning:

Strategic leadership and vision
Organizational transformation
Financial performance and growth
Board and stakeholder management

High-Level Achievements:

P&L responsibility and results
Merger and acquisition experience
Cultural change and development
Industry recognition and thought leadership

Resume Review and Feedback

Self-Assessment Checklist

Content Quality:

Each bullet point includes quantifiable results
Keywords align with target job descriptions
Professional summary captures unique value
Work history shows career progression
Education and certifications are current

Format and Presentation:

Consistent formatting throughout document
Professional font and layout choices
Appropriate length for career level
Error-free grammar and spelling
ATS-compatible design elements

External Review Process

Feedback Collection

Professional Review Sources:

Industry mentors and colleagues
Career counselors and coaches
HR professionals and recruiters
Networking contacts in target companies

Review Questions:

Does this resume clearly communicate value?
Are achievements compelling and credible?
Is the format professional and readable?
Do keywords align with industry standards?
Would this resume generate interview interest?

Common Resume Challenges

Employment Gaps

Addressing Strategies:

Honest but positive explanations
Emphasis on productive activities during gaps
Skills development and continuing education
Volunteer work and consulting projects

Format Considerations:

Functional or combination format
Year-only dates to minimize gap appearance
Focus on skills and achievements
Professional development emphasis

Career Changes

Transition Strategy

Content Approach:

Transferable skills emphasis
Relevant project and volunteer experience
Industry knowledge demonstration
Professional development in new field

Positioning Techniques:

Bridge experience highlighting
Skills translation to new industry
Passion and commitment demonstration
Network and reference leveraging

Over-Qualification Concerns

Strategic Responses:

Relevant experience emphasis
Salary and level flexibility indication
Long-term commitment demonstration
Culture fit and enthusiasm

Content Adjustments:

Recent experience prioritization
Role-appropriate achievement selection
Skills matching to position requirements
Professional development alignment

Digital Resume Strategies

LinkedIn Optimization

Profile Alignment:

Consistent messaging with resume
Keyword optimization for search
Professional photo and summary
Recommendation and endorsement cultivation

Content Strategy:

Regular professional content sharing
Industry engagement and commenting
Network expansion and relationship building
Thought leadership development

Online Portfolio Development

Digital Presence

Portfolio Elements:

Work samples and project showcases
Case studies and success stories
Professional photography and branding
Contact information and availability

Platform Selection:

Industry-appropriate platforms
Personal website development
Professional social media presence
Digital portfolio platforms

Resume Distribution and Application Strategy

Application Process Optimization

Submission Best Practices:

Job description keyword matching
Cover letter customization
Application timing considerations
Follow-up communication planning

Tracking and Organization:

Application status monitoring
Interview preparation materials
Feedback collection and analysis
Continuous improvement implementation

Networking Integration

Relationship Leverage:

Employee referral programs
Industry event participation
Professional association involvement
Alumni network activation

Strategic Outreach:

Hiring manager identification
Informational interview requests
Value-add communication approach
Relationship building focus

Success Metrics and Evaluation

Resume Effectiveness Measurement

Quantitative Metrics:

Application-to-interview conversion rate
Response time from submissions
Interview-to-offer conversion rate
Overall job search timeline

Qualitative Indicators:

Interview feedback quality
Recruiter and hiring manager interest
Network referral generation
Professional confidence and positioning

Continuous Improvement

Optimization Process

Performance Analysis:

Application success rate tracking
Interview feedback collection
Market response evaluation
Competitive positioning assessment

Strategic Adjustments:

Content refinement and updating
Format and design improvements
Keyword optimization enhancement
Industry trend incorporation

Tools and Resources

Resume Creation Tools

Software Options:

Microsoft Word with professional templates
Google Docs for collaboration and sharing
Adobe InDesign for advanced formatting
Canva for visual design elements
LinkedIn Resume Builder integration

Template Resources:

Industry-specific template libraries
ATS-optimized format options
Modern design template collections
Professional layout examples

Optimization and Analysis

ATS Testing Tools:

Keyword optimization scanners
Format compatibility checkers
Score and ranking analysis
Industry standard comparisons

Review and Feedback Platforms:

Professional review services
Peer feedback communities
Career counseling resources
Industry mentor networks

About This Skill

This skill was created by Nate Jones as part of his comprehensive Nate's Substack Skills collection. Learn more about Nate's work at Nate's Newsletter.

Explore the full collection to discover all 10+ skills designed to enhance your Claude workflows!

Comprehensive resume building framework that transforms career histories into compelling professional narratives through strategic content development, ATS optimization, and targeted positioning for career advancement.