Interviews not coming your way? It might be your resume.
“You never get another chance to make a first impression” is especially true when it comes to job search.
After getting past the ATS, AI screens, and other digital filters, we have (a mere) six seconds to grab a reader’s attention.
Here are three ways to make that happen:
Results, not responsibilities
Recruiters already know what your job was.
What they really want to understand is how you did it:
- Results you delivered
- Output you produced
- Impact you made
For example:
Don’t list the responsibility: “Provided IT support to end users.”
Instead, quantify the output: “Resolved 15–20 tech support requests daily.” Or “Reduced average response time by 40% in my first month.”
The latter version demonstrates measurable success. That’s something employers notice and want to hear more about.
Facts, not fluff
Adjectives like “motivated” or “hard-working” are overused and underwhelm.
Resume readers roll their eyes and think, “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Replace soft claims with concrete achievements.
Don’t list the responsibility: “Provided IT support to end users.”
Instead, quantify the output: “Resolved 15–20 tech support requests daily.” Or “Reduced average response time by 40% in my first month.”
Let your results do the talking.
Space, not squish
Long sentences, packed pages, small font = the discard pile.
Reader should be able to do a quick visual scan of your credentials and say, “that’s someone I want to talk to.”
While we don’t want our CV to be too many pages, we need to make it easy on the eyes.
Leave white space on your page (for example, a blank row in between roles) and keep bullets concise (not more than one and a half lines) so the eye can read rapidly and digest quickly.
Like the above.
NOT like below:
Responsible for answering phones, greeting clients, sorting mail, scheduling meetings, and helping coordinate front desk activities while also providing administrative support to various departments. Demonstrated strong communication and multitasking skills in a fast-paced environment and worked collaboratively with coworkers to maintain smooth office operations and enhance overall efficiency.
[BTW, the same rule applied to emails will get you faster responses; space out your content.]
Remember to spell check
As AI tools become more sophisticated, it’s easy to forget the basics…
Always remember to spell and grammar check!
AI, correctly prompted, can enhance clarity and streamline layout.
But it can’t invent the numbers, the wins, and the context. That’s on you.
— ✧ —
Your CV shouldn’t be just a record of what you’ve done.
It’s a preview of what you can do.
Make every line count.
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