This skill should be used when the user asks about "resume", "resume review", "ATS optimization", "applicant tracking system", "cover letter", "job search", "job application", "LinkedIn profile", "networking", "informational interview", "keyword optimization", "action verbs", "resume formatting", "job description", "career search", or mentions improving their resume, applying for jobs, or optimizing application materials. Provides resume writing frameworks, ATS optimization rules, and job search strategy tools.
Provide structured guidance for job search strategy, resume optimization, and professional networking. Covers resume construction, ATS compatibility, cover letters, LinkedIn, and networking approaches. All guidance is framework-based — adapt to your industry, experience level, and target roles.
Disclaimer: Resume and job search advice varies by industry and region. These frameworks cover common patterns across most professional fields. Specialized fields (academia, federal government, creative industries) have additional conventions not fully covered here.
Entry-level (0-3 years): Contact → Summary/Objective → Education → Experience → Skills → Projects/Activities
Mid-career (3-10 years): Contact → Summary → Experience → Skills → Education → Certifications
Senior/Executive (10+ years): Contact → Executive Summary → Key Achievements → Experience → Education → Board/Advisory Roles
Applicant Tracking Systems parse resumes before a human sees them. Understanding how they work is essential for getting past the initial screen.
Use scripts/resume_keyword_analyzer.py to compare your resume against a job description and identify keyword gaps.
See references/ats-keyword-guide.md for keyword taxonomies by field and detailed formatting rules.
Every bullet should follow this formula:
Action Verb + What You Did + Measurable Result
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for managing team | Led cross-functional team of 8 engineers to deliver platform migration 2 weeks ahead of schedule |
| Helped with customer issues | Resolved 150+ customer escalations monthly, improving satisfaction scores from 3.2 to 4.6 |
| Worked on the marketing campaign | Designed and executed email campaign reaching 50K subscribers, generating $200K in pipeline |
See references/resume-action-verbs.md for verbs organized by impact type and a weak verb blacklist.
Three paragraphs, each with a specific purpose:
Paragraph 1 — Hook: Why this specific role at this specific company interests you. Reference something concrete — a product, mission, recent news, mutual connection. Not "I'm excited to apply for the position."
Paragraph 2 — Evidence: 2-3 specific accomplishments that directly map to the role's key requirements. Use the same impact-driven format as resume bullets. This is the "why you should hire me" paragraph.
Paragraph 3 — Close: Reiterate enthusiasm, mention availability, thank them. Keep it brief.
Total length: under one page, 250-400 words. Match the tone to the company culture — formal for finance/law, conversational for startups.
[Current Title] | [Value Proposition] | [Key Expertise]
Examples:
Not: "Seeking New Opportunities" or just your job title.
An often-cited estimate suggests 70-80% of positions are filled through networking and referrals before or alongside public postings, though the exact figure is debated. Networking isn't optional — it's the primary job search channel.
Warm outreach — People you know or share a connection with:
Cold outreach — People you don't know but want to learn from:
The most underused job search tool. 20-30 minute conversations to learn about a role, company, or industry — not to ask for a job.
Key rules:
See references/networking-scripts.md for LinkedIn message templates, informational interview questions, and follow-up cadences.
When a user provides both a resume and job description:
scripts/resume_keyword_analyzer.py to get match rate and missing keywordsscripts/resume_keyword_analyzer.py — Compare resume keywords against job description, report match rate and gapsreferences/ats-keyword-guide.md — ATS parsing mechanics, formatting rules, keyword taxonomies by fieldreferences/resume-action-verbs.md — Action verbs by impact type, weak verb blacklistreferences/networking-scripts.md — LinkedIn templates, informational interview scripts, follow-up cadences