CV/Resume Builder
Transform career history into compelling professional narrative.
Document Types
| Document |
Length |
Audience |
Use Case |
| Resume |
1-2 pages |
US employers, recruiters |
Job applications |
| CV |
2+ pages |
Academia, research, international |
Academic positions, grants |
| LinkedIn |
N/A |
Network, recruiters |
Passive visibility |
| Bio |
1 paragraph - 1 page |
Speaking, publications |
Introductions |
Resume Framework
Structure (Chronological)
[Header: Name, Contact, Links]
[Summary: 2-3 sentences positioning]
[Experience: Reverse chronological]
[Skills: Relevant technical/domain skills]
[Education: Degrees, certifications]
[Optional: Projects, Publications, Awards]
Structure (Functional/Skills-Based)
[Header]
[Summary]
[Skills Categories]
- Category 1: Accomplishments
- Category 2: Accomplishments
[Work History: Brief, dates/titles only]
[Education]
Structure (Hybrid)
[Header]
[Summary]
[Key Skills/Core Competencies]
[Experience: Chronological with accomplishments]
[Education]
[Additional: Projects, Certs, etc.]
Accomplishment Writing
STAR Method
Situation: [Context/challenge]
Task: [Your responsibility]
Action: [What you did specifically]
Result: [Quantified outcome]
XYZ Formula (Google Style)
Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]
Examples:
- Accomplished 40% reduction in page load time by implementing lazy loading and CDN optimization
- Grew user retention from 23% to 41% by redesigning onboarding flow based on user research
PAR Method
Problem: [What was broken/needed]
Action: [Your intervention]
Result: [Measurable outcome]
Weak → Strong Transformations
| Weak |
Strong |
| Responsible for website maintenance |
Maintained 99.9% uptime for e-commerce platform serving 50K daily users |
| Helped with customer support |
Resolved 150+ customer tickets monthly with 94% satisfaction rating |
| Worked on marketing campaigns |
Led email campaigns generating $2.3M pipeline over 6 months |
| Managed social media |
Grew Instagram following from 5K to 45K in 12 months through content strategy |
Quantification Guide
Metrics to Include
| Category |
Metrics |
| Scale |
Users, transactions, revenue, team size |
| Improvement |
% increase/decrease, before→after |
| Efficiency |
Time saved, cost reduced, speed improved |
| Quality |
Error rate, satisfaction score, accuracy |
| Frequency |
Daily/weekly/monthly volume |
When You Don't Have Numbers
- Estimate reasonably: "approximately," "over," "nearly"
- Use relative scale: "largest," "first," "only"
- Describe scope: "company-wide," "cross-functional," "enterprise"
- Note recognition: "selected for," "promoted to," "awarded"
ATS Optimization
Do's
- Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
- Include keywords from job description
- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times)
- Save as .docx or .pdf (check requirements)
- Use simple formatting (no tables, columns, graphics)
- Spell out acronyms at least once
Don'ts
- Headers/footers (often not parsed)
- Text boxes or images
- Fancy fonts or colors
- Complex tables or columns
- Only acronyms without spelled-out versions
Keyword Strategy
- Extract keywords from 3-5 similar job postings
- Identify frequency (common = important)
- Include exact phrases where authentic
- Place in Skills section and naturally in Experience
- Match their terminology (e.g., "Agile" vs "agile methodology")
Tailoring Strategy
Per-Application Customization
| Element |
Customization Level |
| Summary |
High - rewrite for each role |
| Experience bullets |
Medium - reorder, emphasize relevant |
| Skills |
High - match job requirements |
| Job titles |
Low - keep honest, can clarify |
| Education |
Low - standard unless relevant |
Tailoring Checklist
CV Framework (Academic)
Structure
[Header: Name, Contact, ORCID, institutional affiliation]
[Education: All degrees with dates, advisors, dissertation]
[Academic Appointments: Positions held]
[Publications: By type - books, articles, chapters]
[Presentations: Conferences, invited talks]
[Grants & Fellowships: Funded projects]
[Teaching: Courses taught, evaluations]
[Service: Committees, reviews, mentoring]
[Awards & Honors]
[Professional Memberships]
[References: Available upon request or listed]
Publication Formatting
# Journal Articles
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article.
*Journal Name*, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI
# Book Chapters
Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), *Book title*
(pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
# Conference Proceedings
Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Paper title. Paper presented at Conference Name,
Location.
Section Templates
Summary/Profile
[Role] with [X years] experience in [domain].
Proven track record of [key accomplishment type].
Seeking [target role] where I can [value proposition].
Examples:
Full-stack developer with 6 years building scalable web applications.
Led migration to microservices architecture serving 2M users.
Seeking senior engineering role focused on platform infrastructure.
Composition instructor and multimedia artist bridging creative practice
with technical implementation. Published researcher in [field] with
experience teaching 500+ students. Seeking role combining pedagogy
with emerging technology.
Experience Entry
**[Title]** | [Company] | [Location] | [Start Date] – [End Date]
- [Accomplishment with metric] by [action taken]
- [Accomplishment with metric] by [action taken]
- [Accomplishment with scope/scale indicator]
Skills Section
**Technical**: [Skill], [Skill], [Skill]
**Tools**: [Tool], [Tool], [Tool]
**Methods**: [Method], [Method], [Method]
**Languages**: [Language] (fluent), [Language] (conversational)
Review Checklist
Content
Format
ATS
Polish
Related Skills
Complementary Skills (Use Together)
Alternative Skills (Similar Purpose)
- None - this is the primary resume/CV skill
Prerequisite Skills (Learn First)
- None required - this is a standalone professional skill
References
references/action-verbs.md - Strong verbs by category
references/industry-keywords.md - Keywords by field
references/formats.md - Visual format examples
Templates
Ready-to-use resume templates in assets/templates/:
chronological-resume.md - Standard format for steady career progression
hybrid-resume.md - Skills summary + chronological experience (recommended for most)
functional-resume.md - Skills-based format for career changers
academic-cv.md - Full academic CV structure with publications, grants, teaching
1---2name: cv-resume-builder3description: Optimize resumes and CVs for impact, ATS compatibility, and audience targeting. Supports multiple formats (chronological, functional, hybrid), accomplishment framing (STAR/XYZ), and tailoring for specific roles. Triggers on resume review, CV update, job application prep, or career document requests.4license: MIT5---6
7# CV/Resume Builder
8
9Transform career history into compelling professional narrative.
10
11## Document Types
12
13| Document | Length | Audience | Use Case |
14|----------|--------|----------|----------|
15| Resume | 1-2 pages | US employers, recruiters | Job applications |
16| CV | 2+ pages | Academia, research, international | Academic positions, grants |
17| LinkedIn | N/A | Network, recruiters | Passive visibility |
18| Bio | 1 paragraph - 1 page | Speaking, publications | Introductions |
19
20---
21
22## Resume Framework
23
24### Structure (Chronological)
25
26```
27[Header: Name, Contact, Links]
28[Summary: 2-3 sentences positioning]
29[Experience: Reverse chronological]
30[Skills: Relevant technical/domain skills]
31[Education: Degrees, certifications]
32[Optional: Projects, Publications, Awards]
33```
34
35### Structure (Functional/Skills-Based)
36
37```
38[Header]
39[Summary]
40[Skills Categories]
41 - Category 1: Accomplishments
42 - Category 2: Accomplishments
43[Work History: Brief, dates/titles only]
44[Education]
45```
46
47### Structure (Hybrid)
48
49```
50[Header]
51[Summary]
52[Key Skills/Core Competencies]
53[Experience: Chronological with accomplishments]
54[Education]
55[Additional: Projects, Certs, etc.]
56```
57
58---
59
60## Accomplishment Writing
61
62### STAR Method
63
64```
65Situation: [Context/challenge]
66Task: [Your responsibility]
67Action: [What you did specifically]
68Result: [Quantified outcome]
69```
70
71### XYZ Formula (Google Style)
72
73```
74Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]
75```
76
77**Examples**:
78- Accomplished 40% reduction in page load time by implementing lazy loading and CDN optimization
79- Grew user retention from 23% to 41% by redesigning onboarding flow based on user research
80
81### PAR Method
82
83```
84Problem: [What was broken/needed]
85Action: [Your intervention]
86Result: [Measurable outcome]
87```
88
89### Weak → Strong Transformations
90
91| Weak | Strong |
92|------|--------|
93| Responsible for website maintenance | Maintained 99.9% uptime for e-commerce platform serving 50K daily users |
94| Helped with customer support | Resolved 150+ customer tickets monthly with 94% satisfaction rating |
95| Worked on marketing campaigns | Led email campaigns generating $2.3M pipeline over 6 months |
96| Managed social media | Grew Instagram following from 5K to 45K in 12 months through content strategy |
97
98---
99
100## Quantification Guide
101
102### Metrics to Include
103
104| Category | Metrics |
105|----------|---------|
106| Scale | Users, transactions, revenue, team size |
107| Improvement | % increase/decrease, before→after |
108| Efficiency | Time saved, cost reduced, speed improved |
109| Quality | Error rate, satisfaction score, accuracy |
110| Frequency | Daily/weekly/monthly volume |
111
112### When You Don't Have Numbers
113
114- Estimate reasonably: "approximately," "over," "nearly"
115- Use relative scale: "largest," "first," "only"
116- Describe scope: "company-wide," "cross-functional," "enterprise"
117- Note recognition: "selected for," "promoted to," "awarded"
118
119---
120
121## ATS Optimization
122
123### Do's
124
125- Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
126- Include keywords from job description
127- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times)
128- Save as .docx or .pdf (check requirements)
129- Use simple formatting (no tables, columns, graphics)
130- Spell out acronyms at least once
131
132### Don'ts
133
134- Headers/footers (often not parsed)
135- Text boxes or images
136- Fancy fonts or colors
137- Complex tables or columns
138- Only acronyms without spelled-out versions
139
140### Keyword Strategy
141
1421. Extract keywords from 3-5 similar job postings
1432. Identify frequency (common = important)
1443. Include exact phrases where authentic
1454. Place in Skills section and naturally in Experience
1465. Match their terminology (e.g., "Agile" vs "agile methodology")
147
148---
149
150## Tailoring Strategy
151
152### Per-Application Customization
153
154| Element | Customization Level |
155|---------|---------------------|
156| Summary | High - rewrite for each role |
157| Experience bullets | Medium - reorder, emphasize relevant |
158| Skills | High - match job requirements |
159| Job titles | Low - keep honest, can clarify |
160| Education | Low - standard unless relevant |
161
162### Tailoring Checklist
163
164- [ ] Summary addresses their specific needs
165- [ ] Most relevant experience is prominent
166- [ ] Keywords from job posting are included
167- [ ] Skills section matches requirements
168- [ ] Removed irrelevant experience/skills
169- [ ] Company/industry language used
170
171---
172
173## CV Framework (Academic)
174
175### Structure
176
177```
178[Header: Name, Contact, ORCID, institutional affiliation]
179[Education: All degrees with dates, advisors, dissertation]
180[Academic Appointments: Positions held]
181[Publications: By type - books, articles, chapters]
182[Presentations: Conferences, invited talks]
183[Grants & Fellowships: Funded projects]
184[Teaching: Courses taught, evaluations]
185[Service: Committees, reviews, mentoring]
186[Awards & Honors]
187[Professional Memberships]
188[References: Available upon request or listed]
189```
190
191### Publication Formatting
192
193```
194# Journal Articles
195Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article.
196*Journal Name*, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI
197
198# Book Chapters
199Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), *Book title*
200(pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
201
202# Conference Proceedings
203Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Paper title. Paper presented at Conference Name,
204Location.
205```
206
207---
208
209## Section Templates
210
211### Summary/Profile
212
213```
214[Role] with [X years] experience in [domain].
215Proven track record of [key accomplishment type].
216Seeking [target role] where I can [value proposition].
217```
218
219**Examples**:
220```
221Full-stack developer with 6 years building scalable web applications.
222Led migration to microservices architecture serving 2M users.
223Seeking senior engineering role focused on platform infrastructure.
224```
225
226```
227Composition instructor and multimedia artist bridging creative practice
228with technical implementation. Published researcher in [field] with
229experience teaching 500+ students. Seeking role combining pedagogy
230with emerging technology.
231```
232
233### Experience Entry
234
235```
236**[Title]** | [Company] | [Location] | [Start Date] – [End Date]
237
238- [Accomplishment with metric] by [action taken]
239- [Accomplishment with metric] by [action taken]
240- [Accomplishment with scope/scale indicator]
241```
242
243### Skills Section
244
245```
246**Technical**: [Skill], [Skill], [Skill]
247**Tools**: [Tool], [Tool], [Tool]
248**Methods**: [Method], [Method], [Method]
249**Languages**: [Language] (fluent), [Language] (conversational)
250```
251
252---
253
254## Review Checklist
255
256### Content
257- [ ] Contact info current and professional
258- [ ] Summary tailored to target role
259- [ ] All bullets are accomplishments, not duties
260- [ ] Metrics included where possible
261- [ ] No first-person pronouns (I, me, my)
262- [ ] Consistent tense (past for past roles, present for current)
263
264### Format
265- [ ] Fits page limit (1 page for <10 years, 2 pages for senior)
266- [ ] Consistent formatting throughout
267- [ ] Adequate white space
268- [ ] Font readable (10-12pt body)
269- [ ] Margins reasonable (0.5-1 inch)
270
271### ATS
272- [ ] Keywords from job posting included
273- [ ] Standard section headers used
274- [ ] No images, tables, or text boxes
275- [ ] File format correct (.docx or .pdf)
276
277### Polish
278- [ ] Proofread (no typos, grammar errors)
279- [ ] Dates are accurate and consistent
280- [ ] No outdated information
281- [ ] Someone else has reviewed
282
283---
284
285---
286
287## Related Skills
288
289### Complementary Skills (Use Together)
290- **[portfolio-presentation](../portfolio-presentation/)** - Build a portfolio to showcase alongside your resume
291- **[interview-preparation](../interview-preparation/)** - Prepare for interviews after your resume lands opportunities
292- **[networking-outreach](../networking-outreach/)** - Professional networking to complement job applications
293
294### Alternative Skills (Similar Purpose)
295- None - this is the primary resume/CV skill
296
297### Prerequisite Skills (Learn First)
298- None required - this is a standalone professional skill
299
300---
301
302## References
303
304- `references/action-verbs.md` - Strong verbs by category
305- `references/industry-keywords.md` - Keywords by field
306- `references/formats.md` - Visual format examples
307
308## Templates
309
310Ready-to-use resume templates in `assets/templates/`:
311
312- `chronological-resume.md` - Standard format for steady career progression
313- `hybrid-resume.md` - Skills summary + chronological experience (recommended for most)
314- `functional-resume.md` - Skills-based format for career changers
315- `academic-cv.md` - Full academic CV structure with publications, grants, teaching