TL;DR
- 01Mirror language from the posting but focus on intent, not keyword stuffing.
- 02Use simple section labels and consistent dates to avoid parsing errors.
- 03Balance scannable bullets with one results story to stay human.
Start with intent-matched keywords
Pick five to seven phrases from the job description that describe outcomes, not buzzwords.
Place them in your summary and relevant bullet points so the ATS and recruiter both see alignment.
- Use the exact job title once near the top
- Keep section headers standard: Experience, Education, Skills
Reduce parser friction
Avoid tables, text boxes, and unusual fonts. Export to PDF after checking plain text flow.
Dates should follow a single format, like MMM YYYY – MMM YYYY, to keep ordering predictable.
Prove signal with one short story
Include a single four-line accomplishment using the STAR pattern. It gives context while keeping the page lean.
Link internally to resources that help the reader take the next step without a heavy sales pitch.
- STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result
- Add one internal link to pricing or intake to stay helpful