Hi there, it’s Jill!
I wrote my first resume in the summer after first year in university. Since then, my resume has evolved countless times.
Throughout my career, I have read hundreds of resumes, and noticed patterns that makes a resume stand out.
Today, I want to share what I wish someone had told me earlier about resume writing. I find those tips very helpful for myself, and hope it can help you too!
Also, please feel free to share with me your thoughts on the post, or any career-related questions by simply clicking “reply” to the email, I would love to hear from you, and will address those in future posts!
Let’s dive in.
01
Before We Dive In
I would like to point out that this is not a Resume Writing 101 guide. If you’re starting from scratch, there are plenty of solid resources to help you build the basics, and I am happy to write a separate post on it if you think that would be helpful!
Instead, this post is for people who:
Already have a resume that’s reasonably polished
Understand the CAR method (Challenge–Action–Result) when writing bullet points
Are motivated to refine their resume further
If that sounds like you—amazing!
What follows is less about prescriptive rules and more about how to architect your resume from the top down. Those are my personal reflections on resume writing, let’s get started!
02
Highlight Key Experiences (Not Just Recent Ones)
This sounds obvious, but it’s where many resumes fall short.
There are two factors that determine whether an experience is truly KEY:
How relevant the experience is to the next role
How strong your achievements were in that role
Most of the time, our most recent role checks both boxes, but not always. Our goal is to guide the reader’s attention toward the experience that is most convincing for the role we want next.
Here’s how to do that well:
Use the CAR method rigorously. Start with a strong action verb. Clearly state the challenge and emphasize results—especially if they’re quantifiable (e.g., increased sales by 20%, reduced processing time by 50%, drove $5M in annual revenue).
Reposition experiences strategically. Even if a role wasn’t an exact match functionally, highlight transferable skills that matter for the next position.
For example, if you’re a data scientist aiming to move into product management, try not to over-index on technical depth alone. Bring forward your stakeholder management, communication, prioritization, and strategic thinking while still grounding them in technical credibility.
Sometimes job descriptions are vague or generic. In those cases, you’ll need to infer what the team truly values by talking to people in similar roles. If helpful, feel free to refer back to my earlier post on The Coffee-Chat Question That Doubles Your Job-Hunt Success.
03
Reduce Overlapping Skills Across Roles
Many candidates have multiple roles that look similar on paper, especially if they’ve progressed within the same function.
Instead of repeating the same skill set across each experience, differentiate the angle of each role so they collectively tell a broader story.
For example, if you’ve held three data scientist roles:
One role can emphasize deep technical execution
Another can highlight cross-functional collaboration and influence
A third can focus on leadership, mentoring, or project ownership
This gives recruiters a more holistic picture of you: what you can do, and how you create value in different contexts.
When competition is intense, this level of intentional positioning signals maturity and strategic thinking.
04
Make Sure It’s Visually and Structurally Polished
This is the classic 5% effort that leads to 50% of the outcome, so please make sure you dedicate sometime to do that!
Common issues I see include:
Inconsistent punctuation at the end of bullet points
Uneven spacing between roles or sections
Mixed font styles or excessive formatting
Some titles bolded, others not
These details may seem minor, but they affect how professional and trustworthy your resume feels.
A second pair of eyes is invaluable here. After staring at your own resume for hours, it’s easy to miss small inconsistencies. Proofreading really does make a difference.
05
Don’t Forget About LinkedIn
This isn’t about resume writing, but it matters for consistency ,as many recruiters cross-reference the two.
LinkedIn also gives you more space. You can include experiences that may not fit on a one-page resume, such as student organizations, volunteer work, or informal leadership roles. When used well, it only strengthens your overall profile.
Final Thoughts
A good resume lists what you’ve done.
An excellent resume makes it obvious why you’re the right person for the next role.
That clarity comes from intentional positioning, thoughtful structure, and attention to detail.
— Jill
Founder of Anchor Growth Newsletter
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