Cv Resume Builder

---
name: cv-resume-builder
description: 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.
license: MIT
complexity: beginner
time_to_learn: 30min
tags:
  - resume
  - cv
  - career
  - job-search
  - ats
  - professional
governance_phases: [build]
triggers: [user-asks-about-resume, user-asks-about-cv, context:job-search]
---

# 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

1. Extract keywords from 3-5 similar job postings
2. Identify frequency (common = important)
3. Include exact phrases where authentic
4. Place in Skills section and naturally in Experience
5. 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

- [ ] Summary addresses their specific needs
- [ ] Most relevant experience is prominent
- [ ] Keywords from job posting are included
- [ ] Skills section matches requirements
- [ ] Removed irrelevant experience/skills
- [ ] Company/industry language used

---

## 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
- [ ] Contact info current and professional
- [ ] Summary tailored to target role
- [ ] All bullets are accomplishments, not duties
- [ ] Metrics included where possible
- [ ] No first-person pronouns (I, me, my)
- [ ] Consistent tense (past for past roles, present for current)

### Format
- [ ] Fits page limit (1 page for <10 years, 2 pages for senior)
- [ ] Consistent formatting throughout
- [ ] Adequate white space
- [ ] Font readable (10-12pt body)
- [ ] Margins reasonable (0.5-1 inch)

### ATS
- [ ] Keywords from job posting included
- [ ] Standard section headers used
- [ ] No images, tables, or text boxes
- [ ] File format correct (.docx or .pdf)

### Polish
- [ ] Proofread (no typos, grammar errors)
- [ ] Dates are accurate and consistent
- [ ] No outdated information
- [ ] Someone else has reviewed

---

---

## Related Skills

### Complementary Skills (Use Together)
- **[portfolio-presentation](../portfolio-presentation/)** - Build a portfolio to showcase alongside your resume
- **[interview-preparation](../interview-preparation/)** - Prepare for interviews after your resume lands opportunities
- **[networking-outreach](../networking-outreach/)** - Professional networking to complement job applications

### 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