/resume-builder

name: resume-builder
description: Comprehensive resume creation, review and optimization with support for multiple formats, ATS optimization, industry-specific guidance and career stage customization. Use this skill when users request help writing, creating, reviewing, improving or tailoring resumes for job applications.

Resume Builder

Overview

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for creating professional, ATS-optimized resumes tailored to specific industries, career stages and job opportunities. It includes best practices, templates, industry-specific guidance and ATS optimization strategies.

Workflow Decision Tree

Use this decision tree to determine the appropriate workflow:

**1. Is this a new resume from scratch?** → Yes: Follow "Creating New Resumes" workflow → No: Continue to question 2

**2. Is there an existing resume to review/improve?** → Yes: Follow "Reviewing Existing Resumes" workflow → No: Continue to question 3

**3. Is the goal to tailor an existing resume for a specific job?** → Yes: Follow "Tailoring Resumes" workflow → No: Follow "General Resume Consultation" workflow

Creating New Resumes

Use this workflow when creating a resume from scratch.

Step 1: Gather Information

Collect essential information through conversation:

**Career Information:**

• Career stage (entry-level, mid-career, senior, career changer)
• Target industry and specific role
• Years of experience in field
• Education background
• Key skills and certifications
• Notable achievements and quantifiable results

**Context:**

• Specific job description (if available) for tailoring
• Career transition context (if applicable)
• Employment gaps or unique circumstances
• Geographic location (for regional considerations)

Step 2: Select Appropriate Template

Choose from available templates based on situation:

**Chronological Template** (`assets/template-chronological.md`):

• Best for: Consistent work history, clear career progression
• Use when: Staying in same field, no significant gaps
• Candidates: Most professionals with traditional career paths

**Functional Template** (`assets/template-functional.md`):

• Best for: Career changers, employment gaps, diverse experience
• Use when: Emphasizing transferable skills over timeline
• Candidates: Career transitions, returning to workforce

**Combination Template** (`assets/template-combination.md`):

• Best for: Mid-career professionals with diverse skill sets
• Use when: Highlighting both skills and career progression
• Candidates: Strong experience wanting to emphasize competencies

**Entry-Level Template** (`assets/template-entry-level.md`):

• Best for: Recent graduates, 0-2 years experience
• Use when: Limited professional experience, strong academic background
• Candidates: New graduates, interns transitioning to full-time

Step 3: Reference Industry and Career Stage Guidance

Before writing, consult relevant sections in `references/industry-career-guidance.md`:

**Career Stage Guidance:**

• Entry-Level / Recent Graduate strategies
• Mid-Career Professional approaches
• Senior / Executive positioning
• Career Changer techniques

**Industry-Specific Guidance:**

• Technology / Software Engineering
• Healthcare / Medical
• Finance / Accounting
• Marketing / Sales
• Education / Teaching
• Legal
• Retail / Hospitality
• Non-Profit / Social Impact
• Government / Public Service
• Creative / Design
• Manufacturing / Supply Chain

Tailor language, priorities and emphasis based on industry norms.

Step 4: Apply Best Practices

Consult `references/best-practices.md` for:

**Content Standards:**

• Achievement-oriented language with action verbs
• Quantified results following the formula: Action + Task + Result
• Appropriate professional tone and tense usage
• Relevance over completeness

**Format Standards:**

• Length appropriate to career stage (1-2 pages)
• Professional visual design with adequate white space
• Standard fonts and consistent formatting
• PDF file format for submission

**Section-Specific Guidance:**

• Contact information requirements
• Professional summary construction (when to include/skip)
• Work experience bullet formulation using STAR method
• Education placement and details based on career stage
• Skills section organization and content
• Additional sections (certifications, projects, etc.)

Step 5: Implement ATS Optimization

Apply ATS-friendly practices from `references/ats-optimization.md`:

**Structure Requirements:**

• Standard section headings
• Simple, single-column layout
• No text boxes, tables or complex formatting
• Standard fonts and bullet points

**Keyword Integration:**

• Extract keywords from job description (if provided)
• Place keywords strategically in summary, skills and experience
• Use both acronyms and spelled-out versions
• Integrate naturally without keyword stuffing

**Format Compliance:**

• Text-selectable PDF format
• No images or graphics containing text
• Standard date formatting
• Plain text contact information

Step 6: Write and Format Resume

Create resume using docx format:

1. **Start with selected template structure** 2. **Populate each section** with gathered information 3. **Apply industry-specific language** and priorities 4. **Ensure ATS compliance** throughout 5. **Verify all formatting** is clean and consistent 6. **Include relevant sections** only (delete inapplicable ones)

**Critical Formatting Guidelines:**

• Use standard fonts: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica or similar (10-12pt body, 14-16pt headers)
• Consistent bullet points throughout (use • or - consistently)
• Left-aligned text for easy scanning
• Adequate white space between sections
• Bold for headers and company/role names
• Dates right-aligned or consistently placed
• No decorative elements that interfere with ATS parsing

Step 7: Quality Check

Before delivering, verify:

**Content:**

• [ ] All bullets start with strong action verbs
• [ ] Achievements include quantifia