Most resumes underperform not because the person is underqualified — but because the resume does not communicate what they actually bring. Small, specific changes to your resume can dramatically improve your response rates. Here are the seven that make the biggest difference.
Why resumes fail even when the person is qualified
Two things can go wrong with a resume:
1. It does not pass ATS screening (Applicant Tracking System) — the automated scan that happens before a human ever reads it 2. A human reads it but it does not make a strong enough case
A good resume needs to pass both tests. The fixes are slightly different for each.
Fix 1: Match the job description language
This is the single most impactful change for ATS performance. Read the job description carefully. Make a list of the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities mentioned. Then check whether your resume uses the same language.
If the job says "project management" and your resume says "led team initiatives," the ATS may not connect them. Use the exact terms where they accurately describe your experience.
Run a free ATS Resume Scan → — it tells you your match score and lists missing keywords.
Fix 2: Add a strong summary at the top
Many resumes jump straight into work experience. The first 3-5 seconds a human reader spends on your resume determine whether they continue. A two-sentence summary at the top that states who you are, your strongest qualifications, and what you are looking for captures their attention before they start scrolling.
Write the summary for the specific type of role you are targeting — not a generic one that works for everything.
Fix 3: Quantify your accomplishments
Hiring managers read phrases like "responsible for customer service" dozens of times. They remember "reduced customer complaint rate by 34% over 6 months" or "managed a team of 12 across 3 locations."
Go through your experience descriptions and find anywhere you can add a number:
- Team sizes managed
- Revenue generated or protected
- Response times improved
- Percentage improvements in any metric
- Volume of transactions, clients, or projects handled
If you cannot remember the exact number, use an approximate ("approximately 15 clients," "roughly 30% improvement").
Fix 4: Use action verbs — and vary them
Every bullet point should start with a strong action verb. The problem: most resumes use the same three — "managed," "led," "responsible for." Vary them based on what you actually did.
Strong alternatives:
- For coordination: streamlined, coordinated, orchestrated, facilitated
- For improvement: optimized, improved, reduced, increased, accelerated
- For building: developed, created, built, launched, designed
- For communication: presented, negotiated, persuaded, trained, documented
Fix 5: Cut the fluff
Remove anything that takes up space without adding information:
- "References available upon request" — this is assumed
- Objective statements that are about what you want ("seeking a challenging role where I can grow") rather than what you offer
- Job descriptions that are just the job title restated: "Responsible for performing customer service duties" says nothing
- Generic skills like "proficient in Microsoft Office" unless the job specifically lists them
Every line should either demonstrate a skill, quantify an achievement, or provide necessary context.
Fix 6: Fix your formatting for ATS readability
ATS parsers struggle with:
- Multi-column layouts
- Text boxes or headers with images
- Tables
- Unusual section names
- Graphics or logos
Use a clean, single-column format with standard section names: Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications. A clean format does not mean a boring one — clean design is professional and easy to read.
Fix 7: Tailor for the specific role, not the general type
Generic resumes perform worse than tailored ones — both in ATS and in human review. A "master resume" that lists everything you have ever done is a starting point, not a final product.
For each application, adjust your summary, reorder your skills section to match the job, and check that your most relevant experience is most prominent.
This is why Resume Builder stores a master resume and generates tailored versions for each role automatically — using the specific job description to make the adjustments.
Build and manage your resume →
After fixing your resume: test it
Once you have made these changes, test the result. Paste your updated resume and the target job description into ATS Resume Scan. Check your match score. Apply the remaining gap suggestions. Scan again until your score is above 70.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my resume be?
One page for under 10 years of experience. Two pages is acceptable for more experienced candidates with genuinely relevant content to fill them. Three pages is almost never appropriate.
Should I include my high school education if I have a college degree?
No. Once you have a college degree, you can remove high school education.
How often should I update my resume?
Every time you apply to a meaningfully different type of role. Keep a master version updated every 6 months, and create tailored versions for each application.
What fonts and design should I use?
Any clean, readable font at 10-12pt. Arial, Calibri, and Garamond are all safe choices. Margins of 0.75"-1" on all sides. Enough white space that the reader is not overwhelmed.