Your resume isn't a biography — it's a sales page.
"The frame is more important than the picture.
In 2019, I wrote about what I did, downplayed myself, and hoped the reader would "get it". I didn't get a single call back. 2 years later, you wouldn't even recognize the bullets that were built off the EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE.
You don't need more or better experience. You just need to frame what you have in the perfect way.
In this module we're going to be doing just that."
— Jim
Your resume isn't about what you did — it's about what changed because of you. That's what gets hiring managers saying "I want this person".
Start with what you did. End with what changed.
"Refactored backend API, cutting load time by 40%"
I used to write like this: "Built internal tool for asset management." Never got a call back.
I starting reframing:"Built asset management tool that saved 100+ hours annually"That's when I started hearing back.
It wasn't just what I did. It was why it mattered. Impact.
Numbers cut through the noise. Use exact figures or smart estimates.
"Increased user retention by 35% through A/B testing, increasing monthly subscription revenue by $50K+"
Hook the reader. You only get a few seconds. Your most impressive bullets go first — always.
Every bullet starts with a powerful action verb.
"Spearheaded, designed, streamlined, etc."
Specifics differentiate. Always show what you did in concrete terms.
"Led migration from legacy AngularJS codebase to React, reducing build time by 50%"
Your resume is not the place to be humble. Be factual, but own your wins fully.
✅ "Spearheaded" > ⚠️ "Contributed to" > ❌ "Helped with"
A real bullet from my first resume: "Utilized Java to create a fully functioning connect 4 game with game board (did not code the board myself)."I actively downplayed my work. Own your achievements with confidence.
Before
Worked on improving website performance
After
Optimized website performance by implementing lazy loading and code splitting, reducing load time by 40% and improving user engagement metrics by 25%
You're not writing a diary. You're writing a billboard for your value. I did this for years. It's why I got ghosted.
My Story: I used to write "Helped with team projects" or "Learned xyz" because I didn't want to take credit. Then I realized — if I don't own my wins, who will?
I had the worst imposter syndrome, and my resume showed it.
❌ 2019: "Learned full stack development within an agile environment on the Shop Small team."
✅ 2021: "Built a new screen... Coded search filters... Defined a new schema..."
I downplayed all my work into "learning". Unpacking it into specific details made it clear I was a key player. Recruiters see dozens of resumes a day. If you don't sell yourself, no one else will.
They won't. They're skimming. You're just one resume of hundreds. Make it punch.
Every software engineer codes. Every salesman sells. Few drive tangible outcomes. Such outcomes are your golden tickets to differentiate yourself.
Would you commit to watching a 30-minute video with a boring title and thumbnail? Hook your reader. Put your grand slam bullet points at the very top of your experience. The order of your bullet points matters.
In my post-internship resume, I listed my bullets like this:
❌ "Learned full stack development within an agile environment"
❌ "Participated in daily standups and sprint planning"
❌ "Implemented a new screen with search filters and pagination"
All weak bullets, but if I had to use them, I should've led with the implementation one. It's the only one that shows what I actually built.
Your strongest bullets go first. Always.
✏️ These are idealized examples.You're not expected to have this level of scale/impact. The structure is what matters. Try to emulate these bullets.
"Led migration from MongoDB to Postgres across 3 microservices, reducing query latency by 47% and resolving 3 production bugs impacting 10K+ users weekly."
"Spearheaded development of ML-powered fraud detection system, reducing false positives by 65% and saving $2.3M annually in manual review costs"
"Directed cross-functional team of 8 engineers in redesigning core product features, driving 40% increase in user engagement while reducing customer support tickets by 25% through improved UX"
Leadership & Initiative
Led, Spearheaded, Directed, Oversaw, Mentored, Championed, Orchestrated, Pioneered, Established
Technical Execution
Built, Designed, Created, Developed, Deployed, Engineered, Implemented, Architected, Automated, Optimized
Problem Solving & Innovation
Solved, Resolved, Fixed, Debugged, Troubleshot, Innovated, Transformed, Modernized, Streamlined, Refactored
Impact & Results
Increased, Saved, Generated, Boosted, Accelerated, Reduced, Cut, Eliminated, Maximized, Optimized
Analysis & Strategy
Analyzed, Evaluated, Investigated, Researched, Identified, Diagnosed, Assessed, Audited, Validated, Verified
Communication & Collaboration
Presented, Negotiated, Advised, Documented, Coordinated, Collaborated, Partnered, Aligned
Just swap in your own nouns/verbs/results — and you're done.
Once you're done, run through the checklist below. Try to hit all 6.
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Starts with a strong, outcome-oriented action verb
Use powerful verbs like Led, Delivered, Resolved, Built, Scaled, Owned
Clearly states what I did (the action)
Be specific about your role and contribution
Clearly shows what I changed (the impact)
Quantify your achievements with metrics or percentages
Relevant and tailored to the target role
Focus on skills and achievements that matter for the job
Contains specifics
Use concrete details instead of vague terms e.g. "using modern technologies" -> "using React, Next.js, and Tailwind CSS"
Strength-based and concise
Sell yourself with conviction and clarity
Now that you've mastered bullet writing, let's put your shiny new resume to work. You'll learn how to:
Find and target the right opportunities
Navigate the application process with confidence
Track your applications with ease
If you're building freedom too — or thinking about what comes next — you can follow my journey here: