My Most Bookmarked Resume Advice on Twitter/X (And How to Actually Use It)

This is based on my most popular (and most bookmarked) resume thread on Twitter/X.

100s of jobseekers saved this thread because it cuts through the vague, recycled resume tips and focuses on clear, practical steps you can actually use. Here’s the same advice, but with a bit more explanation so you can see how to apply it...and where most people get it wrong.

1. Make it easy to read at a glance

Recruiters skim first, then decide if they will read in more detail later. If your layout is hard to follow, uses multiple columns, or hides information in graphics, they'll just move on. The design should work for you, not against you. Stick to a simple format that lets the most relevant information stand out immediately. This isn't about being boring; it's about making it effortless for the right details to get noticed.

2. Don't make them guess your value

If a recruiter has to read between the lines to figure out why something mattered, they'll just skip it. Writing “managed projects” or “led a team” without context doesn't tell them if you did it well or made an impact. Connect the dots for them. What did you do, how did you do it, and what changed as a result? That is the difference between sounding like you filled a seat and sounding like you drove results.

3. Balance duties and accomplishments

All duties and no results reads like a job description. All results and no duties makes it unclear how you got those results. The best resumes strike a balance. Duties show you have done the type of work they need. Accomplishments prove you did it effectively. Put the 2 together so they can clearly see both your relevance and your impact.

4. If you want remote work, prove you can do it

Hiring for remote roles comes with risk. Companies don't want to gamble on someone who hasn't done it before. If you've worked remotely, make it obvious. Include the tools you used, how you stayed connected with the team, and how you managed productivity. Show them you have already handled the challenges that come with working outside an office.

5. Focus, don't flood

If you list every single thing you have done in your career, the important parts get buried. The more the reader has to sort through, the less likely they are to spot your best qualifications. You're better off cutting down to the responsibilities and achievements that matter for the role you want. That focus makes your value much easier to see.

6. Address the company’s pain point

Every job exists because there's a problem to solve. More sales, faster delivery, better processes, stronger leadership. Read the job posting and figure out what that problem is. Then use your resume to show how you have solved similar problems before. Make it obvious you're the answer they have been looking for.

7. Know your must haves before you apply

If you're applying to jobs without knowing your dealbreakers, you'll end up wasting time on roles you would not take even if they were offered. Decide your non-negotiables such as pay, flexibility, culture, and growth potential before you start applying. Then target your resume and applications toward roles that check those boxes.

8. Forget the one-page myth

The one-page rule is outdated. If cutting your resume down means removing the exact details that prove you are qualified, you're hurting yourself. Your resume should be as long as it needs to be to clearly show your value. For most experienced professionals, that means two, even 3 pages.

9. Highlight the skills for the job you want

If you highlight skills you don't want to use anymore, you'll keep getting hired to use them. Think about where you want your career to go, and shape your resume so it emphasizes the skills and experiences that will get you there. Everything else can be minimized.

10. Make sure your qualifications are obvious

Being qualified isn't enough. If your resume doesn't make it instantly clear why you are a fit, you'll get passed over. Look at your resume like a stranger would. Would someone with no background immediately see the connection to the job posting? If not, the presentation needs work.

11. Focus on relevance for the role you want

It's normal to want to show off your most recent wins, but if they don't match the role you're targeting, they won't help you get interviews. Dig into your career history and pull forward the experience that matches the job into a summary or key achievements section. Relevance matters more than chronology.

12. Show them their job, not your career

Your resume isn't a timeline; it's a pitch. The goal is to show the hiring manager that you have done work like what they need done now. Build your resume content around the job description. Keep the parts that match, cut the parts that do not, and make the alignment impossible to miss.

13. Get comfortable talking about yourself

If you avoid highlighting your strengths because it feels awkward, you are making it harder for employers to see your value. Owning your accomplishments isn't bragging; it's stating facts. You're giving the information they need to hire you. The stronger you are on paper, the better your chances in interviews.

14. Cut the vagueness

Vague statements like “helped with projects” or “handled client issues” don't say enough.

Add specifics such as how many projects, what type, how you executed them, and what was the outcome. The more concrete the detail, the more convincing it is.

15. If you aren't getting interviews, change the presentation

No response doesn't mean you aren't capable. It usually means your resume isn't showing your capabilities clearly. Rewriting your resume isn't about reinventing your career. It's about reframing what you have already done so hiring managers can quickly see the match.

16. Assume employers will question your gaps and red flags

If you leave big blanks, hiring managers will fill them with worst case assumptions.

Don't give them that chance. Show impact in every role, add context where needed, and make it easy for them to see the value you brought, even in shorter or less traditional roles.

17. Make it industry flexible if you want to pivot

If you are breaking into a new industry, strip out the insider language from your current one. Keep it focused on transferable skills and results. A great marketer, salesperson, or operations lead can work anywhere, as long as the resume uses language the new industry understands. Otherwise you won't look like a fit.

Takeaways

A resume that works is one that shows relevance, proves impact, and removes doubt. If it's missing any of those, you'll struggle to get traction...even if you're more than qualified.

Need a resume that actually gets interviews?

While these tips can help you get closer, getting your resume to the point where it works consistently is about fine tuning the details, which is where most jobseekers tend to need an outside perspective. If hiring managers aren't immediately seeing your value, we can help.