Editing and Proofreading Skills

If your resume has these mistakes, You’re getting rejected before a human ever sees it. I’ve reviewed thousands of resumes as a hiring manager at Riot Games. And I saw the same unforced errors every single day. Let me be blunt: Your resume’s job isn’t to tell your life story. It’s to get you an interview. That’s all. Here are the three biggest mistakes killing your chances: Bad Judgment Calls - Flashy designs, bright colors don’t make you stand out. - They make you look unprofessional. - Even if you’re a designer, keep the art in your portfolio, not your resume. Bias Traps - Remove anything that gives recruiters a chance to judge you unfairly. - No headshots. - No marital status. - No age, religion, or personal info. - Just your city and time zone. That’s all they need. Irrelevant Oversharing - Nobody cares what you did 20 years ago. - Cut outdated jobs, GPA, club memberships, and filler “skills” like “Microsoft Office” or “passionate about gaming.” Every word on your resume should earn its place. Because simplicity isn’t weakness. It’s CONFIDENCE. Or as Da Vinci (and apparently Leonardo the Ninja Turtle) said: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Your resume isn’t a biography. It’s a marketing document for the most important product you’ll ever sell: YOUR CAREER. If you want to see real examples of what to cut (and why), watch this: 👉 Remove These from Your Resume (Ex-Riot Games Hiring Manager Explains Why) - 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gDPekXTR You’re one clean edit away from more callbacks. Cut the fluff. Keep the wins. Get the interview.

Using the same resume you’ve used for years without considering strategy, modern tactics, or next-level job alignment is risky. And a waste of time. Take this example: A successful VP of Finance contacted me because the PERFECT role had presented itself. He needed to update his resume. Alas, we didn’t have time to work together before the application deadline. So, he took a chance with his old resume and sent it in. And he heard nothing but crickets. He knew he was qualified for the role. He even had an inside contact who thought he would be a great fit. When he contacted his contact to investigate his application, his feedback was that the resume didn’t demonstrate fit. The file was written for the job he had, not the job he wanted…and he was asked to UPDATE the resume and resubmit. Good thing he got a second chance. Not everyone does. Yes, updating a resume takes time, but it is necessary. You need to:  1.      Know Yourself. How do your skills and experiences align with the role you want? Do you understand what sets you apart from other candidates, and can you articulate your value through precise details and examples?  2.      Know Your Audience. General resumes don’t work, so pinpoint a job and target resume content for unique pain points. You must demonstrate alignment between your skills and the job needs.  3.      Know What Matters Most. You likely have a rich background of skills and expertise. However, not all details are equal for each job opportunity. Cut out unrelated details in your resume and showcase facts, achievements, and specifics that resonate with the target audience. Not updating your resume could leave you spinning your wheels, extending your job search, or even having to settle for lower-level roles. Why risk it? #resume #executivesearch

Most resumes don’t get rejected for lack of experience. They get rejected for how that experience is presented. Over the last 3 months, I’ve reviewed over 50 resumes.  Friends, Referrals, and community members. Each time, I notice the same patterns. The mistakes are often small but costly. The wins are subtle but powerful. Here’s what I’ve learned from those reviews and what you can fix today: What actually works? 1 - Tailored Content The best resumes don’t try to be everything to everyone. They’re sharp, role-specific, and rich with keywords that match the job description. 2 - Quantifiable Achievements A line like “handled sales” is forgettable. A line like “Increased sales by 20% in 6 months” gets noticed. 3 - Simple, Clean Formatting Single-column. Consistent fonts. No design drama. ATS systems will thank you. So will recruiters. 4 - Professional Summary > Objective Statement Start with a crisp summary that answers: “What do I bring to the table?” 5 - Action Verbs “Led,” “Built,” “Implemented,” “Optimized.” Not “Responsible for” or “Helped with.” What to absolutely avoid? 1 - Generic Phrases “Hardworking team player” is white noise. Show it. Don’t say it. 2 - Outdated or Irrelevant Info That 2012 internship? Probably time to let it go. 3 - Over-designed Layouts ATS bots don’t care about your Canva skills. Keep it functional. 4 - Typos & Formatting Errors One comma out of place? Might not ruin your chances. But why risk it? 5 - Missing Contact Info Yes, this still happens. Double-check that your phone and email are visible. Bonus enhancements that make a difference: - Use metrics in every role, not just the latest one. - Match your skill section to what the job actually demands. - Move education below experience, unless you're a fresh grad. - Include certifications and recent courses. - Keep font styles and spacing uniform throughout. My suggestion? Take an hour this weekend and do a ruthless edit. - Cut fluff. - Add metrics. - Tweak layout. Ask a friend for feedback. And if you want a second set of eyes, I’m happy to help. I regularly do resume reviews (for a small fee). If you're looking for personalized, actionable feedback, DM me or drop a comment. Let’s make your experience shine the way it deserves to. -- ♻️ Reshare if this might help someone. ▶️ Join 2,485+ in the Tidbits WhatsApp group → link in comments

People say I charge a high amount for resume writing. I smile. It’s like looking at an M.F. Husain painting and saying, "Why does this cost ₹2 crore? He made it in just 5 minutes." Yes — it took him 5 minutes. But it also took him 50 years to be able to paint like that in 5 minutes. And that’s what people often forget. When you hire me to write your resume, you’re not just paying for an hour of editing. You're paying for 25 years of understanding job markets, of reading hiring manager minds, of knowing what roles demand — and what they reject. You're paying for: 🔹 The ability to translate complex work into business value 🔹 The insight to align your experience with future roles 🔹 The lens of a career strategist, not just a copywriter 🔹 A deep understanding of how hiring managers read resumes 🔹 The ability to bridge gaps between what you’ve done and what you want next 🔹 Crafting a narrative that doesn't just get you noticed — it gets you shortlisted Anyone can write a resume. Very few can position it for the ₹50L, ₹1Cr, or global role you’re chasing. It’s not about keywords. It’s about career storytelling, strategic relevance, and market fit. That’s why it’s not cheap. And that’s exactly why it works.

I remember looking at my own resume and thinking, “This doesn’t even sound like the work I actually do.” On paper, it read like a list of responsibilities. In reality, I was driving outcomes, solving complex problems, and quietly moving the business forward. If you’ve ever felt that disconnect, you’re not alone. Many senior professionals, especially women, undersell their impact because they’ve never been taught how to translate day-to-day work into measurable business value. And here’s why that matters: When your resume doesn’t clearly show your impact, it can quietly cost you interviews, promotions, and tens of thousands in compensation over time. The good news? This doesn’t require fancy wording or exaggeration. Here’s a simple way to fix it: 1️⃣ Capture everything you do Write down your responsibilities, even the ones that feel routine or “expected.” 2️⃣ Identify the outcome Ask: What changed because I did this? Did it save time, reduce risk, improve performance, or increase revenue? 3️⃣ Connect it to the bigger picture Link that outcome to team, departmental, or company results. For example: Task: “Managed team schedules.” Outcome: “Eliminated scheduling conflicts and saved 10 hours per week.” Impact: “Improved delivery timelines and increased team productivity by 15%.” That becomes a resume line like: • Designed and implemented a scheduling system that saved 10 hours weekly, improved delivery timelines, and increased team productivity by 15%. That’s what decision-makers are scanning for...proof that you already operate at a high level. In my one-on-one coaching partnership, I walk clients through this process step by step using clear, proven frameworks. You’ll learn how to: ✔️ Turn everyday work into compelling leadership impact ✔️ Build a resume that attracts interviews ✔️ Speak confidently about your value in senior-level conversations Your experience already holds more value than your resume is showing. The key is learning how to articulate it. If 2026 is the year you want your career to finally reflect your true impact, let’s make it happen.

I’ve reviewed hundreds of resumes over the last few years. Most never stood a chance. And it’s usually not because the candidate lacked experience. Your resume decides if you get 10 seconds or zero. Most fail in the first 10 seconds, not because they aren’t qualified, but because their resume doesn’t communicate value fast enough. Top 3 Resume Mistakes I See Repeatedly: 1. Copying and pasting the job description. It doesn’t work. Recruiters can spot it immediately. You disappear into the pile. 2. Prioritizing design over substance. Formatting matters, but content matters more. Impact, outcomes, and alignment move resumes forward, not a polished template. 3. Trying to game the system with hidden keywords. White font. Tiny text. Tricks in the margins. This hurts credibility and can get your resume flagged before a human ever sees it. How I Scan Resumes in the First 10 Seconds? A sharp headline that tells me who you are and why you’re worth a call. “Marketing Manager” isn’t a headline. Strong headline examples: • Marketing Manager | Ex-Spotify | Led social campaigns reaching 5M+ users | SEO, Paid Ads, Content Strategy • Data Analyst | Ex-Facebook | Built dashboards tracking 50M+ events per month | SQL, Python, Tableau • Product Designer | Ex-Airbnb | Designed core UX for mobile platform with 10M+ downloads | Figma, User Research Save one of these to update your own headline later. Next, Impact-First Bullets Matter Hiring managers don’t want a task list. They want to know what changed because you were there. Vague: Participated in a team project to improve website engagement Stronger: Led cross-functional team to redesign the homepage, increasing user engagement by 18% and reducing bounce rate by 12% Screenshot this before you write your next bullet. The part people underestimate is a strong resume opens doors. Relationships help you walk through them. Networking, showing up in rooms, and forming real connections still matters. Referrals and being known before you apply may completely change the outcome. This year, don’t just apply online. Show up. Build relationships. Put yourself in spaces where the right people can help bring your goals to life. A resume won’t land the job alone, but it is the first door. Small, strategic shifts make a real difference. Let’s write resumes that lead to interviews. And build networks that bring your dreams to life. Bookmark this post to revisit before your next interview prep session. Which resume mistake have you seen most often and how did you fix it? #temitaughtme

I’ve reviewed Hundreds of Resumes and 90% Fail for the same 3 reasons. Let me break it down for you 👇 It isn't about talent. It isn't about certifications It is about communication. Most people are underselling themselves not because they lack experience... but because they write like employees, not problem-solvers. I remember looking at one resume where a developer wrote: “Built and maintained APIs for user management.” And another where the same work was written as: “Improved user onboarding speed by 40% by optimizing API design and caching.” Guess which one I shortlisted? That’s the difference between listing tasks and showing impact. 📌 Here’s what I’ve Learned after seeing (and fixing) hundreds of resumes 1️⃣ Clarity beats complexity. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to decode jargon. They’re scanning for outcomes, not your entire GitHub history. 2️⃣ Your resume isn’t a database of skills, it’s a story of growth. Instead of saying “Experienced in React, Node, AWS,” Show how you used them to make something better. 3️⃣ Numbers talk. Always. Add metrics, even rough ones, load times improved, queries optimized, costs reduced. If you can measure it, you can differentiate yourself. 4️⃣ Tailoring isn’t optional anymore. Every company values something different, scalability, delivery speed, team ownership. Highlight what matters to them, not what matters to you. Some tools that can actually help you Level Up your Resume game. 📄 Teal Helps track job applications and optimize your resume with tailored keywords. 🧠 Rezi Uses AI to score your resume against the job description. ✍️ Enhancv Perfect for clean, readable layouts that don’t look like a wall of text. 🔍 Jobscan Matches your resume against a JD and shows keyword alignment gaps. And the simplest but most powerful one: 💬 Ask a peer to review your resume like they would a pull request. If they can’t instantly tell what impact you made, rewrite it. Since I made these changes years ago and started mentoring others to do the same, I’ve seen the difference firsthand. More callbacks. More interviews. Better conversations. Not because we became better developers overnight but because we finally learned how to communicate the value of our work. If your resume isn’t landing interviews, don’t assume it’s your skills. It might just be the story you’re telling. You’re not just a developer, you’re a problem solver, builder, and impact creator. Your resume should show that. What’s one resume mistake you see developers make all the time?

When I open a CV, I don’t start by reading every line. I scan for clarity, structure, and impact. Within the first 10 seconds, I can usually tell whether the candidate has put genuine thought into their presentation. Here’s what instantly catches my eye. 1️⃣ Career Progression (Work Experience) This is where recruiters spend the most time. Clearly show your role titles, company names, and dates. Emphasize growth, promotions, increased responsibilities, or major projects. Focus on achievements, not just duties. (Use numbers and outcomes: “Reduced deployment time by 25%.”) 👉 Why it matters: It shows consistency, reliability, and your ability to take on more complex roles. 2️⃣ Skills Section Include both: Technical skills (tools, frameworks, systems) Soft skills (leadership, problem-solving, communication) 👉 Why it matters: Recruiters often scan this section first to quickly match job requirements. 3️⃣ Achievements / Key Projects Create a separate section or highlight them under each role. Mention specific results, revenue increase, process improvements, cost savings, etc. Use action verbs (Developed, Led, Implemented, Streamlined). 👉 Why it matters: Quantifiable impact makes you memorable. 4️⃣ Education & Certifications Especially important in tech and managerial roles. Include recent or relevant certifications (AWS, PMP, Scrum Master, etc.) For experienced professionals, keep it short and relevant. 👉 Why it matters: Shows continuous learning and credibility in your domain. 5️⃣ Formatting & Readability A clean, modern layout = instant credibility. Stick to 1–2 fonts, consistent spacing, and bullet points. Avoid clutter, images, and long paragraphs. Save as PDF (unless the company asks otherwise). 👉 Why it matters: Recruiters judge professionalism within seconds, a clean format shows you value presentation and detail. #RecruiterInsights #CareerTips #CVTips #JobSearch #Recruitment #Hiring #CareerGrowth #LinkedInCommunity #JobSeekers

As a recruiter on a daily basis I receive a number of resumes. Amongst which a number of resumes aren't updated with important information such as projects, Technical skills and etc. Many which are updated on LinkedIn profiles but aren't updated on the resumes. Updating your resume with relevant projects and technical skills is as important as updating it on your LinkedIn profile. 💡 Increased Visibility: Highlighting current and relevant skills can make your resume stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, increasing your chances of being noticed. 💡 Demonstrates Competency: Showcasing your latest projects and skills demonstrates your expertise and competency in your field. 💡 Shows Continuous Learning: Regularly updating your resume indicates that you are committed to continuous learning and staying current with industry trends. 💡 Tailored Applications: A resume that reflects your latest experiences allows you to tailor applications more effectively to specific job roles, making you a stronger candidate. 💡 Reflects Career Progression: Including recent projects and skills shows your career progression and the development of your abilities over time. 💡 Relevance to Job Market: Keeping your resume updated ensures it aligns with current job market demands and requirements. 💡 Improves ATS Compatibility: Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Including relevant keywords from your projects and skills can help your resume pass through these systems. 💡 Builds Confidence: An updated resume can boost your confidence, as it serves as a reminder of your accomplishments and capabilities. 💡 Facilitates Networking: When networking, having an updated resume ready allows you to share your latest achievements with potential contacts quickly. 💡 Enhances Interview Preparation: An updated resume helps you prepare for interviews by providing a comprehensive overview of your recent work and skills to discuss. 💡 Supports Career Transitions: If you’re looking to change roles or industries, highlighting relevant projects and skills can help demonstrate your suitability for new opportunities. 💡 Professional Image: Maintaining an updated resume presents a professional image, showing that you are proactive and organized.

A job seeker shared their resume with me yesterday—and I had that all-too-familiar reaction: “Whew… this is going to take work.” Not because the person wasn’t qualified. Not because they didn’t have great experience. But because it was buried under layers of formatting, dense text, and unclear structure. And here’s the hard truth I had to tell them (and now I’m telling you): If it takes effort to find the value in your resume, most people won’t do it. And not because they’re lazy. Because they’re busy. We like to think people will dig for the greatness we’ve tucked inside long paragraphs or overly clever formats. But the reality is, readers are ruthlessly efficient. Recruiters and hiring managers have minutes—sometimes seconds—to make a decision. And if your resume reads like a puzzle to solve, they’ll move on to the next one that doesn't. It’s not about how good your content is. It’s about how easy your content is to use. Here’s what makes a difference: Readable formatting: Use consistent spacing, bullet points, and clean alignment (left-aligned text is proven to be faster to read). Short paragraphs and scannable sections: Long blocks of text are hard on the eyes and hard on the brain. Clear value upfront: Lead with outcomes, not just duties. Make the impact of your work obvious. Text hierarchy: Use bolding or spacing to guide the eye. Help the reader find what matters most. Jacob Nielsen, a usability expert, talks about how things like line height and justification impact reading speed. These are design choices, but they’re also respect choices—respecting the reader’s time and energy. At Teal, this is why we built our Resume Builder to make formatting simple and intentional. You focus on the content; we help make it easier to read. Because the resume that gets read is the one that gets results. So if you’re working on your resume today, don’t just ask: “Is this good?” Ask: “Is this easy?” What Do You Think? Have you tried re-formatting your resume for better readability? What changes helped you most? Share your insights below! ♻️ Reshare to help someone make their next job move.  🔔 Follow me for more job search & resume tips.