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This skill adapts and optimizes resumes for ATS and job tailoring, diagnosing gaps and crafting recruiter-tested narratives.

npx playbooks add skill openclaw/skills --skill resume

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (6)
SKILL.md
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---
name: Resume
description: Adapt, diagnose, and optimize resumes to land interviews with ATS optimization, job-specific tailoring, and recruiter-tested tactics.
version: 1.0.0
metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"πŸ“„","requires":{"bins":[]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}}
---

## Quick Reference

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `tailoring.md` | Adapt resume to specific job postings |
| `diagnosis.md` | Find why resume isn't getting calls |
| `ats.md` | Pass automated screening systems |
| `seniority.md` | Calibrate for different career levels |

---

## What the Agent Can Do

| User Request | Agent Action |
|--------------|--------------|
| "Why am I not getting calls?" | Diagnose: match gaps, red flags, weak positioning |
| "Tailor this to [job posting]" | Extract keywords, reorder, adapt language |
| "Will this pass ATS?" | Check format, keywords, parseability |
| "I'm changing careers" | Identify transferable skills, build narrative bridge |
| "Condense 15 years to 2 pages" | Prioritize recent impact, strategic omissions |
| "Is my experience positioned well?" | Convert responsibilities β†’ achievements |

---

## The 6-Second Test

Recruiters scan resumes in 6 seconds. Before anything else, verify:

1. **Title clarity** β€” Current/target role obvious at top?
2. **Impact visible** β€” Top 3 achievements jump out?
3. **Relevance clear** β€” Match to target role evident?
4. **Clean format** β€” No visual clutter slowing scan?

If any fail β†’ fix before other optimizations.

---

## Responsibilities β†’ Achievements

The #1 resume killer: listing tasks instead of results.

**Transform pattern:**
- "Responsible for..." β†’ "Achieved X resulting in Y"
- "Managed team of..." β†’ "Built team from X to Y, delivering Z"
- "Worked on..." β†’ "Led/contributed to X, increasing Y by Z%"

**Every bullet needs:** Action verb + specific result + quantified impact when possible.

---

## Tailoring Workflow

When adapting to a specific job:

1. **Extract requirements** β€” Parse job description for must-haves vs nice-to-haves
2. **Map experience** β€” Which of user's achievements match each requirement?
3. **Identify gaps** β€” What's missing? Can it be reframed or is it a real gap?
4. **Inject keywords** β€” Add exact terms from JD, naturally integrated
5. **Reorder sections** β€” Most relevant experience first

See `tailoring.md` for job description parsing patterns.

---

## Career Changers

When user is switching industries/roles:

1. **Vocabulary translation** β€” Rewrite achievements in target industry language
2. **Transferable skills** β€” Extract hidden competencies ("budget management" = "P&L ownership")
3. **Narrative bridge** β€” 2-3 sentences connecting past to future coherently
4. **Section reorder** β€” Skills/summary may go before experience
5. **Red flag check** β€” Avoid phrases that signal confusion about direction

See `tailoring.md` section on industry translation.

---

## Senior/Executive Resumes

15+ years of experience requires different approach:

1. **Career arc** β€” One coherent progression, not 12 disconnected roles
2. **Recency weighting** β€” Last 5-7 years detailed, earlier roles condensed
3. **Strategic omissions** β€” Remove outdated tech, irrelevant roles, age signals
4. **Leadership evidence** β€” Show HOW you led, not just that you did
5. **Role calibration** β€” Adjust tone if targeting lower level (avoid "overqualified" rejection)

See `seniority.md` for condensing techniques.

---

## Red Flags to Fix

Immediate disqualification triggers:

- **Unexplained gaps** β€” Address or the recruiter imagines worst
- **Job hopping without context** β€” Brief roles need positioning
- **Typos in tech names** β€” ReactJS vs React.js matters
- **Generic objective** β€” "Seeking challenging opportunity" = delete
- **Skills mismatch** β€” Claims that experience doesn't support

---

## Format Rules

- **Length:** <10 years = 1 page, 10-20 = 2 pages, exec = 2-3
- **File:** Have PDF, DOCX, and plain text versions ready
- **Design:** One column safer for ATS, minimal color, no graphics
- **Dates:** Consistent format throughout (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY)

For ATS-specific formatting, see `ats.md`.

Overview

This skill adapts, diagnoses, and optimizes resumes to increase interview invitations through ATS optimization, job-specific tailoring, and recruiter-tested tactics. It focuses on clarity, measurable impact, and relevance to the target role so hiring managers can decide quickly. The goal is a resume that passes automated screening and passes the 6-second human scan.

How this skill works

The agent inspects structure, language, and keyword alignment against a target job description and common ATS rules. It diagnoses blockers like vague bullets, gaps, or format issues, then rewrites bullets into achievement statements, injects relevant keywords, and reorders sections for maximum relevance. It also provides level calibration for career-changers and senior leaders, and outputs ATS-friendly formatting recommendations.

When to use it

  • You’re not getting interview invites and need a diagnosis
  • You want a version tailored to a specific job posting
  • Preparing a resume to pass ATS parsing and keyword screens
  • Changing careers and need to translate transferable skills
  • Condensing long experience into a concise, targeted resume
  • Recalibrating senior-level content for different role seniority

Best practices

  • Pass the 6-second test: make target title, top 3 impacts, and relevance obvious
  • Convert responsibilities into quantified achievements (action + result + metric)
  • Match exact job-description keywords naturallyβ€”don’t keyword-stuff
  • Use a single-column, text-first layout and supply PDF/DOCX/plain-text files
  • Prioritize recent, relevant impact; condense older roles to avoid clutter
  • Address unexplained gaps and explain short stints to remove recruiter doubt

Example use cases

  • Diagnose why a resume isn’t getting callbacks and fix the top 4 blockers
  • Tailor a resume to a specific job by mapping achievements to listed requirements
  • Rewrite bullets into quantified achievements to improve recruiter response
  • Create a career-change narrative and translate transferable skills into target-industry language
  • Condense 15+ years into a 2-page executive short-form with a clear career arc

FAQ

Will adding keywords guarantee ATS passage?

No. Exact keywords help but format, section labels, and file type also affect parsing. Follow ATS-friendly layout and correct file types in addition to keyword alignment.

How do you handle unexplained employment gaps?

I recommend brief, honest context in the resume or a concise note in a cover letter. If possible, highlight productive activities during gaps (projects, courses, consulting) to reduce recruiter concern.