The 10-Minute Resume Rewrite (That Actually Gets Interviews)

If your resume isn’t getting callbacks, it’s usually not because you lack skills. It’s because your resume is hard to scan, too generic, or doesn’t clearly show impact.

Here’s a fast, structured rewrite you can do in about 10 minutes. No fancy templates required.

Step 1: Fix the top 5 seconds (Headline + 2-line summary)

Replace vague titles like “Software Engineer” with a target role.

Example headline: Full-Stack Developer (React / .NET / Azure)

Then add a short summary that answers:

• What you do
• What you’re strong at
• What you’ve shipped

Example summary: I build production web apps with secure authentication, SQL-backed APIs, and clean UI. Recently deployed an ASP.NET Core API to Azure App Service with Azure SQL and EF Core migrations.

Keep it to 2–3 lines. Make it specific.

Step 2: Replace “Skills: everything” with “Skills: relevant”

A huge list of tools doesn’t help. Group skills and keep only what you can defend.

Good skills layout:

• Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript
• Backend: ASP.NET Core, REST APIs, EF Core
• Database: SQL Server, migrations, indexing
• Cloud: Azure App Service, Azure SQL
• Tools: Git, CI/CD, logging

If you’re applying for a role that mentions “OAuth” or “JWT”, those words should appear (if true).

Step 3: Rewrite your Experience bullets as proof

Most resumes fail here. “Responsible for…” is not proof.

Use this formula: Action + Tool + Result

Bad:

• Built APIs for the application.

Better:

• Built and deployed ASP.NET Core REST APIs to Azure App Service, improving reliability and simplifying releases.
• Optimized SQL queries and added indexes, reducing response time and timeouts.
• Implemented JWT auth and role-based access, reducing unauthorized access issues and login errors.

Aim for 3–6 bullets per role. Lead with outcomes. If you don’t have numbers, use signals like:

• faster, reduced errors, fewer steps, improved reliability, simplified deployment, automated process

Step 4: Trim anything that doesn’t sell you

Quick cuts that almost always help:

• Remove “References available upon request”
• Remove high school (if you have any higher education or experience)
• Remove unrelated jobs older than 8–10 years (unless important)
• Remove empty “soft skills” lists (show them through impact instead)

Your resume should feel like a highlight reel, not a biography.

Step 5: Make it ATS-friendly without making it ugly

ATS (applicant tracking systems) can break on complex formatting.

Safe choices:

• One-column layout (or very simple two-column)
• Standard headings: Summary, Skills, Experience, Education
• No text inside images
• No tables for main content
• Simple fonts and consistent dates

Export to PDF, and do a quick test: copy-paste the PDF text into a plain document. If it becomes a mess, ATS will struggle too.

A final 30-second checklist

Before you submit:

• Does the job title appear in your resume (if true)?
• Do the top 12–20 keywords appear naturally?
• Does each job have outcomes, not tasks?
• Can a recruiter understand you in 10 seconds?
• Is the file name professional (First_Last_Resume.pdf)?

If you apply this rewrite, your resume becomes easier to scan, easier to trust, and easier to match to the job. That’s what gets interviews.