Write a Resume That Doesn’t Suck: Must-Know Rules and Two Secrets to Beat ATS in 2024
I’m a bit nervous to share the final tip
Meet George, a friendly, dedicated recruiter at a bustling tech company in sunny California.
It’s Monday morning, and George logs into work. The first thing he does? Checks the application stats for two openings he posted last week.
600+ resumes for a backend software engineer position
5000+ resumes for an intern role
Whoa.
But the worst part? Over 80% of those resumes will never even reach George’s desk.
That’s right—most resumes will get stuck in the dreaded Applicant Tracking System (ATS), collecting digital dust while candidates wait for a reply that’ll never come.
It’s a harsh reality, but it’s the truth in today’s ultra-competitive job market.
Welcome to the job market of 2024, where hot positions get bombarded with applications faster than you can say "LinkedIn."
Roles get flooded with applications within minutes of going live, making it feel impossible to stand out.
If that sounds frustrating, I hear you.
But here’s the good news: You don’t have to be part of that 80%.
After speaking with two seasoned tech recruiters, I uncovered insights on how to craft a resume that doesn’t just pass the ATS but demands attention.
And trust me, even after eight years in consulting and data science, I picked up tips that blew my mind—especially on beating the ATS.
So, if you’re ready to go from “just another resume” to “top of the pile,” you’re in the right place.
In this article, you’ll discover:
Nine golden rules of resume writing that'll make recruiters sit up and take notice
Three ways to optimize bullets for a 15-second skim (because that's often all you get!)
Two insider secrets to outsmart the ATS—so good, I almost didn’t want to share them
Buckle up - it’ll be a real treat!
PS: You can find my FAANG data science resume template to build your killer one!
Nine golden rules of resume writing
1. You’ve got 15 seconds to impress—make them count
Here’s the harsh truth: recruiters spend an average of 15 seconds deciding whether to keep reading your resume or move on.
That’s why your resume needs to hit hard, fast. You want them to see, in a glance, that you’re a top candidate.
We’ll dive into how to make that happen in the next section.
2. Organize for maximum impact
Your work experience should take center stage, especially if you’ve got internships or relevant research gigs.
Unless you’re a PhD or fresh out of school with zero work experience, keep education lower on the page.
3. Keep it short, keep it strong
Five bullet points per job, max. Don’t let one experience hog the page.
Focus on what matters: your current role should take the most space.
4. Nail the bullet points
Each bullet should follow this structure: what you did, how you did it, why it mattered, and who you worked with (if relevant).
Make sure you highlight the impact. Here’s how:
• What: The task or project you handled.
• How: The technical skills or tools you used.
• Why: The business impact you delivered.
• Who: Collaborations that added value.
For example:
“Redesigned the customer onboarding process (what) using SQL and Python automation (how). Partnered with the product team (who) and reduced churn by 15% (why).”
5. Sync your resume and LinkedIn
If your resume says “Data Scientist” but your LinkedIn says “Business Analyst,” you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Consistency is key.
Make sure your LinkedIn reflects your most recent role accurately. If you’ve worked, your title should be “Data Science Intern at X Company” rather than “M.S. Candidate at Y University.”
6. Make your contact info pop
Put your phone number and email at the top, right under your name. Don’t assume recruiters have all your contact info handy—they’re busy, and you want to make it stupidly easy for them to reach out.
7. One page, no more
Your resume should fit on one page unless you’ve got over a decade of experience or a stack of publications worth mentioning.
If you can’t showcase your value on a single page, a recruiter won’t take the time to dig through two.
8. Flash that “Open to Work” badge
Set your LinkedIn status to “Open to Work” if you can. It’s a green light to recruiters that you’re available now.
9. Speed kills - in a good way
This one’s less about your resume and more about landing the job: respond to recruiters quickly.
If they’ve got 20 qualified candidates, they might just go with the first person to reply.
Three ways to optimize bullets for 15-sec skim
Let’s be real: recruiters skim resumes like they’re speed-reading a grocery list.
You’ve got 15 seconds—tops—to grab their attention. Here’s how to make those seconds count.