Most resumes do not fail because you are unqualified.
They fail because they do not match the job description.
They do not prove measurable impact.
And they get filtered out by Applicant Tracking Systems.
The System
- Find the keyword gaps so your resume matches the role
- Rewrite bullets using the XYZ formula so your impact is obvious
- Run an ATS simulation so formatting does not break parsing
That is it.
If you want context on how I approach systems and career positioning, learn more about me here: https://cholmesiv.com/about/
Step 1 Resume Match and Keyword Gap
Paste your resume and the job description into ChatGPT and run this prompt.
Act as a senior recruiter. Analyze my resume against this job description and give me:
1. A match score out of 100
2. The top 5 missing keywords or skills
3. Any experience gaps that could weaken my candidacy
4. Specific suggestions to improve alignmentWhy this works
Most companies use ATS screening before a human ever reads your resume. If your resume does not contain relevant role language, you will not rank well.
You can run this same system in:
Step 2 Rewrite Using the XYZ Formula
Accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z.
Rewrite my resume to naturally incorporate the missing keywords you identified.
Use the Google XYZ formula:
Accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z.
Keep it concise, results-driven, and optimized for ATS systems.
Do not keyword stuff. Maintain professional tone and readability.Example
Instead of: Managed paid media campaigns.
Write: Increased qualified leads by 37 percent by restructuring paid search campaigns and improving landing page conversion rates.
Step 3 ATS Simulation
Act as an Applicant Tracking System.
Scan my updated resume and tell me:
1. Which sections may be difficult for a parsing bot to read
2. Any formatting issues that could reduce ATS compatibility
3. Keyword density concerns
4. A final ATS score out of 100ATS safe formatting usually means:
- Single column layout
- Standard headings like Experience, Skills, Education
- No tables, text boxes, or icons
Bonus Hiring Manager Mode
Act as the hiring manager for this role.
Based on the job description and my resume:
1. Ask me the three hardest interview questions you would ask
2. Provide the ideal high-level answer for each question tailored to my background
3. Explain what makes each answer strong from a hiring perspectiveThe Only Rules That Matter
- Do not fabricate experience
- Do not keyword stuff
- Keep formatting ATS safe
- Use one clean thread per application
Want help applying this to your resume?
Bonus Hiring Manager Mode
After the resume is optimized, switch perspective.
Act as the hiring manager for this role.
Based on the job description and my resume:
1. Ask me the three hardest interview questions you would ask
2. Provide the ideal high-level answer for each question tailored to my background
3. Explain what makes each answer strong from a hiring perspective
This forces you to think like the person making the decision.
The Only Rules That Matter
Do not fabricate experience
Do not keyword stuff
Keep formatting ATS safe
Use one clean thread per application
That is the system.
If you want help applying this structure to your own resume, reach out here
https://cholmesiv.com/contact/
