Adding Your Writing Skills on a Resume: How to Make Every Word Count

Well-written resumes are concise, original, and above all goal-focused. The tips below will help you develop a resume with these qualities so you can make faster progress in your job search.

Consider Your Search Goals

To ensure every word on your resume matters, first check that each detail speaks to your target role. As job search expert Richard N. Bolles wrote, “Your sole purpose for your resume, if you’re targeting individual employers, is to get yourself invited for an interview …. So go back and read over every single sentence in your resume and evaluate it by this one standard: Will this item help to get me invited in? Or will this item seem too puzzling, or off-putting, or a red flag?”

Anytime you find an item won’t help, delete it for a more focused resume. For example, if you’re applying for a digital marketing role, a line like “Volunteered as treasurer for neighborhood HOA” may not support your qualifications or be worth keeping.

When you remove unnecessary details like these, you train a reader’s attention more on the relevant details that remain. Hiring managers appreciate this focus, since it helps them more quickly measure your background in relation to their job opening.

Hiring managers don’t just want a list of responsibilities — they want evidence that you’ve thought carefully about your fit for the role. Each line on your resume should support the story you’re telling about why you’re the right candidate. That means trimming experiences that may be impressive in other contexts but don’t advance your case for this particular job. When you build your resume this way, you’re not just saving space — you’re strengthening your argument as a candidate.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job Posting

Review each job posting and mirror the employer’s language when it overlaps with your experience. If they need someone who can “streamline workflows,” and you’ve done that, say so. You don’t need to rewrite your resume for every role, but adjusting keywords will improve your chance of getting through applicant tracking system (ATS) filters to a manager’s desk.

It’s important to adapt your resume to each job description, but you don’t need to start from scratch every time. Create a strong “master resume” that lists all your experience, projects, and skills. Then, pull from that document to create shorter, targeted versions for specific applications. This saves time while keeping your message consistent.

You can also build keyword alignment beyond just the job posting. Scan similar roles across different companies to identify recurring terms, then make sure those terms are reflected naturally in your resume. This increases your chances of clearing applicant tracking systems (ATS) without making your writing sound artificial.

Aim for Clarity

Clarity also extends to formatting. Even if your word choice is sharp, a cluttered or inconsistent layout can undermine readability. Stick to a professional font, use clear headings, and rely on bullet points instead of paragraphs. Each formatting choice should guide the reader’s eye toward your most important achievements. White space is valuable — it keeps the page from feeling crowded and allows the reader to focus on what matters most.

Resumes aren’t meant to showcase how many big words you know. They’re meant to communicate how qualified you are. Avoid jargon unless it’s essential for your industry. Even then, use it sparingly. In general, short words work better than long ones. A simple phrase like “Used management skills” does more than “Utilized managerial capabilities.”

Use Action Verbs To Drive Each Line

Strong verbs give your resume energy and concision. Start every bullet point with one: “Created,” “Reduced,” “Won,” “Raised,” “Streamlined.” This approach keeps your resume succinct by centering on what you did and achieved in each position. By contrast, passive phrases like “Responsible for” or “Tasked with” lose momentum and obscure your accomplishments.

Along with action verbs, vary your language to avoid repetition. For instance, instead of starting every bullet with “Managed,” you could also use “Directed,” “Oversaw,” or “Spearheaded.” A diverse set of verbs keeps your resume engaging and highlights different aspects of your leadership or technical ability. If you need inspiration, browse a list of resume action verbs to freshen up your phrasing.

Omit Redundant Info

You’ll have a stronger, more original document if you omit details an employer already knows or can assume. That’s why standard job duties are often unnecessary: When the hiring manager sees your job title was Sales Director, they already assume you “Led, supervised, and motivated a sales organization.” Trade out a general line like this for your results and the unique impact you had in the position. Quantify your performance when possible. Numbers help catch the reader’s attention and set you apart from similar candidates.

Compare these two:

• “Managed social media accounts”
• “Developed and executed content strategy that increase Instagram engagement by 60% in six months, driving higher follower interaction and visibility”

The second shows impact, and every word is doing work.

Whenever possible, back up your accomplishments with metrics. Employers are more likely to remember “Reduced customer response time by 40%” than “Helped improve customer service.” Numbers don’t just prove your success — they also help employers envision the value you’ll bring to their team. If exact numbers aren’t available, approximate ranges or percentages can still add credibility.

Julia Toothacre

Chief Career Strategist

Julia Toothacre offers a multifaceted perspective on career development, drawing on over 12 years of experience in career counseling, coaching, and strategy.