Resume Handbook
A comprehensive guide to writing engineering and tech resumes that convert.
1. The Google XYZ Resume Formula
The most effective way to frame your achievements is using the XYZ formula: “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z].”
Weak: Helped build the company frontend website.
Strong: Redesigned the core dashboard frontend [X], resulting in a 34% reduction in load latency [Y], by implementing React code-splitting and state optimizations [Z].
2. Layout and Structure Guidelines
Corporate recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds reviewing a resume. Keep your structure clean:
- Single page only (unless you have 8+ years of experience).
- Single-column layout to ensure ATS compatibility.
- Consistent margins of 0.5 to 1.0 inch.
- No visual scales, percentages, or stars for skill levels.
3. Action Verbs to Start Every Bullet
Always begin bullet points with strong, active verbs in the past tense (or present for current roles):
Creation & Dev
Architected, Deployed, Built, Formulated, Engineered, Developed.
Leadership & Impact
Spearheaded, Directed, Guided, Restructured, Optimized, Accelerated.