Your Resume Is Too Long — And Still Says Nothing

Let’s make that change — with real proof, not fluff.

In partnership with

Hey champ,

Let’s cut through the noise.

You’re applying to tech roles. You’ve got some skills.
Maybe even projects on GitHub or certificates from 5 different platforms.

But still… no callbacks. No interviews.

In this issue, we fix all that.

 ✅ The anatomy of a startup-ready tech resume
 ✅ The rewrite framework that gets read (not skimmed)
 ✅ How to use AI to 10x your output without losing your voice
 ✅ Underrated sections & proof signals

Let’s rebuild your first impression 👇

🧠 The Resume Is NOT Dead — But Generic Ones Are

In 2025, your resume is your launchpad.
Not your story. Not your brand. Just the hook.

If it’s too long, too generic, or just filled with buzzwords, it gets skipped.

Here’s what founders & early-stage recruiters actually care about:

  • Can this person build, ship, learn fast?

  • Do they have proof (not just promises)?

  • Will they need hand-holding, or do they take initiative?

A resume should signal all of that in 7 seconds.

🔍 Anatomy of a Startup-Ready Resume

Here’s the structure that works specifically for fresher tech roles:

🔹 1. Headline = What You Do, Not Just What You’re “Seeking”

Don’t:

“Computer Science Student Seeking Opportunities”

Do:

“Frontend Dev | Built 5+ Projects | Passion for AI x UI/UX | Open to Remote Internships”

🔹 2. Summary = 3-Liner With Hooks

What to include:

  • Your tech focus (Frontend / AI / Fullstack / DevOps)

  • Real signal (“Built 3 apps, 2 shipped” or “1.5K views on tech teardown”)

  • What you're looking for

Example:

Fullstack developer with focus on React + Firebase.
Built and shipped 3 solo projects, one featured on IndieHackers.
Currently exploring AI integrations and async product work.

🔹 3. Projects = Story + Stack + Impact

Recruiters scan for 3 things:

  • Problem solved

  • Your exact role

  • Metrics or result

BAD:

Built a weather app using React.

GOOD:

Built a React-based weather app using OpenWeather API. Integrated geolocation for auto-detection. Gained 1.2K visits in 3 weeks via Product Hunt. Loom Demo

Always include:

  • Tech stack

  • Features (1-2 lines max)

  • Result: users, metrics, what changed

  • [GitHub] + [Live Demo] + [Beehiiv writeup] or [Loom demo]

Extra: For every project, add a “What I’d improve if I had more time” bullet. Shows product mindset.

🔹 4. Skills = Split Into 2

Languages + Tools
→ React, JavaScript, Python, Node.js, Firebase, Supabase
Workflows
→ Git/GitHub, Agile sprints, API integration, Prompt engineering

🔹 5. Add These Underrated Proof Signals

✅ Open Source Contributions
→ Even 1 PR counts. Add it. Shows you collaborate.
 ✅ Content
→ A tech blog post, teardown, tutorial — show how you explain.
 ✅ Certifications with Context
→ “Frontend Masters Bootcamp (30H, built 2 projects)” > “Frontend Cert - Udemy”

⚙️ How to Use AI to Improve (Not Ruin) Your Resume

Here’s how to use AI to enhance — not overwrite — your resume voice:

🔧 Prompt 1: Bullet Rewrite Prompt

“Act like a hiring manager for a React internship. Rewrite this project description to highlight stack, metrics, and impact.”

Paste in your basic bullet. Let AI polish it.

🔧 Prompt 2: Resume Customization Prompt

“Tailor this resume for a backend internship at a YC startup. Emphasize collaboration, API work, and async contribution.”

🔧 Prompt 3: Visibility Layer Prompt

“Turn this resume into a short 1-page portfolio + LinkedIn About + outline.”

Now you're creating an ecosystem of proof, not just a file.

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🚨 Red Flags That Instantly Kill Your Resume

Here’s what makes recruiters instantly close your resume (yes, even if your skills are decent):

  • ❌ No links — Not a single GitHub, LinkedIn, or portfolio link? That’s a dealbreaker.

  • ❌ Passive language — “Helped with”, “Assisted in” → doesn’t tell what you did.

  • ❌ Generic project descriptions — “Built a weather app” with no stack, no results.

  • ❌ Listing too many tools — If you list 12 languages, 7 frameworks, and 5 databases — you’re not credible.

  • ❌ Unstructured layout — Dense text blocks, tiny font, no hierarchy = pain to read.

  • ❌ Resume file named Resume.pdf — Rename it: YourName_Resume_2025.pdf

  • ❌ Typos or grammar issues — Especially in Summary or Project sections.

  • ❌ Obvious templates with filler — Recruiters can smell AI-written summaries that mean nothing.

  • ❌ No metrics anywhere — No users, downloads, traffic? Add even estimated numbers.

🧠 Fix these = 80% improvement before you even touch the layout.

📈 Resume Optimization Summary Table

Section

Mistake

Upgrade To

Header

Generic intro + no links

Focused tagline + GitHub/LinkedIn

Summary

Vague, non-personal

Skills + shipped work + clarity on what you want

Skills

Long tool dump

Categorized, job-specific tools + workflows

Projects

No context or result

STAR format + metrics + proof links

Education

Over-emphasized

Keep minimal, highlight only if relevant

Proof Links

Missing or hidden

GitHub, Notion, Beehiiv, Loom — shown visibly

Tailoring

Same resume for all

AI-assisted customization using prompts

Visibility

Resume only

Resume + content + demo + async contribution mentions

Your resume isn’t broken — it’s just missing context, clarity, and proof.

You don’t need a fancier font.
You need:

  • Project bullets that tell stories

  • Side links that show your thinking

  • Signals that say: “I’m already doing the work — just let me in.”

Here’s your 3-part resume fix this week:

  1. Pick one project → rewrite the bullet using Prompt 1

  2. Add a Loom video → drop link in resume

  3. Publish your breakdown on Notion/linkedIn → connect with real humans

Let’s make your first impression unignorable.