# CV ATS keywords and bullet writing

## Keyword rules

- prioritize hard skills, tools, platforms, and domain terms
- mirror exact phrasing for important hard-skill terms where the job description uses specific wording
- on first mention, include both the long form and acronym when useful
- use transferable-skill translation carefully when the user is changing domain
- do not keyword-stuff or hide text

## Integration rules

- put important keywords into context-rich bullet points
- show how the skill was used, not just that it exists
- weave key terms into the professional summary when they reflect real fit
- balance tailoring with speed; do not miss the application window by over-polishing

## Bullet formula

Default formula:

- Action + Task + Result

Good frameworks:

- STAR
- STAR+R
- XYZ

## Bullet rules

- start with an action verb
- use active voice
- quantify outcomes when defensible
- if exact numbers are unknown, use approximate estimates only when the source material provides enough basis, and label them clearly as approximate
- translate duties into achievements
- avoid repeating the same keyword in multiple trivial variants

## Anti-patterns

- duty-only bullets
- giant skill dumps
- repeating the same keyword in multiple trivial variants
- unsupported claims with no measurable result
- summary sections that read like pasted job descriptions
