resume/.claude/skills/build-resume/skill.md

name, description, type, arguments, output

name	description	type	arguments	output
build-resume	Generate tailored resumes and cover letters for specific job applications using Paul's detailed resume as context	skill	name description required job_description Job posting text or details (paste job description, link, or brief details) true	resume_md Customized resume in markdown with YAML metadata resume_pdf Compiled PDF resume cover_letter_md Customized cover letter in markdown cover_letter_pdf Compiled PDF cover letter job_breakdown_md Analysis, fit assessment, and strategy notes

build-resume Skill

Generate tailored resumes and cover letters for specific job applications.

Quick Start

/build-resume [paste job description or provide details]

Output Structure

Creates organized directory structure:

applications/
└── company-name/
    └── job-title/
        ├── paul-halvorsen-resume.md
        ├── paul-halvorsen-resume.pdf
        ├── paul-halvorsen-cover-letter.md
        ├── paul-halvorsen-cover-letter.pdf
        └── job-breakdown.md (analysis)

Examples: applications/zapier/backend-engineer/, applications/stripe/senior-backend-engineer/

YAML Metadata Format

IMPORTANT: Use quoted strings for contact info to avoid YAML parsing issues.

Template

---
name: Paul Halvorsen
keywords: key1, key2, key3
left-column:
    - "Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me"
    - "Phone: +1-410-236-4665"
right-column:
    - "GitHub: github.com/malwhile"
    - "LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen"
    - "Blog: flow.halvo.me"
fontsize: 10pt
fontenc: T1
urlcolor: blue
linkcolor: magenta
numbersections: false
---

Contact Info Guidelines

• Always include email and phone
• Include GitHub link
• Include LinkedIn (preferred over "Remote" keyword)
• Blog link is optional
• Do NOT include "Citizen of the United States" in right-column for job resumes
• Use format: "Label: value" (quoted entire string)

Dates Formatting

Use the \resumedate{} macro to make dates smaller than headers:

### Job Title | Company
\resumedate{**January 2026 – Present**}

Building PDFs

Classic Template

make resume FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-resume
make resume FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-cover-letter

Modern Template (Recommended)

make resume-modern FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-resume
make resume-modern FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-cover-letter

Awesome-CV Template

make resume-awesome FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-resume
make resume-awesome FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-cover-letter

Resume Customization Strategy

1. Lead with relevant technical skills from job description
2. Reorder work experience (most relevant first)
3. Highlight metrics from roles that match JD requirements
4. Frame gaps honestly in cover letter (e.g., "I haven't worked with X, but...")
5. De-emphasize Sr/Staff titles when applying to mid-level roles

CRITICAL: No Fabrication Rule

BLOCKING REQUIREMENT: All numbers and metrics must come from paul-halvorsen-resume-detailed.md.

Pre-Write Checklist

For every bullet point with a number:

• Is this in paul-halvorsen-resume-detailed.md?
• If NO: remove it or rephrase without the number
• If YES: use the exact number/metric

Allowed

• Reordering existing information
• Reframing for clarity
• Removing less relevant details
• Using exact metrics from detailed resume

Not Allowed

• Inventing metrics
• Making up achievements
• Exaggerating scales or customer counts
• Creating statistics not documented

Examples

• ✓ "Performance improvements: reduced CPU usage ~90%" (IS in detailed resume)
• ✓ "10 auto-scaling clusters" (IS in detailed resume)
• ✓ "Customers: thousands of Fortune 500 endpoints" (IS in detailed resume)
• ❌ "$9 trillion in assets" (NOT in detailed resume)
• ❌ "40+ engineers" (NOT in detailed resume)

Cover Letter Approach

• Be upfront about gaps (e.g., "I haven't worked professionally with C#")
• Emphasize transferable skills and learning ability
• Address company mission (e.g., travel industry, fintech, etc.)
• Frame intentional career moves (e.g., moving away from on-call work to sustainable roles)
• Keep tone professional, confident, and honest—not defensive

Key Clarifications from Paul's Background

CompTIA Security+ Certification

• Status: Expired 04/04/2024 (no longer active)
• Note: Do NOT list as active in resumes

NSA Experience - Database Scale

• Database: Thousands of records (not hundreds of thousands)
• Use in resume: "thousands of records" or similar

Language Learning Capability

• Paul has mastered 5+ languages (Rust, Python, C, GoLang, Java)
• Use when applying to roles with unfamiliar tech stacks
• Frame as evidence of quick learning ability

Tech Stack Preferences

• Primary: Backend, systems programming, security
• Secondary: Full-stack if learning opportunity (new languages/frameworks)
• Avoid: Emphasis on junior mentoring, heavy management

ATS Optimization

• Aim for 75-85% keyword match with job description
• Include role-specific technologies in skills section
• Use exact terminology from JD where possible
• Avoid creative formatting that breaks ATS parsing

Application Workflow

1. Use /build-resume [job description] to generate customized documents
2. Review job-breakdown.md for fit assessment and strategy
3. Update applications_tracker.md to log the application
4. Build PDFs using appropriate template
5. Verify position on company careers page
6. Submit through company site (not job board)
7. Connect with hiring manager on LinkedIn

File Locations

• Resume source: /home/paul/Public/resume/paul-halvorsen-resume-detailed.md
• This skill: /home/paul/Public/resume/.claude/skills/build-resume/
• Workflow guide: /home/paul/Public/resume/.claude/skills/build-resume/BUILD-RESUME-WORKFLOW.md
• Job boards: /home/paul/Public/resume/JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md
• LinkedIn guide: /home/paul/Public/resume/LINKEDIN-OPTIMIZATION.md
• Job search dashboard: /home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html
• Application tracker: /home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md

Notes for Implementation

• Update paul-halvorsen-resume-detailed.md with any role clarifications (scale, tech, responsibilities)
• Detailed resume serves as source of truth for customized versions
• LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/in/paul-halvorsen (without https://)
• GitHub URL: github.com/malwhile
• Email: paul.halvorsen@pm.me
• Phone: +1-410-236-4665