205 lines
6.6 KiB
Markdown
205 lines
6.6 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
name: build-resume
|
||
description: Generate tailored resumes and cover letters for specific job applications using Paul's detailed resume as context
|
||
type: skill
|
||
arguments:
|
||
- name: job_description
|
||
description: Job posting text or details (paste job description, link, or brief details)
|
||
required: true
|
||
output:
|
||
- 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
|
||
|
||
```yaml
|
||
---
|
||
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:
|
||
|
||
```markdown
|
||
### Job Title | Company
|
||
\resumedate{**January 2026 – Present**}
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
## Building PDFs
|
||
|
||
### Classic Template
|
||
```bash
|
||
make resume FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-resume
|
||
make resume FILE_NAME=company/job-title/paul-halvorsen-cover-letter
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
### Modern Template (Recommended)
|
||
```bash
|
||
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
|
||
```bash
|
||
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
|