Resume writing
Reword, Don't Invent: Where Honest Resume Tailoring Draws the Line
4 min read
Tailoring a resume is expected. Making things up on one is a risk to you. The line between the two is simple to state and easy to cross by accident.
The rule
You can change how something is said and what comes first. You can't change what happened.
What's fine
- Rewording your own bullets to be clearer or to use the employer's term for the same thing.
- Reordering bullets and skills so the most relevant come first.
- Choosing stronger verbs for work you actually did.
- Shortening or moving down things that don't relate to the role.
- Using numbers you already have on your resume more prominently.
What crosses the line
- Adding a tool or skill you haven't used, because the posting lists it.
- Adding or inventing a number, such as a percentage, a team size, or a dollar figure.
- Upgrading your role: "assisted with" becoming "led" when you didn't lead.
- Adding responsibilities that sound close to what you did but aren't.
- Changing dates or titles to fit.
Illustrative examples
These are made-up examples to show the difference.
| Original | Tailored (fine) | Not fine |
|---|---|---|
| Worked with the sales team on pricing | Collaborated with the sales team on pricing | Led a cross-functional pricing strategy |
| Used Excel to track inventory | Tracked inventory using Excel | Built automated inventory dashboards in Power BI |
| Helped customers with questions | Resolved customer questions | Reduced support tickets by 40% |
In the first two rows, the work is the same and only the wording changed. In the last column, something new has been added.
Why it matters beyond ethics
- Interviews: anything on your resume can be asked about. "Tell me about the dashboards you built" is a hard question if you didn't build any.
- Verification: employers may check titles, dates, and credentials, and inconsistencies can cost you an offer, even after you've been hired.
- Trust: a resume is the first thing an employer knows about you. It's worth keeping it solid.
A quick check before you send
Go through each line and ask: Could I explain this, with an example, to someone who asks? If the answer is no, reword it back to what you did, or take it out.
Where Resume Curator fits
Resume Curator is built around this rule. It rewords, reorders, and reprioritizes what's already on your resume. It doesn't add skills, tools, or numbers. It's an AI tool, so you should still read the result before you send it. You're the one who can confirm that every line is true.
Want to tailor your resume in about 15-20 seconds?
Try Resume Curator free