Do prove
Use specific work, projects, scope, decisions, and verified outcomes to support professional claims.
PortCV Career Guide
Resume Dos and Don'tsA Practical Pre-Application Checklist
Review the resume practices that improve clarity, credibility, relevance, and ATS readability—and the common habits that create noise, confusion, or unsupported claims.
Practical examplesRecruiter-readable adviceBuilt into PortCV
Quick answer
The short answer about Resume Dos and Don'ts
Do target the role, use truthful evidence, keep dates and formatting consistent, write for scanning, and proofread the exported file. Don't invent metrics, stuff keywords, bury recent experience, shrink text to fit, use vague skill ratings, or send the same untailored document to meaningfully different roles.
What matters most
Resume Dos and Don'ts: what matters most
Do prioritize
Give recent relevant information more space and compress details that no longer help the target application.
Don't manipulate
Hidden keywords, fabricated metrics, inflated titles, and unsupported skills damage trust even if they increase surface similarity.
Inside PortCV
Put resume dos and don'ts into practice
Use PortCV as a quality-control loop rather than only a template editor. Analyze the draft, review job alignment, refine selected wording, preview layout, and keep structured sections consistent before the final export.
Open the resume engine- 01Keep a verified source resume so dates and facts remain consistent.
- 02Use ATS suggestions as prompts, not instructions to add untrue keywords.
- 03Review design and content separately before combining the final checks.
- 04Open the exported PDF and test links instead of assuming the editor view is enough.
Guide 01
Do make relevance obvious
Name the target direction, organize sections logically, and put strong evidence near the top. Use the same terminology as the profession when it accurately describes your work. Keep summaries concise and experience bullets concrete.
Do adapt the resume for important job differences. Tailoring can be as simple as changing bullet order and surfacing a relevant project; it does not require rewriting your employment history.
- Use recognizable section headings
- Write evidence-led bullets
- Keep contact details current
- Use consistent dates and tense
- Verify every metric
- Proofread the PDF
Guide 02
Don't trade credibility for optimization
Do not copy job requirements into your resume as if they were experience, list tools you cannot use, rename yourself to a senior title you did not hold, or accept AI-generated achievements you cannot explain. Avoid arbitrary proficiency graphics that imply precision without a meaningful scale.
Do not hide important information inside images or decorate the page until the reading order becomes unclear.
- No invisible keywords
- No invented percentages
- No unexplained title inflation
- No dense walls of text
- No inconsistent date styles
- No personal data the application does not require
Guide 03
Do review the application as a complete set
Check the resume, cover letter, portfolio, and professional profile for consistent employers, dates, titles, project names, and contact links. A discrepancy may be harmless, but consistency removes avoidable doubt.
Use a descriptive filename, follow the employer's requested format, and keep a copy of the exact version submitted so you can refer to it during an interview.
Questions people ask
Questions about Resume Dos and Don'ts, answered plainly
What should never go on a resume?
Avoid false claims, hidden keyword blocks, unnecessary sensitive personal data, and information the employer does not need to evaluate your qualifications.
Is it bad to use AI on a resume?
AI can be a useful editor. The risk is accepting language or claims you have not verified. You remain responsible for every statement in the application.
Should I include references on my resume?
Usually only when the employer or local convention asks for them. Otherwise use the space for evidence directly relevant to the application.
PortCV Resume Engine
Build a resume that is ready for the job you want
Turn the guidance into a real resume in PortCV. Edit structured sections, refine wording with AI, check job alignment, switch layouts without rewriting your content, and export a polished PDF from one resume engine.
Structured section editingATS-aware guidanceAI Resume CopilotPDF export