How to rewrite resume bullets without inventing numbers

A resume bullet like "Responsible for customer service" says what your job was, not what you did. The usual fix is "add numbers". The risk is that an assistant happily adds a number you never gave it, such as "improved satisfaction by 35%". Recruiters ask about numbers in interviews. An invented one is a problem you will have to explain.

This routine makes the assistant tighten the wording and ask you for the numbers instead of making them up.

Step 1: write the raw facts first

For each job, jot down in plain words, without worrying about style:

• What you did, in one sentence per task.
• Who it was for: customers, your manager, a team of how many.
• Anything you can count or look up: how many, how often, how long, how much. Check your old emails, reports or performance reviews.
• What changed because of it, if you know. If you do not know, write "unknown".

If you cannot find a number, that is fine. A clear plain bullet beats an invented one.

Step 2: use this prompt

Rewrite the resume bullets below. The rules matter more than the style.

RULES
- Use ONLY facts in my notes. Do not add numbers, percentages, tools, team sizes, clients or outcomes that are not in my notes.
- Start each bullet with a strong past-tense verb (present tense for my current job). Keep each under 25 words.
- Show what I did and, if my notes say it, the result.
- Do not use "responsible for", "helped with" or "worked on" unless my notes make clear that was all I did.
- After each bullet, add a line "Missing:" naming any number or result that would make the bullet stronger and that I should look up myself. Do not fill it in. If nothing is missing, write "Missing: nothing".
- If a note is too vague to turn into a bullet, say which one and ask me one question.

The job I am applying for (optional): [paste the title and key requirements]

MY NOTES:
[paste notes, one job at a time]

Step 3: check every bullet against your notes

Read each rewritten bullet next to your notes. Every fact in it should be traceable. Watch for these common slips:

• A number that appears from nowhere, or one that you gave as "about 20" now shown as exactly 20.
• "Led" where you only took part, or "managed" where you coordinated.
• A tool or software name you did not mention.
• A result stated as caused by you when your notes only say it happened.

Delete or fix any of these. Then use the "Missing:" lines as a to-do list. If you find the real figure, add it to your notes and run that bullet again.

Step 4: tailor for the job, honestly

If you pasted the job requirements, check whether the assistant moved the most relevant bullets to the top and used the posting's words where they are true for you. Do not keep a skill or keyword you cannot talk about in an interview.

Limits

• It can only polish what you tell it. Thin notes make thin bullets.
• It does not know how recruiters or applicant tracking systems in your country read a resume. Keep the format simple and check the posting's instructions.
• It cannot verify your facts. You are the one signing the document.
• Some roles and countries expect different resume styles. Ask someone in your field to read it.

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