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Before & After: how a common resume transforms into a resume that passes ATS
Practical examples and case studies showing real transformations of resumes adapted for ATS.
Sometimes, seeing concrete examples helps more than theoretical tips. In this article, I'll show resume excerpts 'before' and how they looked 'after', with explanations of changes made. The goal: for you to clearly see the impact of the alterations.
Case 1: Digital Marketing Analyst
Responsible for creating social media campaigns, tracking metrics, and generating reports.
Created digital marketing campaigns (Google Ads, Facebook Ads), monitored metrics (CTR, ROI), and generated reports using Google Analytics and BI tools.
Mudanças realizadas:
- Insertion of specific terms: 'digital marketing', 'Google Ads', 'CTR', 'ROI', 'Google Analytics'
- Replacement of generic phrases with exact technical terms from the job posting
- Addition of context and specificity
- Use of acronyms recognized by the sector
Case 2: Full-Stack Developer
Worked as a full-stack developer using various technologies.
Worked as a full-stack developer focused on backend with Java, Spring Boot, and MySQL database; also worked with React on frontend and RESTful APIs.
Mudanças realizadas:
- Elimination of vague terms ('various technologies')
- Inclusion of exact technology names: Java, Spring Boot, MySQL, React
- Mention of architecture patterns (RESTful APIs)
- Clear separation between backend and frontend
Case 3: Project Manager
Managed small teams and project activities.
Managed agile projects (Scrum / Kanban) with team of 5 people, delivering on time and within budget; used tools like Jira, Trello, and PMBOK methodology.
Mudanças realizadas:
- Addition of specific methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, PMBOK)
- Quantification (team of 5 people)
- Mention of results (time, budget)
- Inclusion of tools (Jira, Trello)
Comparative summary and lessons learned
In all cases, the changes followed the same principles: replace generic terms with specific ones, add quantification, include exact tools and technologies from the job posting, and maintain coherence with real experience.
Final tips for making your own 'before and after'
Take your current resume and choose 2 or 3 real job postings. Make a 'modified version' for each posting applying what you learned. Use scanner tools to see which version gets the best 'score'. Maintain a 'library' of already adapted phrases for future use.
Conclusion
Seeing 'before and after' helps internalize how changes work in practice. Apply to your resume, make adjustments as seen in the examples. Combine all learnings: extract keywords, use ATS-friendly layout, insert keywords strategically, test and adjust, and examine real examples.