With so much advice as to the best way to write a resume, how is it possible to know whose instruction to follow? The sheer volume of articles is overwhelming, so it’s easy to see how it could all blur together to the point you end up making up your own rules. And, on top of it all, your resume means something to you. You feel like the paper you create represents who you are more than what you have done. And, that makes its creation even more overwhelming, so you overthink every word you type. The confusion and struggle with objectivity over writing a resume can very well end up sabotaging it without your even knowing it.

The article, “4 Resume Rules You Keep Breaking (For No Good Reason)” from The Muse is written by Richard Moy who is a former recruiter pulling no punches with resume advice. He highlights areas it seems many job seekers either don’t know or ignore when it comes to writing a resume. See if yours is in need of adjustment to ensure this tool in your job seeking pursuit is as sharp as possible:

Your resume should be simple. The resume is an instrument for getting down to basics. Only if you know a creative document is desired or acceptable (and, by “know,” I mean it is specifically requested by the hiring company), create a clean, easy to read piece identifying your qualifications.

Use clear, understood-by-all language. Moy states this is advice “ignored across the board” Keep in mind that if you are working with a recruiter, that person doesn’t necessarily have the same level of expertise in your field as you. As well, one company may describe certain duties one way where another used entirely different words for equivalent duties. Therefore, the more specific you are, the better chance your resume has of being passed over simply because of terminology confusion. Make sure your titles and descriptions are universally understood.

Your resume should be tailored to the specific job for which you apply. For starters, make sure the terminology used in the job description is found in the resume. Moy specifically points out: “That includes matching wording – if it says PR experience, do not write ‘assisted with public relations,’ write PR experience.” Given how little time a screener looks at your resume, immediate recognition of all words and duties is important. If your resume goes through an Applicant Tracking System, tailoring your resume is vital.

Use dynamic language. In particular, make sure your verb usage makes you a stand-out candidate. Draft your document with basic verbs to get the words down, but go back through and change them to words that emphasize your experience. If you have a list of duties you “worked,” many of those can probably be switched for “motivated,” “designed” or “developed.”

Writing a resume sounds so simple when thought of in terms of listing your work history. But, you fear underselling yourself, so creating it becomes difficult because it feels so personal. It’s not easy to figure out how to put years of experience, years you have poured yourself into, on a piece of paper for someone else to deem worthy. Remember, though, while it’s a personal document to you, it’s a means of assessment to the one receiving it. Using Moy’s four guidelines will help you separate from the personal aspect and focus on how to create a resume that will work hard on your behalf.

Moy, Richard. “4 Resume Rules You Keep Breaking (For No Good Reason).” The Daily Muse. Forbes.com, LLC. 2016. Web. (6 April 2016)

Nancy Stoker is a Senior Client Services Representative and Research Associate with ExecSearches.com. ExecSearches provides various recruitment and executive search services for nonprofits including its nonprofit job board.