Most resumes are filled with bullets that are really just job descriptions. They tell me what you worked on — not the difference it made.
That’s why I coach clients to write mini-stories for their bullets.
The Mini-Story Rubric
Think of each “bullet” as a compact story:
- The Problem — the bigger and scarier, the better.
- The Action — the challenging, skillful thing you did to address it.
- The Transformation — the “happily ever after” where the business, customer, or team is better off.
These aren’t one-liners. A strong mini-story is longer than a typical (and usually useless) bullet, but it packs far more punch. I aim for about 45 words per bullet — enough room to show problem, action, and transformation without bloating into a paragraph.
👉 The longer version of the story — maybe 200 words — is what you’ll use to answer an interview question. The mini-story is the hook that earns you the interview in the first place.
Examples of Resume Mini-Stories
Example 1: Metadata Extraction
Before: Led 0–1 build for metadata extraction and comparison utilizing OCR technologies with accuracy up to 90%.
After (mini-story): Our manual contract metadata process created delays, errors, and compliance risk. I led discovery, redesigned the UX, and implemented a hybrid LLM/OCR solution. Accuracy improved 10x, speed doubled, costs dropped 50%, and customer onboarding transformed.
Example 2: Athlete App Turnaround
Before: Lead the development and launch of the Catapult Athlete mobile app, with $200k potential ACV and expansion into Major League Baseball and global referee organizations.
After (mini-story): When dropping our athlete app caused churn, lost deals, and stalled growth, I drove a new pro-focused app launch. It reversed churn, stabilized revenue, and became the cornerstone of our athlete strategy.
Example 3: Insurance Transfers
Before: Defined and executed a product roadmap that streamlined insurance book transfers between agents, reducing processing time by 80% and enhancing agent satisfaction.
After (mini-story): Agents and customers were stuck with a slow, error-prone transfer system. I led a Salesforce-based redesign with quick-win features validated by stakeholders. Transfers now run 5x faster, risks are eliminated, and the system is ready for multi-state expansion.
Why Resume Mini-Stories Work
- They differentiate you. Lots of people “led” projects. Not everyone reversed churn or eliminated risk.
- They show business value. Hiring managers care about impact, not tasks.
- They spark curiosity. A well-crafted mini-story makes the reader want the longer version in the interview.
- They’re intrinsically engaging. Humans are wired for stories. When you start with a problem, the reader leans in to know what happens next.
- They mirror the hiring manager’s world. If you’re a PM, your “problem” is often the same kind they’re facing now — making your story even more relevant and compelling.
A Note on Using AI
Yes, you can use ChatGPT (or another AI) to help draft your mini-stories. But remember: the inputs must come from you.
Only you know the real problems you faced, the hard actions you took, and the transformation that resulted. Without that substance, AI will simply make things up.
Think of AI as an editor, not the author.
What to Do Next
- Pick one resume bullet and ask: Where’s the problem? Where’s the action? Where’s the transformation?
- Rewrite it as a mini-story of about 45 words.
- Save the longer version for the interview — but let the mini-story earn you the interview in the first place.