Seven chapters follow the actual screening sequence, from the first two-minute read to the follow-up email. It covers summary lines, work history, employment gaps, LinkedIn headlines, a pre-submission check, and the email that may be forwarded internally.
1. The Two-Minute Decision: What a Screener Actually Readspp. 3–6A printed or saved reference sheet listing the six screened elements in order, with the pass/fail threshold for each, so the reader can audit their own resume against the actual sequence a screener follows.
2. Writing the Summary Line That Moves the File Forwardpp. 7–10A rewritten professional summary (2-3 sentences maximum) that states your current role level, your primary function, your years of experience in that function, and one measurable area of focus, in that order.
3. The First Role Entry: The Only Work History That Gets Read in Fullpp. 11–14A rewritten first role entry (3-5 bullets) where every bullet begins with a present-tense action verb, includes one quantified result, and can be verified by a reference if asked.
4. The Employment Gap Script: What to Write When There Is Nothing to Writepp. 15–19A two-sentence gap explanation, placed in the correct location on the resume, that stops the guessing without over-explaining or apologizing.
5. The LinkedIn Headline Screeners Actually Search Forpp. 20–23A rewritten LinkedIn headline (120 characters or less) that includes your role title, your primary skill or function, and one industry or domain keyword, formatted for search visibility.
6. The Pre-Submission Checklist: Fifteen Seconds That Stop the Auto-Rejectionpp. 24–28A printed or saved one-page checklist that you run through before clicking 'Submit' on any application, ensuring the file itself passes initial screening.
7. The Follow-Up Email That Actually Gets Forwardedpp. 29–31A written follow-up email template (four sentences maximum) that you can adapt for any application, formatted so a screener can forward it with one click.
