Use the verification boundary test
Ask whether you could explain the statement in detail to a recruiter, former manager, or reference. Then ask whether its wording preserves your actual contribution, context, and level of ownership.
- Can you identify the project or role behind the claim?
- Can you explain what you personally did and what others did?
- Can you define the metric, period, baseline, and source?
- Can you demonstrate or discuss the named skill at the level implied?
- Would a reasonable reader draw the same conclusion after seeing the full context?
Distinguish accurate reframing from fabrication
| Usually defensible | High-risk or misleading |
|---|---|
| Moving a relevant real project earlier | Creating a project that did not happen |
| Replacing vague wording with an accurate industry term | Adding a tool because the job requests it |
| Clarifying your contribution within a team result | Claiming sole ownership of a team result |
| Adding a verified number with context | Estimating a flattering number without a source |
Review AI suggestions as drafts, not facts
A model can produce fluent wording that sounds plausible but changes meaning. Compare every suggestion with the source resume and your memory of the work. Delete or correct anything you cannot verify.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dishonest to use keywords from a job post?
No, when the terms accurately describe your existing experience. It becomes misleading when the wording implies a skill or scope you do not have.
Can I estimate an old result?
Avoid presenting an estimate as a verified fact. If an approximate figure is genuinely necessary, label it accurately and be able to explain its basis.
Can I simplify an official job title?
You can clarify an unfamiliar title, but preserve the official title and avoid wording that suggests a promotion or different level.
Sources and further reading
These references provide official or institutional context for this guide. They do not validate MatchResume, reproduce a private ATS, or establish a universal hiring rule.
- USAJOBS — Creating an application
Official USAJOBS steps include certifying that a federal application is true, complete, and made in good faith. That certification belongs to this federal workflow and is not presented as every employer’s process.
- USAJOBS — Applying to a job announcement
Official federal guidance says a resume must support answers to a USAJOBS job questionnaire. It does not describe every employer workflow or private ATS product.
Continue with reliable context
Follow the resume-tailoring process
Apply the boundary test at each editing step.
Read the editorial policy
See the publication rules for claims and corrections.
Tailor a real resume
Use the product workflow with the same truth standard.
Tailor without lying by changing presentation rather than history: prioritize relevant facts, clarify accurate terminology, and remove distractions. Never add a skill, metric, title, responsibility, or outcome unless you can explain and support it.