Why this matters
If the clarity view is correct, then better writing is not just polish - it is a hiring lever.1
Clarity wins
Clear writing raises the probability that your signal is actually seen.
Signal still matters
Recruiter lens: clarity is necessary, but evidence is what closes the decision.
A fast clarity test
Recruiter lens: if a reader cannot extract the outcome in a quick skim, the bullet does not work. The field evidence on writing quality supports this idea of clarity as an access point.1
- •First seven words should reveal the action or outcome.
- •Remove role adjectives that do not change the story.
- •Make the metric or impact visible before line wrap.
Signal and clarity work together
Clarity does not replace proof. It makes proof visible. The strongest resumes use clarity to deliver the signal and then back it with evidence, not adjectives.
Definition: clarity device
A clarity device reduces the effort needed to understand ability. The resume is that device when written well.1
Limitations
- •Clarity improves access to evidence but cannot create missing outcomes.
- •The cited field evidence is context-specific and may not generalize to every role.