The Economy of You

When was the last time you looked at your résumé and thought, “This really tells my story”? In The Elements of Résumé Style, career coach Scott Bennett argues that your résumé isn’t just a document—it’s a lens through which an employer sees your clarity, credibility, and focus. He contends that many people treat résumés as mere lists, forgetting that they are persuasive tools built to sell content, not format. His central idea is simple yet powerful: content sells.

Bennett dismantles the myths surrounding résumé writing—the belief that design tricks or automated templates win jobs—and replaces them with a framework grounded in integrity, brevity, and precision. He insists that while technology and social media evolve, the fundamentals remain: words matter, choices matter, and structure matters. Like crafting a legal brief (he draws a spirited comparison to Justice Elena Kagan’s observation on persuasive writing), Bennett says your résumé should communicate your argument before you even enter the interview room.

Understanding the Résumé as Persuasion

Bennett invites readers to see their résumé as their first “paper interview.” This perspective helps you shift from describing to selling. Every word you choose, every section you include, is a choice meant to prove one thing: that you can solve problems effectively. Your résumé, therefore, should highlight evidence—not fluff—and demonstrate results rather than duties. For example, instead of claiming “excellent communication skills,” Bennett wants you to write action statements like “Wrote jargon-free user guide for 11,000 users.” Specific proof beats general claims every time.

Why Clarity Beats Cleverness

He also warns against letting buzzwords or jargon substitute for clarity. The goal isn’t to mimic résumé templates or keyword stuffing; it’s to communicate what you’ve done so clearly that both scanners and humans recognize your value. Brevity is therefore an ethical as well as stylistic choice. Bennett insists that the ability to “write short”—to convey complexity succinctly—is one of the most respected professional skills. The résumé reader isn’t sitting down with coffee to enjoy your story; they are skimming, often within eight to ten seconds. In those seconds, clarity wins.

The Human Element Behind Professional Style

The book also humanizes the résumé process. Bennett knows job seeking can be demoralizing—sometimes you do everything right and get no response. He explains it’s not always your fault: jobs may be pre-filled, hiring freezes may strike, and some companies may simply be disorganized. The point, he says, is to focus on what you can control—your effort, tone, content, and attention to detail. This shift from self-blame to ownership empowers you to refine your craft like a professional writer tweaking a manuscript. He constantly repeats: Writers make choices.

The Book’s Core Framework

Over hundreds of pages, Bennett walks through what those choices look like. He covers practical mechanics (paper, font, margins, ink), psychology (what tone and order convey confidence), ethics (why honesty matters), and narrative (how to show measurable value). His structure mirrors a designer’s checklist mixed with a writer’s conscience. Chapters address common concerns—like employment gaps or interim jobs—showing readers how to honestly present their professional evolution rather than disguise it.

He also goes beyond résumé construction. Later chapters discuss cover letters, inquiry letters, salary negotiation, references, interview preparation, and even “marketing to yourself”—a psychological toolkit to replace negative self-talk with constructive belief. Bennett’s view is that skills don’t operate in isolation; effective communication depends on internal clarity and self-respect. If you believe you’re unemployable, he warns, you’ll write a résumé that proves it.

Why Bennett’s Advice Matters

What makes this book timeless is its mix of compassion, psychology, and extreme practicality. Bennett has read over 100,000 résumés and knows where most fail: length, tone, and purpose. He wants every résumé to reflect respect—for the reader’s time, for the writer’s truth, and for language itself. He opens the book paraphrasing Mark Twain: reports of the résumé’s death are exaggerated. Despite social media and LinkedIn, the résumé still stands as a powerful artifact of professionalism, discipline, and logic. If you can craft one that communicates authenticity and skill, you rise above automation, trends, and noise.

Central Idea

Your résumé is not who you are—it’s the content that sells who you are. Form serves function; clarity earns trust; brevity earns respect. This philosophy transforms résumé writing from a technical act into a moral and intellectual discipline.

By the end, Bennett’s message becomes a meditation on agency and craft: you are not your job title or employment status; you are the carpenter shaping your future with words. Everything between the margins counts, but what counts most is what you choose to put there.

Scott Bennett’s perspective on control is both pragmatic and reassuring. He knows job searches often feel arbitrary—you send flawless materials and get radio silence. His response? Detach from what’s beyond your control and double down on perfection where it matters. In this sense, résumé writing becomes a discipline of self-command.

What You Can’t Control

Bennett lists eight reasons your perfect résumé may still not yield an interview: pre-filled jobs, fake ads for data collection, corporate reorganizations, or mere inefficiency. He adds amusing anecdotes—like Decca Records rejecting The Beatles—to reveal how irrational hiring can be. These examples remind you to stop equating silence with failure. The missing interview invitation may simply result from quirks in bureaucracy or taste, not your competence.

What You Can Control

Instead, Bennett encourages radical focus on controllable factors: grammar, targeting, tone, formatting, and honesty. Each tiny detail—your email address, your voicemail greeting, the ink color—signals professionalism before anyone reads your credentials. Even proofreading backwards becomes a spiritual exercise in diligence. By sweating these details, you demonstrate exactly the qualities employers prize: clarity, care, and credibility.

The Philosophy of “Less Is More”

One of Bennett’s signature phrases, “less is more,” encapsulates his style rules. Every unnecessary word dilutes impact. He likens overloaded résumés to long-winded storytellers—you lose your audience before reaching the point. His advice: respect the reader’s time. “If you’re lucky,” he quips, “you’ll get ten seconds of eyeball time.” Writing short isn’t laziness; it’s refinement. Save mystery for the interview room. Leave readers intrigued, not overwhelmed.

Twelve Things to Ditch

To keep you focused, Bennett lists a dozen résumé temptations to avoid—from lies and templates to silly voicemail messages and spammed résumés on job boards. His reasoning balances joke and judgment: dishonesty ruins credibility; prefab designs scream laziness; multiple versions of a résumé reveal confusion about direction. The consistent theme is integrity. Better to have one truthfully crafted résumé sent with intention than scattershot versions sent in desperation.

“Your résumé,” Bennett writes, “is a series of choices. Clear choices produce clear responses.”

For Bennett, content quality is moral practice: precise language reflects precise thinking. He transforms a seemingly mundane task into a zen-like discipline—control the controllable, ignore the chaos, and your clarity will eventually cut through the noise.

Many job seekers approach résumé writing with dread, anxiety, and confusion. Bennett begins by saying: “Everyone I know has a big ‘but’,” echoing Pee-Wee Herman’s humor to disarm fear. That ‘but’—the reasons we hesitate—drives much of his coaching. He treats résumé anxiety not as incompetence but as a symptom of uncertainty about one’s direction.

Finding Where You Want to Work

Scattershot applications rarely succeed. Bennett argues for targeting specific employers after real investigation. He likens sending generic résumés to “expensive chocolates to people with diabetes”—wasted effort. Instead, use free resources, from AllExperts.com to Meetup.com and the U.S. Library of Congress’s Ask-a-Librarian service, to research company culture, mission, and style before applying. When you send a targeted inquiry letter—which he calls the most powerful and underused strategy—you stand out as intentional and proactive.

Deciding What You Want to Do

Indecision cripples clarity. Bennett advises using tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Self-Directed Search to spark ideas, not to dictate your future. Careers are experiments, not permanent identities. He tells readers to embrace imperfection in choice: “Perfect can be the enemy of good enough.” Like learning to walk, stumbling is part of mastery. Be kind to yourself and keep moving. There’s no ideal path—only the next informed step.

Escaping Dreamkillers

A memorable section warns against “dreamkillers”—people who undermine your aspirations under the guise of realism. Their negativity anchors you to fear. Bennett’s insight mirrors positive psychology theory (see Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism): success flows from sustained belief and effort, not luck. He emphasizes that end-of-life regrets stem not from failures but from failure to try. His counsel is both career and life advice: invest energy in creation, not defense.

Decoding Résumé Myths

His practical myths are equally liberating: there’s no one rule about résumé length; choose brevity and clarity instead of arbitrary page limits. Chronological formats—newest first—are preferable because they’re transparent. Employment gaps need not be feared; they can be bridges if explained honestly. Interim jobs, self-employment, or transitions signal resilience if written truthfully. The deeper message is empathy: life happens; careers zigzag; honesty travels farther than disguise.

By reframing vulnerability as narrative strength, Bennett turns career anxiety into storytelling. He shows that even flaws—gaps, detours, or restarts—can be reframed as evidence of grit, adaptability, and growth.

Your résumé’s visual design, Bennett insists, is more than decoration—it’s silent conversation. Before anyone reads a single sentence, the reader perceives structure, cleanliness, and professionalism. “The reader sees more than words,” he writes, comparing formatting to body language. Just as posture and tone affect how spoken words land, margins and fonts affect how written words persuade.

Paper, Ink, and Margins

White paper wins. Bennett’s advice—use fluorescent white 24-pound cotton stock—may sound old-fashioned but reflects logic: contrast enhances readability. Similarly, black ink signals seriousness; blue hyperlinks on printed pages distract and should be removed. One-inch margins frame your content like a well-fitted picture—tight enough for substance, open enough for breathing room. Every spatial choice conveys respect for the reader’s comfort.

Font, Spacing, and Style Discipline

Bennett blends typography research and hiring psychology (he cites Tony Antin’s study on print advertising): serif fonts like Times New Roman are easiest to read. Using fun fonts or gimmicks—bullets, all-caps, excessive bold—is the visual equivalent of shouting. Instead, let content carry weight. “When you accentuate everything,” he warns, “you accentuate nothing.” Formatting restraint mirrors personal professionalism.

Digital Conventions

He also teaches digital fluency: save your résumé in proper formats (.docx for modern Word, .pdf for universal access). File names should help employers, not confuse them—rename “myresume.doc” to “resumelastnamefirstnameMMDDYY.” These micro-acts of courtesy separate professionals from novices. Each instruction embodies a principle: simplicity serves clarity, and clarity earns attention.

Visual precision equals intellectual precision; careless design implies careless thinking.

By mastering layout and tone, you turn your résumé into a silent ambassador—polite, direct, elegant. Bennett’s formatting lessons remind you that professionalism isn’t about fonts or ink—it’s about respect translated into design.

At the heart of the book lies Bennett’s sales philosophy: you are not writing about yourself, you are writing for someone else. The résumé’s audience—the employer—cares less about who you are and more about what value you deliver. Every sentence must prove you can help them achieve their goals. This mindset rewires self-centered writing into strategic storytelling.

Avoiding Empty Words

Bennett provides lists of vague words—"motivated," "dynamic," "team player"—that clutter résumés with recycled self-praise. He contrasts these with concrete achievements: “Cut annual turnover 85% in 36 months.” This vocabulary shift from adjectives to actions transforms generic applicants into credible professionals. Every claim must answer the question: “Give me a reason to believe.”

Organizing for Impact

Section order matters. If education is your strongest asset, lead with it. Otherwise, showcase experience first. Use reverse chronology to present growth logically—newest to oldest—because honesty and clarity build trust. Overdesign and overexplaining, however, dilute power; he discourages executive summaries or bulleted clutter. The résumé itself is a summary. If it needs further summarizing, rewrite it.

The Power of Action Statements

Bennett’s examples feel almost poetic in precision: “Synthesized survey results,” “Defused tensions,” “Streamlined recruiting.” These verbs not only describe action—they encode competence. He bans weak phrases (“responsible for”) and pompous jargon (“utilize,” “leverage,” “synergize”) and replaces them with life verbs: manage, mentor, persuade, create. He even gives rules for numbers—use symbols like %, K, and M for speed. His goal: compress complexity without sacrificing credibility.

Showing Humanity Through Sections

Volunteer, language, and membership sections—often dismissed—become storytelling spaces. Coaching youth, teaching literacy, or biking for charity all reveal persistence, empathy, teamwork. Listing these, he explains, lets employers infer qualities without your saying them. Readers feel your personality through deeds, not adjectives.

“Pretend you’re the reader,” Bennett urges. “Ask, what shows me this candidate will make my life easier?”

In turning résumé writing into empathy training, Bennett elevates the task from promotional writing to professional design thinking—clarity, economy, and reader-centered logic.

If the résumé is the body, the cover letter is the handshake. Bennett treats it not as a summary but as an invitation—a brief spark of enthusiasm that leads readers to open the attached résumé. He banishes the myth that cover letters must be long or formal; brevity equals confidence. “You get one chance,” he warns, “to make a good impression.”

Less Talk, More Energy

His sample letters, often under 100 words, stand out in stacks of dense prose. A hiring manager slogging through paragraphs of filler will stop for Bennett’s crisp, candid tone: “Given your requirements and my skills, I may be the person you’re after.” Direct and warm, it respects time and signals emotional intelligence.

The Inquiry Letter Revolution

Among Bennett’s most unique ideas is the inquiry letter—a proactive approach sent when no job is posted. This “unsung hero” changes the role of applicants from responders to initiators. It reaches employers during internal planning stages, when positions are being imagined. “Wouldn’t you notice,” he asks, “the one letter oozing enthusiasm?” The technique combines courage and timing, often opening doors before competitors even see them.

Informational Interviews and Genuine Interest

He further expands communication strategy through informational interviews—requests to experts for learning, not jobs. This model aligns with networking advice from Keith Ferrazzi (Never Eat Alone): curiosity builds credibility. Prepare respectful questions, he says, thank them for their time, and never abuse the meeting by asking for a job. Mastering civility builds reputation more valuable than any pitch.

“Civility may not be dead, but it’s on life support,” Bennett writes. “Be the person who proves it’s alive.”

For Bennett, communication isn’t showmanship; it’s respect performed through language. Each well-written cover letter or inquiry note signals maturity and presence—the human touch amid the digital noise.

In his later chapters, Bennett steps into the realm of psychology. He argues that the biggest obstacle to career success isn’t poor formatting—it’s poor thinking. The beliefs you hold about yourself shape how you write and act. To market yourself well, you must first market to yourself rationally.

Defining Yourself Beyond Work

“I am my work,” he quotes as one of many toxic internal mantras. Bennett dismantles this illusion: you are not your job title. He reframes worth around skills and experience, not employment status. This shift echoes Albert Ellis’s ideas in A Guide to Rational Living, one of Bennett’s cited influences: replace irrational beliefs with rational ones to regain agency.

Replacing Self-Sabotage with Realism

He lists common sabotaging thoughts—“I’m too old,” “I can’t change careers,” “Employers feel threatened by me”—and dismantles each through logic and compassion. These beliefs, he says, feed self-fulfilling prophecies. The act of résumé writing itself becomes therapeutic: constructing a coherent narrative of value counters internal chaos. Every quantified result (“Reduced costs $1.6M,” “Trained 30 new hires”) rewrites your self-story from uncertainty to competence.

A Practice of Rational Optimism

Marketing to yourself means deliberately viewing obstacles through rational lenses. Temporary rejection doesn’t prove permanent worthlessness; it’s data guiding adjustment. By practicing rational optimism, you transform frustration into effort and critique into growth. Bennett’s tone is part career counsel, part therapy session—his background as a clinical social worker shines through. This blend of realism and kindness restores mental stamina for job seekers fatigued by rejection.

You can’t market yourself if you’re quietly convinced you’re unmarketable. Treat self-belief as part of résumé style.

The internal marketing principle reminds readers that confidence and clarity feed each other. Once you believe rationally in your capacity to add value, your words naturally follow suit—and so do opportunities.

When your résumé finally works, Bennett says, “Congratulations—you made your luck.” He treats interviews as logical extensions of written persuasion. The habits of precision, brevity, and empathy cultivated in writing now become behavioral skills.

Physical Preparation

His physical checklist goes beyond common sense: no perfume, clean car, watch not phone for time checks, hand towel for clammy hands. Each small discipline represents thoughtfulness. Arriving calm and prepared shows respect—the same principle driving résumé clarity. Don’t risk distracting details like tattoos or Bluetooth earphones. Employers project assumptions within seconds; manage them through details.

Mental Preparation

Bennett integrates psychology again with concepts like the Facial Feedback Hypothesis (smile to feel confident) and the Halo Effect (one good impression multiplies goodwill). He encourages using these biases wisely—smile genuinely, speak with clarity, and let professionalism ripple through perception. He also introduces Marsha Linehan’s “Three Goals of Interpersonal Effectiveness”: get what you want, nurture relationships, and nurture self-respect. Balancing these makes interviews human rather than transactional.

After the Interview

Finally, he returns to civility: write genuine thank-you notes. Thoughtful follow-up distinguishes you amid apathy. If rejected, call to ask for constructive feedback—then listen without arguing. This act alone separates learners from victims. “Civility isn’t quaint,” he insists, “it’s competitive advantage.”

Every interview is an experiment in communication. Your professionalism either confirms your résumé’s promise or contradicts it.

By bridging writing style and interpersonal skill, Bennett’s final lesson completes his philosophy: precision and kindness, spoken or typed, remain the ultimate résumé style.