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How to Make a Resume

Last Updated: May 9, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Alyson Garrido, PCC and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Alyson Garrido is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Facilitator, and Speaker. Using a strengths-based approach, she supports her clients with job search and career advancement. Alyson provides coaching for career direction, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and performance reviews as well as customized communication and leadership strategies. She is a Founding Partner of the Systemic Coach Academy of New Zealand. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 37 testimonials and 85% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 15,628,619 times.

Whether you're a new graduate or a seasoned professional, a polished resume is essential for a successful job hunt. Your resume is a visual document that hiring managers will typically only glance at for a few seconds. A clean structure and well-organized content can help your resume stand out from the rest. Tailor your resume to each job, highlighting the skills, education, and experience that make you a strong candidate. [1] X Research source

Sample Resumes

Structuring Your Resume

• There are also templates available for download online, many of them free. If you don't want to use one of the basic templates in your word processing app, you may find another online that works for you.
• Template elements can also be customized to suit your needs. Think of it as scaffolding that you can adjust or eliminate as necessary.
• Use a standard, readable font in 10- or 12-point. Your section headings may be a little larger. Times New Roman and Georgia are popular serif fonts. If you want to go with a sans-serif font, try Calibri or Helvetica.

Tip: If you're looking for a job in web layout and design or graphic design, build your own unique design and use your resume to show off your skills.

• For example, you could have all the information centered. You could also have your address on the left side and your phone number and email address on the right, with your name centered in the middle in a slightly larger size.
• If you don't already have a professional email address, get one from a free email service such as Gmail . Ideally, the email address you use on your resume will be some version of your initials and last name. Never list a silly or suggestive personal email address on your resume.

• You don't have a lot of flexibility with a chronological resume, but you can still arrange the sections in a way that puts your strongest information at the top. For example, if you have a lot of education but not a lot of work experience, you might want to list education first.

• A functional resume is also a good choice if you have an extensive amount of experience and want to limit your resume to a page. You can focus on the skills you've developed rather than having to list each individual job with specific details.

• Because this type of resume can get lengthy, consider only listing your last 2 or 3 jobs and your highest educational degree. If you've been at your most recent job for over 10 years, you may want to only list that. You can make clear in the functional part of your resume how long you've been working in the industry.

Making Your Content Shine

• For example, if you're creating a resume for an online writing job, you might include "editing" as one of your skills. One of your bullet points might state the number of articles you've edited on wikiHow and any accolades you were given for that work. Even if it's volunteer work, it's still experience as an editor.
• You can also include relatively soft skills. For example, you might list "team leader" as one of your skills. You could then include bullet points detailing your work in student government, organizing a rally for a nonprofit organization, or working as a camp counselor.

• Generally, you should include the month and year you started and ended the job in a chronological resume. However, if you worked there for several years, just the years are typically fine.
• With a functional resume, you have a little more leeway in how you include your work experience. You don't necessarily have to include the dates you worked for a particular employer, although you should indicate the length of time you worked there. For example, you might say "Managed 20-person sales force for 10 years."
• Use active verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Specific numbers and metrics show potential employers exactly what you achieved. For example, if you were a sales manager, you might include a line such as "Implemented changes that increased sales by 27% in 1 quarter."

Charbel Atala

Leverage your achievements strategically on your resume. Be selective in choosing which professional and academic accomplishments to highlight on application materials. Only showcase achievements that prove you possess strengths and capabilities needed for the target role.

• For example, if you've just graduated from law school and are applying for a job as an attorney, you would want to include your law degree on your resume as well as the bar you've been admitted to. If you're admitted to practice in any other courts, you would want to list them as well.

• If you had a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, feel free to include it with your educational information. Otherwise, you should leave it out. If you're listing more than one degree, include your GPA on both of them if possible. Otherwise, don't include it at all.

Tip: If you have a terminal degree that is essential to your line of work, you might include it in your header instead of creating a separate education section. This can free up some precious space.

• It can be tempting to fudge a little in your skills section and exaggerate your skill level to sound more impressive. However, this can get you in trouble. For example, if you only know a handful of words and phrases in Spanish, don't put on your resume that you're conversational or even fluent. If the hiring manager starts talking to you in Spanish, you've eliminated your chances of getting hired.
• If specific skills were listed in the job post and you happen to have those skills, on the other hand, include a skills section and list them along with detail about your proficiency.

Tip: If you don't have a lot of work experience, you may want to include soft skills, such as "diligent" or "self-motivated" as well. Just make sure you back them up with concrete examples that demonstrate that trait.

• Make sure the keywords you use fit in with the rest of your text, and use them sparingly. There's no need to repeat the same word or phrase over and over.

• For example, if you're applying to be a manager at a sporting goods store, the fact that you play several sports would definitely be relevant to that position.

Finalizing Your Resume

• Move sections around if needed so that the most important qualifications listed in the job description are at the top of the page. Rearrange your bullet points as well, putting the most relevant information first.
• Even if you're proud of a particular accomplishment, take it off your resume if it doesn't relate to the job in any way.

Tip: If you're applying for a job that's a departure from your previous career path, it can be helpful to add a summary that explains your interest or why you're applying for that position.

• For example, suppose you worked as a barista at a café. You might include a bullet point that you maintained high sanitation standards. However, you want to make that as quantifiable as possible. You might say "Implemented new sanitation program; increased café health and sanitation score by 11%."
• Make your bullet points personal, rather than just rattling off the job description for the position. For example, if you were a retail sales associate, you might say "Exceeded all personal sales goals for 4 months" rather than "Sold clothing and accessories to customers."

• Be careful with apostrophes and contractions. If you have difficulty with contractions and possessives, read what you've written as though you spelled the full words out rather than using an apostrophe and see if it makes sense. For example, you could easily find the error in the sentence "Trained sales staff and reported they're progress" if you read it as "Trained sales staff and reported they are progress."
• Make sure your formatting and punctuation are consistent. For example, if you use bullet points in one section, you should use them in all sections.
• Free online apps, such as Grammarly , can help you find errors you might not have noticed on your own.

Tip: Start at the last word and read each word in isolation, moving backward through the document. This removes the narrative structure to help errors stand out more.

• A PDF document benefits you as well because it preserves your formatting choices. It also prevents errors from being accidentally introduced if the hiring manager opens your resume or prints it out.

• Take at least 3 copies of your resume to the interview. If you know you are being interviewed by a hiring team, take enough copies so that each member of the team can have one. You also want to make sure you have at least one left over for yourself.

Additional Help

Expert Q&A

• Include a cover letter, even if the employer doesn't specifically require one. It can give your resume context and provide a more personal introduction to you as a candidate. [20] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Using years instead of months and years can help hide gaps in your resume. Just remember to be honest if the interviewer asks you about it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You can include a section at the bottom of your resume for references . However, if you're running tight on space, feel free to leave this section out. If the hiring manager wants references, they can ask for them. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Never lie on a resume. At best, you'll find yourself unable to perform the job. At worst, you could get fired or face legal action. Fabricating government work experience could even land you in jail for fraud. [21] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.myfuture.com/career/applying/creating-your-resume
• ↑ https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/choose-right-resume-templates-examples/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/functional-resume-tips-and-examples
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-make-a-resume-for-your-first-job
• ↑ Alyson Garrido, PCC. Career Coach. Expert Interview. 24 January 2020.
• ↑ https://novoresume.com/career-blog/resume-keywords-how-to-use-them
• ↑ https://careersidekick.com/how-to-tailor-your-resume-for-each-job-description/
• ↑ https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/blogs/articles/how-to-write-a-resume
• ↑ http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-careers/applying-for-a-job/what-is-a-resume/how-to-write-a-resume
• ↑ https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/law-and-life/can-you-get-arrested-for-lying-on-your-resume/

About This Article

To make a resume, start by choosing a professional font, like Times New Roman or Arial, in size 11 or 12. Then, create a heading at the top of the page that includes your name, address, and contact information. Underneath your heading, include sections on your employment history and education experience. You should also add a skills section that mentions any relevant skills you have. If you don't have a lot of prior job experience, put the skills section at the top of your resume so it stands out. Remember to keep your resume under 1-2 pages so it's easy to read. To learn how and when to make a functional, chronological, or combination resume, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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What is a Resume? The Ultimate Guide to Resumes

A resume is a document that summarizes an individual’s education, work experience, achievements, and skills. It is often the first point of contact between a job seeker and a potential employer.

A well-crafted resume is essential for job seekers to stand out from the competition. It is a marketing tool that sells an individual’s skills and abilities to potential employers. A carefully tailored resume that highlights relevant experience and skills can greatly increase a candidate’s chances of securing an interview and landing a job.

Brief history of resumes

Resumes have evolved over time, from handwritten personal summaries to today’s digital, keyword-optimized versions. The use of resumes dates back to the Middle Ages, with Leonardo da Vinci believed to have created the first known resume. In the 20th century, resumes became standard practice as the workforce grew and job applications became more formalized. With the rise of electronic resumes and online job searching, resumes have continued to adapt to new technologies and trends.

Resume Formats

A resume format is the presentation style you choose for your resume. There are three popular resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination.

A. Chronological

Explanation of chronological format:  The chronological resume format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order with the most recent job first. It focuses on job titles, employers, dates of employment, and job responsibilities. It is the most traditional and widely used format.

When to use chronological format:  Use the chronological format if you have a solid work history with no significant gaps in employment, and you want to highlight your career progression and accomplishments. It’s also effective if you’re targeting a job that is similar to your current or previous jobs.

B. Functional

Explanation of functional format:  The functional resume format emphasizes your skills and achievements rather than your work history. It highlights your relevant skills and abilities in a separate section that captures the attention of the reader.

When to use functional format:  Use the functional format if you have gaps in your employment history, are changing careers, or have limited work experience. It’s also effective if you have a lot of relevant experience that is not directly related to your previous job titles.

C. Combination

Explanation of combination format:  The combination resume format blends the features of chronological and functional formats. It presents your work history in reverse chronological order and emphasizes your relevant skills and achievements.

When to use a combination format:  Use the combination format if you have a solid work history with relevant experience and accomplishments that are not necessarily reflected in your job titles or descriptions. It’s also effective if you want to highlight your transferable skills and achievements relevant to the job you’re targeting while providing a detailed work history.

It’s essential to choose the best resume format that suits your career goals, job level, and work experience. Carefully consider each format’s advantages and disadvantages before deciding which resume format to use.

Resume Components

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, there are five core components that you need to include. Here’s everything you need to know about each one:

A. Contact Information

Your contact information is the very first thing that should appear on your resume. Without it, recruiters won’t be able to reach out to you for interviews. Make sure you include your full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address (optional).

B. Professional Summary or Objective Statement

Your professional summary or objective statement is a brief, high-level overview of your experience, skills, and career goals. This section should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for, and should give the reader a clear sense of what makes you uniquely qualified for the role.

C. Work Experience

Your work experience is the heart of your resume. This section should include a list of your previous jobs, along with accompanying details like job titles, company names, dates of employment, and job responsibilities.

1. Explanation of How to List Work Experience

When listing your work experience, start with your most recent job and work backwards. Use bullet points to highlight your most notable accomplishments and responsibilities for each role.

2. Importance of Strong Action Verbs

Using strong, active verbs (like “managed,” “created,” or “led”) can make your work experience section much more impactful. Avoid weak, passive language (like “assisted with” or “was responsible for”).

D. Education

Your education section should include a list of your degrees, along with the school names, dates of attendance, and any academic honors you’ve received. If you have a lot of relevant coursework or certifications, you can include those here as well.

Your skills section is a chance to highlight your core competencies, both technical (hard skills) and interpersonal (soft skills).

1. Explanation of Hard and Soft Skills

Hard skills are specific, measurable abilities that are required for a particular job (like proficiency in a certain programming language). Soft skills are more interpersonal in nature, and include things like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

2. How to Showcase Skills Effectively

When showcasing your skills, be sure to provide concrete examples of how you’ve used them to achieve success in previous roles. Avoid vague or generic statements – the more specific you can be, the better.

Your resume should be a well-crafted representation of your skills, experience, and achievements. By following these guidelines and tailoring your resume to each job you apply for, you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream job.

Writing a Strong Resume

Crafting a compelling resume is an essential part of any job search. A strong resume showcases your skills, accomplishments, and experience in a way that makes you stand out to potential employers. Here are some tips to help you create a resume that will catch the eye of hiring managers:

A. Tailoring resumes to specific job descriptions

Tailoring your resume to specific job descriptions can increase your chances of being noticed by recruiters. When applying for a job, carefully review the job description to identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, make sure to highlight those skills and qualifications in your resume.

B. Importance of using metrics and data

Using metrics and data to quantify your accomplishments can make your resume more impactful. For example, if you increased sales revenue or decreased production time, include specific numbers to demonstrate the results of your work. This will show potential employers the impact you can make on their organization.

C. Tips for avoiding common mistakes

To ensure your resume stands out for all the right reasons, avoid common mistakes such as spelling errors or grammatical mistakes. Also, make sure your resume is easy to read and follows a logical format. Keep it concise and highlight your most relevant accomplishments.

D. Examples of strong resumes

One of the best ways to improve your resume is to learn from examples of outstanding resumes. Here are some essential elements of a strong resume:

• A clear objective statement that captures the attention of recruiters
• A concise summary highlighting your most significant achievements and skills
• Relevant work experience and education, presented in a clear and organized way
• Metrics and data to showcase your past accomplishments and demonstrate your potential value to the employer

A strong resume requires time, effort, and attention to detail. By tailoring your resume to specific job descriptions, highlighting your achievements with metrics and data, and avoiding common mistakes, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.

ATS and Keyword Optimization

A. explanation of ats and the role it plays in the hiring process.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software used by companies to efficiently manage the hiring process. These systems aid in screening, tracking, and managing job applications.

When a job seeker applies through an online portal or email, the resume is first scanned by the ATS, which then filters the applications based on parameters such as education, skills, experience, and keywords.

The hiring managers see only those resumes that have passed the ATS screening, and the system also saves the information of all applicants for future reference. Therefore, optimizing your resume as per the ATS guidelines is essential to ensure that it gets recognized by the system and increases your chances of getting the job.

B. Importance of keyword optimization

ATS scans for keywords that match the job description provided by the employer. To improve your chances of getting through the ATS, it is crucial to include relevant keywords in your resume. Identify the keywords that appear in the job description and tailor your resume accordingly.

Merely copying and pasting the exact same words from the job description, however, is not advisable. It’s important that you integrate the keywords organically and weave them into your resume.

C. How to optimize resumes for ATS and keyword search

Here are some tips on how to optimize your resume for ATS and keyword search.

Use keywords specific to the job: Use keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Identify the keywords in the job description and ensure that you use them in your resume.

Use industry jargon: Industry-specific jargon indicates that you are familiar with industry practices and standards. It will also help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Keep formatting simple: Avoid complex formatting like graphics, images, and tables in your resume. Use standard fonts like Times New Roman or Arial and a readable font size of 10-12.

Use bullet points for better readability: Use bullet points to organize your skills and experiences. It ensures that your resume is easy to read, and the information is easily accessible.

Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Use relevant experience and skills that match the job description.

Optimizing your resume for ATS and keyword search is essential to make it past the initial screening process. It ensures that your accomplishments and experiences are noticed by the hiring manager and increases your chances of getting an interview. Stick to these guidelines, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting a winning resume.

Resume Proofreading and Editing

Once you have completed your resume, it is essential to proofread and edit it thoroughly to avoid any errors and ensure that it presents you in the best possible light. Here are some common mistakes to look out for:

A. Common mistakes to look out for

• Grammatical errors such as misspellings, incorrect verb tenses or articles, and fragmented sentences.
• Inaccurate or inconsistent information, such as incorrect employment dates or job titles.
• Lack of clarity and specificity, making it difficult to understand your qualifications or achievements.
• Formatting issues, such as inconsistent font sizes or styles, poor spacing or alignment, or incorrect headings.

B. Tips for proofreading and editing

Here are some helpful tips for proofreading and editing your resume:

• Take a break after completing your resume to help you approach it with fresh eyes and a clear mind.
• Print out a hard copy and read it aloud, which can help with detecting errors and identifying areas for improvement.
• Use tools like spell-checking and grammar-checking software to catch any mistakes you may have missed.
• Focus on improving the overall readability and flow of your resume. Use clear headings, bullet points, and action verbs to make it easy for the reader to follow.

C. Importance of seeking feedback

Even after you have proofread and edited your resume, seeking feedback from others is critical to ensuring that it presents your best self. Here are some reasons why:

• Another person can provide fresh perspective and catch errors or areas for improvement that you may have missed.
• Feedback can also help you identify any weaknesses in your resume and provide ideas for how to strengthen it.
• Getting feedback from someone who is experienced in the field or industry you are applying to can give you valuable insight into what employers are looking for.

It is essential to put in the time and effort to proofread and edit your resume thoroughly. Taking the extra step of seeking feedback can also help set you apart from other applicants and put you on the path to success in your job search.

Resume Design

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, design is just as important as content. A visually appealing resume can help you stand out from the competition and make a great impression on potential employers. In this section, we’ll explore the importance of a visually appealing resume, best practices for design, and examples of resumes that do it right.

A. Importance of a Visually Appealing Resume

Your resume is often the first impression that potential employers have of you. In fact, many hiring managers spend only a few seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to move on to the next candidate. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your resume is visually appealing and easy to read.

A visually appealing resume can help you convey your professionalism, attention to detail, and overall skills and experience. By choosing the right fonts, colors, and layout, you can make your resume stand out and grab the reader’s attention.

B. Best Practices for Design

To create a visually appealing resume, there are several best practices to keep in mind:

• Choose an appropriate font size and style that is easy to read.
• Use bullet points and whitespace to make your resume scannable.
• Incorporate your personal brand into your design, such as using your brand colors or logo.
• Avoid using too many different fonts or font styles.
• Keep your resume layout simple and clean.

C. Examples of Visually Appealing Resumes

Here are some examples of visually appealing resumes that showcase the best practices discussed above:

• The Minimalist: This resume features a simple black and white design with plenty of whitespace and bold headings. The font is easy to read and the design is simple yet effective.
• The Creative: This resume uses pops of color to draw attention to key sections and incorporate the candidate’s personal brand. The layout is clean and scannable, making it easy to read.
• The Professional: This resume uses a clean, professional layout with a touch of color to differentiate each section. The font is easy to read and the design is both elegant and functional.

By incorporating these best practices into your resume design and drawing inspiration from these examples, you can create a visually appealing resume that gives you the best chance of landing the job you want.

Cover Letters

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. It is essentially a summary of your skills and experience, and explains why you are the perfect candidate for the job.

A strong cover letter is crucial when applying for a job, as it helps you stand out from other candidates. It is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the position.

Here are some tips for writing a strong cover letter:

• Keep it concise and to the point. Stick to one page and avoid rambling.
• Tailor your cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. Highlight how your skills and experience match the requirements of the job.
• Use a professional tone and avoid informal language or slang.
• Show enthusiasm for the position and the company. Explain why you are interested in working for the company specifically.
• Address the person who will be reading your cover letter by name, if possible.
• Proofread your cover letter carefully for any typos or grammatical errors.

Here are some examples of strong cover letters:

• A cover letter for a marketing job that highlights the candidate’s experience in social media marketing and their enthusiasm for the company’s brand.
• A cover letter for a teaching job that showcases the candidate’s passion for education and their ability to connect with students.
• A cover letter for a sales job that demonstrates the candidate’s track record of exceeding sales targets and their ability to build relationships with clients.
• Do customize your cover letter to the specific job you are applying for.
• Do show enthusiasm for the position and the company.
• Do proofread your cover letter carefully for any errors.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use informal language or slang.
• Don’t make your cover letter too long or rambling.
• Don’t use a generic cover letter for multiple job applications.

A strong cover letter is an important component of any job application. By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a cover letter that helps you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Resume Submission

Once you have polished and perfected your resume, the next step is to submit it to potential employers. This section covers where to submit your resume, the different submission requirements for different companies, and tips for following up after submitting your resume.

A. Where to Submit Resumes

There are several places where you can submit your resume. The most popular option is through online job boards, such as LinkedIn or Glassdoor. You can also submit your resume directly to a company’s career page or via email to a hiring manager or recruiter. Additionally, you may choose to work with a staffing agency, which can provide further assistance in your job search.

B. Different Submission Requirements for Different Companies

It’s important to keep in mind that each company may have different submission requirements. Some companies may require you to fill out an online application in addition to submitting your resume, while others may only accept resumes via email. Always follow the specific instructions provided by the company to ensure that your application is considered.

C. Tips for Following up After Submitting a Resume

After submitting your resume, you may be wondering what the next steps are. One important tip is to follow up with the company after a week or two to check on your application status. You can reach out via email or phone and reiterate your interest in the position.

It’s also a good idea to personalize your follow-up message and highlight any relevant experience or qualifications that make you a strong candidate. This shows that you are dedicated to the position and are willing to put in effort to stand out.

Submitting your resume is just the first step in the job search process. By knowing where to submit your resume, following specific company submission requirements, and following up appropriately, you can increase your chances of landing the job of your dreams.

Job Search Strategies

When it comes to job searching, there are several strategies you can use to increase your chances of success. In this section, we’ll provide an overview of some of the most effective strategies to consider.

A. Overview of Different Job Search Strategies

Online job boards:  Websites like Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor allow you to search for job openings based on specific criteria such as location, job title, and salary range. You can also create job alerts to be notified when a new job posting matches your search criteria.

Networking:  This involves reaching out to people in your professional and personal network to learn about potential job opportunities. LinkedIn is a popular social networking site for professionals that can be used for networking purposes.

Recruiting agencies:  These are companies that assist both job seekers and companies looking to hire by matching candidates with open positions.

Direct outreach:  This involves finding companies you’re interested in working for and reaching out to them directly to inquire about open positions or express interest in working for them in the future.

B. Importance of Networking

Networking is often considered one of the most effective job search strategies because it allows you to tap into the “hidden job market” – job openings that aren’t publicly advertised. By building relationships with people in your industry, you may learn about job openings before they are posted on job boards or advertised elsewhere.

Networking can also help you learn about potential employers and gain insight into their company culture and hiring practices. This information can be valuable as you prepare for interviews and evaluate job offers.

C. Tips for Maximizing Job Search Success

Tailor your resume and cover letter:  When applying for jobs, make sure your resume and cover letter are tailored to the specific position and company you’re applying to. This shows that you’ve taken the time to research the role and company and are genuinely interested in the position.

Prepare for interviews:  Research the company and position you’re interviewing for and prepare responses to common interview questions. Dress professionally and arrive early to the interview.

Follow up:  After an interview, send a thank-you email or note to the interviewer to thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position.

Be persistent:  Job searching can be a long and frustrating process. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back from companies right away. Follow up regularly (but not too frequently) on your applications and continue networking.

By using a combination of job search strategies, networking, and following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and find the job you’ve been searching for. Good luck!

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So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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Die hard: the troubled history of the resume

The history of the resume traces back to Leonardo da Vinci's letter to the Duke of Milan. Evolving from personal details and formal photos to professional achievements and skills, the resume has adapted with technology, moving from paper to digital formats, including platforms like LinkedIn.

Daniel was a VP of Comms at Workable. He writes about the world of work. He was formerly with the Economist and Guardian.

It was the early 1980s, there was a former matinee idol in the White House and the fax machine had yet to disturb the peace of office life but the resume was already being written off. The cold war was far from over, the only digital thing in most people’s lives was a calculator and yet some experts in the world of work considered the demise of the resume imminent.

It was hopelessly outdated, the career Cassandras declared, and poorly suited to the needs of modern employers. Three decades later the fax machine is dead (outside of developing world bureaucracies) but the resume has proven harder to kill than almost anyone anticipated. A long list of modernizers from YouTube and social media to LinkedIn and  applicant tracking systems , have all been poised to kill the resume.

And yet, the casual researcher will quickly discover that half the internet is filled with advice columns on how to write the perfect CV, while the other half is made up of postmortems for the resume. Surely something has to give?   The answer to that is no, not really.

The Da Vinci Cover

It’s popular among romantics to trace the history of the resume back to the original renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. He wrote to Ludovico Sforza , otherwise known as the Duke of Milan, in 1482 advertising some of his inventions for a little local military campaigning. He opened the missive as follows:

“Most Illustrious Lord, Having now sufficiently considered the specimens of all those who proclaim themselves skilled contrivers of instruments of war, and that the invention and operation of the said instruments are nothing different from those in common use: I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else, to explain myself to your Excellency, showing your Lordship my secret, and then offering them to your best pleasure and approbation to work with effect at opportune moments on all those things which, in part, shall be briefly noted below.”

While it’s a barnstormer of an opening sentence (and he invented an absurd amount of other things), it’s quite clearly not a resume. It’s a cover letter. Others have have attempted to pass off the letters of introduction carried by 16th century British aristocrats as proto-resumes. They were clearly reference letters.

CV versus Resume

Let’s get something straight at this point. Historically the CV and the resume haven’t always been the same thing. Yes, they’re often taken as European versus American ways of describing the same thing. But as any worthy pedant knows, they also referred to entirely different formats. The resume was traditionally a one-pager whereas a CV, especially in academia, could run to more than 10 pages. The same pedants roll out the Latin meaning of curriculum vitae ( course of life ) and contrast it with the French origins of resume (summary). Regardless, we shall say they’re simply two names for the same thing.

Prior to the turn of the last century there wasn’t much need for resumes. Most societies were stratified enough that a career (or the lack of one) was largely dictated by birth and people were meant, in British parlance, to “know their place”.

Industrialization, wars and technology upended this lack of mobility during the first half of the 20th century. By the 1930s a resume was almost normal, although experts warned applicants not to sell themselves for fear of appearing conceited. As recently as 1950 your age, weight and the origin of your parents were considered essential elements of the CV, along with a photo of yourself wearing a suit.

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From VHS to YouTube

In the 1960s the dread of the typo on your resume (which some tyrants still insist should mean instant disqualification) was partly responsible for the popularity of the new-fangled  IBM Selectric typewriter . Then as now errors were common.

By 1980 VHS has arrived and some intrepid candidates start mailing video portfolios. Meanwhile, the resume writing industry had taken off , with hundreds of breathless guides promising CV perfection. In 1987 the fax machine came along and was put to use spamming companies with resumes, just as email was nearly a decade later.

To anyone who has never had to write or read one it would be legitimate to ask why so many people want the resume to die. There are oft-quoted statistics that more than half of resumes contain lies and that recruiters in any case look at them for 20 seconds each. Kevin Grossman , the author of Tech Job Hunt Handbook, captures the animosity well when he writes that “the resume is a self-serving piece of inconsistently formatted and fudged professional drivel.”

Gaming the parsers

Along came LinkedIn in 2003, which despite its unloved interface, persuaded the bulk of professionals everywhere to create profiles containing most of the details we include in our resumes. We were told that LinkedIn was the death knell for the resume. Similarly grandiose pronouncements were made about the first efforts at video bios on Youtube .

When popular job boards and online applications saw the volume of resumes arriving at HR get a little out of control companies turned to resume parsing technology to extract the relevant information from the babel of formatting. The aim was to weed out some unqualified applications. So a new industry sprung up claiming to teach candidates how to game applicant tracking systems.

As more of our lives became visible online, it became popular to argue that the need for a resume has diminished. There is much talk of storytelling replacing resumes for creatives among others. This is all true and reasonable. But there is considerable confusion between content and delivery system. The need exists for a summary of professional achievements, preferably verifiable and hinting at what a person might be like to work with. The delivery system for this information is bound to change, the need for it is less likely to go away.

And talk of the medium ignores the real struggle that has kept the resume on life support. The resume, and the cover letter for that matter, may be no fun to write but they do represent a candidate’s best chance to frame the first impression. They’re unlikely to give it up easily. Most employers know which they would rather have from these two options presented by management writer, Victor Lipman : “A lot of information about a candidate where I do the filtering, or a little information about a candidate where they do the filtering?”

All that’s relatively safe to say is that the paper resume is dying. But then again… Even at Workable , a hiring software company that champions one-click job applications, resume parsing and standardized data on candidates, we occasionally get a lovingly-printed paper resume!

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The Evolution of Resume Writing: A Look Back Through The Decades

In the ever-evolving world of job hunting, one constant has remained: the resume. This single document has the power to open doors, create opportunities, and shape careers.

But just as the professional landscape has evolved, so too has the humble resume. From the traditional black-and-white paper document of the 1950s, filled with formal language and rigid structure, to today's digital, interactive, and personality-driven portfolios, the evolution of resume writing mirrors the transformation of the workplace itself.

The inclusion of keywords, relevant to automated applicant tracking systems (ATS), became crucial. The emergence of professional networking sites like LinkedIn brought about the integration of digital profiles with traditional resumes.

Each decade introduced new trends and tools, molding the modern, streamlined, and tech-savvy resume-crafting process seen today.

In this blog post, we journey through the decades, examining how resume writing has changed and what these changes say about our shifting perceptions of work, skills, and professional identity.

Introduction:

The resume is a critical part of the modern job search, serving as the first impression you make on potential employers. But resumes today look starkly different from even 20 or 30 years ago.

Like all aspects of business, how we present our skills and experiences on paper has evolved dramatically with the times.

Understanding this evolution provides key context on why resumes look and function as they do today. It also provides a glimpse into the future of resumes and the importance of adaptability for job seekers.

The Birth of Resumes (1930s):

Contrary to popular belief, resumes have not always been a staple in job hunting. The concept of a resume originated in the 1930s during the Great Depression when job competition was fierce and candidates sought ways to stand out.

While versions of resumes existed earlier, they only became a standard part of the hiring process during this time. Before that, most people lived and worked in the same town their whole lives. A good verbal reference sufficed to land jobs.

The Great Depression changed things. With jobs scarce, employers wanted paper evidence of an applicant’s skills.

According to career historian Dr. Frank Fox, the first modern resume template emerged in 1933 highlighting education, work experience, and personal information. These early resumes were very basic and focused on pedigree like education, hometown, and family reputation.

Duties and responsibilities took a backseat to character and background. It was typical for photos, age, marital status, and other personal details to be included. According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, over 70% of resumes in the 1930s contained such personal information.

Such details would be considered inappropriate or even illegal to request now. Quite unthinkable today!

Resumes in the Post-War Era (1940s - 1950s):

The post-war era brought significant changes to the workforce and, consequently, to resumes. As soldiers returned from World War II and reentered the job market, there was a shift in focus from personal attributes to skills and experiences.

With so many men deployed, employers needed skilled workers fast. They also realized veterans returned with incredible technical abilities.

The GI Bill, passed in 1944 also played a big role in this shift, as it allowed many veterans to pursue higher education, making academic qualifications a new point of emphasis in resumes.

During this period, the resume's format began to take on a more familiar form. Objective statement, followed by Education, and then Experience.

In this context, World War II shook up the job market enormously by giving rise to skills-focused resumes. It was also during this time, that Job stability decreased as workers shifted between opportunities, increasing resume usage.

The 1950s saw resume length grow to multiple pages detailing the minutiae of past roles. Photographs remained standard as discrimination was legal.

Resume writing was still an informal practice with no standardization.

The Age of Professionalism (1960s - 1980s):

As the business world modernized in the 1960s and 70s, resumes followed suit becoming more professional and streamlined. Resumes became more structured, and the focus shifted from simply listing qualifications to selling one's skills and abilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of distinct occupations in the United States increased by nearly 25% between the 1960s and 1980s.

This diversification necessitated more targeted resumes, highlighting relevant skills and experiences for each job application.

This period saw the birth of career counselors and professional resume writers who further systemized the process. Applicant tracking systems in the 1980s also demanded resumes with consistent headers, sections, and keywords.

Resume length shortened to 1-2 pages, while personal information declined.

A more business-like, achievement-focused tone became the norm by the 1980s as resumes shifted to selling skills over pedigree.

The Digital Revolution (1990s - 2000s):

The advent of the digital age had a profound impact on resume writing. Computers and word processing software made it easier to create and modify resumes.

The Internet facilitated the distribution of resumes, with email becoming a popular method of sending resumes to potential employers. Applicants could now email resumes instantly in MS Word or PDF formats.

Online job boards started flourishing in popularity by the 2000s. Job seekers tailored “e-resumes” with keywords to get past digital filters.

Scannability became vital as HR professionals used online job boards for recruitment.

The design saw major upgrades with modern, appealing templates instead of just typed black text. Infographic, video, and Web 2.0 resumes also emerged seeking to be distinctive.

But length contracted even further to combat shrinking attention spans. Bullet points replaced paragraphs for faster skimming by recruiters.

The Social Media Era (2010s - Present):

Today, your digital presence is as crucial as your resume. LinkedIn profiles have essentially become an extension of resumes with rich media.

Recruiters screen candidates online before ever reading a resume.

In a way, Resumes are no longer standalone documents but a part of a broader online professional identity.

The rise of personal branding emphasizes customized, visually compelling resumes conveying uniqueness. Applicants also use portfolios, websites, and links to showcase work which has led to creating a consistent, professional brand across various platforms, including traditional resumes and social media profiles.

Resume development is now a nuanced, data-driven process tracking outcomes across jobs to constantly optimize.

A/B testing of phrasing, layouts, and other variables helps job seekers stand out in an ultra-competitive market.

The Future of Resumes:

Predicting the future of resumes is challenging given the rapid technological advancements. However, one can expect Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to play significant roles.

Companies like IBM are already using AI to analyze resumes and predict candidate success.

But how will resumes continue to evolve moving forward? Well, one thing is for sure, we can expect even more interactivity and personalization.

AI-powered tools like Flavoured Resume enable customized resumes tailored to each job's key requirements. Virtual reality could let employers experience 3D walkthroughs of your career.

Video resumes are also likely to gain traction. Numerous Tools enable video interviews. Applicants may soon submit short video bios.

Whatever shape they take, strong presentation skills and showcasing your authentic self will remain central to resumes.

“The core purpose - compellingly advertising your value - persists across eras”.

Conclusion:

From simple paper profiles to robust multimedia selling tools, resumes have come a long way over nearly a century. They've constantly adapted from focusing on pedigree to skills to achievements and now personal branding.

Understanding this past provides helpful context on why resumes look as they do today. More importantly, it reminds us that resumes will keep evolving with the times. Just as social media and computers disrupted past conventions, emerging technologies will bring new transformations.

By keeping up with these resume trends and flexibility and tailoring our experiences for relevance, we can master the critical first touchpoint with employers.

While formats change, one thing remains constant - a powerful resume makes opening doors to new opportunities possible in any era.

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What Is a Resume?

Understanding a resume, the resume heading, resume trouble spots, changing times for resumes, what you should not put on a resume, the bottom line.

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What Is a Resume? Its Purpose and What Should Not Be on Yours

Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced editor, writer, fact-checker, and proofreader with more than fourteen years of experience working with print and online publications.

Investopedia / Jiaqi Zhou

A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. A resume is usually accompanied by a customized cover letter in which the applicant expresses an interest in a specific job or company and draws attention to the most relevant specifics on the resume.

American job coaches insist that a resume should be only one or two pages in length. British job applicants traditionally are expected to produce a somewhat more detailed document called a CV (curriculum vitae).

Key Takeaways

• Nowadays, resumes are typically sent by email or as part of an online application.
• The traditional one- to two-page limit for a resume stands, but nothing prevents you from attaching a brief video introduction or other illustration if it is relevant and enhances your presentation.
• It's smart to rewrite your resume to tailor it to a specific job you're seeking.

A resume is almost always required for applicants to office jobs. They are the first step taken by corporate recruiters and hiring managers to identify candidates who might be invited to interview for a position.

Successful resumes highlight specific accomplishments applicants have achieved in former positions, such as cutting costs, transcending sales goals, increasing profits, and building out teams. 

There are many formats for resumes, with many variations for particular professions such as investment banking and the fashion trade.

Whatever the format, most resumes include a brief summary of skills and experience, followed by a bullet list of previous jobs in reverse chronological order and a list of degrees earned.

A final section might be added to highlight specific skills, such as fluency in a foreign language, knowledge of computer languages, professionally useful hobbies, professional affiliations, and any honors achieved.

Brevity, a clean layout, and succinct language all are prized. People who have to sort through hundreds of resumes have short attention spans.

The heading on the resume should include not only your name, email address, and mobile phone number but also your address on LinkedIn or another professional community and the address of your website or blog if you have one.

Be aware that any hiring manager will, as a matter of course, enter your name in the Google search field. Do a search on your own and see if you can optimize your own results or at least decently bury any youthful faux pas.

Recruiters examine job histories for significant employment gaps or a pattern of job-hopping. Be prepared to explain either, whether in a cover letter or during an interview. An applicant with a history of short-lived jobs might consider omitting a few of the oldest ones, especially if they aren't relevant to the current job opening.

For example, if you spent years working behind a counter in food service, then went back to school to earn physical therapy credentials, forget some of those early jobs in food service. Flesh out the sections that report your skills , training, and experience in the field that's now your specialty. You can mention those other jobs in the interview while explaining what a reliable professional you are.

The past can be particularly dangerous for applicants to new technology companies seeking to assemble cutting-edge teams. Legacy skills may imply obsolescence. The most powerful resumes underline how an applicant can thrive in the job that's open right now.

It goes without saying that resumes these days are delivered as email attachments or uploaded for an online application, not printed out and mailed.

Although the two-page maximum still stands, many applicants use the web to its full potential when it comes to attachments. Video introductions, charts, graphs, and other illustrations can make you stand out, so long as they're relevant and slickly made.

There is so much talk about what should be in your resume, but there are also some things that ought to be kept off the page. First, and most importantly, are your age, marital status, and the number of children you may have. While a potential employer might be able to deduce this information via a web search, it isn't relevant for a job application.

In addition, do not list your current salary, religion, political beliefs, or any personal details (like your hobbies), unless that information is required for the job in question.

What Are Common Resume Mistakes?

Common resume mistakes include typos, vague details without a lack of specifics, either being too long in detail or too short, grammatical errors, poor verb usage, impertinent information, and not including enough information on skills.

Should I Create More Than One Resume?

This depends on whether you are applying for different types of jobs. For example, if you are applying for an office manager job, you should tailor your resume to outline your leadership and organizational skills. But you might also be interested in applying for a retail position, so creating a second resume that instead highlights any retail experience that you have will put you in a better position to get that job.

What If I Do Not Have Any Work Experience?

You can still create a strong resume even if you do not have any professional work experience. Your resume can include any volunteer work you have done and the responsibilities you had during this time. If you are still in school, you can also list any academic organizations you are a part of and any offices and responsibilities you're holding.

Your resume is what gets you the job interview. It's the first step in getting hired. So you want to spend plenty of time making sure it's professional, represents who you are, is void of mistakes, does not contain superfluous information, and highlights why you would be the best candidate for the job.

Your resume should be recent and contain only the most important information; remove anything else. If you've been working for two decades, employers aren't interested in your high school GPA or any internships you had during college. Keep it concise, interesting, and impressive, and you'll be sure to get a response from companies.

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CV vs. Resume—Here Are the Differences

“Um, what is a CV?” is a question job seekers often find themselves asking. Approach 10 professionals, and odds are high only one or two can tell you the real answer. Good news, you’re about to be one of those few people who know not just what the letters stand for, but how the CV compares to a resume, and whether or not you should have one.

Curriculum Vitae, more commonly referred to by its shorthand abbreviation CV (a Latin term meaning course of life), got tossed around a lot when I was in graduate school. I’m pretty sure I pretended to know what it meant the first time I heard it, only to go home to Google and educate myself before it came up in casual conversation again.

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I quickly learned that dissertation-defending PhDs didn’t have resumes, they had CVs. Unlike the resume, which lists work history and experiences, along with a brief summary of your skills and education, the CV is a far more comprehensive document. It goes above and beyond a mention of education and work experience and often lists—in thoughtful detail—your achievements, awards, honors, and publications, stuff universities care about when they’re hiring teaching staff. Unlike a resume, which is rarely longer than a one-sided single page, the CV can be two, six, or 12 pages—depending on your professional achievements.

Let’s go over some basics of the CV versus resume.

Want to skip ahead? Check out:

What Is a CV?

• Does Anyone Besides Academics Use a CV?

What’s the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?

• How Do I Know When to Use Which?

Should I Have a CV Handy?

As touched upon briefly above, CVs are primarily popular among academics, as graduate students often spend a lot of effort getting their work published during these post-grad years. While higher-education institutions undoubtedly evaluate a potential candidate’s grades and test scores, they’re also eager to see where an applicant’s been published.

“Publish or perish” was a popular sentiment during my two years in graduate school, and it appears not much has changed. I spoke with a couple of my former classmates who went on to obtain doctorate degrees long after I’d left with a master’s degree in hand and an I’ve-had-enough-of-that mindset, and they were quick to reiterate how important getting published is to one’s career, and, of course, the standard academic’s CV.

OK, Anyone Besides Academics?

You’re right, they’re not the only ones who choose the long (sometimes, very long) document over a resume. The website Undercover Recruiter explains that U.S. and Canadian residents need a CV if they’re applying to work abroad, specifically in the U.K., Ireland, and New Zealand. In these countries, “a CV is used in all contexts and resumes aren’t used at all.” Moreover, “The CV prevails in mainland Europe and there is even a European Union CV format available for download,” a super helpful template if you’re confused about how to build one.

Short answer: Length.

Long answer: The CV’s static in that it’s not a document needing to be tailored for different positions in the way that a resume is. Rather, according to UNC Writing Center , the CV’s a “fairly detailed overview of your life’s accomplishments, especially those most relevant to the realm of academia,” hence the variance in length; an early-stage grad student’s CV is going to be a lot shorter than a sixth-year student preparing to write a dissertation.

The document only changes as your accomplishments grow—you publish the findings of a scientific study, or a short story, or you receive an award as a Teaching Assistant—whereas a resume can and should be modified often as you job search and apply to different companies and positions. At The Muse, we highly encourage you to tailor your resume for each and every job you apply to, even if the job descriptions are similar. (It’ll not only help you stand out, but also ensure you get through the ATS .)

But, How Do I Know When to Use Which?

Fortunately, if you’re still confused about where to begin, remember that almost any job you apply to will let you know what you need. It’s not typically a guessing game. When you apply for a job in New York City , or Minneapolis , or Austin , there’ll likely be clear language on what’s required with the application. Begin looking into overseas opportunities, and it’s probable that the application will explicitly state that you need to submit a CV or resume for consideration.

Seriously though, if you’re truly dumbfounded about what’s needed, it’s OK to ask the point of contact directly, “Would you prefer a resume or CV?” (And in America, the answer will almost always be “resume” since we know that recruiters don’t spend more than six seconds looking, anyways.)

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Curriculum Vitae

If you don’t currently have one, I’d recommend creating the doc just in case. You don’t have to stop everything you’re doing right this second, but the next time you go to modify your resume (a familiar and somewhat ongoing practice, I hope), start building it out. If nothing else, it’ll serve a dual-purpose: Not only can you have it handy if you do ever need it, but you’ll also have a running list of everything you’ve ever accomplished, a.k.a., a master resume to pull from as you tailor your own for specific positions.

And there you go, everything you ever wanted to know (plus more!) about the differences between a CV and a resume.

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an overview of sample résumés and suggestions for how to write them.

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08-21-2024 WORK LIFE

How résumés have shifted over the past 5 years

The employment landscape has changed, and so has the way job seekers write résumés.

[Photo: Lukas /Pexels]

BY  Eric Ciechanowski for LiveCareer 6 minute read

Rumor has it that if you travel in space for 5 years, it’s 50 years passing on Earth.

Whether this is true or not, consider the job market the cosmic journey. Within five years, technology, the pandemic, and market trends have had a dynamic impact on the workplace that has propelled us light-years ahead.

To help better understand the shifts that have taken place specifically in résumé writing, analysts at LiveCareer have extracted data from 50,000 résumés from its internal database and compared résumés built in 2018 to résumés from 2023.

LiveCareer’s Résumé Evolution Report covers how résumés have changed in the past five years, specifically examining:

• New résumé length and word count standards
• Popularity of different résumé sections
• Top 10 soft skills job seekers list
• Top 10 hard skills job seekers list
• Shifts in the most common job titles
• Remote/hybrid phrases
• Number of résumés created per person

Résumé length

In 2018, a typical résumé created in LiveCareer’s builder was about 312 words. In practice, this means that the majority of users prepared single-page documents.

However, the landscape changed notably in 2023. Résumés turned toward greater detail, with the average length surging to 503 words, equivalent to almost two pages.

The evolution of the length of résumés between 2018 and 2023 signifies a departure from the one-page norm. Recruiters wanted extensive narratives, and this is what they got. Contrary to popular belief, one-page résumés have long ceased to be okay . 

Providing more comprehensive information about skills, experiences, and qualifications offers a nuanced picture of a person’s professional journey, emphasizing the value they can bring to potential employers.

A 2018 ResumeGo study proved that recruiters are 2.3 times as likely to prefer two-page résumés to one-page résumés. Moreover, they take almost double the time to review two-page résumés compared to one-page résumés.

Conclusion:  Résumé length (pages and word count) has nearly doubled. Two pages are now the norm.

Top sections used

Some sections on résumés are nonnegotiable. The top five must-have sections have not changed in the past five years. These are personal information, education, skills, work history, and professional summary or objective.

But two additional sections have seen a noticeable jump. Over the past five years, there have been roughly twofold increases in the number of people who included information about certificates (18% vs. 10%), languages (14% vs. 6%), and additional accomplishments (17% vs. 9%) on their résumés.

The rise in certifications indicates a commitment to skills development and a proactive approach to staying competitive in the job market. Similarly, the emphasis on languages signifies the increasing value placed on global communication and collaboration in today’s diverse workplace. Additional accomplishment sections help ensure that a fuller picture of candidates’ value is properly communicated. This reflects a shift in candidate priorities toward a more holistic representation of their abilities.

Conclusion:  You cannot skip must-have sections, but you can include one or two additional ones. Be sure that this trick will make you stand out from the competition.

Don’t have time to learn languages or get certificates? Attend conferences or online courses. Showcase your unusual interests and passion.

These sections go beyond the traditional focus on work experience and education, providing an opportunity to demonstrate continuous learning, adaptability, and a proactive approach to skills development. In a dynamic job market, employers increasingly value candidates who show a commitment to personal and professional growth.

An additional note—only 2% of résumés in 2023 include references, down from 6% in 2018.

Some 66% of job seekers include at least one additional résumés section.

Over the past five years, the employment landscape has changed, and so has the way job seekers write résumés. During the period we studied, we experienced a global pandemic—which took a huge toll on some industries while others thrived—so it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that job seekers have changed their approach to résumé writing to meet the changes in the job market.

Top 10 most common soft skills listed on résumés

While technical skills and experience showcase your expertise, soft skills provide a more holistic view of your capabilities. Employers are interested in what you can do and how you work with others, handle challenges, and contribute to the overall work environment. They also tell much about the candidate’s alignment with the company’s culture.

The top 10 soft skills candidates mentioned in their résumés:

The top three soft skills in 2023 were time management, customer service, and critical thinking.

In 2018, the most popular soft skills were self-motivation and team leadership, followed by customer service.

The transition in the most cited soft skills reflects a nuanced response to the changing demands of the workplace. As organizations continue to evolve, candidates, too, adapt by emphasizing a broader and more varied set of skills essential for thriving in today’s dynamic work environments.

Top 10 most common hard skills listed on résumés

Comparing the most common hard skills listed in résumés in 2018 and 2023 was quite difficult because five years ago, candidates mentioned skills that were almost completely different from those in 2023!

Top 10 most common hard skills listed in 2023:

• JavaScript 
• Project management

In 2023, 8 out of 10 most common hard skills were IT/specific software skills.

Top 10 most common hard skills listed in 2018:

• Data management 
• Data analysis 

In 2018, only 3 out of 10 hard skills were IT/specific software skills.

Conclusion:  In 2023, 8 out of 10 hard skills were IT/specific software skills, versus only 3 out of 10 in 2018. This shift indicates a clear trend toward an increasing demand for technical expertise in the job market.

The growing dominance of IT and software-related skills suggests a heightened reliance on technology across various industries. Employers are placing a premium on candidates with proficiency in specific software applications and IT competencies, reflecting the accelerated digital transformation over the past few years.

Advice:  Students should consider acquiring at least some basic IT skills and highlighting them on their résumés. Professionals should stay abreast of industry-specific software and technological advancements to remain competitive in the evolving job market. Furthermore, educational and training programs focusing on IT skills may become more relevant for career advancement.

Most common job titles

While some job titles are experiencing growth, the frequency of the appearance of others in résumés is declining. This mirrors the shifting dynamics of industries, showcasing the heightened emphasis on financial analysis, customer service, and dynamic roles like project management in the contemporary job market.

Top 10 most common job titles listed on résumés

“Remote” and “hybrid” résumés

As part of our analysis, we scanned résumés for the words remote and/or hybrid to see how work models and skills have changed over the past five years, covering pre- and post-COVID periods.

In 2018, roughly 2.4% of résumés included the words remote / hybrid .

In 2023, more than 7% now contain remote and/or hybrid terminology.

Conclusion:  The significant increase reflects the notable shift in the workplace landscape post-pandemic. The data reflects a clear trend that remote work as a competency is a valued skill for both employees and employers.

Number of résumés created by user

In 2018, the average number of résumés created per user was 1.45. By 2023, we observed a slight decrease to 1.37.

What does it mean? Simply put, candidates still create one generic résumé and send it to many potential employers.

The biggest mistake of the job-searching world is still being made.

A one-size-fits-all approach diminishes the relevance of a résumé. It results in missing crucial keywords, lacking genuine interest in a particular role or company, and even including information irrelevant to the specific position or industry.

One of Zety’s studies proved that 63% of recruiters want to receive résumés tailored to the position.

Conclusion:  Customize your résumé to match the specific requirements of the job. This approach increases the chances of standing out among other applicants and securing meaningful interviews.

Methodology and Limitations

LiveCareer analysts extracted data from thousands of résumés created with its résumé builder, comparing findings from 2018 to 2023. The data was collected anonymously.

— By Eric Ciechanowski , certified professional résumé writer

This article originally appeared on LiveCareer and is reprinted with permission .

Apply to the Most Innovative Companies Awards and be recognized as an organization driving the world forward through innovation. Early-rate deadline: Friday, August 23.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric Ciechanowski is a  Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) , certified by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC).   More

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