how to write a resume for it

How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

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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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Make a Resume:...

How to Make a Resume: Beginner's Writing Guide with Examples

30 min read · Updated on March 22, 2024

Your dream job is one resume away!

Your resume is arguably the most important financial document you'll ever own. And before you think, “Yeah – right” let's consider for a moment. Without a resume, you don't get the job, so you can't pay bills, support a family, go to the big game, have that weekend trip, or plan for retirement. Your resume is the doorway to your future, so let's make sure it's perfect. 

Part of making it perfect is remembering that it's a targeted career marketing document – not a chronicle of your life. So, how do you write a resume? In this beginner's writing guide, we'll show you how to make a resume and provide examples of what each section should look like. 

Grab a cup of coffee and strap in, because you're about to learn everything you need to know about how to make a new resume!

Table of contents:

The purpose of a resume

Avoid rejection by the ATS

What is your career target?

Build your personal brand, what should your resume look like, how to make a resume – the layout.

How long does it take to put together a resume?

A major resume no-no: typos

How to make your resume more professional

Theory in practice – resume examples

The most basic purpose of a resume is to sell your skills , achievements , and qualifications to prospective employers. This one document can financially make or break you. Let's take a quick look at what being unemployed costs you per day (assuming a five-day workweek):

If you make $40,000 per year, you lose about $155 every day that you're out of work

If you make $50,000 per year, you lose about $190 every day that you're out of work

If you make $75,000 per year, you lose about $288 every day that you're out of work

If you make $100,000 per year, you lose about $385 every day that you're out of work

Clearly, finding out how to make a resume for a job is critical so that you can properly sell your skills, qualifications, experiences, and achievements to prospective employers. 

The job market is tough and highly competitive; you have to stand out in a sea of qualified candidates by creating a compelling narrative that tells a story of value, keeping in mind that your resume is supposed to do a few things for you:

Introduce you to a new company

Underscore how your experiences and education are relevant

Showcase how your skills and competencies will benefit the new company's team

Win interviews

Avoid rejection by the ATS 

What do you know about applicant tracking systems? Job seeking can be compared to throwing your resume into a black hole. You can go through 100 listings on any job search website and complete the online application with zero results. 

Ever had that happen? It's okay, it happens to everyone at some point or another! 

The problem is that you're probably not putting the correct keywords into your resume. When you hit “Submit” on an online application, it isn't magically emailed to the hiring manager. 

Oh, no! 

It goes through a computer system that scans your resume for specific keywords that can be found in the job description posted by the company. And, just so you know, approximately 90% of companies use ATS scans , including everything from mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies. 

The companies use these programs because they just don't have time for a human to go through all the resumes they receive. Depending on the job opening, a company can get between  250 and 500 applicants . Can you imagine being the person who has to sift through all those resumes? 

Here is where the ATS steps in. It's designed to weed through candidates to narrow the applicant pool, so that the human hiring manager has a more reasonable resume load to go through. It ranks the remaining candidates in order based on how much of a match they are for the position that's open. 

Being overlooked by the ATS is one of the number one reasons job seekers get ghosted by companies.

Once your resume makes it through the ATS and gets into the hands of a hiring manager, don't think they're going to sit down and read each one. Who has that kind of time? You should expect that the first round of resume sorting will consist of them flipping through the stack to pick the ones that stand out within about 6 seconds of glancing at them. 

PRO TIP: Put your resume on a table, stand up, and look at it from a little distance. Is it eye-catching? Can you tell the position you're seeking just by glancing at it? Set a timer if you have to, but no more than 10 seconds.

Speaking of eye-catching, don't make the same mistake as a lot of your rival job seekers by being too generic with your resume. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that being non-specific will open doors to more opportunities. The problem is that the hiring manager won't be able to tell exactly where you'll fit within their organization. 

The first step in winning an interview is being sure that your resume actually makes it into the hands of a human being at the company you apply to. Start by defining what you want to do.

So the first, and most important, step in crafting the perfect resume is to narrow down your target career path. The more specific you are with this first step, the more response you'll receive from hiring managers because they'll be able to tell exactly how you fit within their organization. There are four areas to focus on as you begin to chart your career path:

Industry: Do you want to work in private sector, nonprofit, government, or public roles?

Geography: This one is more in-depth than choosing rural vs urban. It also includes whether you want to work in a dynamic or static environment.

Company size: You may not think it, but having an idea about whether you want to work in a small company or one with thousands of employees is important. 

Role: Saving the best for last, you have to know what position you want.

On the surface, it may seem like these things are only important for the job search aspect of landing a new position, but you have to know what voice to write your resume in, too. Part of that is knowing your audience. When you understand your audience, you can build a personal brand that resonates with what they're looking for in a new staff member.

Now that you've gotten your target career path nailed down, the next step is to brand you. Think of yourself as a product and your resume is the packaging. Companies spend a lot of time on their branding and packaging - you have to do the same thing.

The best place to start is with a  career assessment . Taking one of these tests can help you to identify your strengths, what sets you apart from others, and key themes of your professional identity. Just like Nike and Coca-Cola have timeless taglines and catchphrases that succinctly define what they have to offer to consumers, your personal brand has to tell a concise, yet compelling, story. This is where your resume comes in.

Your resume isn't just a piece of paper you give to a hiring manager or upload to a website that says, “I'm interested in this job.” Your resume is a personal marketing tool. You shape that tool with words that describe your experiences and achievements, to impress and grab the attention of the hiring manager. 

Unlike Nike's “Just Do It” phrase, your personal brand isn't something you build and forget. It is fluid and should be revisited and refined as you gain new skills, experiences, and achievements. Weave the elements of your brand into every section of your resume.

There is a common misconception that entry-level resumes look different than executive resumes. The reality is that the only difference is how much content is available to write about. 

Obviously, someone who has little to no experience will have a  short resume  – generally one page. 

When you start to get up to 10 years of experience, then you've earned the second page, so go ahead and use it. 

It's not incremental though

Just because you have 20 years of experience doesn't mean you can have a three-page resume. As you work through how to make a resume, remember that a three-page resume should be avoided, unless you have a lot of career extras like publications, research, patents, publications, or public speaking engagements to talk about. 

Other than the number of pages, your resume should use the same format and layout no matter if you're applying to a job as someone fresh out of college or seeking to be the CEO of a company. 

Chronological resume 

The  reverse-chronological  is the most popular, traditional, and well-known resume format. Its focus is placed on achievements from your career history and is defined by listing your work history starting with your current or most recent job and working backward 10-15 years. 

Employers like this type of resume because it tells them what, when, and where you worked. It's best to use this if your work history is steady and shows growth and development. If you're looking to make a career change, have had frequent job changes, or if you're seeking your first job, this may not be the best format to use.

Pro Tip: You could also get lost in the ATS if your  resume is over-designed . Many resume writers will tell you that you need to stand out in the sea of sameness by adding some personality to your resume through design. While that's true, you need to avoid heavily formatted resumes which are often rejected by computer scanners as being illegible.

Functional resume 

This resume type focuses more on skills and experiences rather than on your work history. It's more of a “what you know and how you apply that knowledge” than a simple list of where you got the knowledge. It plays down gaps in work history and makes frequent job changes less noticeable. If it isn't done properly, though, it can be confusing for the hiring manager to read and understand. There's also a bit of a stigma behind it, because employers know that job seekers use this style to downplay job-hopping. So, the first thing they do when they get a functional resume is check employment dates. If you can avoid using this style, it's best to do so.

Combination resume 

There is another resume format that focuses on skills first and then experience last. It's the combination resume, which is sometimes called a hybrid resume. This is the most complex resume type and the best resume for mid-career professionals who are transitioning into another career or for people who have special skills and a strong track record of accomplishments. These types of resumes do take a long time to read and some hiring managers won't take the time unless they're looking to fill a hard-to-fill position.

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin and means “course of life.” It's a little different from a resume, but some positions require a CV over a resume. The first thing you would notice is that a CV is significantly longer than a resume.  A resume is a self-branding document meant to portray your experience and achievements in a concise and easy-to-read format. A CV goes much further into the depth of your education and accomplishments (think publications, awards, and honors) and even has a section for you to include "Areas of Interest."

The best way to describe a CV is that it's a career biography. The biggest significant difference is that a CV is arranged chronologically in a way that gives a complete overview of your full working career. It also doesn't change based on the career or position for which you're applying.

Layout 

To make things easier for the hiring manager to digest the content of your resume, it should be laid out in a specific way to ensure that the right information is in the right place. 

Hiring managers don't  READ  resumes. They skim through until they find something that piques their interest and then they stop to read

Contact information

Title 

Professional summary , core competencies, experience , education and credentials , awards, certificates, and volunteer work .

Since the reverse-chronological resume is the one that the majority of people will use to apply for jobs, and because it's the format that hiring managers want to see, we'll focus this article on showing you how to make a resume using that style. 

Current contact information 

Location | Phone | Email | LinkedIn | Portfolio (if applicable)

You can be creative and use bold font in your  contact information  and even put a border under it to separate it from the body of your resume. 

• Name: Be sure to list your name the same across all professional documents (e.g., resume, cover letter, thank you note, LinkedIn profile). Don't get hung up with whether to use your legal name (i.e. the name on your birth certificate or driver's license). Write your name in the manner you want people to address you. Also, if you use any abbreviated credentials after your name (e.g. Jane Smith, MD), remember to include them on all professional documents.  You can also include any shortened versions of your name in quotations (e.g. Christopher "Chris" Smith). Just make sure to list it the same way everywhere you put your name.
• Address: It is no longer customary to include your full address on your resume. There have been instances of discrimination against job seekers based on their address. As far as your address is concerned, all you need is the City, State, and Zip Code. A lot of people leave off the Zip Code; however, hiring managers can query the ATS for all resumes within a radius of a Zip Code. If you exclude the Zip Code or put something like, "Greater New York Metro Area," your resume won't be included in the query.
• Phone and email: Put the telephone number and email address where you can easily be reached. Also, be sure that your email address is professional. Using something like [email protected] just won't cut it. The best idea is to use some form of your name. If you're paranoid about having your name in your email address, then you can use some form of the type of position you seek, like [email protected].
• LinkedIn URL: You don't have to spell out the entire URL on the contact line. You can put the words “LinkedIn URL” and hyperlink those words. Before you include your LinkedIn URL, be sure that your LinkedIn profile is optimized for the career you want - because you can bet if they have access to it, the hiring manager will look at it. 
• Portfolio: If you're applying for a position like Graphic Designer or Software Designer, you may have a portfolio of work that you want to make available to someone reviewing your application for employment. Include a hyperlink to the portfolio in your contact information. 
• Headshot / photo: There is no reason to include a  headshot on your resume . Actually, it's seen as taboo and could be the thing that gets your resume rejected, because the hiring manager might assume you think you can get the job based on your looks. However, there are some exceptions, like if you're applying to be a model or actor. 

Do you want a hiring manager to be able to tell immediately what type of candidate you are? Put a title at the top of your resume. Center the text on the line, put it in bold font, and put a blank space above and below. The white space and the small amount of words will help it to jump off the page and immediately be noticed. It will also be the first step in helping you stand out in the sea of sameness.

Also, be sure the title on your resume mirrors the title on the job description that you're applying to, but add a bit of panache to it so that it's not too boring. For example, instead of writing “Financial Services Associate,” write “Client-Centric Financial Services Associate Dedicated to Customer Engagement and Revenue Growth.” Just remember to keep it on one line. 

The very next thing on the page should always be your Professional Summary. But how do you write a summary for a resume?

It's a three to five-sentence statement about you. Where you've been in your career, where you're going, and how you'll use your experience to get there. 

While the professional summary is sometimes referred to as the resume objective , you must remember that the days of writing a  resume objective are dead . Never, ever include an objective on your resume. They are a waste of space and don't relay any information that markets you as the best candidate for an open position. 

Let's take a look at an example of each:

Sales Representative seeking a challenging position that will use my skills and provide opportunities for growth in a dynamic and rewarding company. 

As you can see, the objective is very inward-facing and only talks about what you want out of your career. It provides no value to the hiring manager and eliminates any possibility for them to be able to tell what you bring to the table for them. 

Professional Summary:

Ambitious sales professional offering 10+ years' experience in customer retention and aggressive revenue growth. Conquers goals and quotas through a keen awareness of the human buying motive that allows for quickly overcoming objections. Used historical data and consumer trends to reach new customers and grow territory by 24%. Innate ability to work independently or as a member of a cross-functional team.

The best use of resume space is to write a summary of your career. The effectiveness of this summary comes from the fusing of three things:

Relevant keywords – customer retention, revenue growth, and quotas 

Hard and soft skills – overcoming objections and working independently

An achievement – 24% territory growth

With this professional summary, the hiring manager will be able to tell in an instant what you have to offer their team. 

Even though the skills section of your resume is small, it packs a powerful punch! The skills you list in this section highlight your key abilities and show potential employers what you bring to the table. 

It should contain approximately 12 ATS-friendly keywords and phrases that align with the keywords in the job description. Meaning, this is a fluid section that will need to be  tailored to every job  that you apply to. Technically speaking, your entire resume should be customized to align with each job description. That's one thing that will help you get past the ATS. 

Be sure to include a good mix of  hard and soft skills  because prospective employers not only want to know that you can perform the tasks related to your job (hard skills), but they also want to gain a clear understanding of how you'll fit within the culture of the company (soft skills). 

Tips for building your Core Competencies section:

Include skills that are relevant to the job that you're applying to

Avoid creating a laundry list of everything you know how to do – be selective so that the section is more impactful

Group similar competencies together using categories – technical skills, soft skills, and languages

Prioritize your top skills based on their relevance to the job you want

Update frequently

Be consistent with the formatting

Here is a sample Core Competencies list that contains both hard and soft skills:

Core Competencies

Project Management | Data Analysis | Cross-Functional Collaboration | Digital Marketing Strategy | Python Programming | Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | Negotiation | Team Leadership | Business Development | Financial Modeling | Articulate Communication

This section is meant to show how your career history lends itself to the skills you have that make you the perfect candidate for a given job. There are some general rules of thumb on how to make a resume with a great professional experience section:

Don't go further back than 10 to 15 years

Use no more than 3 to 5 bullets per work listing

Incorporate at least 5 measurable achievements per 10 years of experience (the more the better)

Use stacking for companies where you held more than one role

10-15 Years

The 10-15 years of experience is the most relevant – you can list more than that, but avoid using bullet points for roles over 10 years old. Begin by listing your most recent position first and work your way backward to your oldest position, within that 10-15-year range. If you have 30 years of experience, you can use achievements or skills you learned during that time as talking points during the interview. Listing those older experiences on your resume will only dilute the content.

As you write out your bullet points, keep two words in mind: “so what?” The hiring manager is going to be thinking it, you might as well be thinking it, too. Every time you write something on your resume, think, “So what? Why am I writing this? What value will it bring to my new employer? Will this be THE THING that lands me an interview?"

Achievements

Remove “Responsible for…” from your resume-writing vocabulary. That's because it's crucial that you talk about what you achieved, instead of just what your responsibilities were. Let's face it, there are a lot of things that people are “responsible for” that never get done. So, be sure to talk about things you actually accomplished, as that will be the proof the hiring manager needs to take the next step and call you for an interview.

1. Use numbers whenever possible

The best way to call attention to your career accomplishments is to use numbers. Numbers add credibility to your claims and provide a clear picture of what you bring to the table. 

Don't write this:

• Conducted cold calls to expand client base

Write this instead:

• Increased sales by 15% by making approximately 20 cold calls per day to expand the client base

The latter makes an unmistakable assertion that you had a positive impact, not only in your role but on the company as a whole. You can take it a step further and talk about things like problem-solving skills and how you addressed challenges to lead to team success. These types of  soft skills are highly valued by employers  and could be the thing that lands you an interview.

PRO TIP: Use the  CAR method  for building achievement statements into your resume.

2. Use action words to convey accomplishment

A lot of people make the mistake of copying bullet points from the job descriptions of the roles they've held. This practice makes you sound detached from achievements and focuses more on responsibilities. Using passive language is too generic and doesn't allow a hiring manager to see what you'll be able to accomplish in the new role. 

It's better to use action language to show that you're an achiever rather than a doer. Here are some examples of action words you can use on your resume: 

Worked with others: Advised, Aided, Assisted, Chaired, Coached, Collaborated with, Consulted with, Helped, Instructed, Interacted with, Mentored, Motivated, Supported

Communicated: Addressed, Advertised, Answered, Briefed, Corresponded with, Debated, Explained, Facilitated, Informed, Interpreted, Interviewed, Persuaded, Responded to

Analyzed data: Assessed, Appraised, Audited, Calculated, Computed, Estimated, Evaluated, Forecast, Inspected, Measured, Researched, Surveyed, Tested

Operated equipment: Installed, Maintained, Programmed, Ran, Serviced, Used

Worked with money or contracts: Administered, Appropriated, Authorized, Balanced, Controlled, Directed, Enforced, Financed, Funded, Governed, Invested, Monitored, Oversaw, Purchased

Organized something: Arranged, Assembled, Catalogued, Compiled, Coordinated, Itemized, Routed, Scheduled, Stocked, Tracked

Created: Composed, Customized, Designed, Directed, Established, Founded, Illustrated, Originated, Shaped

Researched: Analyzed, Collected, Criticized, Detected, Diagnosed, Evaluated, Tested

How to make your professional experience section: The formula

There's a formula for writing your professional experience section in a way that focuses on achievements. You'll start by asking yourself these questions about every job you've had:

What was the name of the company?

What was the title of your role?

What dates were you employed? (*Hint: use the MM/YYYY format for your dates)

What did you do every day? (*Example: Leveraged management skills to direct operations of 5 separate but concurrent projects by delegating tasks to staff based on employee acumen and monitoring / controlling budgets)

What is one thing you did at the company that you're really proud of?

What is another thing you're really proud of?

What is one more thing you did that you're really proud of?

When you put all of that together, it should look like this:

Company Name | MM/YYYY to Present

Position Title

Balanced competing priorities on multiple and concurrent projects and program management initiatives using data-driven strategies in Agile environments. Managed key accounts, onboarded new accounts, and oversaw organizational process adoption for nursing facilities, emergency departments, and pharmacies.

Developed $2M Provider Incentive Program that increased community provider partnerships

Saved $800K by using Six Sigma skills to implement DMAIC approach

Coached and mentored 2 direct reports, creating an open environment of communication that facilitated future-facing decision-making

Many people will create separate sections for education history and certifications. That's not necessary. You can include all of it in one section. You can also include extras like  relevant coursework , projects, and achievements. These extras can be truly beneficial for your application if you have little to no work experience. 

There are some general rules of thumb for the education section: 

Spell out acronyms (BS, MS, PhD) and school abbreviations

It is no longer customary to include graduation dates unless you're still in school or graduated within the last year

Never include high school, unless you're still in high school - listing high school doesn't say “ I finished high school, ” it says, “ I didn't go to college .” 

List your degree first and then your school, unless you've obtained multiple degrees at the same institution. 

Here's what a regular education section looks like:

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

Master of Business Administration (MBA) | ABC University

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) | XYZ University

Six Sigma Black Belt | Council for Six Sigma Certification

If you don't have a lot of experience and need to include some relevant coursework or major projects to inject relevant keywords into your resume, then this is what that would look like:

Relevant coursework:  Marketing, Operations Management, Accounting, Corporate Finance

Capstone project:  Let a team of 4 to execute a market analysis project to expand the Brooms and Handles company into new regions. Used market and consumer analysis data to identify gaps and achieve a 15% projected revenue increase and a 20% increase in customer satisfaction within the pilot program. 

You can include educational information about a degree program even if it's still in progress. Here's what that would look like:

Expected completion:  05/2024

Capstone project:  Let a team of 4 to execute a market analysis project to expand the Brooms and Handles company into new regions. Used market and consumer analysis data to identify gaps and achieve a 15% projected revenue increase and a 20% increase in customer satisfaction within the pilot program.

It is important to list what you do outside of work and school. It helps to demonstrate that you're a well-rounded person. 

Were you the president of a fraternity or sorority? 

Did you get involved with showing new students around campus? 

Have you headed a sales team that produced top awards? 

Were you an employee of the month? 

Do you speak multiple languages?

Did you volunteer for an organization?

Did you perform some major research that ended up being published?

All of these extras allow prospective employers a sneak peek into your life outside of work. They can also go a long way to breaking the ice during an interview, especially if something you do outside work is important or interesting to the hiring manager. 

Keep in mind to list only those volunteer positions, projects, or affiliations that are related to your career goals. 

How long does it take to make a resume?

If you're going to use the resume wizard that MS Word has, you can slap your information together in a day or two. It will get to employers. The bad thing is that it probably won't get a whole lot of attention. 

The "just right resume" can take weeks, because of how much background work goes into it. You'll write it, rewrite it, and write it again, and may even have multiple versions. Ultimately, the exact amount of time that goes into putting your resume together depends on your level of experience, how complex your history is, and the specificity of the job you're applying to. 

Entry-level resumes take the least amount of time, simply because there's less information to include

Mid-level resumes take a few days because of the amount of detail in your work history

Executive resumes, or those for specialized positions, can take weeks - especially if you have to do some digging to come up with accomplishments from your previous positions

Updating an existing resume that's well-maintained can be done in just a few hours

While the time spent can seem like a lot, if you're truly marketing yourself for that “just right” position, do you want your resume to say “This was thrown together in a couple of hours using a template” OR do you want it to say “I know this document is important and a significant amount of time was spent on it to make it perfect?”

The first and foremost thing that will get your resume tossed in the garbage can are typos. The number of resumes with errors that are turned in every day to employers across the globe is so astounding that it bears discussing. 

You must proofread your resume!

The major problem with typos and grammatical boo-boos is that your eyes will read what you intended to type. So, after you've read through your resume a few times and think it's perfect, get a friend to read it. Make sure the friend is one of those brutally honest types. It's better to get it back marked all over with bright red ink so you can fix it before you send it out, than to send it out and then realize there's a mistake in it.

How to make your resume seem more professional

Lazy words: Do you see words like "etc" or “other duties as required” on your resume? Delete them immediately. If you take shortcuts in the language of your resume, hiring managers will wonder if you'll be taking shortcuts at work. 

Cookie cutter resumes: Your resume has to stand out. Because of that, you should avoid throwing something together that you find a sample of online. Make it yours, make it represent you. Many people rely on the resume wizard that comes loaded with MS Word and, while that is a good tool to use to help you remember the sections to include, it shouldn't be the end-all-and-be-all of your resume design. 

Specificity: You've had three jobs in the last 10 years and you've listed every detail of everything you've done during your tenure at those jobs. That makes you a Jack (or Jackie) of all trades, but a master of nothing. You have to be specific to the job for which you're applying. What value do you bring to that employer for that job? What achievements can you highlight?

Tailoring: Considering the rampant use of ATS by companies big and small, you have to take the time to customize your resume so that it gets past those scanners. Remember to use relevant keywords from the job descriptions throughout your resume. 

PRO TIP: You can check to see how to make your resume better! Have it checked against an ATS and get a free, personalized, and  professional resume review . 

Theory in practice – 10 resume examples

It's one thing to have someone tell you how to make a resume, it's another thing to see an example – proof that all of this information can come together in a practical way that makes sense. 

1. Software Engineer resume example

Click here for an example of a Software Engineer resume.

2. Data Scientist resume example

Click here for an example of a Data Scientist resume.

3. Cybersecurity resume example

Click here for an example of a cybersecurity resume.

4. Digital Marketing Manager resume example

Click here for an example of a Digital Marketing Manager resume.

5. Nurse Practitioner resume example

Click here for an example of a Nurse Practitioner resume. 

6. Finance Director resume example

Click here for an example of a Finance Director resume. 

7. Attorney resume example

Click here for an example of a Attorney resume.

8. Administrative Office Assistant resume example

Click here for an example of an Administrative Office Assistant resume. 

9. Information Technology Expert resume example

Click here for an example of an Information Technology Expert resume. 

10. Chief Executive Officer resume example

Click here for an example of a CEO resume. 

Now you know how to make a resume for your next job!

It may seem like it takes a lot of work to make a good resume, but if you've followed along this far there are a few things that should be ingrained in you that will help you write a professional resume:

Know what you want to do – be specific

Make your resume with the right format 

Use a standard layout, whether you are writing your first resume or 50th

Use action words to make your resume stand out

Quantify your achievements to prove that you have what it takes to succeed in a new role

Tailor your new resume to each job

Double and triple-check for errors, typos, and grammar mistakes

If you're still unsure how to make a perfect resume, TopResume has you covered. Our team of  professional resume writers  has the know-how and experience to write a resume for you that will win interviews.

Recommended reading: 

Resume Tricks That Don't Work

What Does Your Resume Really Say About You?

Bad Resume Advice You Should Completely Ignore

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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How to Write a Resume

How to Write a Resume | Complete Guide | Resume.com

A strong resume can make all the difference when you’re applying for your dream job. It highlights your most relevant accomplishments, captures the attention of the hiring manager and can give you an immediate advantage over other candidates. Crafting a powerful resume that will accomplish these things, though, takes time. Review this step-by-step guide to learn how to write a resume that will earn you an interview and, ultimately, your dream job.

What is a resume?

A resume is a one- or two-page document that presents your experience, special skills and educational background. Oftentimes, your resume is the first impression of yourself that you share with a hiring manager, which is why it’s one of the most important components of any job application. A resume highlights your most relevant skills and accomplishments in order to present you as the most qualified candidate for a position. Your resume should be treated like a marketing document, one that is selling you as the perfect candidate for a job.

What to include in a resume

Your resume should include these five key elements:

Contact information

You should include your name, phone number, address and email address in a prominent location so it’s easy to find. You should also add the links to certain social media sites, such as your LinkedIn profile, as well as any other relevant websites, like your blog, online portfolio or personal website.

Summary statement or objective

A summary statement is a brief paragraph that highlights your skills as well as your most noteworthy accomplishments. For example, ‘Dynamic and motivated sales professional with a proven track record of generating and building relationships and coaching new sales representatives for success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams and demonstrating exceptional communication and customer service abilities.’

Instead of a summary, you could also put an objective, which simply states your objective in finding a job. Objectives have evolved in recent years to include the candidate’s broader goals or additional context. For example, ‘Digital marketing professional with five years of experience looking to transfer my skills in SEO and PPC advertising.’

It’s also important to include skills that are most relevant to the job. You can evaluate the job description, identify the key skills that the client is looking for and include those throughout your resume.

Professional experience

This is the work history section of your resume and should focus on your accomplishments over your daily responsibilities. The best way to highlight your accomplishments is to talk about what you achieved in terms of numbers, percentages and dollars.

Additional accolades

If you have any additional accomplishments, such as awards you’ve received or publications your work has appeared in, you should include a section with additional achievements. However, only include this section if the accomplishment is relevant to the position that you are applying for.

What is a resume headline?

A resume headline is a brief phrase at the top of your resume that summarizes your skills and experiences, allowing employers to quickly assess whether you’re a good fit for a job. A well-written headline can ensure the employer sees your most important information first and encourages them to read further to learn more.

How to write a resume headline

Here are the steps you can take to craft a powerful resume headline:

1. First, identify relevant keywords

Review the job description to find the keywords that are most relevant for the position. Reflect on your own experience and skills and identify the ones that are best for your headline.

2. Second, use keywords from your most relevant experiences

Highlight your most relevant experiences by using keywords related to that experience in your headline. When selecting the best keywords, evaluate whether they are a primary or secondary function for the position, whether you received any awards or had any wins related to the function and whether you developed any special skills in the role.

3. Third, select keywords that show confidence

To show that the hiring manager that you are confident in your abilities, select words that communicate your confidence. Some examples of this are ‘experienced’ and ‘ambitious.’

4. Next, create a short and concise statement

Create a brief statement that communicates your most relevant qualifications for a position. Use specific details within the statement, such as your years of experience, awards and quantifiable results you’ve achieved.

5. Finally, update the headline for every job

You should always personalize your resume for every position, which should also include your resume headline. Use the headline to target your resume for the specific role, as it will increase the likelihood that they stop and give your resume a closer look.

Examples of resume headlines

Here are some examples of resume headlines to give you ideas as you craft your own:

• ‘Goal-oriented sales manager with 10 years of experience in technology’
• ‘Ambitious project manager who consistently beats budgets and deadlines by 25%’
• ‘Dedicated customer service representative with 7+ years of experience with high-volume call centers’
• ‘Bilingual nurse with 5+ years of experience in critical care’
• ‘Enthusiastic retail professional with 3+ years experience in sports apparel’
• ‘Growth marketing manager with 10 years of experience in online advertising’

By taking the time to craft an impactful headline for the top of your resume, you can rapidly make a strong case for yourself as a candidate and stand out from other candidates applying for the role.

Objective vs. summary statement

Whether you should use an objective or a summary statement depends on the type of career you’re applying for. A summary statement is best for candidates who are planning to move into a role that’s similar to the one they currently hold or previously held. For example, if you are working as a project manager in one industry and plan to apply for a project management position in a different industry.

A resume objective is ideal for students, recent graduates, those looking to change careers or those who want to take a different, more advanced position. An objective allows candidates to highlight their most relevant skills to demonstrate their aptitude for a position, even if they don’t have any prior experience in the position.

Types of resume formats

There are three standard types of resume formats:

Chronological

This is the most frequently used format and lists work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent and ending with the earliest. In general, this is the format most preferred by employers, as it provides a quick look at a candidate’s entire work history.

Functional resumes focus on a candidate’s skills and specific experiences and accomplishments. Less importance is placed on the dates they work and the employment history is listed under the skills.

Combination

A combination resume allows you to highlight both your skills and experience, including a chronological list of your work history.

The majority of candidates will choose a chronological resume and as long as you have some work history and don’t have any significant gaps on your resume, it’s generally a good choice. It is the style of resume that most hiring managers are familiar with and tends to be the easiest to read and scan. That said, it’s important to take the time to choose the format that best fits your specific experience and situation.

How to choose a resume format

Here are the steps you can take to choose a resume format:

1. First, assess your experience level

If you are just starting out in the workforce, chronological resumes may not be the best format. Functional resumes, however, allow you to highlight your abilities rather than your work history. While you do include your work history, it’s at the bottom of your resume. If you are highly experienced, a chronological resume and a combination resume format can both work well.

2. Second, evaluate the position

After taking an assessment of your own experience levels, you will next need to evaluate the position you’re applying for. For example, if it’s similar to a position you currently hold or a step up from what you’re currently doing, a chronological resume that emphasizes your relevant work experience is appropriate. In this situation, a combination resume could also work well. If you are changing your career, a combination format is ideal, as it emphasizes your transferrable skills and the accomplishments you achieved in prior roles.

3. Finally, evaluate your work history

This is an important step because if you are someone who has gaps in their employment history, functional or combination resumes are the best choices. Choosing a resume format is an important decision, as certain formats may allow you to better highlight your skills and most relevant experiences. It’s especially important for people who are new to the workforce, going through career changes or who have gaps in their employment history.

Best practices for formatting your resume

Here are a few best practices you should be aware of as you begin writing your resume:

Keep it to one page

In most cases, your resume should only be one page in length. The exception to this is if you are an extremely experienced candidate whose work history is highly relevant to the position. If you’ve removed all non-relevant experiences and skills from your resume and you still aren’t able to fit it on one page, use two. That said, if it is under one-and-a-half pages, look for ways to shorten it to one.

Use one-inch margins

It’s important to use one-inch margins on your resume. White space makes your resume more readable and increases the likelihood that the hiring manager will read it until the end. Use ample white space, especially around the margins.

Create clear section headings

Choose a heading style for each separate section—work history, skills and education—and stay with that throughout your entire resume.

Select an easy-to-read font

There are a number of different fonts that are appropriate for resumes, including Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Roboto and Overpass. The important part is that it is easy to read and stands out clearly on the page.

Choose the right font size

You want to choose a font size that is easy to read. As a general rule, it’s best to use a font that’s 10 or 12 points in size for the normal text. For your headings, use a 14- to 16-point font.

Save as a PDF

Because the formatting for resumes saved in Word can change from one computer to the next, you should always save your resume as a PDF.

Name the PDF file appropriately

Because you’ll likely be sending your resume file as an attachment, it’s important to name the document appropriately so that it’s easily apparent what it is before the hiring manager opens the file. For example, you may want to name it amy-ryan-resume.pdf. It’s best to name the file using both your first and last name to avoid the possibility that it could become confused with someone else’s resume. Naming the file in this way also decreases the likelihood that it will be last or confused with someone else’s application.

Top skills to list on your resume

Here are some of the most important skills you should include on your resume:

Industry-specific skills

There are certain skills that you need to be successful in your industry. For example, if you are an accountant, financial reporting is likely a key skill that employers look for. If you’re a teacher, strong communication skills are important. List them prominently on your resume so they pass the initial screening test and get beyond filters from any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that the company may be using.

Hard skills

These are skills that people learn through education and training and are often tied to past work experiences, degrees or certifications you’ve earned. These skills can usually either be proven or measured. For example, foreign language skills or understanding how to use specific computer programming languages are all hard skills.

Tool proficiencies

This refers to your ability to use certain programs or machinery. For example, if you are a graphic artist, tool proficiencies could include Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. If you’re a radiologist, tool proficiencies would include being skilled with x-ray equipment.

Soft skills

These are important skills that you should include on your resume, particularly within the work history section, where you can demonstrate how you actively used them in past positions. These skills are often transferrable from one role to the next and employers often assess a candidate’s soft skills to better understand their personalities.

How to list skills on your resume

Here are the steps you can take to include skills on your resume:

1. First, review the job description and identify keywords

Review the job description for the position you’re applying for and write down the specific skills they would like to see in the ideal candidate.

2. Second, make a list of all your skills

Make a list of all of the skills you have, including hard and soft skills as well as proficiencies with specific tools. You may want to review your current resume and work history to give yourself ideas.

3. Third, include a section for relevant skills

Evaluate how your skills align with those that were included in the job description. Make note of the ones that will be more relevant to the position and most desirable for the hiring manager. Add that list to a skills section on your resume.

4. Finally, highlight skills in your work history

Finally, highlight your skills within the bullets in your work history section. This will help demonstrate to the hiring manager how you successfully used those skills in other positions. For example, if you are a customer sales representative, you could write on your resume, ‘Collaborated with a team of 20 sales reps to solve unexpected problems like customer service complaints.’ This bullet emphasizes that the candidate has collaboration as well as problem-solving skills, both of which employers want to see in a candidate.

By emphasizing the skills you have that are relevant to the position, you can help the hiring manager immediately identify whether you’re qualified for a role and increase the likelihood of an interview.

How to list work experience in a resume

Here are the steps you should take to successfully list your work experience on your resume:

1. First, list your job title

Your job title should go at the very top of each entry within your work experience section. Make it bold and one or two points larger than the rest of the font to ensure it can be scanned easily.

2. Second, list the company, city and state

On the second line, under your title, list the name of the company you worked for as well as the city and state the company is located in.

3. Third, add the dates of employment

Next, add the dates you were employed there. You have the choice between putting the month and year of just the year. If you went through brief periods of unemployment, you may want to add just the year to make it less apparent that there are gaps in your employment history.

4. Fourth, add your key responsibilities

Before creating the bullet points, think about the responsibilities you held in each position. Only add the tasks that are relevant to the role for which you’re applying.

5. Next, add your key achievements

Next, think about your greatest accomplishments while you were in those roles. If possible, use numbers, percentages and dollar amounts to show to the hiring manager the impact you had on the organization. For example, instead of writing, ‘Exceeded my monthly and quarterly sales quotas regularly,’ you could write, ‘Regularly exceeded my sales quotas by 25% or more, driving $100k in additional revenue.’

6. Finally, add keywords

When you’re done creating all of the bullets for each of your relevant work experiences, refer back to your list of relevant skills and add keywords throughout the experiences section. It’s important, as you do this, to be careful not to add too many keywords, which could make it sound unnatural and reflect poorly on you as a candidate.

By taking the time to craft a work history section that is tailored for your specific job, shows quantifiable results and emphasizes the most relevant keywords for the role, you will substantially increase the likelihood of an interview. Your work history is, arguably, the most important part of your resume, as it emphasizes not only the skills you have developed through your work, but also your accomplishments and key experiences. For this reason, it’s essential to position your work history in a way that highlights your greatest wins in order to catch the attention of the hiring manager.

Tips for creating a powerful work history section

Here are some additional tips you can use to create an impactful work history section:

Place your greatest accomplishments first

Always place your most impressive accomplishments at the top so they’re most likely to catch the hiring manager’s attention and compel them to keep reading.

Focus on PAR

PAR stands for Problem, Action and Results. This is a good way to think about your responsibilities in terms of accomplishments. First, consider the challenges that you faced in your position or challenges that the company was facing. Next, think about the specific actions you took to overcome the problem. Finally, identify the results of those efforts. Use this technique to write down a list of all of your accomplishments and incorporate your most impressive ones into your resume.

Lead with the outcome

When you’re creating a bullet, write the result before listing the problem and action. This allows you to lead with the part that will most get the hiring manager’s attention. For example, instead of saying, ‘Streamlined process and built a great sales team to reverse an annual $1 million decline in market share,’ you could say, ‘Reversed an annual $1 million decline in profit share by streamlining processes and building a great sales team.’

Use action words

Select the words in your work history carefully. When describing your responsibilities and accomplishments, use action words.

Examples of action words:

How to include resume keywords

Here are some steps you can take to include keywords on your resume:

1. First, review the job description for the required skills and experience

Resume keywords are the words or phrases shown in job postings and job descriptions that relate to the job requirements, and they are critical for helping your resume catch the attention of a hiring manager. They include not only skills but also credentials, qualities and key experiences that the hiring manager may be looking for. Keywords are especially important if the company is using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen for the best candidates. By reviewing the job description and adding keywords to your resume, you can increase the likelihood of getting the hiring manager’s attention and earning yourself an interview.

2. Second, be specific

Use keywords that are as closely related to the specific role as possible. The more specific you are to the language they’re using, the greater the likelihood you’ll get past the ATS filter. For example, if the job description says they’re looking for a candidate with a background in project management and you use the words ‘project manager’ on your resume, rather than ‘project management,’ you may not get past the filter. Pay particular attention to the form and tense the keyword is in and use that same exact wording on your resume.

3. Next, mix up your keywords

You should include a wide variety of keywords throughout your resume, including hard and soft skills, industry buzzwords, certifications and degrees. Try using variations of the same word as well. For example, if you are a copywriter, you should use word copywriter, but also consider using other variations of it, such as content creator or writer.

3. Finally, include them throughout your resume

Include your resume keywords throughout our resume, including in your summary statement, skills section, job description and anywhere else that seems appropriate.

How to include education on your resume

Here are some steps for including your education on your resume to help emphasize that you have the knowledge and expertise to fill a role:

1. First, format your resume consistently

The first step when creating the education section of your resume is to make sure you’re using the same formatting you’ve used throughout the rest of your resume. For example, if you have bolded the names of your employers in the work history section, you should also bold the names of the colleges you attended in the education section. Use the same font sizes and styles as well.

2. Second, list the degree, school and school location

After you’ve formatted the section correctly, list your degree, the college or university you attended and the location of the school. You can choose to write out the degree—Bachelor of Science—or use the acronym, such as B.S. or B.A. if you’re limited on space.

3. Finally, consider adding other information

There are a few situations where you may want to add other information. For example, if you have obtained your degree in the last 15 years, it’s appropriate to list the date you graduated. If you completed your degree more than 15 years ago, it’s best to leave it off. If you will be graduating soon but have not yet completed your degree, write, ‘Expected graduation [date].’

By being strategic in the way you format and list your educational background on your resume, you will make it easier for the hiring manager to scan and quickly assess whether you meet the educational qualifications for a position. In fact, recent graduates who have little work experience may even want to consider switching their work history and education sections, placing their educational qualifications at the top of the resume. If you do have professional experience, however, it’s most appropriate to place the education section after your work history.

Tips for listing your educational background

Here are some additional tips to help you create the education section for your resume:

List your most recent degree first

If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse chronological order with your most recent degree first. In situations where you had a double major, you can list both degrees in the same section.

List your high school diploma if it’s your highest degree

If your high school diploma or GED is your highest degree, include it on your resume. You could also leave it off entirely if you have significant work experience.

Note how the employer described education

Review the job description and make note of how the employer described education requirements. For example, did they write B.S. or bachelor’s degree? Unless you’re limited on space and must write B.S., it’s best to write your degree in the same way that the employer did. This will help you get past any ATS filters.

List minors after your major

While it’s important to include any minors or concentrations—especially if they are relevant to the job for which you’re applying—you should list them after you’ve listed your major.

Example of how to list a minor on your resume:

Bachelor of Arts, Marketing, Minor Journalism

St. Paul University | Chicago, IL | December 2019

Include a GPA if it’s 3.4 or above

If you are a recent graduate and had a high GPA, you may want to include your GPA in the education section as well.

Example of how to include GPA on your resume:

Bachelor of Arts in English (GPA: 3.8)

Kansas City University | Kansas City, MO | May 2019

Include college education, even if you didn’t graduate

If you went to college but didn’t graduate, it’s still appropriate to include your college education on your resume, especially if it’s relevant to the position for which you’re applying.

Example of how to indicate level of college education:

Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Bachelor of Arts, English, 65 credit hours obtained

Include study abroad programs

Adding study abroad experiences to your resume can show an employer that you’re hardworking and not afraid to take risks. Because this information generally doesn’t take up much room on your resume, you should include it. You would format this information in the same way you format the other college education on your resume.

Example of how to include study abroad experience:

Oxford University, Oxford, England (Study Abroad) January 2018-July 2018

Best practices for writing a resume

Here are some best practices to keep in mind as you create a resume:

Keep it organized and visually appealing

Keep in mind that hiring managers will usually spend only 10 seconds scanning your resume to decide if they want to look more closely. Help them make the most of that time by making sure that your resume is clear and easy to read. You should bold and possibly even capitalize the headings of each section and use an easy-to-read font.

Tailor your resume and cover letter for each job

Customize both your resume and cover letter for every job you apply for. Research the company and review the job description carefully. Identify the skills, experiences and qualifies that the organization is looking for and then reflect those qualifications in your resume. While this process is time-consuming, it will have a big impact on how well your resume stands out from the other applications. Consider keeping a master list of all your experiences that you can refer back to as you’re customizing your resume. Then select the ones that are most relevant to the specific role for which you’re applying.

Leave off your references

If you get to the point in the hiring process that the employer wants to speak with your references, they’ll request them. Reserve the valuable space on your resume for talking about your abilities and qualifications.

Use your judgment when it comes to creativity

Some industries and professionals are more creative than others. Keep this in mind as you decide whether to use images or color on your resume. If you’re working in creative industries like digital media or design, being more creative with your resume can be appropriate and help you stand out as a candidate. If you’re applying for a position in a more traditional industry, such as finance, or a corporate position, it’s best to leave your resume black and white.

Proofread and edit carefully

Read your resume carefully, looking for typos and grammatical errors. Also, look for information that isn’t directly related to the position for which you’re applying. Remove any experiences or skills that aren’t directly related to the role. It’s also a good idea to give your resume to a friend or family member. This will increase the likelihood that you’ll catch any remaining spelling or grammatical mistakes.

How to match a resume with a cover letter

Here are the steps you should take to match your cover letter to your resume:

1. First, pay attention to layout

Just like on your resume, your cover letter should be clean and polished. Match the layout of your cover letter, including margins and line spacing, to your resume. Ideally, the margins should be one-inch wide and have single spacing. You should also leave a space between paragraphs.

2. Second, use the same color scheme

Follow the same color scheme on your cover letter that you used on your resume. For example, if your resume has gray borders, use that same color in the design on your cover letter. This will help you create a smooth transition from one document to the next. Because hiring managers see a lot of applications, the format and style you use for your cover letter should catch their attention as well. For that reason, it’s important to create a cover letter that complements the rest of your application package.

3. Third, use the same font and font size

It’s also a good idea to use the same font style in both your resume and cover letter. Fonts like Calibri, Helvetica and Arial are simple and easy to read, both electronically and in print. You should also use the same font size in your resume and cover letter. It should be at least 10 points in size and no longer than 12. Text written in this size is easier to read and appears better visually, making your cover letter look more complete.

4. Finally, keep contact information identical

Finally, the contact information in the header of your cover letter should be identical to the contact information in your resume. Check to ensure that the name, email address, phone number and mailing address are identical on both documents. While it is appropriate for one document to have more information than the other, such as adding a website, online portfolio or LinkedIn address to the header of your resume, the specific personal details on both documents should be the same.

While your resume is an outline of your accomplishments, skills and work history, your cover letter should serve as its commentary. A well-written cover letter can sometimes make all the difference when a hiring manager is deciding whether or not to bring a candidate in for an interview. By taking the time to craft one that complements your resume, you are sending the message that you are serious about the job, potentially even helping your application package stand out from the rest.

Frequently asked questions about resumes

Here are some of the most common resume questions:

Should I write my resume in past or present tense?

In general, if you’re writing about a position you currently hold, you will use present tense. If you’re writing about a job you held in the past, you should write in past tense. That said, there is an exception. If you’re writing about something you did in your job, such as an accomplishment you achieved or a project you worked on and it’s no longer something you’re doing, you should write about it in the past tense.

If you’re in doubt, the simplest solution is to put everything in past tense, even your current responsibilities. The most important thing is that you’re consistent throughout your entire resume.

Should you include every job you’ve ever worked?

In general, it’s best not to go back more than 10 or 15 years into your past work history. There are exceptions to this rule, though. For example, if you worked for a company in the past or held a position that’s highly relevant to the role for which you’re applying, it could be worth including. You may also want to include contract work you’ve done—even if only for a few months—if it is relevant to the position.

Should you include your hobbies?

If you have room on your resume—especially if you’re trying to build your resume to a full page—it’s acceptable to include hobbies. However, focus on including hobbies that are relevant to the position. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a digital marketer, it’s a great idea to share that you are on the media committee for your city’s annual black-tie gala.

It’s also okay to list interests that evoke intellect, team building and action. For example, listing marathon training, intramural sports, chess-playing or extensive travel can tell the hiring manager about your personality while demonstrating that you regularly employ your soft skills outside of the workplace.

Resume template for no experience

Here is a template you can use to craft your own resume if you have no professional experience:

[Desired profession]

[Email address]

[Objective]

[Year – year/Present]

[College/university]

[Field of study]

GPA: [include if above 3.4]

Relevant coursework

Extracurricular activities and achievements:

• [List any extracurricular activities], [Year]

[High school], [City, State]

High School Diploma

GPA [include GPA if above 3.4]

Combined SAT score: [score]

Activities:

• Member of [sport/club], Grade [grades you participated]

[Year] – Present

Volunteering

[City, State]

• [List volunteering, internships or freelance opportunities]
• [Language] (Proficiency: Advanced/Conversational)

CERTIFICATIONS

• [Relevant certifications]

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

• [Relevant hobbies or interests]

Example of resume with no experience

Here is an example of a resume where the candidate had no professional experience:

Jessica Harris

Jr. Copywriter

555-555-5555

[email protected]

A motivated and ambitious student seeking to apply my copywriting skills in a local Tampa agency.

2018 – Present

University of Tampa

English Literature

• Marketing 101
• Psychology 101
• Dean’s List, all semesters
• Spanish Club officer, 2018

Tampa High School, Tampa, FL

Combined SAT score: 1450

• Captain of Swim Team, 2010-2012

2017 – Present

• Help local community develop marketing materials to promote garage sale
• Created website copy for a local band
• Write product reviews for a local e-commerce company
• Verbal and written communication
• Creative thinking
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Spanish: conversational
• Copywriting 101 – Udemy Certification
• Maintain and promote a blog on local musicians

Resume template for gaps in work experience

Use this resume template if you have gaps in your work history:

CAREER OBJECTIVE

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Completed [share big accomplishment]
• Improved [share big accomplishment]
• Developed [share big accomplishment]

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

[Core skill]: Description of the experience where you used that skill

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

[Title], [Year – year]

[Company], [City], [State]

[Degree]  [Date]

[College or university], [City, State]

Example of resume with gaps in work experience

Here is an example of a resume where the candidate had gaps in their work history:

Samantha Adams

938 Grand Bayou

Riverscape, OK 93231

[email protected]

To secure a position with an e-commerce company and utilize my skills as a digital marketer.

• Grew website traffic 150% over one year, resulting in $100k additional revenue
• Managed team of web developers and launched a fully re-designed website in six months
• Hired, trained and managed a team of eight marketers to website strategy
• Strategic planning
• Copywriting
• Social media
• Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving: Hired a team of web developers to focus on UX design, which reduced the website bounce rate by 50% and increased mobile sales by 25% in one month.

Management: Oversaw the work of an eight-person marketing team, setting goals, providing support and guidance and performing quality control. Grew the team from three to eight people over two years.

Advertising: Launched a four-week advertising campaign that drove $50k in sales during what was usually a slow season for the company.

Marketing Manager , 2018 – Present

OfficeSupplies4You, Tulsa, OK

Digital Marketer , 2016 – 2018

Digital Marketer , 2008 – 2011

Sports Equipment LLC, Tulsa, OK

Master of Science in Marketing – 2005

University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK

Bachelor of Science in Marketing –  2003

Minor in English

If you need help writing a resume, use our data-backed resume builder .

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Business | Working Strategies: Stress relevance, not brevity, in résumé writing

Not long ago, I presented an argument for long(er) résumés. “Long” being a relative term, I was advocating for résumés that take the space needed to present the candidate’s relevant skills effectively, whether that means a two-page document or something even longer.

My advice comes from both my experience and from common sense: When candidates try to meet arbitrary criteria, they make unfortunate choices. Consider the one-page résumés you’ve seen with tiny type and 0.4 margins. The same content stretched out onto two pages with ample white space is exponentially easier to read. But technically, it’s also twice as long — should recruiters throw that out in favor of the one-pager written for Lilliputians?

If we can agree that the more readable document is the better choice, then we can advance the conversation to the real meat of the issue: How can you best make use of additional space in a résumé?

To answer, it helps to consider who probably won’t benefit from a longer document — that would include workers with a short work history and no special achievements, as well as any worker seeking entry-level or lower-skilled positions. In those situations, the relevant information can be provided well in a short format.

Candidates who do benefit from longer résumés are those with relevant but perhaps diverse skills that need extra context, as well as those with managerial stories to tell, and anyone whose background includes relevant achievements or complex projects.

Have you noticed my repeated use of the word “relevant”? I usually try to find different words to create a smoother reading experience but nothing else fits quite as well. One of the few absolutes that I can accept when it comes to résumés is that the information they contain should be relevant to the reader, as best as the candidate can discern. Using relevance as a guideline ensures the résumé is appropriately long and not just a collection of unedited vignettes.

With the foundation laid for the value and use of longer résumés, here are some thoughts on how to use the extra space to tell your story.

Expand the Experience section: In the effort to trim pages — or to omit all but 10 years of experience while trying to look younger — candidates leave a lot of valuable information on the cutting room floor. If you were to write for meaning and impact rather than length, your job description might include these elements:

Job title, employer, city and dates; one to three sentences of narrative context describing the scope of the job or else the position and scale of the company within its industry; three to five short bulleted sentences describing specific responsibilities, including metrics; a short subsection of two to three bulleted sentences under the subheading, “Achievements.”

How far to go back is a matter of judgment (relevance), but candidates wishing to include earlier work experiences can condense them into a new section called “Additional Experience” where each entry is only one line long. These entries can omit the dates if there’s a concern about ageism, but they can include a brief line of context to show the value of the experience: Managed $100M in assets in a two-person brokerage.

Add a Projects section: Instead of burying important projects in a job description, you can write a brief paragraph about each one and include three or four in a new section where each project is given a short name. For example, “Nonprofit program launch. Researched community need, then identified $800k in donor funding to initiate a program serving … ”

Build out your training information: If you took courses or a degree in an area relevant to your work, that’s reason enough to include a topic list along with the program name. For example: “Associate of Arts in Business, Jackson County College, 2014. Classes included bookkeeping, principles of accounting, business management, and writing for business.”

Add a headline and Summary: Introducing yourself to readers instead of abruptly launching into details about your last job is a use of space that will pay off in multiple ways. For one thing, it lets you control the story by including details in your summary that most flatter you as a candidate. It also allows you to “warm up” the résumé with sentiments such as, “Committed to providing excellent client service while contributing to organizational growth.”

So what do you think: Should your résumé be longer? If you have a short version now, consider experimenting with additional content. You may be surprised by how much impact a longer version can have.

Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at [email protected] .

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A resume and cover letter that are well-written and well-constructed is the first critical step in seeking out career opportunities. They provide professional snapshots of your work experience, volunteer experience, and educational achievements. Employers typically view resumes very quickly, so it must highlight your most recent and related information.

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Writing Your Resume

Need some guidance on how to write your resume? Take a look at this video to help you get started!

• Resume Checklist (pdf)
• How to Write a Cover Letter (pdf)
• Tailoring Your Resume to Job Opportunities (pdf)
• Transferable Skills and Resume Building (pdf)
• Components to Include in A Mid-Career Resume (pdf)

Sample Resumes

• General Resume (pdf)
• Business Resume (pdf)
• Education Resume (pdf)
• Nursing Resume (pdf)
• Mid-Career Resume (pdf)
• Steps for Pursuing a Career Change (pdf)

Sample Cover Letter

• Example 1 (pdf)
• Example 2 (pdf)

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