how to create a job winning resume

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Tips to Create the Ultimate Winning Resume

8 min read · Updated on May 19, 2023

Find out how to craft a winning resume that stands out

Are you ready to land your dream job? In today's competitive job market, a winning resume can make all the difference. It serves as your ticket to showcase your qualifications to potential employers and secure an interview. A winning resume effectively captures the attention of hiring managers and highlights your skills, achievements, and suitability for the desired position. 

But how do you write a winning resume? That's where this article comes in. Packed with invaluable tips to create the ultimate winning resume, you'll learn about the essential elements that make your application stand out from the crowd. From crafting a compelling summary statement to tailoring your resume to match the job description, we'll cover it all. 

How to create a winning resume

A winning resume is one that secures interviews. A lot of job seekers are ghosted by companies, mostly because the resume doesn't make it through the Applicant Tracking System or fails to impress a hiring manager. By incorporating the following elements into your resume, you can create a winning document that effectively communicates your qualifications, matches job requirements, and highlights your achievements and skills. 

Clear and concise summary statement

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, your summary statement holds significant importance. It serves as the first impression to hiring managers, enticing them to continue reading your application. A strong opening statement can captivate their attention and make them eager to explore your qualifications further.

Your summary statement should succinctly summarize your professional background, skills, and career goals. It should instantly communicate your value proposition and highlight what sets you apart from other candidates. A well-crafted opening statement can leave a lasting impact and compel employers to consider you for the job.

Tips for writing an effective summary statement

Be concise: Keep your summary statement brief and to the point, typically ranging from three to five sentences. Use clear and concise language to convey your qualifications effectively.

Tailor it to the job: Customize your summary statement to align with the specific job you're applying for. Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that directly relate to the position.

Focus on your unique selling points: Identify your key strengths and showcase them in your opening statement. Emphasize the skills or experiences that make you a valuable asset to the company.

Tailoring the resume to job descriptions

A winning resume goes beyond generic templates and takes into account the unique requirements of each job. Tailoring your resume to match the job description demonstrates your understanding of the position and increases your chances of landing an interview.

Understand the job requirements

Thoroughly analyze the job description to identify the skills, qualifications, and experiences sought by the employer. Pay close attention to keywords or specific terminology used, as these are often indicators of what the company values.

Customize the resume accordingly

Once you have a clear understanding of the job requirements, tailor your resume to highlight the most relevant aspects of your background. Adjust the order of your sections, rephrase bullet points, and emphasize key achievements that align with the desired qualifications. By customizing your resume, you demonstrate that you possess the specific skills and experiences sought by the employer.

Highlighting key achievements and skills

When you're creating a winning resume, it's crucial to showcase your key achievements and highlight your skills effectively. This enables employers to quickly assess your capabilities and determine your fit for the role.

Showcasing relevant accomplishments

Include specific accomplishments that demonstrate your contributions and impact in previous roles. Quantify your achievements wherever possible, using numbers, percentages, or other measurable results. This helps employers to gauge the value that you can bring to their organization.

Emphasizing transferable skills

In addition to job-specific skills, emphasize transferable skills that are applicable to a wide range of roles. These skills, such as communication, problem-solving, or leadership, are highly valuable and can differentiate you from other candidates. Clearly articulate how your transferable skills have been successfully used in previous positions.

Choosing the best winning resume formats

Before you start putting a bunch of information onto a Word or Google document, you need to pick your format. Consider your career history, skills, and goals when selecting a format that best showcases your qualifications and increases your chances of landing that coveted interview.

Three popular resume formats to consider are chronological, functional, and combination. Each format has its own advantages and is suited for different situations.

Chronological resume format

The chronological resume format is the most traditional and widely used format. It emphasizes your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. This format is ideal if you have a consistent employment history, with relevant experience that aligns with the job you're applying for.

Advantages and disadvantages

The chronological format allows employers to see your career progression and easily identify your recent roles and responsibilities. It highlights your stability and demonstrates your industry expertise. However, this format may not be suitable if you have employment gaps or if your work experience is not directly related to the job you're pursuing.

Situations where it works best

The chronological format is often preferred for roles in traditional industries, where a linear career progression is valued. It is also effective when you want to showcase your consistent growth and development within a specific field.

Functional resume format

The functional resume format shifts the focus from your work history to your skills and achievements. It highlights your abilities and qualifications, making it suitable for individuals with limited work experience, career changers, or those re-entering the job market after a hiatus.

The functional format allows you to emphasize your transferable skills and showcase your capabilities, even if they were acquired in different roles or industries. It helps to downplay any employment gaps or lack of direct experience. However, this format usually raises questions for employers who prefer a traditional work history timeline.

The functional format is beneficial when you want to highlight your skills and achievements rather than the specific jobs you've held. It's particularly useful for showcasing your capabilities when you have valuable skills gained from various experiences or have been on an extended sabbatical from work. 

Combination resume format

The combination resume format, as the name suggests, combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It allows you to showcase your skills and qualifications while also providing a chronological overview of your work history.

The combination format provides the best of both worlds, allowing you to highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments while presenting a clear work history. It's a versatile format that is suitable for a wide range of job seekers. However, creating a well-balanced combination resume requires careful organization and tailoring.

The combination format is effective when you want to highlight both your skills and work experience. It's ideal for individuals who have a solid work history with relevant achievements but who want to emphasize their suitability for a specific role.

Job winning resume sample

To help you visualize how a winning  chronological resume looks, we've created a sample that follows this format. Take a look at the example below to get a better understanding of how you can structure your own resume to highlight your work experience effectively.

Contact Information

[Your location]

[Your phone number]

[Your email address]

[Your LinkedIn URL]

A  results-driven marketing professional with 5 years of experience in digital marketing strategy development and campaign management. Skilled in creating and implementing effective marketing plans, driving brand awareness, and optimizing online presence. Strong analytical abilities with a focus on data-driven decision-making. A proven track record of exceeding targets and delivering impactful marketing initiatives.

Digital Marketing | Social Media Management | Content Creation | SEO Optimization | Campaign Management | Data Analysis | Marketing Strategy | Market Research | Communication Skills

Digital Marketing Manager, ABC Company

City, State | MM/YYYY - Present

Developed and executed comprehensive digital marketing strategies, resulting in a 30% increase in online sales within the first year

Led a team of marketing specialists, overseeing successful social media campaigns, email marketing, and SEO optimization

Implemented marketing automation tools, resulting in a 40% improvement in lead generation and conversion rates

Marketing Specialist, XYZ Agency

City, State | MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY

Managed end-to-end execution of client marketing campaigns, including content creation, social media management, and PPC advertising

Conducted thorough keyword research and implemented SEO best practices, resulting in a 25% increase in organic website traffic

Monitored and analyzed campaign performance using Google Analytics, providing data-driven insights and recommendations for optimization

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing

University Name, City, State | Year

By following this format, you can effectively highlight your work history, showcasing your progression and accomplishments over time, ultimately making a winning impression on potential employers.

Don't leave your career prospects to chance with a mediocre resume, when you could have a winning resume. Submit yours now for a free resume review and get constructive feedback from our team of experts. 

Recommended reading:

What's an ATS-Friendly Resume? And How to Write One

How to Brag on Your Resume Without Sounding Like a Jerk

The Death of the Functional Resume: Why It No Longer Works

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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CVs & Résumés

• Feb 7, 2022

How to Write a Job-Winning Résumé (Steps and Example)

Are you currently working on your résumé? Our insightful guide will walk you through the entire process, from start to finish.

Chris Leitch

Editor-in-Chief & Résumé Expert

Reviewed by Melina Theodorou

Your résumé has the power to open doors for you.

But here’s the thing: you only have 7.4 seconds to make an impression on potential employers , according to a 2018 eye-tracking study by Ladders. In that short timeframe, recruiters will make up their mind on whether you’re application and résumé is worthy of an interview , or if they should keep the doors firmly shut.

It’s a tricky situation to navigate, but we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re just entering the world of work , looking for a new job, or changing careers , this step-by-step guide will help you write a résumé that gets you noticed and, most importantly, hired.

1. Do some prep work

Before you start writing your résumé, it’s a good idea to:

• review the job description (take note of specific requirements, and highlight important keywords and phrases)
• write a list of important duties and responsibilities you performed in your previous positions, especially those that pertain to the job you’re applying for now
• write down all your achievements from previous positions, along with figures and data that quantify those achievements
• create a master list of your soft skills and hard skills.

Why do this? By gathering all this information, you’ll be better equipped to craft a tailored résumé , which in itself shows employers your genuine interest in the role and that you understand their needs — and, in effect, gives yourself an advantage over the other candidates.

2. Choose the right format

Now that you’ve completed the prep work, it’s time to start writing your résumé. This begins by determining and choosing the résumé format that best matches your specific career situation.

There are three main formats: chronological , functional/skills-based , and combination/hybrid .

Here’s a quick rundown of each one:

3. Add a header

At the top of your résumé, always add a header that includes your name (typically in a larger font size), phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile and location.

You can also optionally add the following, if applicable:

• a link to your personal website or online portfolio
• links to your professional social media pages
• your personal details (like marital status and date of birth) if you’re applying for jobs in countries where it’s customary to include this information
• a professional photo of yourself , particularly if you’re a creative professional or applying for a customer-facing job.

Make sure you use the exact same header of your résumé in all supporting documents, including your cover letter and list of references. This ensures consistency in terms of personal branding.

4. Write a standout headline

The résumé headline (or résumé title) is one of the most underutilized elements of a great résumé .

It’s essentially a short sentence that summarizes your key skills and industry experience, typically placed right after your résumé’s header and before your summary section (but it can be placed immediately after your name). When done right, a headline can help you make a great first impression, catch the hiring manager’s attention, and convince them you’re the perfect candidate.

Headlines are ideal for candidates with a lot of experience, as it’s a great way to condense your value to potential employers into a snappy one-liner, but everyone can (and should) consider adding one to their résumé.

Make sure your headline:

• includes keywords from the job ad
• incorporates achievements (like years of experience, number of awards won or dollar amount of sales)
• includes certifications and licenses
• is limited to a maximum of two lines
• uses title case
• is free of clichés and buzzwords like “motivated”, “go-getter” and “synergy”.

5. Craft a strong career summary or career objective

Every great résumé begins with a strong career summary or career objective .

Though they both are placed at the beginning of a résumé and intended as an introduction, they do have some key differences. Here’s a quick comparison between the two:

Whichever you choose to use (you can even combine the two by including a one-sentence objective at the end of a summary), make sure it:

• is tailored to the job you’re applying for
• demonstrates your value
• is concise (typically 3–5 lines long).

Here’s a useful tip: write this section last. Why? Because once you have the rest of your résumé planned out, it will be easier to pick out the things you want to show off here.

6. Detail your work experience

The work experience section is perhaps the most important element of your résumé — and the one that recruiters care most about. It gives potential employers an idea of your employment history and whether you have the skills and knowledge to succeed in the role.

You should only list the positions that are relevant to the job you’re currently applying for in this section, which should be formatted as individual entries in reverse-chronological order (i.e. starting from your most recent position first and then working backwards through time).

Each entry should include:

• your position/job title
• the name of your employer
• the location of where you are working/have worked
• dates of employment
• a short optional description of the company if it’s not a household name
• a bulleted list of 4–6 of your most notable achievements (make sure to start each list item with an action word ).

If you want to showcase experience from a previous career or that is otherwise unrelated to the job you’re applying for, you can do this by creating another section titled “Additional Experience”. In this case, you should replace the company description and list of achievements with an optional job summary, limited to two lines at most.

7. List your education

Up next is the education section , where you should list your academic experiences as separate entries.

• the type of qualification you earned or are working towards
• the name of your school
• the school’s location
• years attended.

You can also optionally add the following, particularly if you’re an entry-level jobseeker:

• relevant coursework
• any awards and honors you received
• your academic achievements
• relevant extracurricular activities.

Always begin this section with your highest education first, and then list everything else in reverse-chronological order. That said, don’t include your high school experience if you’ve completed a university degree.

8. Showcase your skills

The skills section of your résumé  is intended to give employers an at-a-glance view of all your know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job. It should comprise a mix-and-match of your most relevant soft and hard skills.

There are many different ways you can list your skills in your résumé, including:

• as a bulleted list (with an optional short description for each skill)
• by category (such as “Technical Skills”, “Soft Skills” and “Languages”)
• by rating each skill with a consistent metric to show your proficiency

As a general rule of thumb, you should list between five and 10 skills here. Depending on your background and the required experience for the position, you can list more, but limit the number to 20. Ultimately, the skills you include in your résumé should be directly relevant to the job.

9. Add other optional sections

If you have other key accomplishments and qualifications you weren’t able to mention elsewhere on your résumé, and which will help you further demonstrate your suitability for the position, consider including additional sections, such as:

• Achievements
• Awards and honors
• Certifications and licenses
• Hobbies and interests
• Memberships and affiliations
• Military experience
• Publications
• Testimonials
• Volunteer work

Again, make sure that the content of any additional sections is tailored to the job you’re applying for.

10. Proofread your résumé

Before you submit your résumé to potential employers for consideration, make sure you thoroughly proofread it — and then proofread it again . This is essential as it can save you from a potentially embarrassing — and job-costing — typo like “attention to derail ” or “ ruining the company’s global operations”.

Beyond proofreading your résumé for grammar and spelling errors , you should also:

• confirm that your contact details are up to date and correct
• ensure that dates, names (including those of employers and schools), and figures and percentages are correct
• check that links work and point to the correct addresses
• make sure that dates, numbers, bulleted lists, and fonts are formatted consistently.

It’s a good idea to ask a trusted friend or relative to look over your résumé after you’ve proofread it yourself. After all, they might find typos you missed, and can even offer you valuable feedback on content and layout.

11. Use an example for inspiration

Want to see a well-written résumé in action? With a custom example we created with our professionally designed and ATS-optimized Smooth résumé template for inspiration!

Get the Smooth template   Explore all templates  

We compiled these essential résumé writing steps into a video too:  

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Final thoughts

Résumé writing, whether it’s to apply for your first job or a more senior position, can be an overwhelming and time-consuming process, one that is hopefully simplified by this guide.

Before we go, here’s some parting advice:

• Limit your résumé to two pages.
• Optimize it for application tracking systems .
• Save it as a PDF with a descriptive file name, e.g.: “Jane Smith — Journalist Résumé.pdf”.
• Always supplement your application with a targeted cover letter .

Got a question about writing your résumé? Just drop us a line in the comments section below — we’re more than happy to help!

Finding a Job

Résumé Examples

How to Write a Great Resume for a Job in 2024

In This Guide:

What makes a job-winning resume, before you start writing your resume, you need a tool to craft it, how to make a perfect resume - step-by-step guide:, the best resume formats and when to use them, resume formatting tips: the anatomy of a job-winning resume, 7 fundamental sections you must have in your resume, proofread your resume, save it, and hit send, make a resume that beats ats and wins interviews today.

Your resume is more than just a document on your computer.

And its true value goes way beyond that of a white piece of paper.

Looking at it profoundly:

You’ll realize that your resume is the portal through which you jumpstart the career of your dreams. After all, the CV is what headhunters rely on to form their first judgment about you before they change your life forever.

Now, believe it or not...

The main cause why 95% of resumes get rejected isn’t because of the candidate’s lack of experience. Think about it — there’s no shortage of overqualified job hunters who still struggle to get noticed.

The real reason is that they look like this:

Recruiters are only humans. They get bored with monotony quickly, which is why they find uncreative resume templates tedious to look at.

But are jobseekers to blame for this?

Not at all!

When you’re bombarded with misinformation about how to make a resume for the first time, the best you can do is get rejected a lot.

For instance:

If you’ve been on the job hunt recently, you may have heard the following:

• You can easily make a resume in ten minutes
• A resume shouldn’t showcase any details besides contact information, paid experience, skills, and education
• You only need to make a resume once in your life
• Following specific rules for writing your resume is the only way to get hired

Let’s be honest — these myths are enticing to hear as they break down the resume writing process to an elementary task. But they couldn’t be more harmful when you’re building your resume.

We will debunk all of them throughout this guide and show you how it’s really done.

Let’s get started.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Creating a great resume is an art that requires practice and patience.

It takes a sharp eye to know which details to include in your CV and where they go on the page. More importantly, you need to have an objective right from the start on what you want to achieve with your resume.

Before we get into the practical knowledge, let us first ask:

What exactly is a resume?

“A résumé is essentially a document that enables you to sell yourself to an employer in the best possible way.” ~ Bing

In simpler terms:

A resume is a tool through which you’ll market yourself and the benefits of hiring you to a potential employer.

But where do you even get started? What should you keep in mind while crafting your resume? And how do you sell yourself best with a resume?

Let’s get to the secret sauce…

A good resume is performance-based

“..focus on the specific results you’ve driven and provide tangible evidence of your skills and accomplishments.” ~ Laszlo Bock, VP of People Operations at Google

The best way to market yourself to your dream company is by actually showing what you’re capable of. Feature measurable accomplishments and skills within a context throughout your resume to differentiate yourself from the pretenders.

A good resume is human-centric

“How I Hire: Focus On Personality” ~ Richard Branson

Showing personality takes your resume to a whole new level where recruiters can see your worth more clearly. It enables you to emphasize your strengths and paint a clear picture of what it’s like to work with you.

A good resume is short & concise

“If you cannot sell yourself in 2 pages, you won’t be able to do so in 5 — either.”

This is a rule that 100% of hiring managers agree on when it comes to resume making — which makes it non-negotiable.

Do we even have to ask why?

Hiring committees have to quickly review and shortlist hundreds of the resumes they receive each week. So, one way to make their job easier and get yourself ignored is by making your resume unnecessarily long.

A good resume is job-specific

“We don’t believe in the “spray and pray” tactic – choose 2-3 companies and apply for them” ~ Enhancv

Does that seem counterintuitive?

Well, it really isn’t…

Applying to dozens of companies with a generic resume makes your application look weak and uninteresting.

On the contrary:

A job-specific resume focused on only a few companies portrays you authentically. This is a modern approach that all successful candidates have followed to jumpstart their dream careers.

A good resume is a natural heatmap

“Make it easier for recruiters to spot the best match for the position without spending hours interviewing the wrong applicants.”

Recruiters go over tens of thousands of similar applications throughout their careers. Thus, it’s only natural for them not to be excited about reading every single word on every resume they see.

A well-designed resume prioritizes a nice layout with clearly divided headings and sections that maximize readability. That’s the best and only possible way to beat the 7 seconds rule and keep headhunters engaged.

There are hundreds of resume builders out there claiming to be the best option in the market. But what 99% of them are is just a slightly advanced version of Microsoft word.

Enhancv, on the other hand, is the first performance-based, human-centric resume builder to help you tell your resume story with confidence.

We’ve organized our sections to portray your expertise best and show what you’re truly capable of. And we collaborated with HR specialists and design experts to help you establish the perfect balance between personal and professional.

Our resume builder allows you to spotlight your achievements — not just through words, but also by highlighting your character, personality, and professional expertise.

Ready to hear the best part?

With each step forward, we made sure to keep Enhancv resume builder adherent to industry guidelines while ensuring 100% ATS-friendliness.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word would be top of our list if this was 2006 and you were applying for an office job in a small city.

But today, a lot of things have changed.

The employment landscape has gradually shifted towards a modern hiring culture. Headhunters have different expectations and demands — so they expect more creativity in the resume.

But with Microsoft Word being far from the human-centric approach, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure before you even start.

In many fields, the hiring company would love to go beyond work experience and learn more about you. Personality, projects, and personal interests make up a big part of resumes in creative fields. All of which are almost impossible to show using Microsoft word.

Let’s summarize all these disadvantages in that 95% of rejected resumes are created using Microsoft Word.

Resume building platforms like Europass

Hiring companies may sometimes require applicants to use certain resume-building platforms specifically. For example, many businesses in Europe prefer a standard resume format, so they ask their applicants to use Europass.

If your target company is asking you to use a precise resume-building tool, go for it. Because that’s the only way your application is getting screened and shortlisted.

Thankfully:

That’s not the case in the US, Canada, and most other countries in the world. You can use any resume builder you want as long as your resume is neat and scannable.

Photoshop and Illustrator

Photoshop and Illustrator offer you unlimited design options to create any resume template you want. Therefore, they should be the best option for making your resume.

Well… Only if the following two conditions apply:

• You have months of free time to study graphic design from scratch
• You’re motivated to learn everything about resume making rules and industry guidelines

Even if you do have time and motivation, there’s actually a worse part:

You’re only going to use this knowledge once and never look at it again once you get hired.

So, yes… That sounds unreasonable!

The biggest advantage of using our resume builder is in sparing yourself weeks of work while maximizing your chances of landing the job you deserve. You’ll focus your time on finding better opportunities for work and improving your interviewing skills.

With the right tools and knowledge at hand, it’s time to jump into action and create a resume you can feel proud about.

Based on our long years of experience, we developed a thorough process to help job seekers create their resumes with ease. We relied on research studies to identify key resume characteristics that can help you land more interviews and improve the success rate.

In the rest of this guide…

We’ll map out all the actionable steps you must follow to take your resume from “Okay” to “Great.” You’ll learn expert-based tips and HR-approved techniques to bring your CV to life and beat luck.

Here’s how to write a resume for a job:

• Decide on a suitable resume format
• Add a captivating resume header
• Write a professional resume summary
• Feature your work history through relevant accomplishments
• Showcase your job-specific skills and talents
• Highlight your education, certificates, and courses in separate sections
• Inject personality into your resume through additional sections
• Update your resume to match the job offer
• Proofread, save, then hit “Send”

Other additional resume writing guides you might find useful:

• How To Write Your First Job Resume
• Resume with No Experience
• Career Change Resume
• College Resume
• Resume Examples for 500+ different jobs

The resume format is the structure through which you organize the information on your resume. There are many formatting options such as the modern and basic , which you can choose depending on the job role and industry.

Here are the most popular resume formats:

Reverse chronological resume

The reverse chronological resume format features your work experience, starting from your most recent job going backward. It’s an all tmes favorite for many as it makes the recruiter’s job a whole lot easier.

• Emphasizes successful career progression
• Fit for many job positions and industries
• Easy to skim , which makes it preferred by recruiters
• Employment gaps are more apparent
• May force the candidate to feature unrelated work
• Draws less attention to skills , projects, awards, and certificates

This format is excellent for traditional fields such as finance and accounting — where work experience is the most vital factor.

Not sure whether this is a right fit for your resume? We have a detailed guide about the reverse chronological format to help you decide.

Functional resume

The functional resume format focuses on skills and talents instead of job experience. It’s a widely popular formatting option among recruiters because it highlights the synergy between the candidate’s skills and expertise.

• Promotes your job-specific skills as extremely valuable assets
• Makes up for any lack of experience in the field
• Stands out with a lasting impression among traditional resumes
• Doesn’t portray your skills in action
• Too creative and hard to assess for some old school recruiters
• Lacks essential elements of who you are you are as a candidate

A functional resume is great for entry-level applicants or recent graduates with no experience in the real world. It also works for anyone making a career transition as they can highlight their transferable skills within a context.

Hybrid resume

Based on the name, can you guess what a hybrid resume is?

It’s a cross between the reverse-chronological format and the functional format. Put together, you’ll have the hybrid resume format that combines work history with skillset on the same page.

You don’t even have to be a recruiter to see how awesome this format is. Imagine a resume that isn’t only focused on measurable expertise but also showcases any sought-after skills.

• All-inclusive as it compensates inexperience with skills and vice versa
• Portrays the ability to occupy various positions within the company
• Not always a good format for senior-level applicants since experience is their strength
• Some headhunters just prefer the chronological format

The hybrid resume format is your go-to option if you’re looking to change your career path or get back to work after a long break. It enables you to keep your resume captivating despite any irrelevant experience or long employment gaps.

Now that you fully understand what makes a good resume, it’s time to learn the essentials of resume formatting.

There are a million ways to create your resume based on your job field, work experience, and design preferences. On our platform alone, we have more than 40 ready-made resume templates that you can use.

What do all stellar resume templates have in common?

Resume Formatting Checklist:

• Length — keep your resume length to one or two pages at most
• Bullet points — write 3 to 5 bullet points under each job title featuring your achievements or relevant job duties
• Font — Use one or two modern, professional fonts to establish a clear hierarchy and maximize readability. Be sure to use a consistent size of 10-12pt for body text and 14-16pt for headings
• Color — add some color to your resume to make it visually appealing
• Bold and italics — Use different text formatting options to draw the recruiter’s attention towards important terms and metrics
• White space — leave white space on the margins and around various sections to ensure an optimal reading experience

For your resume to reflect an intriguing narrative, it has to be broken down into smaller sections… Each one tells a tiny part of your story until the full picture is revealed.

After that, you must create heading titles to keep headhunters focused and orient them towards the information they need.    

What sections do headhunters expect to see on your resume?

• Section 1 - Header
• Section 2 - Summary
• Section 3 - Experience
• Section 4 - Skills
• Section 5 - Education
• Section 6 - Certifications
• Additional sections (volunteering, projects, awards, languages, etc)

We’ll now go through each one of them in more depth:

How to write a resume header

Your resume must feature an eye-catching header at the top of the page. That will bring attention to your personal details and help you stand out quickly.

What are the key details to feature on a resume header?

Below your full name, your header must include the following personal details:

• Add a short phrase, a quote, or a creative value proposition as your resume headline
• Pick a professional job title that describes your job role and expertise
• Aim to match the job offer in the title you choose to meet the recruiter's viewpoint
• Stick to a well-known email provider such as Gmail, iCloud, or Outlook
• Use a professional email format such as “[email protected]” or “[email protected]”
• Avoid using your current work email as that reflects disrespect and unprofessionalism
• If you’re a student or a recent graduate, you can use your university email
• Add your cellphone number instead of your home number so you can respond to important calls instantly
• Use a standard phone number format like (123) 4567-8910
• Always include a phone code to your number if you’re applying to jobs abroad
• Use a standard “City, State” address format
• Exclude your complete home address as that’s no longer required by hiring companies
• If you're yet to move to a new state or country, include an “Open to relocate” sign next to your current address
• Only include links if they're essential to showcasing your accomplished projects or work history
• Include links to your website, blog, or portfolio on GitHub
• Feature links to recent projects and activities on Behance or Twitter to stand out as a creative professional

As for the resume photo , there is no universal rule for whether you should add one. The norms around this trend vary based on the industry and the country you’ll work in.

Let’s look at a couple of real examples for resume headers:

Read our detailed guide on how to perfect your resume header to learn more about the best practices in this section.

How to write a resume summary

The resume profile is your elevator pitch.

It’s your chance to spark the recruiter’s interest by showing them why you’re fit for the job. This section is crucial for you to stand out from the competition and prove your worth in a few sentences.

Your resume profile can either be a summary or an objective.

“What’s the difference between the two?” You may wonder…

It’s quite simple!

A resume summary works better if you already have work experience in your field. You’ll use it to bring attention to your top career highlights and job-specific skills in a nutshell.

Other impactful selling points you can mention here are:

• Relevant challenges you’re qualified to solve
• Certificates and educational background
• Ways you can help the hiring company improve
• Industry-related topics you’re passionate about

Let’s look at a couple of examples for resume summaries:

On the other hand:

A resume objective is a better alternative for entry-level candidates or recent grads looking to make their way into a new job position. It also works if you’re looking to make a career transition with limited work experience.

How to write your resume experience

The experience section is the heart of the resume for job seekers in many fields. That explains why it’s often hard to write despite the unlimited amount of free information available online.

If that’s the case for you, no worries! Because we’ve got you covered on this part.

Let’s start with a simple definition of what experience is:

Job experience refers to any work position you held in the past that is related to your dream job.

Here’s how to show it on a resume:

• Professional job title to describe each position
• Company name (with a short description if the company isn’t famous)
• Location using the “City, State” format (just the country if you worked abroad)
• Work duration from starting date to finish date

Notice that — so far — we haven’t mentioned anything about adding your past job responsibilities.

Can you guess why?

Because the headhunters already know them by heart, and they don’t care. Instead of unoriginal duties, they’d rather see your influence in a similar work atmosphere.

To make a lasting impression, you must match the job description by:

• Demonstrating your touch and all the significant changes you were responsible for
• Focusing on highly-related career wins and highlights instead of dull job responsibilities
• Quantifying your impact through exact metrics and measurable outcomes
• Using action verbs and keywords to convey a strong message
• Writing your sentences in the past tense to emphasize expertise and availability

Keep in mind:

If you have decades of experience, you’re not going to feature every single job you held in the past. That applies even if you’re seeking a high-level position in a competitive job field.

Recruiters expect to only see jobs from the past 10 to 15 years at most. Anything before that period might come off as irrelevant and unnecessary.

Promotions are the most powerful advantage when featuring your work history. Simply because advancing in position under the same company shows how reliable, skilled, and dedicated you are.

So make it a priority to highlight work progression and promotions whenever possible.

Two good/bad examples for the experience section:

Now get this:

There are strong empirical data suggesting that internships will improve your chances of landing an interview. For instance, applicants with internship experience had a 14% higher interview rate when compared to those without no internships at all.

So whether it’s paid or unpaid, always include your internships to compensate for your inexperience.

Does your work experience fall under a specific job field or position? Include that in your section title to make it more interesting. For example, your section heading can be — Management Experience, IT Experience, Accounting Experience, etc.

How to add your accomplishments:

Hiring managers love resume accomplishments because they help them separate the talkers from the real achievers. After all, what would be better proof of your competence than your past successes?

Aside from that:

The accomplishments section is an excellent way to bring your resume to life with examples of tangible career wins. Bolster that with concrete numbers and unique facts, and you’ll have a resume that represents the full scope of your impact.

What are you most proud of in your personal, educational, social, and professional life? How did such triumphs affect you and your surroundings?

Take your time with these questions because your answer will reflect your personality and how you define success.

Check out our complete guide to discover more ways to show highlights on your resume .

How to add skill to your resume

As the name suggests:

The skills section is the part of your resume where you highlight your talents and abilities. It helps you edge out most of the competition with a few magical words describing your competence.

There are two types of skills you can put on your resume:

• Soft skills — transferrable talents and personality traits that are hard to measure
• Hard skills — industry-specific skills that are easily quantifiable and can be acquired through practice and education

We’ll get into specific examples of these two types of skills in a moment.

You need to understand how to choose attractive skills to add to your resume.  

Here’s the secret:

Read the job offer attentively to comprehend what the hiring company expects from you in terms of skillset. Then make a list of all the required skills that the headhunter will want to see.

As a final step…

Reduce your list to 5-10 soft skills and hard skills , and put them in a separate “Skills” section.

Here are the best soft skills by 2025 according to the Future of Jobs Report (2020) :

• Leadership — is the ability to influence others to achieve common goals through motivation and decision-making .
• Interpersonal skills — include a myriad of social skills and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented — shows recruiters that you have strong analytical thinking skills .
• Multitasking — refers to the ability to work under pressure and thrive despite all constraints.
• Team management — is critical for managerial roles where strategic thinking and organizational skills are most required.
• Problem-solving skills — prove your ability to succeed in tough environments that demand critical thinking and creativity .
• Transferable skills — encompass many portable skills, including fast learning and adaptability .

We recommend that you scatter these skills across all resume sections. This way, you can better demonstrate their real use and show they helped you handle difficult tasks.

And another thing…

Even if the job posting doesn’t specify any skill requirements, you can convey your knowledge of the position by only featuring relevant talents. That will leave you more room to tailor your resume and appeal to recruiters.

Ready to find out more about this? Read our blog on how to write a stunning skills section that leaves a mark.

How to write your resume education

Education is still required in most job fields during the hiring process.

Because having a strong academic record shows that you’ve invested long years into your career. It’s also direct proof of your deep industry knowledge and promising potential for the future.

Here’s what recruiters want to know in this section:

• Degree name — i.e. “Master’s Degree in Computer Science ”
• Education institution — i.e. “Columbia University”
• Graduation date or years attended
• GPA (only if it’s above 3.5 or if you’re in a technical field)
• Honors and scholar programs (optional)
• Major & Minor (only when relevant)

Where should all of that be on your resume?

Remember that you’re trying to market yourself best by telling a compelling story to the hiring manager. Thus, the order in which you place various parts on your resume matters.

If you already have enough experience to land the job, it’s okay to put the education section at the bottom. However, your academic record might be your best selling point if you’re a recent graduate, which is why education should come at the top.

Here are some rules to keep in mind when creating an education section:

• You can include an incomplete college degree by simply adding the school name and its’ location
• Add an expected graduation date to list any degrees that you’re currently pursuing
• Including relevant coursework is an excellent way to make up for your lack of experience
• A high school degree can be a plus when applying to entry-level jobs you’re qualified for
• You may add Dean’s list if you were featured on it repeatedly

For more details about this section, read our guide on how to highlight education on your resume .

Courses, certifications, and awards on resume

A hiring manager with two hundred applications in their inbox will need more than work experience to choose a candidate. They have to look deeper into what you can offer based on further qualifications.

That’s where courses, certificates , and awards come into play.

Unsurprisingly:

The 2021 workplace learning report by LinkedIn put a huge emphasis on the importance of talent development. It showed that job seekers have spent +50% more time consuming informational content in 2020 compared to 2019.

Do we even have to ask why? Companies that did the best during COVID focused on upskilling and reskilling to survive economic uncertainty. The rapid shifts throughout all industries are now pushing employers to prioritize fast learning and adaptability in the workplace.

The importance of showing your skills set as well as your ability and willingness to learn.

Now, as you may have noticed, these sections fall under different categories. So it doesn’t make sense to put them all under the same heading.

For example:

Let’s say that you have a project management certificate that you want to feature in your resume. You’ll create a new header, name it “Certifications,” then put your certificate with its official name.

You’re not going to randomly list all the courses and licenses from the past because that only shows desperation. Instead, you should only choose the most recognized and valuable ones to add to your resume.

Other sections in your resume

Up to this point, you’ve learned the ins and outs of how to make your resume outstanding . You created and perfected the most important parts of your CV to make a solid impression.

In the rest of this guide, you’ll discover how to put the final touches to your resume in a way that makes a difference.

Let’s start with the best additional sections you can add to your resume:

Showcasing strengths on a resume is a unique way to leap over your competition.

One thing most candidates struggle with when creating the strengths section is self-image. In other words, job seekers find it hard to identify strengths in relation to their work history.

If that sounds like you, don't worry…

We’ve got a few solutions to help you get going:

One thing you should never do is copy uninspired strengths from online resumes and expect them to be appreciated. You must avoid industry jargon and buzzwords at all costs as that might get your resume ignored.

Reflect on your past accomplishments and look for any big projects you were part of. What was it about you that made you successful? And how can these strengths help the hiring company grow?

Another way to go about this is to ask a friend or a former coworker to tell you a little bit about yourself. Nudge them towards giving you a precise answer by asking for a good description of your points of strength.

Can you speak more than a few languages?

This is the perfect place to show off your language skills .

Add the primary language you’ll be using at work along with your mother tongue and any other languages you’re good with.

You can break down your proficiency into these five levels:

• Intermediate

Be careful:

Lying about your language proficiency could get you in trouble in later stages of the hiring process. Most other candidates won’t even have a language section, so stating your language level is already enough.

Volunteering

Community service paints a positive image inside the recruiter’s mind about your good intentions and high values. So even though it doesn’t reflect experience or qualification, volunteer work is a good indicator of your personality and what it’s like to work with you.

In addition to that:

A volunteer section can make up for any employment gaps on your resume — especially if volunteering helped you gain job-relevant skills.

If you were responsible for managing budgets for a charity, you can turn that into an intriguing story that shows your expertise and morals.

When adding volunteering experience:

• Name your position at the voluntary association
• Name of the association
• Description of your role as a member
• Years of community service
• Bullet points summarizing your quantifiable contributions while concentrating on applicable skills

Projects and publications

This section could include personal projects, work-related projects, hackathons, academic publications , freelance work, etc.

Featuring projects on your resume is the ultimate proof of concept every headhunter needs before hiring you. It’s a straightforward way to emphasize technical skills and show personality attributes.

Now — here's the deal:

Projects need to portray your industry-relevant skills and experience positively. So make sure that each project you include is actually understood by recruiters so that it becomes beneficial for your application.

Be sure to include lots of measurable successes using ATS keywords to improve your chances. And don’t worry if you have to leave out some details because you can always address them later in the interview.

Personality - shown through passions, interests, hobbies, or quotes.

Here’s a golden tip to double your chances of getting hired:

Give recruiters a glimpse of what you are like even before they hire you. Not only will that get you noticed quickly, but it also sheds a light on all the positive attributes you can bring to the workplace.

A recent psychological study about resume evaluation has proven the effects of applicant personality on job success. Researchers have found that there are specific resume cues that recruiters often look for in a resume.

In the following section, we’ll break down these cues into the simplest explanation possible.

• Conscientiousness — refers to a candidate’s diligence, reliability, and ability to perform tasks effectively within the deadline
• Agreeableness — suggests that the applicant is easy-going, trustworthy, and fun to work with. It also indicates high morals and sympathy towards their coworkers
• Openness — is the creative sense and the ability to come up with solutions quickly.

Now, to show all of that, you must add new sections — such as “Passions,” “Interests,” “Hobbies,” and “Quotes” to make your application more interesting.

You could also focus on showing each trait individually. Here’s are some ideas to help you get going:

Conscientiousness:

• Create a “Day In My Life” section
• Focus on your “Years of experience”
• Demonstrate acquired skills and talents
• Feature projects and achievements

Agreeableness:

• Showcase teamwork & empathy skills
• Include project collaborations
• Focus on group awards and company achievements
• Highlight your volunteering experience
• Add creative projects with direct links for a personal website, Behance, Github, etc
• Illustrate your artistic achievements
• Specify your passions with hobbies and interests
• Use a modern resume design

Aside from that, you can help headhunters understand your character just by sharing more about yourself. For instance, you can include a quote that you find inspiring, even though that wouldn’t always reflect your true self.

Tailoring your resume

Now with to the most critical step in the resume-making process:

Tailoring your resume to the job offer.

You must create a job-specific resume that captures hiring managers’ interest at first sight. Once they’re hooked, your resume has to outshine the competition by showing your relevant experience and skills.

Think of it this way:

Marketing professionals have to set objectives for their campaigns and identify their target audience before they launch. And since your resume is a marketing tool, you have to follow the same steps and create a targeted resume .

Here’s how you’ll do that:

• Read through the job description to identify the key requirements
• Create a list of essential job duties and relevant keywords
• Update various parts of your resume to match these hiring demands

Let’s look at a quick example of job requirements:

• College degree in Accounting , Finance , or other relevant fields
• 2-5 years of work experience in finance/accounting
• Outstanding time management and decision-making skills
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Highly energetic with a positive attitude
• Solid Excel and QuickBooks skills

The focus keywords you can pick here are accounting, finance, time management, decision-making, QuickBooks, etc. All you have to do now is use them repeatedly in your resume to make it appealing.

Congratulations!

You’ve made it to the final part of our HR-approved resume-making process. Getting to this point shows just how motivated you are to land your dream job and live a new experience.

We have a few final resume tips you can apply before you start sending out your CV…

Throughout the years, we came to identify the most common resume mistakes job seekers make in their journey. Avoiding these errors at an early stage will save you weeks of frustration and help you get hired quickly.

Here’s our final resume-making checklist:

Proofread your resume —

Grammatical errors on a resume are unattractive and can come off as mediocre. Be sure to read the whole thing from start to finish out loud so you can catch any typos or spelling errors.

You may also ask someone to double-check after you to minimize errors.

Name your file the right way —

The hiring manager is probably too busy rejecting other resumes when they decide to shortlist you. So they’ll appreciate it if you used your first and last name as a filename to help find your application quickly.

You can take this one step further by adding the company name to capture their attention. Your resume filename will look something like this:

Jeremy Turner Resume — Google.pdf

Choose a proper resume format —

PDF is the best format according to recruiters because it preserves your resume design and layout. It can be opened using any file reader and on different devices without any errors.

Test print your resume on paper —

Does your resume look good on physical paper ? Print a physical copy of your final CV to test the formatting and color looks.

If you ever decide to send a physical copy of your resume, use high-quality white paper with a smooth texture.

Apply to jobs via email —

Here’s a crucial tip to increase your application success rate:

Send your resume directly to the hiring manager via email to stick out from the crowd. But you shouldn’t do that if the hiring company asks you specifically to use their email address in the job posting.

How do you find the hiring manager’s email?

Here are a few quick ways:

• Find their profile on LinkedIn
• Look them up on various social media platforms
• Check the company’s website, specifically the “Our Team” section
• Do a quick Google Search
• Use a browser extension such as “Rapportive” or “ContactOut”

You may also send your CV to an insider to introduce you to HR and help you put a foot in the door.

Include a references section only when necessary —

“ References ” was a popular section a few decades ago — yet it continues to lose its appeal today as fewer recruiters see the need for it. Save up space on your resume by leaving out references and only include them if required.

Follow our thorough guide to learn how to create a perfect resume that makes you the center of attention. Also, be sure to try our resume builder to save yourself time, energy, and a lot of heartbreak in the process.

Let’s be honest…

You’ll only get so far with written tips and theoretical knowledge. You can read dozens of books on writing a resume — but without actual samples and templates, you’ll always lack the magical touch.

That’s why we created +500 resume examples for different job titles to inspire you to build a resume you can hand with a smile. We also have +40 ready-made resume templates fitting various professions and industries to write your resume without much hassle.

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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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40+ Resume Tips to Help You Land a Job in 2024

When you haven’t updated your resume in a while, it can be hard to know where to start. What experiences and accomplishments are relevant for the jobs you’ve got your eye on? What new resume rules and trends should you be following? And seriously, one page or two ?

Well, search no more: We’ve compiled all the resume tips you need into one place. Read on for advice and tricks that’ll help you craft a winning resume—and land your next job.

Maximize your chances by looking for more open jobs on The Muse »

Basic resume tips

Let's start with the basic do's and don'ts when putting your resume together. Listing your skills is not the only thing that matters—choosing the right format and sections is equally crucial. Here are some tips for writing a resume from scratch:

1. Don’t try to cram every skill and work experience onto your resume

Think of your resume not as a comprehensive list of your career history, but as a marketing document selling you as the perfect person for the role you’re applying to. For each resume you send out, you’ll want to highlight only the accomplishments and skills that are most relevant to the job at hand (even if that means you don’t include all of your experience ).

This is called tailoring your resume and it helps anyone who reads it see exactly why you’re a match for a specific position.

2. But keep a resume outline with a full list of your qualifications

Since you’ll be swapping different information in and out depending on the job you’re applying to, save a resume outline —or maybe our resume worksheet —on your computer with old positions, bullet points tailored for different applications, and special projects that only sometimes make sense to include. Think of this as your brag file. Then, when you’re crafting each resume, it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting relevant information together.

3. Ditch the objective statement

The only time an objective section makes sense is when you’re making a huge career change and need to explain from the get-go why your experience doesn’t match up with the position you’re applying to. In every other case, resume objectives just make you look old-fashioned or out of touch.

Read More: 3 Reasons You Should Ditch That Resume Objective—and 3 Things You Can Do Instead

4. Put the best, most relevant information first

In journalism speak, “above the fold” refers to what you see on the front half of a folded newspaper (or, in the digital age, before you scroll down on a website)—basically it’s your first impression of a document. In resume speak, it means you should make sure your most relevant qualifications are visible on the top third of your resume.

This top section is what the hiring manager is going to see first—and what will serve as a hook for someone to keep on reading. If your most recent position isn’t the most relevant piece of your candidacy, consider leading with a skills section (such as in a combination resume format ) or writing a resume summary .

5. Choose the right resume format for you

There are lots of different ways to organize the information on your resume—like the functional resume or combination resume. But the good old reverse chronological —where your most recent experience is listed first—is usually your best bet. Unless it’s absolutely necessary in your situation, skip the functional or skills-based resume—hiring managers might wonder what you’re hiding.

6. Keep it concise

The two-page resume is a hotly debated topic, but the bottom line is this—you want the information here to be as short as possible, and keeping it to one page forces you to prioritize what really matters. If you truly have enough relevant and important experience, training, and credentials to showcase on more than one page of your resume, then go for two. But if you can tell the same story in less space? Do it.

Read More: 6 Pro Tips for Cutting Your Resume Down to One Page

7. Include relevant links

Can’t figure out how to tell your whole story on one page, or want to be able to include some visual examples of your work? Instead of trying to have your resume cover everything, cover the most important details on that document. Then, include a link to your personal website , your online portfolio , examples of your work, or a relevant, professional social media profile , where you can dive more into what makes you the ideal candidate.

Just avoid hyperlinking over words that are key to understanding your resume, since it can throw off the tools employers use to store and parse resumes.

8. Be aware of the ATS

You may have heard that employers are using computers to “read” your resume and decide who to hire and reject. That’s not exactly true. But most employers do use software called an applicant tracking system—or ATS—to parse resumes and organize them so that recruiters and hiring managers can search for the most relevant applications.

You should assume your resume will pass through an ATS at some point during your job search, so understanding how it works will help make your hunt more efficient. (All of the tips for resume writing in this list keep ATSs in mind as well!)

Read More: Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands

Resume formatting tips

Your resume's format matters as much as the content it holds. Aim for a simple and minimalist layout, without overwhelming columns, colors, or graphic elements. Here are some key resume formatting tips to help you stand out:

9. Keep your resume format simple

We’ll talk about getting creative in order to stand out in a minute. But the most basic principle of good resume formatting and design? Keep it simple. Make your resume easy on hiring managers’ eyes by using a reasonably sized default font like Helvetica or Arial and leaving a healthy amount of white space on the page. Your main focus here should be on readability for the hiring manager (and that pesky ATS).

Read more: The Best Resume Font and Size (No More Agonizing!)

10. Stand out with ATS-friendly design elements

Really want your resume to stand out from the sea of Times New Roman? Yes, creative resumes —like infographics, videos, or presentations can set you apart, but you have to make sure they actually get read. If you’re uploading your resume to a job application site or online portal, use ATS-friendly formatting elements like:

• Bold and italic text
• Underlining (in headings or over hyperlinks)
• Different text alignments
• Columns that can be read straight across

11. Avoid design elements that can’t be “read” by computers

On the flip side, it’s best to avoid design elements that ATSs are known to have trouble with such as:

• Logos and icons
• Images and photos
• Graphics, graphs, or other visuals
• Headers and footers
• Less common fonts
• Columns that can only be read from top to bottom

12. Make your contact info prominent

You don’t need to include your address on your resume anymore (really!), but you do need to make sure to include a phone number and professional-sounding email address (but not one affiliated with another job!) as well as other places the hiring manager can find you on the web, like your LinkedIn profile, plus your pronouns if you’d like to.

Read More: Here's Exactly What Should Be Included in Your Resume's Header

13. Design your resume for skimmability

You’ve probably heard before that hiring managers don’t spend a lot of time on each individual resume. So help them get as much information as possible in as little time as possible, by making your resume easy to skim .

Work experience resume tips

Recruiters nowadays want to know more than a simple description of your responsibilities. They're looking for the results and impacts of your work, as well as the connection between your experience and the position you're applying for now.

That said, let's take a look at some resume writing tips for describing your work experience:

14. Keep your work experience recent and relevant

As a rule, you should only show the most recent 10-15 years of your career and only include the experiences that are relevant to the positions you’re applying to. Remember to allocate real estate on your resume according to importance. If there’s a choice between including one more college internship or going into more detail about your current role, always choose the latter (unless the internship was more relevant to the role you’re applying for).

15. Don’t forget your transferable skills and experiences

Don’t panic if you don’t have any professional experience that fits the bill. Focus your resume on your relevant and transferable skills along with any related side or academic projects , and then make sure to pair it with a strong cover letter telling the narrative of why you’re ideal for the job.

Read more: What to Put on Your Resume When You Have No Relevant Work Experience

16. Write strong, achievement-focused bullet points

The bullet points under each job entry are arguably the most important part of your resume. They tell whoever’s reading it what skills you have, how you’ve used them, and how you’ve helped your employers in the past.

So start with a strong action verb , include relevant skills from the job description , and frame your bullets around your achievements—don’t just list your job duties . Tell them how your work benefitted your boss or company so they know what they stand to gain by hiring you.

Here’s a simple formula to follow:

• Compelling verb + job duty + key skills used = tangible result

So you might say: “ Developed an upgrade to the employee database, ensuring the smooth flow of critical operations, which led to a 35% increase in efficiency. ”

17. Curate your bullet points and experiences

No matter how long you’ve been in a job, or how much you’ve accomplished there, you shouldn’t have more than eight bullet points under it—and that’s only for your most recent and relevant job. Jobs further back should generally be limited to four to six bullets.

Read More: How Many Bullet Points Should Each Job on Your Resume Have?

18. Use as many numbers as you can

Use facts, figures, and numbers whenever possible in your bullet points. How many people were impacted by your work? By what percentage did you exceed your goals? Quantifying your accomplishments allows the hiring manager to picture the level of work or responsibility you needed to achieve them.

19. Don’t neglect non-traditional work

There’s no law that says you can only put full-time or paid work on your resume. So, if you’ve volunteered , worked part-time or as a temporary or contract worker , freelanced, or interned? Absolutely list these things as their own “jobs” within your career chronology—as long as they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. The same goes for career breaks . Yes, really.

Read More: 4 Things You Didn't Know You Could Put on Your Resume

20. Use important keywords from the job description

Scan the job description, see what words are used most often, and make sure you’ve included them in your bullet points. For example, does the job description list “CRM” or “Salesforce”? Make sure your resume matches. Not only is this a self-check that you’re targeting your resume to the job, but it’ll also make it easier to search for your resume in an ATS.

Read More: How to Pick Resume Keywords That'll Get Your Job Application Past the ATS

Resume tips for including your education

Most hiring managers will want to know your education level, even if it's not necessarily relevant to the position you're going for. This section is especially important for those changing careers or applying for entry-level jobs—as your education can be an indicator of the skills you have.

Here's some resume tips and tricks for this section:

21. Put experience first, education later

Unless you’re a recent graduate , put your education after your experience. Chances are, your last couple of jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job than where you went to college.

22. Also keep it in reverse chronological order

Generally, you should list your educational background with the most recent or advanced degree first, working in reverse chronological order. But if older coursework is more specific to the job, list that first to grab the reviewer’s attention.

23. Remove the dates from your education section once you’re a few years into your career

Unless you’re early in your career, don’t list your graduation dates. The reviewer cares more about whether or not you have the degree than when you earned it. And you don’t want to inadvertently open yourself up to age discrimination , which is an unfortunate reality in some job markets.

24. Highlight honors and achievements, not GPA

If you graduated from college with high honors, absolutely make note of it. Showcase that summa cum laude status, the fact that you were in the honors college at your university, a relevant project you completed, or an award you won. You don’t need to list your GPA —employers don’t care as much about GPA as they do what skills you gained in school.

Read More: How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume

25. Include continuing or online education

Feel free to include continuing education, professional development coursework, or online courses in your education section, especially if your resume feels a little light on relevant experience.

Best resume tips for showing off your skills

You shouldn't wait until you get an interview to showcase your skills—your resume can and should have a specific section for them. You can also leverage other sections of the document to incorporate what's relevant for the position.

Here are our tips for making a resume that effectively highlights your skills:

26. Don’t forget your skills section

Be sure to add a section that lists all the relevant skills you have for a position—especially those mentioned in the job description. Include technical skills like software and project management tools or specific knowledge of how to perform relevant tasks. Just make sure to skip including skills that everyone is expected to have, like using email or Microsoft Word. Doing so will make you seem less technologically savvy.

27. But don’t only put your skills in your skills section

Your skills section is an easy way for anyone reading your resume to confirm that you have required qualifications, but that shouldn’t be the only place that your important skills appear. Any skill that’s vital to you being hired should also be in your bullet points—where you can show how you’ve used it in the past.

28. Divvy up your skills for readability

If you have lots of skills that would help you with a job but aren’t necessarily in the same category—say, foreign language, software, and leadership skills—try breaking up your skills sections. Below your “Skills” section, add a subsection titled “Language Skills” or “Software Skills,” for example. Again, we’re going for skimmability here!

29. Show—don’t tell—your soft skills

Describing soft skills on a resume often starts to sound like a list of meaningless buzzwords. But being a “strong leader” or an “effective communicator” are important characteristics you want to get across. Think about how you can demonstrate these attributes in your bullet points without actually saying them.

Read more: The Non-Boring Way to Show Off Your Soft Skills in Your Job Search

Other resume section tips

Resume sections are not fixed like stone-written texts; they can change according to the job position you're applying for or the requirements listed by the company. Here are some examples of sections you can add—and more tips on writing a resume that stand out:

30. Include relevant certifications and licenses

If you have a certification or license that proves you can do some aspect of the job you’re applying for, include it on your resume. This is especially important if that certification or license is legally required to do the job—for example, in nursing, teaching, or driving jobs.

31. Show some (relevant) personality

Feel free to include an “Interests” section on your resume, but only add those that are relevant to the job. Are you a guitar player with your eye on a music company? Definitely include it. But if you’re considering including your scrapbooking hobby for a software developer job at a healthcare company? Best to leave it out.

32. Beware of interests and activities that could be controversial

Maybe you help raise money for your church on the reg. Or perhaps you’re dedicated to canvassing during political campaigns. Yes, these experiences show a good amount of work ethic or possibly other relevant skills—but they could also open you up to be discriminated against by someone who disagrees with the cause. So weigh your decision to include them carefully.

33. Add awards and achievements—when they’re relevant

Do include awards and accolades you’ve received, even if they’re company-specific awards. Just state what you earned them for, e.g., “Earned Golden Salesperson Award for having the company’s top sales record four quarters in a row.” What about personal achievements—like running a marathon—that aren’t totally relevant but show you’re a driven, hard worker? Consider the best way to include them (and if you should).

Resume tips for navigating employment gaps and other sticky situations

If you're an experienced professional, you might have some tricky information to explain. Job hopping, career gap, and short term jobs are examples of things that can make an applicant feel insecure when drafting resumes.

Is that your situation? Check on these good resume tips to explain sticky situations without jeopardizing your chances to get an interview:

34. Cut the short-term jobs

If you stayed at a (non-temporary) job for only a matter of months, consider eliminating it from your resume to avoid looking like a job hopper. Leaving a particularly short-lived job or two off your resume shouldn’t hurt, as long as you’re honest about your experience if asked in an interview. But if the short-term job is super relevant to this job, consider including it anyway.

35. If you have shorter gaps, be strategic about how you list dates

If you have gaps of a few months in your work history, don’t list the usual start and end dates with months and years for each position. Use years only (2018–2020), or just the number of years or months you worked at each position. Just keep it consistent throughout your resume and don’t lie if asked about gaps during an interview.

Read more: How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease

36. Explain serial job hopping

If you’ve job-hopped frequently, you can include a succinct reason for leaving next to each position like “company closed,” “layoff due to downsizing,” or “relocated to a new city.” By addressing the gaps, you’ll proactively illustrate the reason for your frequent job movement and make it less of an issue.

37. Explain a long break in jobs

Re-entering the workforce after a long hiatus? This is the perfect opportunity for a summary statement at the top, outlining your best skills and accomplishments. Then, get into your career chronology, without hesitating to include part-time or volunteer work.

38. Be intentional about career gaps

While career gaps are becoming increasingly common, you should still frame them in a way that’s relevant to a future employer, by talking about skills you gained or any professional endeavors you took on. If you didn’t focus on professional development, that’s fine too! But not every employer will appreciate it if you get too cutesy about that section of your resume.

For example, if you took time out of the workforce to raise kids, you might not want to creatively describe this parenting experience on your resume, à la “adeptly managed the growing pile of laundry.” Instead state what you did plainly and include any professional skills you may have grown or activities you may have done.

Read More: Stay-at-Home Parent? How to Kill it on Your Comeback Resume

Tips on resume finishing touches

Writing a good resume alone isn't the only thing that matters. How you save and send it can also determine whether the recruiter will even take a look at it. To wrap things up, here are our resume formatting tips and other suggestions to boost your chances of getting noticed:

39. Ditch “References available upon request”

If a hiring manager is interested in you, they’ll ask you for references—and will assume that you have them. There’s no need to address the obvious (and doing so might even make you look a little out of touch!).

40. Proofread, proofread, proofread

It should go without saying, but fully edit your resume and make sure it’s free and clear of typos. And don’t rely on spell check and grammar check alone—step away for a few hours, then read your resume closely again, and ask family or friends to take a look at it for you.

41. Save it as a PDF or Word document

Unless a job posting specifically requests that you do otherwise, your resume should always be submitted as either a PDF or Word document (.docx not .doc). These are the formats that can be most easily opened and most easily parsed by an ATS.

The choice between the two is up to you (again, unless the company you’re applying to requests one format over the other). If you’re emailing your resume, however, PDFs are a bit more likely to maintain your formatting across different computers and programs.

42. Name your file clearly

Ready to save your resume and send it off? Save it as “Jane Smith Resume” instead of “Resume.” The hiring manager is going to have plenty of “Resumes” on their computer, so make it super easy for them to find what they’re looking for. You can even go a bit further and put the position title in your file name (e.g., “Jane Smith Marketing Analyst Resume).

Read More: The (Simple) Guidelines You Should Follow When Naming Your Resume and Cover Letter Files

43. Keep your resume outline fresh

Carve out some time every quarter or so to pull up your resume outline and make some updates. Have you taken on new responsibilities? Learned new skills? Add them. When your resume is updated on a regular basis, you’re always ready to pounce when opportunity presents itself. And even if you’re not job searching, there are plenty of good reasons to keep this document in tip-top shape.

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Crafting a Winning Resume: Essential Components to Include

As job seekers, landing an interview or getting noticed by a recruiter heavily relies on crafting a winning resume. With the job market getting fiercely competitive, it’s crucial to have a powerful resume that stands out from the crowd.

The purpose of this article is to provide guidance on how to create a winning resume by exploring its essential components. A winning resume is not just a document that outlines work experience and education; it is an art that is honed with the right mix of presentation, content, and structure.

Throughout this article, we’ll discuss what a winning resume is and how it can help you catch the recruiter’s eye. We’ll examine the key components that make a resume stand out, including the essential elements that every resume should include.

By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what makes a winning resume and be ready to make the necessary adjustments to create the job-winning resume that you deserve. So, let’s dive in!

Research and Preparation

One of the most important components of crafting a winning resume is conducting thorough research and preparation. This includes understanding the job requirements, researching the company and industry, and determining key skills and experiences that are relevant to the position.

Understanding the job requirements

Before starting your resume, it’s important to carefully review the job description and understand the skills and experiences needed for the position. This will allow you to tailor your resume to the specific needs of the employer and highlight your relevant qualifications. Make sure to pay attention not only to the required qualifications, but also to any preferred or “nice to have” qualifications listed.

Researching the company and industry

To make a strong impression on potential employers, it’s important to demonstrate your knowledge of their company and industry. Take some time to research the company’s mission, values, and culture to ensure that your resume aligns with their overall goals. Additionally, researching the industry as a whole can help you tailor your resume to the specific needs of the job and show that you are up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations.

Determining key skills and experiences

Once you have a clear understanding of the job requirements and the company’s needs, it’s time to determine which of your skills and experiences best align with those needs. Make a list of your top achievements, relevant experience, and specific skill sets that demonstrate your ability to excel in the position. Be sure to use concrete examples and metrics wherever possible to showcase your accomplishments and contributions.

By investing time in research and preparation, you can create a strong, targeted resume that showcases your relevant skills and experiences and catches the attention of potential employers. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step in the resume crafting process – it can make all the difference in securing your dream job.

Formatting and Design

As important as the content of your resume is, presentation matters just as much. Formatting and design can make the difference between a resume that is easy to read, engaging and impactful, versus one that is dry, cluttered, and forgettable.

Choosing the Right Resume Format

The format you choose should be based on your level of experience, skills, and the job you are applying for, as there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to resume formats. Chronological resumes, which list your work history in reverse chronological order, are the most common and are suitable for candidates with a consistent work history. Functional resumes focus on skills and abilities over job titles and are ideal for career changers or those with gaps in their employment history. Combination resumes combine both formats to showcase both the work history and skills effectively.

Organizing the Content Effectively

Regardless of the format you choose, how you organize your content plays an essential role in getting noticed. Start with a summary or objective statement that is concise and highlights your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Follow it up with work experience, education, skills, and achievements, with each section providing relevant details, but not too many to avoid overwhelming the reader. Use bullet points to break up the text, make it easier to scan, and highlight key points.

Using Design Elements to Enhance Readability

The use of design elements, such as font type and size, line spacing, and section headings, can make your resume stand out to the reader. Choose a clean and professional font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman in a size that is easy to read (between 10 and 12 points). Utilize white space effectively to enhance readability, with adequate margins and sufficient line spacing between sections. Use bold and italic text and bullet points sparingly, but effectively, to emphasize key points.

A well-designed resume with relevant details and good formatting can catch the recruiter’s attention, help you secure an interview, and land the job you want. By choosing the right format, organizing the content effectively, and using design elements to enhance readability, you can craft a winning resume that stands out from the competition.

Contact Information and Personal Details

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, including the right contact information and personal details is essential. Not only does it help potential employers get in touch with you, but it can also showcase some key aspects of your personality and experience.

Including Important Contact Information

The first step to including contact information on your resume is to make sure it’s up-to-date. This means including your current phone number, email address, and mailing address. If you have a professional website or LinkedIn profile, you can also include links to these platforms.

When including your phone number and email address, make sure they are professional and appropriate. Avoid using nicknames or personal email addresses that may come across as unprofessional. Additionally, if you have a personalized voicemail message, make sure it’s professional and includes your name—potential employers will appreciate the effort!

Providing Personal Details that are Relevant

While it’s important to include personal details on your resume, it’s equally important to make sure they are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Here are some details that can showcase your experience and personality:

Objective statement:  A brief statement at the top of your resume that highlights your career goals and aspirations.

Summary of qualifications:  A section that includes your top skills, experience, and achievements. This section can also highlight any relevant certifications you have.

Personal attributes:  A section that lists some of your key personality traits, such as “detail-oriented” or “team player.” Make sure the traits you list are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Volunteer experience:  If you have volunteer or community service experience that’s relevant to the position you’re applying for, make sure to include it on your resume. This can showcase your ability to work with others and your dedication to your community.

Hobbies and interests:  While it’s not necessary to include this section on your resume, it can be a good way to showcase your personality and interests. Make sure the hobbies and interests you list are relevant to the position you’re applying for and paint you in a positive light.

Including the right contact information and personal details on your resume can help you stand out from the competition and showcase your experience and personality. Just make sure to keep it relevant and professional.

Professional Summary

Your professional summary is the first information recruiters read when reviewing resumes. It’s the perfect opportunity to showcase your unique selling proposition and stand out from the crowd. In this section, we will discuss how to craft a compelling summary that highlights your key skills and experiences while tailoring it to the job requirements.

Crafting a Compelling Summary

A compelling summary should convey your value proposition, providing recruiters with a clear understanding of your experience, skills, and what you bring to the table. Keep in mind that the summary should be brief, no longer than 3 to 4 lines. Be sure to showcase your biggest achievements and describe the impact you made in previous roles.

Highlighting Key Skills and Experiences

While crafting your summary, it’s vital to highlight relevant skills and experiences that are relevant to the job. These skills could be technical or soft skills, such as leadership or teamwork. Additionally, it’s critical to draw attention to the breadth of your experience, showing recruiters you have what it takes to excel in the role.

Tailoring the Summary to the Job Requirements

Tailoring your summary to the job requirements is one of the most important things you can do when crafting a resume. Identify the key skills and experiences outlined in the job requirements and ensure they appear in your summary. Highlight achievements that demonstrate you have the skills and experience the company is seeking.

A well-crafted professional summary can set you apart and land you an interview. By crafting a compelling summary that highlights your skills, experience, and tailoring it to the job requirements, you will show recruiters that hiring you is the right decision. Utilize the tips outlined above to ensure your summary leaves a lasting impression.

Professional Experience

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, the professional experience section is crucial. You want to ensure that you’re presenting your work experience in a way that effectively showcases your skills and accomplishments. The following tips will help you organize your work experience effectively, highlight important achievements, and provide measurable results:

Organizing Work Experience Effectively

Begin by listing your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each job, include the following information:

• Job Title and Company Name
• Employment Dates (month and year)
• Job Description

Be sure to describe your role and responsibilities in each position. Use bullet points to make the information easy to read and scan quickly. Avoid using long paragraphs or complex language.

Highlighting Important Achievements

In addition to describing your job responsibilities, it’s important to highlight your achievements in each position. This will give potential employers a better sense of the impact you’ve had in previous roles. Here are some tips for highlighting your achievements:

• Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments (e.g., “increased sales by 20%”)
• Focus on specific projects or initiatives that you led or contributed to
• Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., “reduced expenses by $50,000”)
• If you received any awards or accolades in the role, include them

Providing Measurable Results

One of the most important aspects of your professional experience section is providing measurable results. Employers want to see concrete examples of how you’ve made a difference in previous roles. Here are some tips for providing measurable results:

• Use specific numbers and data to describe your accomplishments
• Highlight any metrics or KPIs that are relevant to the role
• Provide context for the results you achieved (e.g., “surpassed sales goals by 25% in a challenging market”)
• Use concrete examples to demonstrate your impact (e.g., “developed a new marketing campaign that generated $100,000 in revenue”)

The professional experience section of your resume should showcase your skills and accomplishments in an easy-to-read format. By organizing your work experience effectively, highlighting important achievements, and providing measurable results, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a winning resume that stands out from the crowd.

Education and Certifications

When it comes to creating a winning resume, highlighting your education and certifications can help you stand out to potential employers. Here is how to effectively showcase these credentials:

Listing Relevant Education and Certifications

Start by listing your highest level of education first, followed by any relevant certifications or licenses you hold. Be sure to include the name of the institution or organization where you earned these credentials, as well as the date of completion.

For example:

• Bachelor of Science in Marketing, XYZ University, May 2015
• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, October 2017

Highlighting Academic Achievements

If you had an impressive academic record, consider including it in your resume. This can demonstrate your intellectual abilities, work ethic, and commitment to excellence. You may choose to showcase your GPA, academic awards, or scholarships earned.

Here is an example of how to highlight academic achievements:

• Cumulative GPA: 3.9/4.0
• Marketing Excellence Award, 2014-2015 academic year
• Dean’s List, all semesters

Including Relevant Coursework

If you have taken courses that are relevant to the job you are applying for, consider including them in your resume. This can enhance your credibility and show that you have a solid foundation in the field. Be sure to only list courses that are applicable to the position you are seeking.

• Relevant coursework: Consumer Behavior, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Research, Social Media Marketing

By including your education and certifications in your resume, you can demonstrate your qualifications and enhance your chances of getting hired. Remember to highlight your achievements and only include relevant information to make a strong impression on potential employers.

Skills and Abilities

One of the most vital components of any winning resume is having a comprehensive list of skills and abilities that highlight why you are the perfect candidate for the job. In this section, you want to showcase all of your essential skills and experiences that match the requirements of the job you are applying for. Here are some essential tips for crafting this section of your resume.

Listing Key Skills and Abilities

Your list of skills and abilities should be tailored to your target position. Focus on your most significant strengths and list those that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have a specific skill that makes you stand out, make sure to emphasize it. Highlighting your strengths can help grab the attention of employers and convince them that you are the perfect candidate for the position.

Highlighting Relevant Experiences

Your resume should highlight the experiences you have that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. Be specific about the experiences you list, don’t just mention job titles. Mention your specific accomplishments, successes, and projects that you have worked on that demonstrate your abilities. Consider using action verbs to describe your experiences to convey your achievements more effectively.

Including Any Relevant Certifications or Training

Relevant certifications or training can be an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in a particular area. Include any pertinent credentials, certifications, or training courses that you have completed. They can be a great way to show off your accomplishments and enhance your credentials to potential employers.

Crafting the perfect skills and abilities section is one of the keys to crafting a winning resume. An effective list of your professional strengths, experiences and certifications can significantly increase your chances of getting your foot in the door with the perfect job. So don’t forget to take the time to tailor your skills and abilities to your target position and highlight your most relevant accomplishments.

Awards and Honors

As the cherry on top of a well-crafted resume, awards and honors showcase your excellence and credibility as a professional. They communicate to potential employers that you are skilled, hardworking, and worthy of recognition. Including an Awards and Honors section on your resume is not only a testament to your accomplishments but also a powerful tool to stand out among other candidates.

To effectively highlight your accolades, consider the following tips:

1. Determine which awards and honors are worth mentioning

Not every award or recognition belongs on your resume. Focus on those that are relevant to your industry, career objectives, and demonstrate your unique skills and strengths. Avoid listing irrelevant or outdated awards that could detract from your professional profile.

2. Provide context and details

Include details that provide insight into what led to the award or honor. Consider adding information on how you demonstrated excellence, the impact of your work, and the selection process. Use measurable results such as percentages or figures, if possible, to add more weight to your achievements.

3. Organize your Awards and Honors section

Consider grouping your awards and recognition by category, such as academic achievements, professional accolades, or community involvement. Within each category, list your honors in chronological order, starting with the most recent one. This way, you can showcase your most recent achievements and progress.

Here are a few examples of relevant awards and honors:

Professional association awards: These could include industry-specific recognition, such as the Best Sales Executive of the Year award or the Top Performer of the Quarter award.

Academic honors: These may include scholarships, dean’s list, academic awards, and other honors earned while in college or university.

Community service awards: These could involve recognition from a nonprofit organization you have volunteered for, such as Volunteer of the Year or Community Leader award.

Certifications: These recognize your specific skills and expertise in your field.

Academic Honors

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Professional Accolades

2019 Sales Executive of the Year XYZ Company

Certifications

Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) Scrum Alliance

Community Involvement

Volunteer of the Year ABC Nonprofit Organization

Remember, awards and honors should be included in your resume only if they are relevant to your industry, align with your professional goals, and provide relevant context. Leverage them to showcase your accomplishments and add credibility to your professional profile.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer experience can play a crucial role in crafting a winning resume. It demonstrates that you are not only committed to your career but also to making a positive impact on society. Here, we will discuss how to highlight relevant volunteer experience, explain the role and responsibilities, and show how it relates to the job requirements.

Highlighting Relevant Volunteer Experience

First, consider the relevancy of your volunteer experience to the job you are applying for. Is there a connection between the skills learned while volunteering and the skills required for the position? If so, make sure to highlight this in your resume.

Also, think about the impact of your volunteer work. Did you play a significant role in organizing an event or raising funds for a cause? Were you a leader or a team player? These are the types of accomplishments that employers want to see in a resume.

Explaining the Role and Responsibilities

When describing your volunteer experience, make sure to provide context about the organization you volunteered for, and the roles and responsibilities you took on. This context will help employers understand the level of experience and responsibilities you have taken on in the past.

Give a clear picture of what your responsibilities were, what you achieved, and what you learned from the experience. Employers want to know about the work you have done in terms of impact, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity.

Relating Volunteer Experience to Job Requirements

Finally, it is essential to show the employer how your volunteer experience relates to the job requirements. Look at the job description and identify the key skills and responsibilities. Then, align your volunteer experience with those skills and responsibilities.

For example, if you are applying for a job in marketing, and you volunteered for a local organization helping them with their online presence, talk about how you gained experience in social media management and digital marketing techniques.

By highlighting the relevancy of your volunteer experience, explaining the role and responsibilities, and showing how it relates to the job requirements, you are showcasing your skills, experience, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world. This will make your resume stand out to potential employers and increase your chances of landing that dream job.

Professional References

As you craft your winning resume, don’t forget to include professional references. These are individuals who can vouch for your skills, work ethic, and character, and can provide potential employers with additional insight into your qualifications.

Providing Professional References

When it comes to providing professional references, it’s important to ask for permission from the individuals you plan to list. You should also give them a heads-up about the type of position you are applying for, and any specific skills or accomplishments you want them to highlight. Be sure to provide their full name, title, company, phone number, and email address on your reference list.

Choosing the Right References

It’s important to choose references who can speak candidly and positively about your qualifications, work experience, and personality. Good candidates include former managers, colleagues, clients, or business partners who have worked closely with you and can provide valuable insight into your talents, abilities, and work style. Ideally, your references should also have experience in the same or related industries as the job for which you are applying.

Preparing the References for Contact

Before submitting your reference list to potential employers, it’s important to contact each reference to let them know they may be contacted. That way, they are prepared to speak about your qualifications and can provide a positive recommendation. Be sure to send them a copy of your resume and any job descriptions you are applying for, and ask if they have any feedback or suggestions to improve your application.

Professional references are an essential component of a winning resume. Follow these tips to choose the right references, prepare them for contact, and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

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How to Create a Job-Winning Resume

The resume is your most important job search tool. Your resume should effectively summarize your education, experiences, and accomplishments in a way that demonstrates your qualifications for the position you are seeking. Your resume may have a variety of information, but should at least include the following sections: Objective or Summary of Qualifications, Education, Experience and Activities.

In developing a resume, you are encouraged to:

• Pay careful attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation, and writing style
• Organize information in a logical fashion
• Keep descriptions clear and to the point
• Limit document size to one page if possible
• Use a simple, easy-to-read font

Building an Effective Resume

Step 1: getting started.

You should begin your resume with a heading that includes your name, address (optional), phone number with area code, and email address. You may not want to include a physical address for privacy concerns.

Step 2: Gather Information

What have you learned? The Education section highlights the knowledge you have acquired, and can include training, certifications, or licensure. List all degrees earned (or date to be earned), majors, concentrations, and institutions. List the degree title before the institution name. You may also want to include your GPA (especially if cumulative or major GPA is 3.0 or higher), relevant coursework, academic honors, and study abroad experience. The Honors section highlights Dean’s List, honor societies, and academic awards you have received.

What have you done? The Experience section highlights your (paid or unpaid) work-related accomplishments. Employers want to know what you have done and what experience you have that is worthy of consideration. Experience includes full-time jobs, academic research projects, internships or co-op positions, part-time jobs, or volunteer work. When describing each experience, give the position, title of organization, city, state, and dates employed. Use action verbs to begin each statement describing your accomplishments and duties in the job. Quantify people, products, and profits if possible.

Step 3: Identify Your Skills

Skills and competencies can be included in your Summary of Qualifications or a dedicated Skills section. These should be supported by the Education and Work Experience sections. There are three different types of skills you can include.

• Programming Languages – C++, Java, Python…
• Operating Systems and Databases – Windows, Linux, Oracle, MySQL…
• Laboratory Techniques – Distillation, Gel electrophoresis, Western Blotting, ELISA
• Software – AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access) 
• Functional Skills: Skills related to people, information, or things transferable from one field or occupation to another. Be able to identify several strengths in the categories of data (organizing, problem-solving, creating), people (communicating, supervising, teaching), and things (maintaining, operating, coordinating).
• Personal/Adaptive Skills: Skills that represent your style of working coordinated with your personal traits. For example: "Patient, creative, persistent, and energetic employee."

Step 4: Match Your Experience and Skills with an Employer's Needs

The content of your resume will change with applications to different jobs. The skills, qualifications and experiences you highlight should be closely related to the specific job description you are applying for. Include keywords from the job description to emphasize how well your skills and experiences match what the employer is seeking. 

Step 5: Organize Your Resume Effectively

When laying out your resume content, name and contact information should always be first. From there, you should include what is the most important to your targeted employer at the top and least important information will fall toward the bottom of the page. Keep in mind that additional categories can be created to represent your various strengths. Some additional sections include Leadership Activities, Relevant Skills and Experience, Interests, and Accomplishments.

References should always be presented on a separate page and not included with the resume. Prepare the reference page with the name, title, name of organization where the reference works, work address, telephone number and email address of each reference. Make sure that your references are aware that you have included them on your list. 

Step 6: Creating Your Draft

Length: Your resume should be easy to read. If it is too lengthy or unorganized, your potential employer may disregard it. Most undergraduates should keep their resume length to one page, but a two-page resume is an option for job seekers with more experience

Format: Balance the layout by making all four margins equal. Your resume should be visually pleasing at first glance. White space as well as bold, underlined, and italicized text helps important information stand out to the reader. Use a simple, easy to read font style and an overall font size between 10pt and 12pt. Your name at the top of the page should use a larger font size (14-18pt) so it stands out. 

Verbs: Describe your skills, abilities and accomplishments using action verbs. Use present tense for current duties and past tense for prior tasks. Do not include first person pronouns like “I” or “my.”

Useful action verbs to describe various job skills:

Management Skills

• administered
• established

Communication Skills

Research Skills

• investigated

Technical Skills

Teaching Skills

• coordinated
• facilitated

Financial Skills

Creative Skills

• revitalized

Helping Skills

• demonstrate
• familiarized
• represented

Administrative/Clerical or Detail Skills

• distributed
• implemented

Step 7: Ask for Feedback on Your Resume

Always get a second opinion on your resume. You know your intentions, but your wording might not be clear. In addition, a second opinion can help you correct mistakes and errors in format. Second opinions can come from an online critique through Career Services or from a one-on-one appointment with a Career Educator or Career Counselor. A friend, advisor, employer, or professor can also offer comments on your resume.

Step 8: Final Review

How does it look? Here is a checklist to help you evaluate:

• Content is directly related to the position you are applying for
• Name is at the top of the page and highlighted by large font
• Descriptions are action verbs with a consistent verb tense; current job is in present tense while past jobs are in past tense
• Work experience shows results of task performed
• Measurement: Do your best to quantify your work experience with results from your tasks
• Repetition of words or phrases is kept to a minimum
• Capitalization, punctuation, and date formats are consistent
• There are no typos, spelling, or grammar errors
• There is a rationale for each piece of information included

Organization

• The best assets - whether education, experience, or skills - are listed first
• The document is easily reviewed; categories are clear and text is indented when needed
• The dates of employment are easy to find and are in a consistent format
• Listings in different sections run from most recent to least recent

Format/Design

• Bold text and capitalization are used minimally and consistently
• Margins and line spacing keep the page from looking too jumbled or crowded
• Spacing and font size are consistent
• Font is easy to read and no smaller than 10 point size

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6 Simple Steps for Writing Winning Resumes

3 key takeaways:

• What qualities make a winning resume? 
• How to make a winning resume with the Teal AI Resume Builder
• Mistakes to avoid while writing a winning resume 

Nobody likes coming second in a race, especially when the prize is the job you’ve been waiting for. And like any competition, the current market demands not just participation but a compelling strategy to win. 

In this guide, you’ll find the tools and insights you need to craft that job-winning resume so you don't just participate but truly compete. 

What makes winning resumes?

The job market is competitive. You’ve likely seen this trend first-hand on LinkedIn, with many people sharing they’ve been “let go,” “lateralized,” or “decruited” (which are all lovely ways to say “let go”).

In other words, if you’re job searching, you’re certainly not alone.

And as the competition for each open role is higher, so is the bar with which you need to compete. So, when it comes to writing a resume, slapping together a bullet-point list of your skills and education simply won’t cut it. 

You need to take a few moments and ask yourself, “What would actually make my resume stand out?” 

The answer lies in crafting a job winning resume .

A winning resume goes beyond listing experiences. It's a strategic document tailored to highlight your unique skills, experiences, and qualifications in the best light. It should immediately communicate to employers that you're not just a good fit—but the perfect fit for the role.

Let’s take a moment to understand what makes a winning resume so crucial to the job search process.

First impressions matter 

First impressions are everything. 

Before you even get the chance to shake hands with a potential employer or introduce yourself in an interview setting, your resume speaks on your behalf. A winning resume not only details your experience but also conveys your professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to the role. 

This can instantly set a positive tone, making recruiters more receptive to exploring the possibility of bringing you on board.

Gateway to opportunities 

In the world of job applications, your resume is a lot like your passport. Without it, you're essentially grounded. And learning how to create a winning resume is what will get you off the ground.

Many job opportunities, especially in established companies, demand a resume right at the get-go. It's the first indicator to recruiters and hiring managers that filter who gets considered and who doesn't. 

A compelling resume doesn’t just meet this requirement; it maximizes your chances of moving to the next phase. And since you have to have one anyway, why not make it the best you possibly can? 

After all, you can be sure other candidates will be trying to put their best foot forward, too.

The ATS challenge 

Many companies today rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to handle the influx of resumes they receive. Human hiring professionals use these digital filing systems to search resumes for keywords and criteria. Then, they prioritize those that are the best fit. 

A winning resume is strategically crafted with this in mind. 

It seamlessly incorporates relevant keywords and presents information in a structured format that can be scanned by the ATS and searched by a hiring professional. By optimizing your resume for these systems, you significantly increase your chances of standing out as qualified.

Personal branding 

Your resume is a platform to showcase your personal brand—the unique combinations of experiences, skills, and values you bring to the table. This personal brand differentiates you from other candidates, so it’s important to understand how to make a resume your own. 

A winning resume ensures your application is unique and memorable, making you a candidate that hiring managers are excited to connect with.

Write your winning resume with Teal

Now, if all of this sounds a little (ok, a lot ) daunting, don't worry! 

Teal’s AI Resume Builder is a dynamic tool that uses these modern best practices, making the process streamlined, simple, and easy. 

With step-by-step expert guidance, Teal ensures that your resume makes a great first impression, opens the door for more opportunities, and makes your skills and qualifications stand out as unique and memorable—all in one central location.

How to write a winning resume

Navigating the world of resumes can feel like uncharted territory, but with the right guidance, you can quickly map out a clear path. 

Here are the essential steps on how to create a winning resume:

Step 1. Choose the right resume format 

There are three primary types of resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid (often referred to as skills-based). While there's a time and place for each, the chronological approach comes highly recommended for most job seekers. 

It traces your career progression, beginning with your most recent job and working backward to your first role. This allows recruiters to see your growth and potential at a glance. 

However, if you're at the start of your career or pivoting into a new one, a skills-based approach may serve you better. This format highlights hard skills (like tools and software) by placing them directly beneath your professional summary. 

That said, most people will find that a simple chronological resume that highlights a variety of relevant experiences gives them the best shot at landing an interview.

Step 2. Craft a compelling resume title

Your resume title , also known as a target title, is more than just a header. It serves as a bold declaration of your professional identity. In a sea of generic resumes, a resume title makes your first impression (remember how important those are?), so you’re immediately recognizable to hiring managers. 

The rule of thumb here? Keep it personalized, relevant, and aligned with the role you're eyeing.

That means tailoring each resume title to the specific job description. 

Fortunately, with Teal, crafting a bespoke resume for each job application has never been easier. With Teal, you can swiftly duplicate, modify, and manage your existing resumes, enabling you to personalize them according to the job description you’re working with. 

Step 3. Writing a professional summary 

This isn't your average introduction. Your professional summary is a snapshot of your career, capturing your expertise and unique value in a few impactful sentences. To make this section of your resume stand out, highlight your top wins that are 100% relevant to the role you’re applying for. 

But fret not; crafting this might sound challenging, but Teal's built-in AI is here to help you beat the blank page with a resume summary generator . Now, you can quickly draft your summary in seconds with the click of a button. 

Then, simply polish and refine the results to your liking. 

Step 4. Highlight your accomplishments

Your resume accomplishments are an employer magnet. Instead of a list of tasks you've performed, focus on tangible accomplishments—demonstrating your impact. 

Remember to quantify these achievements where possible. 

Think: "Led a team of 5 and boosted sales by 30%" instead of "Managed a sales team." 

The more specific you can be with your measurable impact, the better. 

Step 5. Include education and certifications 

Your academic and professional learning milestones are pivotal, especially if they're directly related to the job at hand. Make sure that this section is clear, concise, and showcases the most relevant or recent qualifications to the role you want.

Step 6. List your hard skills 

Your hard and soft skills are the building blocks of your professional persona. 

Modern resume practices emphasize weaving your key skills throughout your resume. Sure, if space allows, you can carve out a dedicated "Skills" section, spotlighting hard skills from the job description. 

As expert tech recruiter Leah Dillon puts it:

If you're including a list of hard skills on your resume, make sure they're relevant to the job you're applying for. Ask yourself: Are they listed explicitly in the job description? 

Remember, if you add soft skills from the job description, they should be included alongside metrics and impact to showcase their credibility. 

Step 7. Tailoring your resume to the job description 

One size doesn't fit all, especially when it comes to resumes. Tailoring your resume for each application elevates its relevance, signaling to employers that you've done your homework and genuinely care about the role. 

Understand the job description, identify the key skills and qualifications required, and ensure your resume mirrors them, showcasing you as the ideal fit.

Teal identifies both hard and soft skills embedded in job descriptions, ensuring you never miss out on key competencies employers are seeking. 

By seamlessly integrating these words into your resume, you’ll qualifications will align more closely with each role you’re applying to.

Don't let your application get lost in the digital shuffle. With Teal, you can position yourself at the forefront by aligning precisely with what employers are looking for. 

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a winning resume

Like everything in life, the journey to a winning resume isn't without its pitfalls. Fortunately, Teal CEO and Founder David Fano shares some common missteps many job seekers unwittingly make and how you can sidestep them:

1. Subjectivity over objectivity

Avoid seeing your resume through a subjective lens.

A common mistake is believing your resume is great just because you understand your own achievements. Instead, view it from a recruiter's perspective and ask, "Does this clearly show that I'm a great fit?"

2. Being vague about transferable skills 

Don't assume everyone will see your transferable skills as clearly as you do. 

A frequent oversight is thinking that certain abilities are self-explanatory. To avoid this, ask friends or family to review your resume and highlight any skills that aren't clearly showcased.

3. Overloading with irrelevant details

Avoid the trap of including everything you've ever accomplished. A common pitfall is thinking more information is always better. Instead, focus on showcasing the most relevant 10% of your experience. 

Pro Tip: With Teal, you can easily tailor your resume for each job, making your work history more dynamic and relevant.

4. Forgetting the competition

Don't craft your resume as if it's viewed in isolation. Remember, it will be compared to the resumes of other candidates. Your achievements and qualifications need to stand out. 

More specifically, leverage tools like Teal AI Resume Builder to extract keywords from the job description that will give you a better chance of aligning your qualifications.

5. Stagnation and discouragement

Don't get stuck with one version of your resume or get disheartened if you don't get immediate results. 

The job application process requires persistence. Keep refining your resume and stay hopeful.

The beauty is that with the Teal, many of these pitfalls become avoidable! 

Make a winning resume today

At the end of the day, crafting a winning resume can be the difference between landing that dream interview or getting lost in the shuffle.

Remember, it's not just about listing qualifications but weaving a narrative that showcases your value and potential. 

With all of this knowledge and insight, why wait? Create a resume that wins by getting started with Teal today ! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i tailor my resume for a specific job application, what is the ideal length for a winning resume, should i include a cover letter with my resume, and how should it complement my resume.

Nathan Thompson

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Part 1 - Resumes, e-Resumes, and CVs

How to write a job-winning resume.

• The Most Effective Resume Formats
• Resume Strategies for New Graduates
• Resume Strategies for Changing Careers
• Improving Resume Response
• Handling Requests for Salary Histories or Salary Requirements
• 5 Common Resume Screen-out Factors
• Including Graphics in a Resume
• Resume Length — Myths and Facts
• When to Include an Objective in a Resume
• The Difference between a Resume and Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• What Everyone Should Know about Electronic Resumes (e-Resumes)
• The Keyword Resume Explained
• The ASCII Text Resume Explained
• Submitting Resumes Electronically

Part 2 - Cover Letters and Letters of Application

Part 3 - federal resumes, ksa, ses, ecq, and government jobs.

One of the most important tools in a job seeker's arsenal — and possibly the one that is treated most casually by the job seeker — is the resume. How well could a carpenter perform with a broken hammer, or a surgeon with a faulty instrument? Likewise, landing the job that’s right for you will be far more difficult without a powerful, accurately targeted marketing tool.

Crafting an effective resume requires stepping back, making objective assessments of oneself, being organized, and writing well.

Where to Start

Before sitting down to write your resume, it is best to have a clear plan. As a result, it will be helpful to consider the following:

Find your direction

As you would for any journey, decide where you want to go. The more specific you can make this decision, the better. If you have been a widget-maker all your life and you wish to continue in this field, the decision is simple; if you want to switch to making thingamajigs, you will need to dig a little deeper and possibly do some in-depth personal assessments.

Once you have decided upon a goal, you have a resume target. This will guide you in selecting the details that match (as closely as possible) the requirements of the type of position you seek.

Uncover your qualifications and accomplishments

Identify the information you will be using including work history, education and/or training, certifications, accomplishments, strengths, etc. Keep in mind that your accomplishments and strengths help ensure you stand out from other candidates with similar skills; therefore, it is essential to draw out those most relevant to the position you are targeting so that you may showcase them in your summary and work history.

Many people, surprisingly enough, have difficulty recognizing their strengths and completely overlook some of the best accomplishments they have to offer. The trick to uncovering these key points involves looking at what you do (and/or have done) from the employer's point of view: How have your actions benefited the organization?

Everyone has accomplishments, yet often we are unaware of them. If you are particularly proud of something you have done, it is probably an accomplishment. Also, it can help to think in terms of challenge / action / result: What challenge existed? What action did you take? What was the result? If you can quantify the results — by using percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames, for instance — you will give your resume more authority and "punch" when an employer reviews it.

Consider the visual elements

Determine the design of your resume. If you generally submit a resume utilizing 8-point font and quarter-inch margins on all sides (a mistake often made by those who believe in the one-page myth), objectively assess the entire document. Will it stand out in a stack of resumes? Will your skills, strengths, and goals be quickly and easily identified?

White space can be used to your advantage. In fact, if you are at a mid-career level, a two-page resume is most common; and executives or those at highly experienced levels may find a two- or three-page resume is appropriate (depending upon your history and goals).

The idea is that you need not be concerned about keeping your resume to one page. It is more important that you present your most relevant qualifications and strengths in a clear and concise manner that maximizes the impact.

As You Craft...

Now that you have a plan, the next step involves crafting the resume; it is important to keep these fundamental strategies in mind:

The 15-second review

Employers are likely to spend only about 10-20 seconds on the initial pass. Your objective is to capture his/her attention while encouraging a more in-depth reading. This can be a valuable guide when deciding what to include in the summary and what to eliminate: Will it have enough impact to pass this rule?

The basic elements of an effective resume will include:

• A clean, visually appealing appearance that invites tired eyes to read.
• A dynamic and powerful summary of qualifications that targets the position requirements.
• Accomplishments emphasized in the initial summary and/or work history.
• Keywords and phrases appropriately placed throughout the document.
• A strong, well-written work history that highlights the last 10-15 years; earlier positions may be included in condensed fashion unless the skills are particularly relevant to your current goals.
• A section highlighting education, professional development (workshops, seminars, or other training that relates to your job goal), and other relevant certifications, publications, etc.
• Depending on your level, field, and goals, a table or list of specific technical skills may prove beneficial.

Summary of qualifications

Think of this as the "headline" to the "advertisement" that will "sell" you to the employer. Select your top skills, abilities, and strengths while ensuring they pertain directly to the type of job you are pursuing.

While it is critical to align your qualifications with the type of positions you are pursuing, quality of the writing is important, too. Write concisely, and write well. Keep in mind that while the language should be strong, sentence fragments are standard practice for resumes; however, cover letters need to be complete sentences (i.e., in first-person narrative form).

Work history

If you have a resume that details every job you have held beginning in high school, it will be a relief to know you may be able to eliminate them and free up a great deal of space for important information. You want to include information that demonstrates your strengths and illustrates your track record utilizing skills relevant to your job target. Positions you have held during the last 10-15 years are considered the most important unless you are a Senior Executive and you need to show a more complete career track. Sometimes earlier positions can be included in a block of additional experience.

It is important to be concise and pointed. Back up the statements made in the summary of qualifications with information that demonstrates how you used your skills and how they benefited your previous employers. Here, too, it is vital to remember your target, choosing and arranging information so that it will highlight your most relevant abilities and background.

Education and Training

An overview of your education is typically reserved for the end of the document; however, if it directly relates to your job target, you may place it early in the resume following the opening skill summary. This can be especially helpful if, for instance, you have a degree in widget making even though your work history has been largely in thingamajigs.

Give brief information that includes the level (e.g., associates, bachelors, etc.), kind (e.g., arts, science, etc.), and area (i.e. major and/or concentration) of degree(s) that you possess as well as the awarding institution and location.

If you have attended seminars include these. If you have obtained certifications in your chosen field, or ones that show you could easily secure any required certifications, list them either before or after the continuing-education portion of this block. The relative importance of the certifications will determine their position; for instance, a technical certification will be more important for a job involving information technology than one involving hospitality services.

Finally — A Resume that Gets Noticed!

You are just about done, and you should have a much stronger resume document. Just a few additional points to consider:

• Personal information — age, marital status, health, religion, and ethnicity should not be listed when seeking positions within the US. (When pursuing jobs in other countries -- particularly with non-US employers -- various personal data is often included, depending upon the country.)
• References are rarely included because they are submitted at a later stage in the process when mutual interest has been established between you and the employer.
• Often, particularly for a job you really want or need, there is no substitute for having a resume professionally prepared. Just knowing that writing specialists — who are highly trained and keep up with industry and job trends, and innovations in resume preparation — are preparing a powerful document for you can be a big boost of confidence, which allows you to wow interviewers. And you can't put a price on that.

Either way you do it, think positive and be confident as you enter your job search!

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Top 10 tips for writing a job-winning resume.

A resume is like a window into your professional career. It must tell a search committee enough to convey that you are a serious candidate and potentially a good leadership match for the institution, but it need not say everything.

Here 10 key tips that can help you refresh your resume and possibly land the interview.

Market Your Experience; Customize Your Response Think of your resume as a marketing brochure rather than an autobiography.

• Show that you’ve read the job description.
• Tailor your presentation to suit the job opening. 
• A scattershot approach of firing off the same generic resume to multiple jobs will not do the trick. 

A Resume is Not a Curriculum Vitae (CV) If you’re moving from an academic post to the executive leadership track, you will need to reframe your professional background.

• Streamline your experience.
• Present publications, grants received, and teaching and research experience as accomplishments.
• Present your skills and accomplishments in a manner that shows what you can do for the institution.
• Resumes are never more than two pages. One page, done properly, is even better.

Format Optional, Presentation Critical Resumes are usually presented chronologically or functionally. This is largely a matter of personal preference. More important than format is presentation.

• Your resume must be clean and good looking. 
• Make it easy to read.
• Keep it error free. There are no excuses for typos or bad grammar.
• Never send a Word document. Your formatting errors will look appalling. Always send it as a pdf.

Focus on Leadership The search committee will be looking for candidates who appear capable and competent on paper, but more importantly are leaders who can help move the institution to the next level.

• Focus on key leadership skills that will help the institution today, as well as the future.
• Emphasize both tangible and intangible leadership qualities.

Be Accurate and Truthful Your resume must be accurate and truthful.

• Do an internet search on yourself.  Look for both positive and negative information.
• Present all relevant professional information even if it might show weakness or raise concerns.
• Be prepared to turn perceived liabilities into strengths.

Avoid Phantom Experience Phantom experience (it never happened) is easily detected.  There is little hope of getting away with exaggerations or outright falsehoods in your resume.

• Don’t round up employment dates.
• Don’t take sole credit for work done by your team.
• Don’t exaggerate or overuse superlatives. They are an arrogant red flag.

Match Your Skills with Job Description Highlight your skills that are most germane to the position for which you are applying.

• Avoid resumes that bear no direct relationship to the job description.
• Include keywords and phrases from the job description to use in your resume.
• Quantify your key accomplishments as they relate to the job for which you are applying. 
• Consult a colleague who knows your background and can objectively edit your resume.

Right Resume for the Right Job You should have several resumes at the ready.

• Highlight skill sets that can be easily adapted to specific jobs.
• Some positions will demand a broad range of leadership and people skills. Write for this.
• Some positions are likely to be looking for operational skills. Focus on those.

Your Professional Life is Dynamic Think of your resume as a living document, always in need of tweaking and refining.

• Seek to learn new skills and display those on your resume as you perfect them.
• Attain credentials or certifications that will help you secure that next position up the ladder.
• Let your resume reflect those changes and ambitions.
• Promote yourself as someone a search committee should meet.

More From Forbes

5 winning resume strategies for executives.

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Crafting a resume that stands out is crucial when you are a senior professional, aiming to secure top executive roles.

The stakes are higher, and the competition is fierce, making it imperative to present a polished, impactful resume.

Here are five essential strategies to help you create a compelling resume that captures the attention of hiring managers and gets your foot in the door of the best companies.

Quantify your achievements

As an executive, you will be judged by the tangible results you deliver. Therefore, it's vital to quantify achievements wherever possible in your resume.

Instead of saying "led a team to success," specify how success was measured. For instance, "led a team of 20, increasing annual sales by 30%." This approach provides concrete evidence of capabilities and accomplishments, making the resume more compelling.

Metrics such as revenue growth, cost savings, market share gains, and efficiency improvements should all be highlighted.

Quantifying achievements not only validates skills but also demonstrates a clear track record of delivering results, which is exactly what hiring managers are looking for in their next executive.

Additionally, using percentages, monetary values, and timeframes can give a clearer picture of your impact, making your resume more persuasive.

Highlight your leadership skills

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Leadership is a critical quality for any executive role. Demonstrating this on a resume involves more than listing previous job titles. It’s about showcasing specific instances where leadership was effectively applied.

For example, discuss how strategic initiatives were implemented, how teams were motivated to exceed goals, or how crises were managed. Mention any mentoring or coaching roles too, as these underscore the ability to develop talent within the organization.

Highlighting these skills can help differentiate candidates who merely managed from those who truly led.

Demonstrating a history of effective leadership can persuade hiring managers of your potential to inspire and guide their team toward achieving company objectives.

You could also include anecdotes that illustrate your leadership style and its impact on team performance and morale.

The stakes are high, so it's imperative you present an impactful executive resume.

Use a professional format

A professional format ensures that a resume is easy to read and highlights the most important information. For executives, a clean, structured format with clear headings and plenty of white space is ideal.

Use a consistent font and size and avoid overly elaborate designs that can distract from the content.

Sections should include an executive summary, core skills, professional experience, and education. Each section should be clearly labeled and logically ordered.

You should also ensure that your contact information is prominently displayed and that your LinkedIn profile is updated to reflect your resume.

Professional formatting not only makes your resume aesthetically pleasing but also demonstrates attention to detail and a commitment to professionalism. It's the first impression a potential employer will have, so making it count is crucial.

Integrate personal branding

Personal branding is about presenting a cohesive narrative that encapsulates professional identity and unique value proposition.

This can be achieved by developing a strong executive summary that sets the tone for the rest of the resume. The summary should succinctly describe key strengths, areas of expertise, and career achievements.

Throughout the resume, ensure that the language used reflects personal brand attributes, such as being results-driven, innovative, or a visionary leader.

Aligning your resume content with your personal brand helps to create a memorable impression. It ensures that all the elements of the resume work together to tell a consistent and compelling story about who you are as a candidate and what you bring to the table.

You should also tailor your personal branding to align with the culture and values of the organizations you are targeting.

Show the financial and business impact you make

Hiring managers for executive positions are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate a significant positive impact on the company's bottom line. So it's essential to showcase how previous roles have contributed to financial and business growth.

Highlighting achievements such as increasing revenues, reducing costs, expanding market share, or improving operational efficiencies can be very persuasive.

Specific examples, such as "implemented a new marketing strategy that increased annual revenue by $5 million," provide concrete evidence of business acumen and strategic thinking.

This not only proves the candidate's ability to drive business success but also reassures potential employers of their capability to replicate these results within their organization.

Including these detailed examples helps paint a vivid picture of your capabilities and success stories.

A well-crafted resume serves as a powerful tool in the competitive landscape of executive job hunting, opening doors to new and exciting career opportunities.

Tailoring each section to align with the targeted roles and industries further enhances the chances of securing a prestigious position.

By implementing these five strategies, you can craft an executive resume that not only stands out but also convincingly demonstrates your suitability for your next top-tier role.

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