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First, let's review what a resume isn't.

It isn't a log of your job history.

It isn't a summary of skills.

It isn't going to automatically get you a job.

Think of your resume this way: It's an advertisement, and you are the product. Your goal is to get hiring managers to buy into what you're selling - which means giving you an interview.

To accomplish that, you need to see it as your marketing tool, your trusty belt buckle of tricks. Without it, you are powerless. However, simply having a one isn't enough to get you an interview.

Much like the flashing neon signs along the Vegas Strip, hiring managers are attracted to well-formatted resumes with attention-grabbing details. Statistics back this up - for instance, studies show that 8 out of 10 resumes are discarded with only a 10-second glance.

To stand out from the crowd, it's important that you know what to put on a resume to quickly demonstrate your ability. Otherwise, it might get thrown into the "no" pile before the hiring manager sees the full extent of your experience.

"A guiding principle of the resume writing profession is that there are no hard and fast rules."

To help you do this, we've written easy-to-follow steps on how to write a resume. From industry-specific formatting and writing suggestions to proper fonts and margins, we're here to break it all down for you.

Are you ready to learn how to make a resume that lands you your dream job?

Step 1: Choose From 3 Formats

So you are staring at a blank page on your computer wondering, " What is a resume and how do I start writing one?" Hundreds ask this same question every day and the reason is most likely due to the fact that there is no standard rule for formatting a resume.

To get started, try organizing all your information with a resume outline. This helps you see where your strengths and weaknesses are, and what aspects of your professional history you need to emphasize. Then, decide on what resume format is right for your application.

Your formatting decision comes down to 3 choices: Reverse-Chronological, Functional, and Combination. Each format has their own advantages and disadvantages, and each one orders the sections of a resume in a unique way. Below, you will find which one is best for you.

Format 1: Reverse-Chronological

This is the most traditional format, and what you're most likely to encounter in the real world (as an applicant or hiring manager). Chronological resume formats are generally more flexible, and can be used by applicants with any level of experience.

Details about the resume sections of this format:

1. Contact Information - The most consistent element across all three resume formats, contact details must be outlined near the top.

2. Resume Objective - This type of resume introduction can be used by anyone, and allows job-seekers to tailor their resume to their employer.

3. Work Experience - For this format, you must have a consistent work history (or one that isn't too patchy).

4. Additional Skills - Your skills section can still be used to highlight personal attributes you're proud of.

5. Education - Your degrees (any) and certifications (if relevant) should be prominent.

6. Accomplishments - Be sure to mention your most impressive awards and honors.

Format 2: Functional

While chronological places emphasis on career progression, a functional resume is for a skills-based resume. Since it heavily emphasizes the applicant's qualifications, functional format is more suitable for those with an expert level of experience.

The functional format has many of the same resume sections as the chronological, but with some key differences:

Details about the sections on this format:

1. Contact Information - Regardless of your format, this will be always near or at the top of your resume.

2. Resume Introduction - The functional resume uses a more robust introduction, such as a qualifications summary to highlight your strongest areas right off the bat.

3. Work Experience - Note how small this section is, and how time periods are omitted. This is to de-emphasize experience, and highlight other sections.

4. Relevant Skills Section - Skills are the greatest selling point for someone who lacks a clear work history, so this section must be robust.

5. Education - Include your highest degree, and feel free to list a key (relevant) certification here too.

6. Accomplishments - If you have any notable work-related awards, list the most significant.

Format 3: Combination

As you can probably guess, the combination resume format merges bits and pieces from both chronological and functional formats. Like the functional format, it focuses on specific qualifications, yet the body of the document contains professional experience similar to chronological format. This format is generally reserved for those with a great deal of experience in a particular industry.

Details about this format's sections:

1. Contact Information - Similar to the other two formats, contact details are at the top.

2. Professional Profile - Users of the combination format are often highly skilled, and the professional profile can highlight these skills in a concise way.

3. Work Experience - Experience is more fleshed out in a combination resume than it is in its functional counterpart.

4. Skills Section - With your arsenal of work-related skills, you can divide them into two sections based on importance.

5. Education - For someone using a combination format, education is less crucial. However, it's still definitely worth placing on the resume.

Before delving into what information you should add, it's important to remember that the information you include will largely depend on the format you choose. With that being said, below is a general guide to what information you should add and the order in which you should add it.

Name (largest font on page, middle initial is optional)

Mailing Address

Telephone Number (Check that you have an appropriate voicemail message)

Email Address (make sure it's appropriate, don't use your sexypanda45@gmail.com account.)

Link to online portfolio (optional, ensure it is relevant to the position)

LinkedIn Profile

Here are 3 different examples of how you can format your contact information section (pay attention to the yellow borders):

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Also, be careful not to accidentally add the contact information in the resume header, as applicant tracking systems may not be able to read it.

Step 3: Select (& Write) a Winning Resume Introduction

Job seekers have five primary choices to pick from when writing a resume introduction:

1. The resume objective (also known as a career objective)

2. The summary of qualifications (or qualifications summary)

3. The resume profile (sometimes referred to as a professional profile)

4. The resume summary (also called a professional summary)

5. The resume "About Me" section

Resume introductions are all written with the same goal in mind: to gain the attention of a prospective employer by highlighting relevant skills and experience.

However, the method through which each introduction achieves this goal differs. See below:

Resume Intro 1: Qualifications Summary

With regards to format, the qualifications summary is a bullet point list (ranging from 4 to 6 points) of your most outstanding career achievements. Avoid using generic statements and try to list your skills in a way reflects your unique voice.

Resume Intro 2: Resume Objective

A resume objective (or career objective) is a 2-3 sentence statement that provides an overview of your skills and experience. This intro is best for entry-level candidates.

Resume Intro 3: Professional Profile

The professional profile is a combination of both the career objective and qualifications summary. It is also the most flexible of the four styles as it can be formatted as a short paragraph or bullet-point list.

Resume Intro 4: Resume Summary

Resume summaries (sometimes referred to as "professional summaries") include four to five bulleted sentences that highlight your past achievements by using quantifiable data. To make this data stand out, each sentence includes a bolded subheading to guide hiring managers to your most marketable traits.

Finally, when deciding what skills to add to either of the two, try to target skills specific to the job you are applying for. Don't just simply copy and paste skills right out of the job description (although you can use a few words strategically - we'll get to that shortly). Instead, try to use resume words that are common in the industry.

Still not sure how to begin your own resume? Our simple resume introduction flowchart will show you how to start a resume that inspires interviews .

Step 4: Highlight Your Relevant Work Experience

This section is one of the most essential parts of a resume, and is where you are tasked with proving the skills you've listed in your qualifications summary or career objective. When it comes to labeling this section some use "Relevant Experience," or "Work Experience" as an alternative to "Professional Experience."

Remember to list your work experiences in reverse chronological order and only list experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for. For each company create a heading including the company's name, city and state, your title, and the dates of employment (month and year).

If you're still currently working at a company, you can simply write "[month], [year]-present" for the employment dates.

A general rule is that each experience have around 3-5 bullet points of your main duties and achievements.
3 Parts of a strong bullet point:

Trained 5+ cashiers, managing their cash limits and guaranteeing quality customer service at all times.

Example 2: (Note that the Quantifiable Point does not need to come immediately after the action verb)

Spearheaded the development of the first media kit amalgamation for all company projects, increasing national sales by 8%.

The above bullet points are great examples because they use action verbs to help to snatch the attention of hiring managers. When writing your past experiences don't forget to write your action verbs in past tense.

Tailor Your Experience to the Job Advertisement

One strategy for making your experience section even better is to create it with a specific job advertisement/company in mind (also see how to tailor your resume education section). Finding certain key verbs and occupation-specific nouns inside the ad, then spreading them cleverly throughout your resume, is a great way to strike a chord with the hiring manager.

Check out the following marketing specialist posting (with green underlines for verbs blue for nouns/skills)from Indeed.com:

For an aspiring marketing specialist, there are numerous language cues spread throughout this advertisement. It's up to the job seeker to capitalize on them.

Using the ad above, we've created three example experience bullets for a resume where the applicant has one year of relevant experience.

3 Example Experience Bullets (Based on Job Ad)

The example below demonstrates how to candidate strategically pepper the verbs and nouns/skills found in the job ad into your work experience section:

Taylord's Marketing Firm, Reno, NV
July 2017 - August 2018

Analyzed SEO data points using Google Analytics, prepared relevant presentations

Pitched various digital marketing solutions to clients, with a 98% success rate

Worked with cross-channel teams to develop creative marketing strategies, boosting sales 37% in one year

Step 5: Create a Pro Education Section

Having a solid education section helps to display the foundation of your knowledge and expertise. Depending on your professional experience, you may want to consider switching the order of the professional experience and education sections.

For instance, college or high school students that lack seasoned professional experience benefit from emphasizing their education by placing it before the professional experience section.

On the other hand, if you possess a wealth of professional experience, then it's appropriate to keep this section short and sweet.

Here are the main points to include in your education section:

The names of your university, community college, or technical school (Don't include high school unless you did not attend college)

Location of the schools (city, state)

Date of graduation (month, year)

Degree(s)

GPA (only include GPA on your resume if you're writing a college graduate resume and your GPA is above 3.0. Round up to the first decimal place, and use this format: 3.5/4.0)

Here are three examples of how you can format an education section:

Example 1 (Construction Worker)

Example 2 (Business Analyst)

Example 3 (College Student)

Step 6: Use a Range of Hard & Soft Skills in Your Resume

Hiring managers are on the lookout for skilled individuals. While listing a heap of skills on your resume doesn't actually prove you're skilled, spreading your various capabilities throughout your resume will catch the eye of whoever is vetting your application.

Fitting various skills into your resume's introduction and even work experience section will help strengthen your candidacy. And of course, there's a skills section for you to really dive in there depending on your field. But first:

Hard vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?

Hard Skills

To keep it concise: hard skills are concrete, quantifiable abilities. Language fluency, competency using computer programs, or being able to operate heavy machinery all count as types of hard skills. Here's a list of 24 popular hard skills on a resume:

Accounting Tools (SAP, Oracle, etc.)

Web Architecture

Data Presentation

Technical Reporting

Software QA and User Testing

Foreign Languages

Software Development

Statistical Analysis and Data Mining

Automative Services

Public Speaking

Cloud Apps (JSON, Rest, etc.)

Database Management and Software

Adobe Creative Suite

Data Engineering and Data Warehousing

Content Management Systems (CMS)

Vulnerability Analysis

Perl / Python / Ruby

Mac, Linux, and Unix Systems

Java Development

Business Intelligence

Bookkeeping

UX / UI Design

Soft Skills

Soft skills, on the other hand, are more personality-centric traits. Things like being a team player, being driven to succeed, or having a great attitude all fall under this general umbrella. Below is a table of 24 soft skills that employers are on the lookout for:

Here's what including both types of skills on a resume might look like. Soft skills are underlined in blue, and hard skills are marked in red.

A great resume has a balance of both hard and soft skills. If you feel like you're lacking in either and the above tables didn't quite do it for you, we have a guide to the top ten hard skills employers love plus a giant list of soft skills for you to peruse at your leisure.

Technical Skills

Some careers, such as those in the IT or engineering fields, require specialized knowledge and hands-on skills. Within the IT industry, a software manager's responsibilities will differ from company to company. A technical skills section is helpful in showcasing your knowledge of specific systems.

To prevent this section from taking up too much space, try breaking up this section into categories and list your skills within each. For example:

Software: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Visio, and Oracle

Programming Languages: Excel at HTML, C++, and Python

If you're not sure how to achieve this, check out our information technology (IT) applicant's resume, and note how his technical skills are at the front and center:

The "Skills" or "Additional Skills" Section of Your Resume

Additional skills sections are a ubiquitous element of the modern resume. Since you likely plan on including your own, make sure it's concise and only includes skills relevant to the job you're applying for.

Note that great additional skills sections often end up being a combination of hard and soft skills. This section is similar to technical skills, but is often used by job seekers working in fields that don't specifically require advanced competencies.

If you have a wide swath of abilities, feel free to break this section into hard and soft skills, like so:

Even if you have already added skills to your career objective or qualifications summary, it doesn't hurt to add a few more. For instance, someone like an IT manager who works with a wide array of programs and techniques will in turn have a wide range of skills to fill both their qualifications summary and additional skills section.

Step 7: Tie in Key Certifications, Awards, & Honors

By now you've already added the nuts and bolts to your resume. Below are a few sections you may want to consider adding to help strengthen it.

Certifications/Licenses

The certifications section is the most important of the other sections you can include, but adding a certifications or licenses section is largely dependent on your industry. For example, the nursing field has strict licensing requirements while the customer service sector does not.

If your industry requires certifications the hiring manager will be intent on finding them in your application. Make sure to thoroughly research your industry to find any relevant certifications or licenses you may have missed.

Publications

Adding a publications sections is important for graduate students who have published articles that are relevant to the job they are applying to. List your articles in reverse chronological order by publishing date. Choose the referencing style that is appropriate to your discipline.

It also acceptable to add works that have yet to be published. You may label these as "Works in Progress" or "Submitted for Publication." Here is an example of how a publications section may appear in a resume.

Awards/Honors/Activities

This section adds another layer of customization to your resume by providing evidence of your abilities. Adding relevant awards and activities helps you stand out from your competition. If this section becomes too lengthy, feel free to break them up into smaller sections. Here are some items to consider adding:

Step 8: Stylize Your Resume

Whew! So the hard part is over. You have all your content typed up and you are feeling confident about getting that interview. Now for the finishing touches. It's time to design your resume. But first, let's address one of the more controversial elements of writing a resume:

How many pages should a resume be?

This is the most argued point of resume writing. Some professionals vigorously discourage applicants from going over one page, while others argue that in some instances it is acceptable. The bottom line is this: if you have information that is highly relevant to the position you are applying for, then go ahead and add an extra page.

Otherwise, make it one page. If you are just adding fluff for the sake of adding pages, your resume will suffer.

Choose a Suitable Font & Size

Certain resume fonts are best suited for particular industries. There are some broad Dos and Don'ts when it comes to choosing your font and sizes:

For sizing, many resumes follow a 24, 12, 10 format. This means that the name is 24 pt, the body headers are 12 pt, and the bullet points are 10 pt.

"If the hiring manager needs to put on their glasses just to make out your experience, then your application will be on one-way trip to the trash can."

This is by no means a rule, but rather a guideline to consider following. Just remember to keep readability in mind when choosing sizes. If the hiring manager needs to put on their glasses just to make out your experience, then you might as well throw away your application yourself.

When choosing your font, the choice will come down to a "serif" style or a "sans serif" style. The major difference is that serif fonts have small lines on the ends of their letters, while the sans serif does not. Again, the choice is based on your preference, and what you think will be the easiest for a potential employer to read.

It's worth noting whether your resume is a paper version or an electronic version. For a paper version it's better to use serif fonts, while electronic versions look better in sans serif fonts. Below are some popular font choices.

Add Some Strategic Lines

Lines are great to use to help break up the resume and allow potential employers to better process the information. Line breaks commonly begin after the career objective or qualifications summary. From there, they are used to break each subsequent section.

How you divide your resume is ultimately up to you, but just don't go page break crazy for every bit of information. Too many page breaks will ruin its readability.

Here are three ways of implementing lines into your resume for you to consider:

Use Effective Margins

Margins are the first thing a potential employer will notice about your resume, so it's important that they are appropriately set. One inch margins are the safe bet for applicants that lack experience. If you have a wealth of experience that you are trying to fit to one page then it is acceptable to reduce to the margins.

We advise caution when reducing the margins. If they are too small, your pages will look overcrowded. To be safe, it's recommended to not go below .5".

Step 9: Write a Matching Cover Letter

Now that you know how to write your dream resume, you might be wondering: is a cover letter necessary? The answer is yes, always include a cover letter if you have the option.

Knowing how to write a good cover letter and then pairing one with your resume will round out your application and is going to boost your chances of landing an interview.

Your cover letter gives you a chance to connect with a hiring manager on a deeper level than your resume does, and together these two crucial documents work in tandem to get you satisfying work. But be sure to check out our full list of cover letter tips when you write yours to guarantee you're hitting all the right points.

Here's an example of what a resume paired with a matching cover letter might look like (we think it looks pretty sharp):

Inspired? We have a boatload of free cover letter templates and matching resume templates for you to download if you're in a hurry to get started.

You've already put the energy into learning how to write a great resume - there's no reason to not put in some effort and make the best cover letter possible.

Step 10: Proofread Your Resume & Finish Strong

Once you've written your resume and cover letter, you're in pretty good shape to send out that first application. However, you're not quite done yet.

Edit & Proofread (More Than Once)

Even if you're a Harvard-educated doctoral candidate or the state spelling bee champion, proofreading and editing your application documents can still save you from potentially embarrassing mistakes.

Read it over several times yourself at different times of the day to be sure everything is looking sharp. Something that sounded good the night before might not look as great in the morning once the sun comes up and you're better rested.

Also, hand it off to a friend or family member who can give it a run-through. If they're unable to decipher your resume and cover letter, it's a good sign that you may need to make some adjustments.

Save Your Files (In Multiple Formats and Multiple Places)

While most hiring managers will be able to open a Microsoft Word document, it doesn't hurt to also save your resume in PDF form as well.

You can also save copies on your computer, print off several for your own records, and even upload your documents to Google Drive - ensuring that if anything suddenly happened to your computer, your hard work would be saved on the cloud.

Email Your Application (Like a Boss)

Writing an effective email is an art form. If you can master it, you'll be in high demand for a wide range of jobs related to assisting customers and clients.

It's crucial that you don't come off as overly polite, because it will make you sound insincere. However, you don't want to appear cold or standoffish either.

There are four keys to writing an email that gets attention from hiring managers for the right reasons:

1. Use the hiring manager's name. Avoid "To Whom It May Concern," because it's stodgy and lazy).

2. Make sure your email flows well, and has no flagrant spelling or grammar errors. Re-read it yourself, and have a friend or family member take a look too.

3. Attach your application documents in multiple formats (Word and PDF should do the trick).

4. Include a "Call to Action." Let them know you'd be happy to communicate via email, but give them a phone number to reach you at as well. Also, politely let them know you'll be in touch after a week if you haven't heard from them by that point.

Be sure you don't have any compromising photos of yourself strewn about the internet, because hiring managers might be on the lookout for them.

With a well-edited resume and cover letter locked down and an excellent application email drawn up, your job prospects are in a good place. Stay optimistic, and the hard work will pay off.

Conclusion

You've made it! Give yourself a pat on the back. At this point, you should be familiar with the ins and outs of how to make a resume perfectly tailored to your next job prospect. Plus, you should even be on the right track to pair that resume with a top-notch cover letter, and smoothly send out your full application to your future employer.
Does all of this sound a little bit too demanding? If so, let our free resume builder do all of the hard work for you.
Resume Writing FAQs

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How to Write a Great Resume | The Complete Guide

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A well-written resume (or CV) will hugely impact your job hunt. Our comprehensive writing guide will help you make a resume that turns heads and lands you interviews. Our expert's A to Z walkthrough covers every detail of the writing process - with this guide, you won't miss a step.

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When you are writing a resume, there are a number of resume formats you can choose, including chronological, functional, and targeted resumes. However, regardless of the format you select, there are certain guidelines that most resumes should follow.

Here's information on what to include in your resume, as well as what shouldn't be listed on your resume. There are also guidelines for resume length, font, and page margins.

What to Include in Your Resume

Here's some information that you should be sure to include on your resume:

Identification

Include your name, address, telephone number, and email address in the identification section at the top of your resume, or consider one of these other options for addressing your resume.

Use a professional email address (i.e., johnsmith@gmail.com rather than soccerlover@hotmail.com).

Objective (Optional)

This section is optional. If you decide to include a resume objective, keep it concise and specific; state your desired job or field, and what you hope to accomplish in that field.

Profile (Optional)

Another optional section is a resume profile, which includes a summary of your skills, experiences, and goals written specifically for a job posting.

Here's more information on what to include and how to format a resume education section.

Include the degrees you have received in reverse chronological order (with the most recent degree listed first).

Be sure to include the name of each institution, its location, and your date of graduation (or expected date of graduation).

When applicable, include your major/minor fields, as well as your GPA and any honors, publications, and projects.

Unless you are a current high school student, do not include your high school degree.

Experience

Here is more information on the experience section of a resume, including what to list, and how to format it.

Include your work experience in reverse chronological order (with the most recent degree listed first).

This section can include jobs, internships, and volunteer work. High school students might also include clubs and sports teams when applicable.

Include the name of the company, the position, and dates of employment.

List roughly three important tasks, accomplishments, or skills gained at each job. Use action verbs to describe your achievements; avoid passive phrases such as responsible for and duties include.

Skills (Optional)

Here's information on the skills section of a resume.

Include any computer systems with which you are proficient, particularly if they are related to the position for which you are applying.

Include foreign languages with which you are familiar; state both the language and your level of familiarity (beginning, intermediate, proficient, fluent).

List any other skills you have that relate to the job but are not included elsewhere in your resume.

Volunteer Work (Optional)

You can include a volunteer experience section to convey your leadership, communication skills, etc. List the name of the organization, the dates of your volunteer work, and your achievements.

Hobbies and Interests (Optional)

You can also include a section on your hobbies and interests if they relate to the position. For example, if you are applying to work at a sporting goods store, you can include your passion for basketball.

Resume Writing Guidelines

Resume Length

Your resume should be as concise as possible; two pages is typically the maximum length, but one page is preferable if you can fit your credentials on a single page. Here's more about resume length and how long your resume should be. If you need to get your resume on a single page, here's how to tighten it up and gain extra space.

Review Examples:

One-Page Resume (for an entry-level candidate)

Two-Page Resume (for an experienced candidate)

Font and Size

Do not use ornate fonts that are difficult to read. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or a similar font is best. Your font size should be between 10 and 12, points although your name and the section headings can be a little larger and/or bold. Here's how to select a font for your resume.

Page Margins

The standard page margins in word processing programs (1" margins on the top, bottom, and left and right sides of the page) work for most resumes. However, if you need to tighten the margins to reduce the length of your resume, it's fine to reduce the margins to a 1/2" on the sides and top and bottom.

However, you decide to organize the sections of your resume, be sure to keep each section uniform. For example, if you put the name of one company in italics, every company name must be in italics. If you bold one job title, bold them all.

Information to Avoid

You don't need to include personal information such as birthday, height, weight, marital status, children, etc., on your resume.

Be sure to edit your resume before sending it. Check spelling, grammar, tenses, names of companies and people, etc. Have a friend or career services counselor check over your resume as well. Use this proofreading checklist to make sure your resume is perfect.

Resume Sample

This is an example of a resume. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Resume Sample (Text Version)
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN EDUCATION
More Resume Resources

Resume Samples: It's always helpful to review sample resumes to get ideas for your resume and to see what a properly formatted resume should look like. Here are sample resumes for a variety of occupations, types of jobs, levels of jobs, and resume formats to review to get ideas for your own resume.

Resume Templates: Use these resume templates as a starting point for creating your own resume. Add your information to the resume template, then tweak and edit it to personalize your resume, so it highlights your skills and abilities as related to the jobs for which you are applying.

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Here Are Guidelines for What to Include in a Resume

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When you are writing a resume, there are a number of resume formats you can choose, including chronological, functional, and targeted resumes. However, regardless of the format you select, there are certain guidelines that most resumes should follow. Here's information on what to include in your resume, as well as what shouldn't be listed on your resume.

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resume

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Landing an interview is a race against the clock. With many job seekers competing for just one position, you need a resume that has no equal in terms of relevance and clarity.

To achieve your next career goal, make a comprehensive resume document that contains all the key information and addresses the job requirements accurately. Let's get started with our step-by-step advice on how to make a resume.
In this guide, you'll get:

Detailed instructions on how to make a successful resume for your desired job, with good and bad examples.

Expert quotes with a proven approach to resume writing.

10 complete resume examples for various jobs that adhere to the current resume writing standards.

Frequently Asked Question section to dispel your doubts about how to create a resume that hits your career goals.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It's fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Create your resume now
Sample resume made with our builder-See more resume examples here.

How to Make a Resume in 9 Simple Steps:

1. Choose the Right Resume Format

2. Add Contact Information and Personal Details

3. Start With a Resume Summary or Resume Objective

4. List Relevant Work Experience & Key Achievements

5. Reference Your Education Correctly

6. Put Relevant Skills that Fit The Job Ad

7. Include Additional Resume Sections

8. Complement Your Resume With a Cover Letter

9. Proofread & Email Your Resume the Right Way

You can also start by watching our video to get the basics of resume writing:

Alright, let's dive right in!

1. Choose the Right Resume Format

Before you start writing your resume, you need to take care of the canvas prior to painting your application. It'll help you organize your document; recruiters will bid in interviews when they see your craftsmanship.

There are 3 main resume formats:

1. Chronological resume-has a classic resume layout, emphasizing your work experience and professional accomplishments. It lists your work history in reverse order, from the most current going backward. It's the most popular among all-level candidates and recruiters, and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can read it, too.

2. Functional resume-emphasizes your skills and qualities, hence the secondary name, skills-based resume. The most important resume section is the skills summary, whereas your work history takes a back seat. Use it for your creative resume or when transitioning to civilian with a military resume.

3. Combination resume-a hybrid of the two above. It highlights your experience and skill set. It's best for professionals with a vast amount of relevant experience to show off. But, it's also a good choice for career change resumes and covering employment gaps if you wish to do so.

Is there any safe bet when writing your resume? Yes, there is-the chronological resume. See what it looks like:

Here's how to format a chronological resume:
Technicalities

Create even margins on your resume, 1-inch on all sides.

Set a legible resume font for the text, like Calibri, or Verdana, in 10-12 pts. For headings, use 13-14 pts in font size.

Use single or 1.15 line spacing. And add an extra line before and after a heading.

Exceed a resume's page limit only when unavoidable. Stick to one page for the best results.

Sectioning

Start with a resume header. Make it distinctive to highlight your name and contact information.

Organize your resume sections in the following order: summary/objective, work experience, education, skills, and extras.

Use bullet points for your entries under each section.

Find resume icons for each section or skip them altogether.

File format

See what the job ad says. Look for a preferred file formatting (PDF or .docx) in the job description.

If the company asks to send resumes in Microsoft Word .docx format, creating your resume in Word and sending it as required is a good idea.

Format your resume in PDF. PDFs preserve the structure and formatting on all devices.

Name your resume file by including the job title first, then the word resume, and lastly, your full name, separated by hyphens or underscores-for example, accountant-resume-jane-doe.pdf.

Pro Tip: Consistency on your resume draft is crucial, just like your consistency as their future employee. For example, format your dates any way you'd like (31 Dec, December 31, 12-2020, etc.), but follow the same throughout.

2. Add Contact Information and Personal Details

A career diplomat knows what information to disclose and which is better to hold back. Likewise, there are basic items that you must include in the contact information section, but you should also know what not to put on a resume.

Here's what to keep in mind when constructing your contact information section:

Include your first name and last name first. Then, provide your current or the most recent job title.

Add your phone number and an email address. Don't mention your second email address, though, as it may confuse the reader.

Include your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Alternatively, add a personal website; they're becoming increasingly popular for creatives or jobs in information technology.

Avoid adding information such as date of birth, as it could lead to ageism. Similarly, leave your home address off your resume unless it's required.

If you're applying for a job in the US, don't add a photo unless it's an acting or a modeling position.

Use a resume headline if you don't want to go for a resume summary or objective. They usually cover that part.

See how you could arrange your header and personal details:

Pro Tip: Before a recruiter or hiring manager can look you and your employment history up, you better sanitize your online presence! That means removing any offensive posts and making private things private. While at it, optimize your LinkedIn profile to make it up-to-date and complete.

3. Start With a Resume Summary or Resume Objective

A hiring manager will scan your resume in 7 seconds, our HR statistics report says. That means the top of the page will likely have the most eye time. And that's where the resume summary or objective statement is.

Here's how to write a resume profile that makes the recruiter stop and stare:

What Is a Resume Summary & When to Choose It

A resume summary is a 2-3 sentence paragraph that gives recruiters a gist of your relevant experience and boasts about your accomplishments in the field. The purpose of a resume and summary is to immediately draw attention to your candidacy and paint a picture of a fit applicant.

Choose the summary if you have enough relevant experience to condense your position-related skills and qualifications.

Let's take a look at how to write a professional summary with right and wrong examples for clarity:

Difference? WRONG focuses on everyday duties, whereas RIGHT shows graphic design skills, achievements, and experience. The RIGHT examples also mention the company by name. That is a great way to make sure your resume feels personalized rather than just sent to every company out there.

Pro Tip: If you have enough experience, consider writing a summary of qualifications instead.

What Is a Resume Objective & When to Choose It

A resume objective is a short statement providing insight into the qualities and skills you can transfer to the company. The goal of an objective is to show your potential employer what you can help them achieve, considering your skill set.

Choose the resume objective statement if you have no work experience or at least none related to the position you're applying for (entry-level applicants, career changers, students, etc.).

Let's look at another set of right and wrong examples for writing a career objective:

The RIGHT one uses some transferable skills from the previous company and proud achievements, with numbers as they speak louder than words. The WRONG one doesn't show enough to hold the hiring manager's attention. Plus, both WRONG examples above used the first person. Avoid this in your resume.

4. List Relevant Work Experience & Key Achievements

If you think of your resume as a fancy meal, the experience section is the main course. It includes the most important things to put on a resume, like your work history and achievements.

Let's go through the various job history components of the perfect resume experience section now.

How to Design a Work Experience Section on a Resume

1. Job title: This should go at the very top of each work history entry so that it's easy for potential employers to scan and find. Make it bold or increase the font size by 1pt or 2pts from the rest of the entry.

2. Company, city, state: In the second line, include the previous employer's company name and the city and state of your location.

3. Dates employed: Thirdly, put the timeframe of your employment there. You should add the month and the year, but there's no need to put exact days.

4. Key responsibilities: Focus on 5 to 6 essential job duties most relevant to the new job and list them in reverse chronological order. Use present tense to describe current job and past tense to discuss previous experience.

5. Key achievements: Often overlooked but super important. Employers know what you did. They need to know how well you did them. Say it using action verbs to reinforce your capabilities.

The recommended way to build your work experience section entries is this, in this exact order:

Think about accomplishments you've had, not necessarily meaning solid sales numbers or percentages. Were you involved in something that had great success? If so, include it! Showing what you've done beyond your daily duties is what will prompt employers to call you. Employers want to hire someone who exhibits motivation, participation, and ambition.

The work experience section of your resume, where you describe your past jobs, is the most crucial component of your whole job application. Dive deeper to make sure you get it right: Work Experience on a Resume: Job Description Bullets that *Kill* [100+]

How to Tailor Work History Entries to a Job Description

To tailor a resume means to make it as relevant to the job description as possible by including keywords taken out of a job ad and scattering them throughout the resume. The idea is to show the ATS software you have what it takes to take on the role.

You can include the keywords that an ATS will scan and assign you a score. The more relevant keywords, the higher the score you get. That leads to getting your application seen by a recruiter.

Duties (coordinate marketing campaigns, plan and implement promotional campaigns, etc.)

Skills (project management, marketing communications, B2B marketing, etc.)

Qualifications (5 years of experience, marketing or business-related degree, etc.)

Qualities (creative mindset, etc.)

To create an ATS-friendly resume, refer to the job description and look for resume keywords related to your responsibilities. They can touch upon the following:

Later, when writing your work history section, use (or refer to) as many of the above as possible in your duties and key achievements.

How Much Work Experience to Include on a Resume

A resume should go back at most 10-15 years. But the more experience you have, the less you should worry about the length of your resume. Don't try to cram everything into a one-page resume if you're a highly experienced candidate. And don't mention academic achievements unrelated to the role, only to land on a two-page resume.

First-time job hunters with no work experience can still include other gigs, such as a student organization role, internship, or volunteer experience, to fill out your experience section.

Entry-level candidates should list and describe all paid work, particularly calling out the most relevant responsibilities and achievements.

Mid-level job seekers should include detailed job descriptions of relevant positions and mention any other roles briefly.

Senior-level applicants, such as executives and managers, should list up to 15 years of relevant work experience with powerful action verbs to introduce each bullet point.

Let's go into greater detail:

Experienced a spell of unemployment? Don't worry! Check out our guide: How to Explain Gaps in Your Resume

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

When you're done, Zety's resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

5. Reference Your Education Correctly

Many people consider the education section an afterthought, but you shouldn't. It's an essential part of your resume structure. Simply because it's an excellent opportunity to prove your qualifications and gain some bonus points for relevancy.

1. Degree: Place your highest degree first. That means leaving out the high school info if you finished a university or college.

2. University: Add the name and location.

3. Dates attended: List your dates of attendance, mentioning the month and the year. There's no need to be as specific as including the days.

See how to list your credentials in the exact order:

Such an entry entails the essentials, which is the best solution for candidates with more than a year of experience. If you're writing an entry-level resume, consider adding the following:

Pro tip: As for mentioning your GPA on a resume, it's only a good idea if you graduated recently and your GPA was high enough to impress employers-at least 3.5. Otherwise, just leave it off your application. Also, don't round your GPA up.

For example:

What is the proper education section format? Check out our article: How to Put Education on a Resume

6. Put Relevant Skills That Fit the Job Ad

Hard skills are specific abilities and know-how (e.g., Photoshop, using a cash register).

Soft skills are self-developed, life-learned attributes (e.g., social skills, adaptability).

Your skills are crucial to making your resume relevant to the position (and attractive to employers). A good resume uses the job ad as a reference and includes relevant skills to show you're a good fit for the job. There are two types of skills you can include in your resume:

These comprise a skill set and a job seeker's range of skills and abilities.

What Skills to Put on a Resume

Remember that job description you had handy from earlier? Reread it, paying attention to any specific skills that it mentions. If you have any of them, great-those are the keywords to put on your resume.

Communication skills: These can consist of people skills, non-verbal communication, active listening skills, and interpersonal skills.

Leadership skills and management skills: An ability to be a good manager, leader, and supervisor.

Critical thinking skills: Making thought-based decisions and taking the initiative. Includes analytical skills, decision-making skills, and problem-solving skills.

Organizational skills: A knack for planning, organizing, and seeing initiatives through.

Transferable skills: For career changers, these are abilities you learned to carry to your new position.

Technical skills: Knowledge required to perform specific tasks, like computer skills or clerical skills.

Job-specific skills: Particular prowess the company specifically requires.

See what skills the job ad might include:

Pro Tip: Don't just google "skills for a [industry] resume" and throw in the results. Take time to tailor your resume skills list to the job posting.

How to List Skills on a Resume

There are several ways to include a list of skills. For most, a simple skills section that contains 5-6 key abilities and your proficiency level is enough:

For specific job titles and technical skills, you may want to list your particular knowledge per item to give them specific detail into the areas of the skill you excel at:

Looking for inspiration about what skills to put on a resume? There you go: Over 99 Skills for Your Resume

7. Include Additional Resume Sections

Here's the thing-everyone's job resumes include those sections above. But what should a resume have to make it personalized? Make your resume unique by including extra information.

Here's how to make your resume stand out with extra sections:

Hobbies & Interests

You might not think that your love of baseball and being the Little League assistant coach would interest a potential employer. However, listing your hobbies and interests subtly proves your ability to work well in a team, and the coaching can verify your leadership and management expertise.

Volunteer Work

Volunteering boosts employability, studies find. For most job seekers, listing any volunteer experience as one of your additional resume sections is a great way to show your commitment and values. It also lets them know that you don't only care about the money. For entry-level or first-time applicants needing experience, volunteer work is an excellent stand-in.

Internship Experience

Listing internships on your resume is only OK if you're fresh out of school, have had one or two other jobs, or haven't been on the market for longer than 4-5 years.

Certifications and Awards

Got any certificates or licenses to show off on your resume? If they are relevant to the job and industry, include them!

Placed first in a chili cook-off at the state fair? If you're looking to be a cook, it'll definitely help. Likewise, a food safety certification or food handler's license that you already have would surely be in your favor.

Languages

Speak another language? Impressive! Listing language skills on a resume only extends your usefulness as an employee, particularly in international corporations or localities where a large population speaks that second language. List the language, global variation (Latin American Spanish, for example), and your language fluency levels.

Projects

If you've done a bunch, you can include projects as a separate section or simply mention one or two below each job description.

Publications

Have articles written for a blog, newspaper, or scientific journal? Mention those publications on a resume. If your published material isn't online, create a short bibliography of the works you'd like them to acknowledge.

Also, if you've built graphic designs or other creative creations, or if your list of publications or projects needs to be shorter, consider making an online portfolio to document everything. Link to it from the contact section, in this case.

Would you like to read more about additional sections? Go for it: What to Put for Additional Information on a Resume?

8. Complement Your Resume With a Cover Letter

You must most definitely submit a cover letter. Your cover letter or job application letter lets you expand upon things you need to keep brief on your resume. Also, it allows you to speak easily in standard sentences!

Sound like an overkill? Think again. Most employers think more than a resume is needed to make a decision. Follow our guide on making a cover letter (or a cover letter with no experience or a cover letter for an internship), and you'll knock this out quickly and painlessly.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

9. Proofread and Email Your Resume the Right Way

You're almost there, but don't send it off just yet. Here are some resume best practices to keep in mind, so you can rest assured that you wrote the perfect resume:

Proofread & Double-Check

1. By double-checking your resume before sending it out. First, review your resume with this checklist to tick off all the check marks for formatting and style. See if you have all the right sections and whether they have all you need to succeed and go through your resume to check your resume content's relevance.

2. Then, scan your entire application with a tool like Grammarly to check for spelling or grammar mistakes.

3. To triple-check, ask a friend or family member for help. Better safe than sorry!

How to make a professional resume and be seen as a professional?

As for the question of how to spell resume? It's still a contention, but "resume" without the accents is the best choice.

Do you want more tips and know which common resume mistakes to avoid? See these for more: 50 Best Resume Tips and Resume Dos and Don'ts

Email Your Resume the Right Way

When you send a resume to a catch-all email address such as contact@company.org, your resume enters a sea of similar emails from other job seekers fighting for the same position as you.

Find the name of the person reading your resume and personalize your email with that information. Sending a resume is much more compelling when you use Dear Mike instead of To Whom It May Concern.

Now, you wish you had an email template for emailing a resume? Say no more: 10+ Email Examples for Emailing a Resume

10+ Resume Examples for Various Jobs

Now that you have the entire theory available at your disposal, see what you can achieve by following it. Have a look at the examples of resumes for different types of jobs:

1. Accounting Assistant Resume

2. Data Engineer Resume

3. IT Specialist Resume

4. Manager Resume

5. Office Administrator Resume

6. Paralegal Resume

7. Sales Associate Resume

8. Teacher Resume

9. Technical Writer Resume

10. User Experience (UX) Designer Resume

Our guide serves to write a resume for any job. However, making a resume for your specific situation is ideal for maximum efficiency. Check out a few of our guides; they may also apply to you:

If you're an international reader, you can also switch over to:

In case you wondered! What the US and Canada call a resume, most of the world calls a curriculum vitae (CV). South Africa, India, New Zealand, and Australia interchange the terms resume and CV. Read about the differences between a resume and a CV for more.

Key Takeaway

Stay relevant: Every item on your resume should prove you are the best candidate.

Tailor: Make one resume specifically for one specific job and company to apply to. Pick skills that relate to the open position.

Choose the right stuff: Use active voice, write a heading statement for your situation, and don't include unnecessary details.

Be consistent: Follow the same formatting, styles, colors, and conventions throughout your resume.

Double-check: Wait to send your resume before you are certain there are no typos or errors.

Build a resume online: Use Zety's easy resume helper to write your resume in no time. More than eighteen resume examples and templates are there to guide you, with tips and advice along the way.

Have any questions on how to do a resume? Not sure how to make the perfect resume work experience section or how to build a resume list of skills or achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and we'll answer your questions. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your resume preparation!
That was super-detailed, I know. But now you know how to make your own resume. Here are a few final resume tips:

About Zety's Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We're committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Make a Resume

What is a resume?

A resume, also referred to as a résumé or a CV, is a document summarizing a person's professional and academic background, relevant skills, and accomplishments. It's usually used to introduce yourself and present your qualifications to a prospective employer when applying for a job.

Do you need a specific type? Zety's prepared hundreds of resume examples, from an entry-level resume to a software engineer resume to a video resume. Visit our page to find your own.

How to make a resume for a job?

First, read the job ad carefully to pick up keywords for your resume that you'll target to pass the Applicant Tracking Software test. Next, create resume sections necessary to present yourself, your qualifications, and your strengths. The sections are:

Depending on the industry and experience, you'll have to think about which additional sections work best. But you definitely can't write a resume without the other five. You can spare yourself the worry by using our resume maker.

How to write a resume for the first time?

Write your first resume with transferable skills in the skills and resume objective sections. In the work history part, add accomplishments examples that prove your qualities of a valuable employee, such as curiosity, eagerness to learn and assist, and developed communication skills. Internships and volunteering placements fit there perfectly. And most importantly-put your academic achievements right below the objective to highlight your educational advancement.

How to make a good resume that will impress recruiters?

An impressive resume is a resume that reads well and looks so, too. So before you get down to writing the nitty-gritty details of your professional and academic achievements, take care of the resume formatting and layout.

Only then move on to adding the biggest successes under each section: resume profile, experience, education, and skills. But-additional parts make the strongest impression, so don't forget to include awards, certifications or licenses, or extracurricular activities to your resume. Say you're an achiever, not a doer.

What is the format of a resume?

The chronological format is the most popular resume format suitable for every job applicant-an entry-level position, a specialist, or an executive. By choosing it, you decide to show off your career progression.

Functional format, or skills-based resume, presents you in the best light when changing careers. It concentrates on your skillset and leaves work history in the back seat.

Combination format, aka a hybrid, is a well-blended mixture of the chronological and functional formats. It's the most complex one to write as it includes a skills summary and an extended experience section, which is apt for senior positions.

How to make a resume in Word?

You can spare yourself the trouble and use a pre-made Word resume template. But if you have quite some experience with text formatting (and plenty of time), start making your resume in Word. Create a clean layout, choose a font that reads well, and limit the number of graphic elements on the page not to overwhelm the ATS. Then, add the main and additional resume sections in an order suitable for the resume format. Save it in a Word or PDF file at the end, keeping in mind the instructions from the recruiter.

Or, if you need a top-notch resume that takes just minutes to make and looks better than any Word resume, pick one of Zety's resume templates, add your info, and land that job.

What does a good resume look like in 2023?

In 2023, you need to make even a stronger impression than in the previous years. Use a modern resume template and include the most important sections: personal information, summary or objective, employment history, education, and skills. Add your best achievements under each section and quantify them. Show your future employer that you've had an impact and will continue to bring results.

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How to Make a Resume in 2023: Writing Guide + Examples

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How to make a resume that will get you the job? See this guide for the best resume examples and resume-writing rules, and create yours in a few easy steps.

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What Is a Resume? A Brief Overview | Pongo

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More than just a formal job application, a resume is a marketing tool that job seekers use to communicate their value to employers.

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Your resume (sometimes called your "CV") is your most important tool when applying for a job. It doesn't matter how qualified you are, or how much experience you have - if your resume is poorly presented or badly written, you're going to have trouble getting the job you want - or even an interview.

Taking the time to work on your resume is really important. The information on this page offers some tips and advice on how to make your resume the best it can be.

The purpose of a resume

Your resume is a marketing tool. It needs to demonstrate:

That you are employable

How you meet the job and the organisation's requirements

That you have the right qualifications and education

That you have the right experience and skills

That you have the right level of professionalism for the job

How long should my resume be?

There is no set length for a resume. A resume varies in length depending on your experience and education. If you haven't worked much before, one or two pages is best, but three pages is okay if you've got a lot of study and work behind you.

Make sure you don't pad out your resume. If your resume is only one page, as long as it's well-presented it might get better results than a two-page resume full of unnecessary information.

More information about the length of your resume can be found on each of the resume templates on our Sample resumes and Sample cover letters pages.

How should I order my resume?

Generally it's always good to present the information on your resume in this order:

1. Contact details

2. Opening statement

3. List of key skills

4. List of technical/software skills

5. Personal attributes/career overview

6. Educational qualifications

7. Employment history/volunteering/work placements

8. References/referees

Not everything in this list must appear on your resume every time, and the order can change from application to application. For more information about each of these sections, check out "What Your Resume Should Include", below.

The most important thing is to get the most useful information across first. For example, if your education history is not specifically related to the job, put it toward the end of your resume, behind the information that is related to the job.

Check out the resume templates on our Sample resumes page. for examples of how you might want to order the information on your resume.

Do I need to change my resume for each application?

You need to tailor your resume to every job application so that it responds to the specific requirements of the job you're applying for.

You might not need to change much, but you do need to make sure your opening statement, your key skills and your personal attributes all respond to the needs of the role, based on the job ad (if there was one) and the research you've done into the job.

You should also tailor your resume to show how your work experience specifically meets the needs of the job you're applying for.

How to tailor your resume

Ways that you can tailor your resume include:

Using your opening statement to link your experience and education to the organisation and the requirements of the job

Listing your most relevant key skills first

Including examples of achievements that meet the advertised requirements of the job

Including specifically relevant key words and phrases throughout your resume (see "Keywords" in "What Your Resume Should Include", below)

What your resume should include

There are a number of things that every resume should have on it. Check out the resume templates on our Sample resumes page to get an idea of what each of these sections should look like.

Contact details

Make sure you include your name, email address and a contact phone number on your resume. You don't have to include your home address, although there might be some situations when doing so would be a good idea.

Don't include your contact details in the header of your resume. Recruitment software sometimes has difficulty reading information in headers or footers, so it's a good idea to avoid headers altogether.

You can put your contact details in the footer of your resume, but if you do, you must make sure they're also in the main body of the document.

Opening statement

An opening statement is a summary of who you are, where you've studied and/or worked, and what you bring to the job. It should be about six lines long and written in first person without the personal reference (i.e., don't say "I did this" - say "Did this" instead).

Your opening statement should start with one sentence about who you are and what you bring to the job, then describe the skills and attributes you have that suit you to the job.

For some examples of opening statements, check out our Sample resumes and Sample cover letters pages.

Key skills & strengths

Your resume should include a list of between 10 and 15 skills that link your experience to the job you're applying for.

If the job you're applying for was advertised, either the ad or the position description may provide a list of skills and experiences that are essential for doing the job. It may also provide a list of "desirable" skills and experience. Your list of key skills & strengths needs to respond to all of the items on the "essential" list and as many items as possible on the "desirable" list.

When putting together this list, think of things you've done or learned to do as part of:

Jobs you've had

Your studies

Any work placements you've done

Any volunteering you've done

For examples of the kinds of skills you might list, check out our Sample resumes page.

Technical/software skills

This is a short list of the names of software or technology you know how to use. Examples might include:

Word processing or spreadsheet software

Programming languages

Tools (e.g., cash registers, EFTPOS)

Personal attributes

If you haven't got much work experience, a list of personal attributes can be another way to demonstrate that you're the right person for the job.

Things you could include in this section might include ways you can demonstrate that you are reliable, honest, trustworthy or quick to learn new things. Check out our 8 job skills you should have page to see a few of the things that employers are commonly looking for.

You can include between three to five personal attributes, but make sure you don't include them instead of your key skills.

Educational history

Your Educational History only needs to show your highest level of education. You don't need to include your results, unless showing them proves how well you're suited to the job.

If you can, you should also include a few bullet points listing your academic achievements (e.g., school or class captaincies, awards you've won, or groups you've been part of).

Employment history

When providing your employment history, start with the your most recent job and go backwards from there. Give the position title and the dates you worked there.

If you haven't had a job before, you can use other things to demonstrate your experience, including:

Work experience you've done through school

Work placements or internships that you've done through university or TAFE

Volunteer work you've done

For each job provide a list of the things that you achieved while in that job, and the significant contributions you made to the organisation. Make sure that these achievements and contributions match the key skills and strengths listed earlier on your resume.

For examples of how you can do this, check out our Sample resumes pages.

References/referees

Your resume should list two people who can positively recommend you as an employee. Ideally your references will be people that you have worked with before. Provide their name, their position title, and a way that they can be contacted.

For more about references, check out our How to choose a referee? page.

Testimonials

A testimonial is another good way to prove that your skill and experience is what the employer is looking for.

Getting a testimonial can be as easy as asking a colleague, teacher or previous employer to write a couple of sentences about you. Ideally the people you get testimonials from should also be included in your references.

You can include any testimonials you get as part of your educational history or your employment/volunteering/work placement history.

Usually it's enough to include one or two testimonials in your resume. Any more than two is probably too many.

For examples of testimonials, check out our Sample resumes page.

Keywords

A lot of recruitment agencies use software that scans applications for key words and phrases. Applications that don't use the right keywords tend to be automatically rejected.

Key words and phrases that this software looks for can include the names of:

To make sure your resume has the right key words and phrases, check out the job ad and make a list of the words and phrases it uses. If you don't have a written job ad to refer to, you can use a job search engine to find other ads for similar jobs and see what kind of keywords those ads use.

Once you have a list to work from, start adding those words and phrases to your resume. Good places to add keywords include:

Your opening statement

Your list of key skills

Your educational history

Your employment history

For examples of how to use keywords on your resume, check out our Sample resumes page.

What NOT to put on your resume

Here are a few things not to include on your resume. Note that there may be circumstances when including some of the following information shows that you're a good fit for the job. If that's the case, including that information would be a good idea.

Private information

You don't have to provide any personal or private information on your resume. There's no benefit to be gained from providing information that could be used to generalise about you as a potential employee.

Your resume doesn't have to include:

Your birthdate

Your gender

Your address

Any ailments or disabilities

Your health status

A possible exception to this might be when providing this information would give your application an advantage (e.g., if the employer is looking for someone young, or a female applicant). In these situations, consider including such information if you think it would strengthen your application.

Typos or factual errors

Submitting a resume or cover letter with spelling mistakes will guarantee you don't get an interview. You should spellcheck your resume before you send it, but you should also get someone else to read it as well and check for mistakes you might have missed.

Double-check everything that you include in your resume. If you mention the company's name, make sure you get it right. If you mention the name of places you've worked before, make sure you get that right. Mistakes on resumes are worse than typos.

You should also consider getting your resume looked at by someone professional. Check out "Reviewing your resume", below.

Images and graphics

Don't include images or photos on your resume. Not only are images disliked by recruiters and HR professionals, they can also create problems with recruitment software.

Content in headers

Many resumes only feature the applicant's name and contact details in the header of the document. Some recruitment software is unable to read information in headers and footers. If you do include information in the header and footer of your resume, make sure you include it in the body of the document too.

Fancy formatting

Stick to easy-to-read fonts and formats. This makes it easier for recruiters to review your resume. It also means any recruitment software that reviews your resume can easily read the information. Good fonts to use include:

Don't use large headers to break up the sections of your resume. Use a 10- or 11-point font for your main content and a 12- or 14-point maximum for headers.

Information in tables

Some resume templates present information in tables to help with layout, but some recruitment software is unable to read tables. Your resume should only be formatted using line breaks and simple formatting (like setting multiple columns across the page).

PDF versions of your resume

Some recruitment software can't read pdfs. Unless a job ad specifically says to provide your resume as a .pdf, you should always only submit your resume in word format (.doc or .docx).

Reviewing your resume

Having someone else review your resume is extremely important. Make sure you use someone who will actually tell you if they think something isn't right. People you could ask include:

Co-workers

Former employers

Teachers

Career guidance counsellors

Your parents or guardians

The Career Development Association of Australia has a list of professional organisations that can review your resume for a fee. They have also developed a resume review checklist that can help you to make sure that you check over everything on your resume and get it right the first time.

Download the CDAA Resume Review Checklist (555 KB)

Resume templates

For examples of ways to apply all of the above advice when you put together your resume, check out our Sample resumes page, where you can download some resume templates to use to create your own resume.

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How To Write A Resume | Resume Writing | Youth Central

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Your resume (sometimes called your "CV") is your most important tool when applying for a job. It doesn't matter how qualified you are, or how much experience you have - if your resume is poorly presented or badly written, you're going to have trouble getting the job you want - or even an interview.

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First, let's review what a resume isn't.

It isn't a log of your job history.

It isn't a summary of skills.

It isn't going to automatically get you a job.

Think of your resume this way: It's an advertisement, and you are the product. Your goal is to get hiring managers to buy into what you're selling - which means giving you an interview.

To accomplish that, you need to see it as your marketing tool, your trusty belt buckle of tricks. Without it, you are powerless. However, simply having a one isn't enough to get you an interview.

Much like the flashing neon signs along the Vegas Strip, hiring managers are attracted to well-formatted resumes with attention-grabbing details. Statistics back this up - for instance, studies show that 8 out of 10 resumes are discarded with only a 10-second glance.

To stand out from the crowd, it's important that you know what to put on a resume to quickly demonstrate your ability. Otherwise, it might get thrown into the "no" pile before the hiring manager sees the full extent of your experience.

"A guiding principle of the resume writing profession is that there are no hard and fast rules."

To help you do this, we've written easy-to-follow steps on how to write a resume. From industry-specific formatting and writing suggestions to proper fonts and margins, we're here to break it all down for you.

Are you ready to learn how to make a resume that lands you your dream job?

Step 1: Choose From 3 Formats

So you are staring at a blank page on your computer wondering, " What is a resume and how do I start writing one?" Hundreds ask this same question every day and the reason is most likely due to the fact that there is no standard rule for formatting a resume.

To get started, try organizing all your information with a resume outline. This helps you see where your strengths and weaknesses are, and what aspects of your professional history you need to emphasize. Then, decide on what resume format is right for your application.

Your formatting decision comes down to 3 choices: Reverse-Chronological, Functional, and Combination. Each format has their own advantages and disadvantages, and each one orders the sections of a resume in a unique way. Below, you will find which one is best for you.

Format 1: Reverse-Chronological

This is the most traditional format, and what you're most likely to encounter in the real world (as an applicant or hiring manager). Chronological resume formats are generally more flexible, and can be used by applicants with any level of experience.

Details about the resume sections of this format:

1. Contact Information - The most consistent element across all three resume formats, contact details must be outlined near the top.

2. Resume Objective - This type of resume introduction can be used by anyone, and allows job-seekers to tailor their resume to their employer.

3. Work Experience - For this format, you must have a consistent work history (or one that isn't too patchy).

4. Additional Skills - Your skills section can still be used to highlight personal attributes you're proud of.

5. Education - Your degrees (any) and certifications (if relevant) should be prominent.

6. Accomplishments - Be sure to mention your most impressive awards and honors.

Format 2: Functional

While chronological places emphasis on career progression, a functional resume is for a skills-based resume. Since it heavily emphasizes the applicant's qualifications, functional format is more suitable for those with an expert level of experience.

The functional format has many of the same resume sections as the chronological, but with some key differences:

Details about the sections on this format:

1. Contact Information - Regardless of your format, this will be always near or at the top of your resume.

2. Resume Introduction - The functional resume uses a more robust introduction, such as a qualifications summary to highlight your strongest areas right off the bat.

3. Work Experience - Note how small this section is, and how time periods are omitted. This is to de-emphasize experience, and highlight other sections.

4. Relevant Skills Section - Skills are the greatest selling point for someone who lacks a clear work history, so this section must be robust.

5. Education - Include your highest degree, and feel free to list a key (relevant) certification here too.

6. Accomplishments - If you have any notable work-related awards, list the most significant.

Format 3: Combination

As you can probably guess, the combination resume format merges bits and pieces from both chronological and functional formats. Like the functional format, it focuses on specific qualifications, yet the body of the document contains professional experience similar to chronological format. This format is generally reserved for those with a great deal of experience in a particular industry.

Details about this format's sections:

1. Contact Information - Similar to the other two formats, contact details are at the top.

2. Professional Profile - Users of the combination format are often highly skilled, and the professional profile can highlight these skills in a concise way.

3. Work Experience - Experience is more fleshed out in a combination resume than it is in its functional counterpart.

4. Skills Section - With your arsenal of work-related skills, you can divide them into two sections based on importance.

5. Education - For someone using a combination format, education is less crucial. However, it's still definitely worth placing on the resume.

Before delving into what information you should add, it's important to remember that the information you include will largely depend on the format you choose. With that being said, below is a general guide to what information you should add and the order in which you should add it.

Name (largest font on page, middle initial is optional)

Mailing Address

Telephone Number (Check that you have an appropriate voicemail message)

Email Address (make sure it's appropriate, don't use your sexypanda45@gmail.com account.)

Link to online portfolio (optional, ensure it is relevant to the position)

LinkedIn Profile

Here are 3 different examples of how you can format your contact information section (pay attention to the yellow borders):

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Also, be careful not to accidentally add the contact information in the resume header, as applicant tracking systems may not be able to read it.

Step 3: Select (& Write) a Winning Resume Introduction

Job seekers have five primary choices to pick from when writing a resume introduction:

1. The resume objective (also known as a career objective)

2. The summary of qualifications (or qualifications summary)

3. The resume profile (sometimes referred to as a professional profile)

4. The resume summary (also called a professional summary)

5. The resume "About Me" section

Resume introductions are all written with the same goal in mind: to gain the attention of a prospective employer by highlighting relevant skills and experience.

However, the method through which each introduction achieves this goal differs. See below:

Resume Intro 1: Qualifications Summary

With regards to format, the qualifications summary is a bullet point list (ranging from 4 to 6 points) of your most outstanding career achievements. Avoid using generic statements and try to list your skills in a way reflects your unique voice.

Resume Intro 2: Resume Objective

A resume objective (or career objective) is a 2-3 sentence statement that provides an overview of your skills and experience. This intro is best for entry-level candidates.

Resume Intro 3: Professional Profile

The professional profile is a combination of both the career objective and qualifications summary. It is also the most flexible of the four styles as it can be formatted as a short paragraph or bullet-point list.

Resume Intro 4: Resume Summary

Resume summaries (sometimes referred to as "professional summaries") include four to five bulleted sentences that highlight your past achievements by using quantifiable data. To make this data stand out, each sentence includes a bolded subheading to guide hiring managers to your most marketable traits.

Finally, when deciding what skills to add to either of the two, try to target skills specific to the job you are applying for. Don't just simply copy and paste skills right out of the job description (although you can use a few words strategically - we'll get to that shortly). Instead, try to use resume words that are common in the industry.

Still not sure how to begin your own resume? Our simple resume introduction flowchart will show you how to start a resume that inspires interviews .

Step 4: Highlight Your Relevant Work Experience

This section is one of the most essential parts of a resume, and is where you are tasked with proving the skills you've listed in your qualifications summary or career objective. When it comes to labeling this section some use "Relevant Experience," or "Work Experience" as an alternative to "Professional Experience."

Remember to list your work experiences in reverse chronological order and only list experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for. For each company create a heading including the company's name, city and state, your title, and the dates of employment (month and year).

If you're still currently working at a company, you can simply write "[month], [year]-present" for the employment dates.

A general rule is that each experience have around 3-5 bullet points of your main duties and achievements.
3 Parts of a strong bullet point:

Trained 5+ cashiers, managing their cash limits and guaranteeing quality customer service at all times.

Example 2: (Note that the Quantifiable Point does not need to come immediately after the action verb)

Spearheaded the development of the first media kit amalgamation for all company projects, increasing national sales by 8%.

The above bullet points are great examples because they use action verbs to help to snatch the attention of hiring managers. When writing your past experiences don't forget to write your action verbs in past tense.

Tailor Your Experience to the Job Advertisement

One strategy for making your experience section even better is to create it with a specific job advertisement/company in mind (also see how to tailor your resume education section). Finding certain key verbs and occupation-specific nouns inside the ad, then spreading them cleverly throughout your resume, is a great way to strike a chord with the hiring manager.

Check out the following marketing specialist posting (with green underlines for verbs blue for nouns/skills)from Indeed.com:

For an aspiring marketing specialist, there are numerous language cues spread throughout this advertisement. It's up to the job seeker to capitalize on them.

Using the ad above, we've created three example experience bullets for a resume where the applicant has one year of relevant experience.

3 Example Experience Bullets (Based on Job Ad)

The example below demonstrates how to candidate strategically pepper the verbs and nouns/skills found in the job ad into your work experience section:

Taylord's Marketing Firm, Reno, NV
July 2017 - August 2018

Analyzed SEO data points using Google Analytics, prepared relevant presentations

Pitched various digital marketing solutions to clients, with a 98% success rate

Worked with cross-channel teams to develop creative marketing strategies, boosting sales 37% in one year

Step 5: Create a Pro Education Section

Having a solid education section helps to display the foundation of your knowledge and expertise. Depending on your professional experience, you may want to consider switching the order of the professional experience and education sections.

For instance, college or high school students that lack seasoned professional experience benefit from emphasizing their education by placing it before the professional experience section.

On the other hand, if you possess a wealth of professional experience, then it's appropriate to keep this section short and sweet.

Here are the main points to include in your education section:

The names of your university, community college, or technical school (Don't include high school unless you did not attend college)

Location of the schools (city, state)

Date of graduation (month, year)

Degree(s)

GPA (only include GPA on your resume if you're writing a college graduate resume and your GPA is above 3.0. Round up to the first decimal place, and use this format: 3.5/4.0)

Here are three examples of how you can format an education section:

Example 1 (Construction Worker)

Example 2 (Business Analyst)

Example 3 (College Student)

Step 6: Use a Range of Hard & Soft Skills in Your Resume

Hiring managers are on the lookout for skilled individuals. While listing a heap of skills on your resume doesn't actually prove you're skilled, spreading your various capabilities throughout your resume will catch the eye of whoever is vetting your application.

Fitting various skills into your resume's introduction and even work experience section will help strengthen your candidacy. And of course, there's a skills section for you to really dive in there depending on your field. But first:

Hard vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?

Hard Skills

To keep it concise: hard skills are concrete, quantifiable abilities. Language fluency, competency using computer programs, or being able to operate heavy machinery all count as types of hard skills. Here's a list of 24 popular hard skills on a resume:

Accounting Tools (SAP, Oracle, etc.)

Web Architecture

Data Presentation

Technical Reporting

Software QA and User Testing

Foreign Languages

Software Development

Statistical Analysis and Data Mining

Automative Services

Public Speaking

Cloud Apps (JSON, Rest, etc.)

Database Management and Software

Adobe Creative Suite

Data Engineering and Data Warehousing

Content Management Systems (CMS)

Vulnerability Analysis

Perl / Python / Ruby

Mac, Linux, and Unix Systems

Java Development

Business Intelligence

Bookkeeping

UX / UI Design

Soft Skills

Soft skills, on the other hand, are more personality-centric traits. Things like being a team player, being driven to succeed, or having a great attitude all fall under this general umbrella. Below is a table of 24 soft skills that employers are on the lookout for:

Here's what including both types of skills on a resume might look like. Soft skills are underlined in blue, and hard skills are marked in red.

A great resume has a balance of both hard and soft skills. If you feel like you're lacking in either and the above tables didn't quite do it for you, we have a guide to the top ten hard skills employers love plus a giant list of soft skills for you to peruse at your leisure.

Technical Skills

Some careers, such as those in the IT or engineering fields, require specialized knowledge and hands-on skills. Within the IT industry, a software manager's responsibilities will differ from company to company. A technical skills section is helpful in showcasing your knowledge of specific systems.

To prevent this section from taking up too much space, try breaking up this section into categories and list your skills within each. For example:

Software: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Visio, and Oracle

Programming Languages: Excel at HTML, C++, and Python

If you're not sure how to achieve this, check out our information technology (IT) applicant's resume, and note how his technical skills are at the front and center:

The "Skills" or "Additional Skills" Section of Your Resume

Additional skills sections are a ubiquitous element of the modern resume. Since you likely plan on including your own, make sure it's concise and only includes skills relevant to the job you're applying for.

Note that great additional skills sections often end up being a combination of hard and soft skills. This section is similar to technical skills, but is often used by job seekers working in fields that don't specifically require advanced competencies.

If you have a wide swath of abilities, feel free to break this section into hard and soft skills, like so:

Even if you have already added skills to your career objective or qualifications summary, it doesn't hurt to add a few more. For instance, someone like an IT manager who works with a wide array of programs and techniques will in turn have a wide range of skills to fill both their qualifications summary and additional skills section.

Step 7: Tie in Key Certifications, Awards, & Honors

By now you've already added the nuts and bolts to your resume. Below are a few sections you may want to consider adding to help strengthen it.

Certifications/Licenses

The certifications section is the most important of the other sections you can include, but adding a certifications or licenses section is largely dependent on your industry. For example, the nursing field has strict licensing requirements while the customer service sector does not.

If your industry requires certifications the hiring manager will be intent on finding them in your application. Make sure to thoroughly research your industry to find any relevant certifications or licenses you may have missed.

Publications

Adding a publications sections is important for graduate students who have published articles that are relevant to the job they are applying to. List your articles in reverse chronological order by publishing date. Choose the referencing style that is appropriate to your discipline.

It also acceptable to add works that have yet to be published. You may label these as "Works in Progress" or "Submitted for Publication." Here is an example of how a publications section may appear in a resume.

Awards/Honors/Activities

This section adds another layer of customization to your resume by providing evidence of your abilities. Adding relevant awards and activities helps you stand out from your competition. If this section becomes too lengthy, feel free to break them up into smaller sections. Here are some items to consider adding:

Step 8: Stylize Your Resume

Whew! So the hard part is over. You have all your content typed up and you are feeling confident about getting that interview. Now for the finishing touches. It's time to design your resume. But first, let's address one of the more controversial elements of writing a resume:

How many pages should a resume be?

This is the most argued point of resume writing. Some professionals vigorously discourage applicants from going over one page, while others argue that in some instances it is acceptable. The bottom line is this: if you have information that is highly relevant to the position you are applying for, then go ahead and add an extra page.

Otherwise, make it one page. If you are just adding fluff for the sake of adding pages, your resume will suffer.

Choose a Suitable Font & Size

Certain resume fonts are best suited for particular industries. There are some broad Dos and Don'ts when it comes to choosing your font and sizes:

For sizing, many resumes follow a 24, 12, 10 format. This means that the name is 24 pt, the body headers are 12 pt, and the bullet points are 10 pt.

"If the hiring manager needs to put on their glasses just to make out your experience, then your application will be on one-way trip to the trash can."

This is by no means a rule, but rather a guideline to consider following. Just remember to keep readability in mind when choosing sizes. If the hiring manager needs to put on their glasses just to make out your experience, then you might as well throw away your application yourself.

When choosing your font, the choice will come down to a "serif" style or a "sans serif" style. The major difference is that serif fonts have small lines on the ends of their letters, while the sans serif does not. Again, the choice is based on your preference, and what you think will be the easiest for a potential employer to read.

It's worth noting whether your resume is a paper version or an electronic version. For a paper version it's better to use serif fonts, while electronic versions look better in sans serif fonts. Below are some popular font choices.

Add Some Strategic Lines

Lines are great to use to help break up the resume and allow potential employers to better process the information. Line breaks commonly begin after the career objective or qualifications summary. From there, they are used to break each subsequent section.

How you divide your resume is ultimately up to you, but just don't go page break crazy for every bit of information. Too many page breaks will ruin its readability.

Here are three ways of implementing lines into your resume for you to consider:

Use Effective Margins

Margins are the first thing a potential employer will notice about your resume, so it's important that they are appropriately set. One inch margins are the safe bet for applicants that lack experience. If you have a wealth of experience that you are trying to fit to one page then it is acceptable to reduce to the margins.

We advise caution when reducing the margins. If they are too small, your pages will look overcrowded. To be safe, it's recommended to not go below .5".

Step 9: Write a Matching Cover Letter

Now that you know how to write your dream resume, you might be wondering: is a cover letter necessary? The answer is yes, always include a cover letter if you have the option.

Knowing how to write a good cover letter and then pairing one with your resume will round out your application and is going to boost your chances of landing an interview.

Your cover letter gives you a chance to connect with a hiring manager on a deeper level than your resume does, and together these two crucial documents work in tandem to get you satisfying work. But be sure to check out our full list of cover letter tips when you write yours to guarantee you're hitting all the right points.

Here's an example of what a resume paired with a matching cover letter might look like (we think it looks pretty sharp):

Inspired? We have a boatload of free cover letter templates and matching resume templates for you to download if you're in a hurry to get started.

You've already put the energy into learning how to write a great resume - there's no reason to not put in some effort and make the best cover letter possible.

Step 10: Proofread Your Resume & Finish Strong

Once you've written your resume and cover letter, you're in pretty good shape to send out that first application. However, you're not quite done yet.

Edit & Proofread (More Than Once)

Even if you're a Harvard-educated doctoral candidate or the state spelling bee champion, proofreading and editing your application documents can still save you from potentially embarrassing mistakes.

Read it over several times yourself at different times of the day to be sure everything is looking sharp. Something that sounded good the night before might not look as great in the morning once the sun comes up and you're better rested.

Also, hand it off to a friend or family member who can give it a run-through. If they're unable to decipher your resume and cover letter, it's a good sign that you may need to make some adjustments.

Save Your Files (In Multiple Formats and Multiple Places)

While most hiring managers will be able to open a Microsoft Word document, it doesn't hurt to also save your resume in PDF form as well.

You can also save copies on your computer, print off several for your own records, and even upload your documents to Google Drive - ensuring that if anything suddenly happened to your computer, your hard work would be saved on the cloud.

Email Your Application (Like a Boss)

Writing an effective email is an art form. If you can master it, you'll be in high demand for a wide range of jobs related to assisting customers and clients.

It's crucial that you don't come off as overly polite, because it will make you sound insincere. However, you don't want to appear cold or standoffish either.

There are four keys to writing an email that gets attention from hiring managers for the right reasons:

1. Use the hiring manager's name. Avoid "To Whom It May Concern," because it's stodgy and lazy).

2. Make sure your email flows well, and has no flagrant spelling or grammar errors. Re-read it yourself, and have a friend or family member take a look too.

3. Attach your application documents in multiple formats (Word and PDF should do the trick).

4. Include a "Call to Action." Let them know you'd be happy to communicate via email, but give them a phone number to reach you at as well. Also, politely let them know you'll be in touch after a week if you haven't heard from them by that point.

Be sure you don't have any compromising photos of yourself strewn about the internet, because hiring managers might be on the lookout for them.

With a well-edited resume and cover letter locked down and an excellent application email drawn up, your job prospects are in a good place. Stay optimistic, and the hard work will pay off.

Conclusion

You've made it! Give yourself a pat on the back. At this point, you should be familiar with the ins and outs of how to make a resume perfectly tailored to your next job prospect. Plus, you should even be on the right track to pair that resume with a top-notch cover letter, and smoothly send out your full application to your future employer.
Does all of this sound a little bit too demanding? If so, let our free resume builder do all of the hard work for you.
Resume Writing FAQs

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How to Write a Great Resume | The Complete Guide

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A well-written resume (or CV) will hugely impact your job hunt. Our comprehensive writing guide will help you make a resume that turns heads and lands you interviews. Our expert's A to Z walkthrough covers every detail of the writing process - with this guide, you won't miss a step.