If you're looking for a new role, then you'll probably need to know how to write a resume.
While many parts of the process have changed over the years, submitting a resume that highlights your relevant skills and experience remains a key step for most positions. Devoting time to crafting a compelling resume could get you noticed by more recruiters and hiring managers.
Here’s how to make a resume that helps you stand out as a candidate.
1. Start with a fitting format
Some job fields allow creative freedom to make your resume stand out; however, other professions require a more basic format.
No matter the format, highlighting important information with subheads can make it simpler for applicant tracking systems to scan your resume, and potentially get you into a queue of top resumes.
For traditional resume formats, consider:
- Picking a classic font—Times New Roman or Arial, for example—in size 10- or 12-point.
- Left-aligning all your text
- Creating sections
- Using the default margins
- Bolding, italicizing, or underlining critical info, such as employer names and positions you’ve held, but stay consistent. (If you bold your most recent employer’s name and italicize your most recent role, bold and italicize all other employers and roles, too.)
- Bulleting points in each section instead of using sentences that turn into hard-to-read paragraphs
However, if you're applying for a graphic design role, the above standards may not show your creativity skills to a hiring manager. For example, instead of using classic font, you may wish to customize the font. You may even wish to use icons or emoji's to replace bullet points.
Depending on the role, your resume format may change from chronological, functional, or combination to creative or other.
2. Put the basics at the top
Include your name, and contact information such as your phone number and personal email address. Unless a posting specifies that a specific location or area is required for the position, you don't need to include your physical address. You could also include your professional website, LinkedIn® profile, or other social media accounts if relevant.
3. Draw in a reader with a summary
The average resume reviewer spends around seven seconds reviewing a resume, according to Harvard Business Review.1 Consider including a summary right below your contact information that quickly tells a reviewer:
- Who you are
- What you want
- Why you deserve the role
- Your skills or relevant experiences
This is your chance to convince a reviewer to keep reading—or a software bot to keep scanning.
4. Include your education and experience
Listing your education after the summary is how students or recent graduates might want to structure their resumes. If you have multiple degrees, start with the highest one first. Although optional, you may wish to include an impressive GPA—generally, 3.5 or higher. Graduating with honors is a worthy inclusion, too. If you’ve taken classes that are extremely relevant to the job at hand, consider describing them, which could make up for a lack of professional experience. Then, move on to the experience section. List any internships, volunteer roles, or life experiences.
If you’re further along in your career, consider adding the experience section after your summary, then add the education section. List each role you’ve held, starting with the most recent. Note the month and year you started and ended each job. Rather than describe your duties, point out accomplishments and your impact. Quantify achievements whenever possible. Numbers prove you’ve made a difference. For example: “Grew revenue 150% year-over-year by taking on small-business clients.”
Consider listing your skills near the top or in a dedicated section on the side. These could be hard skills, such as computer programs, but also soft skills, such as communication and critical thinking.
5. Optimize with keywords
Check out multiple job listings that interest you. If you notice words or phrases that repeat, try to work those into your summary, experience, and skills sections. Software bots that scan resumes may be looking for keywords and if they don’t spot them, your resume might not make it to an actual person.
6. Fill in the blanks
If you’ve worked for a company your resume reviewer might not recognize, provide a brief company overview. Similarly, if you have a gap between jobs of more than a few months, don’t leave the reviewer wondering what you were doing during that time. Share how you spent your time, such as getting a degree or taking care of a loved one. Skip the jargon—the hiring manager may be unfamiliar with specific terms. Also, be sure to convey your work honestly and avoid exaggerations or lies on your resume.
7. Proofread
Be sure to spell-check and reread your resume to ensure it's free of mistakes. It's not uncommon for resume to get rejected due to spelling/typo and grammatical errors.2
8. Be concise
Don't let your resume exceed two pages. If you’re just starting out, one page is probably enough. If you’re running out of space, look for opportunities to cut information that repeats or isn’t relevant to the job position.
9. Give it a clear filename
Saving your resume as just “Resume” could get your document lost with other similarly named files. Instead, consider including your full name and the job title.
10. Choose the right file type
Many portals that accept resumes specify what kind of file to submit. If they don’t, or if you need to email it, save your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting.
11. Tailor your resume
It’s a good idea to tailor your resume to each job because different roles call for different qualifications. You may want to highlight different skills and experiences for different hiring managers. A set of keywords that gets you noticed by one applicant tracking system might not work for another.