how to make an professional resume

How to Write The Perfect Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

The ultimate guide to learn how to quickly create a resume utilizing best practices to help you land your next job.

Introduction to writing a resume

We’ve all been there. You’re ready to apply for a new job or looking for a career change, and you haven’t updated your resume in quite some time. Or it’s your first job, and you’re not sure where to start. Resumes are a standard part of the job application process. Not having one - a good one - makes it very difficult to near impossible to land your dream job.

Unless you have some incredible connections that can help you bypass the interview stage, which is pretty rare, we highly recommend you give your resume a second look (or first!).

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

Why do you need a good resume?

Your resume is a way for you to market yourself and promote your career experience. Creating a resume lets hiring managers see how you'll bring value to their company.

It's important to know that your resume doesn't need to present all there is to know about you. It should summarize the most important aspects of your professional experience. As well as your education, interests and activities - when applicable. We recommend you tailor your resume to the position you're seeking. This means highlighting specific accomplishments and skills to the job you're applying for.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the following sections to help you craft the perfect resume:

• Understanding the basics of creating a resume
• Breaking down the resume layout and formats
• Maximizing information on your resume to provide the most value

What tools should you use to build your resume?

Tip: Use an online resume builder . Don't use Microsoft Word. Always use an online resume builder. You'll never have to worry about finding files and you can export your resume as a PDF.

So you’re ready to get started on your resume. The most obvious of choices is to open up Microsoft Word, create a new document and get writing. If you haven’t already done this before, formatting in Microsoft Word is a painful experience.

You'll end up with an ugly resume template that has poor legibility and incorrect margins. Or due to the lack of design options, you’ll end up with a resume that looks standard and boring. In both cases, the chances of potential employers overlooking your resume are pretty high!

Crazy isn’t it? You've spent years building job experience but have to use Microsoft Word to tell that story. And if you can’t navigate around complicated tools, it'll lead to poor results. You might miss the opportunity to land your dream job. That doesn’t sound fair, and it isn’t.

Why should you use a resume builder?

Luckily, there are other options that exist. We’ve created the fastest and easiest resume builder available online. With a variety of pre-existing templates that are professional and field-tested. And there’s no messing around with font sizes, margins or colors. We’ve taken care of all that for you.

The benefits of using an online resume builder like the one we’ve created are much higher. Here are some of the top reasons to use a resume builder:

• Hosting your resume online (in the cloud)
• This means you can access your resume at any time and anywhere. Your resume will always be available through our website. You'll never worry about having the right computer programs installed. Or finding files on a messy desktop.
• Creating unlimited resumes at no cost
• We manage it for you and make finding your resumes super easy, so you never have to worry about things getting lost. Go ahead and create unlimited versions of your resumes!
• High-quality resume designs
• This is where we specialize. Our design team has tested the exact elements required for perfecting resume templates. We sweat the details so you never have to. We’ve spent countless hours choosing the most appropriate font and color combinations. Including ones that pass the stress tests of relentless Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

The other benefits of using Easy Resume’s online resume builder are:

• Download your resume as a PDF. We recommend this file format so your resume always looks consistent.
• Share a direct link to your resume. We’ll even host it for you at no cost.
• Get exclusive access to guides, tutorials, and tips from career and industry professionals.

Understanding the 3 types of resume formats

Let’s break down the different types of resumes that employers generally look for.

• Reverse Chronological
• Combination

Tip: When in doubt, use a reverse chronological resume format. - About 95% of resumes use the reverse chronological format. Hiring managers are used to this as it lets employers see how your career has progressed.

1. Reverse Chronological Format

The most common is the Reverse Chronological format. It’s the most used and formatted to tell the story of your work experience in a chronological way. Employers prefer this format, as it gives them a historical overview of your career. Including the different job titles and responsibilities that you’ve had.

When should you use a reverse chronological resume template?

• You have had a lot of prior work experience. This means either the number of jobs or the amount of work experience you’ve had.
• You want to show how your career has progressed. For example, if you started as an associate and worked your way up to a senior-level position. The reverse-chronological format is a great way of showing your progression.

What if you have gaps between your work experience?

This is a very common question that we often receive. It’s usually in the form of:

“I’ve been out of work for 6-7 years after a certain life situation (i.e. having kids). The last job I had was in 2012, but recently I'm starting to apply for jobs again in 2019. What’s the right resume format for someone like me?”

First of all, no worries. This is a very common situation and happens with many people. As a hiring manager, having a gap like this can lead to questions and uncertainty about your resume. Which is why we recommend that you use a combination format.

2. Functional Format

The second type of resume format is the Functional or Skills-Based resume. This can be common for students and recent graduates starting to apply for their first job.

When should you use a functional / skills-based resume template?

• You’re a student or recent graduate applying for jobs for the first time with no prior work experience.
• You’re looking to make a career change.

Reasons why this is common for students and recent grads is due to their lack of prior experience. Given the fact that they’re starting to enter the workforce and apply for their first job. It’s well understood amongst employers that students won’t have a huge depth of work experience. There are other ways to let them know what you can help bring to the role you’re applying for by showcase the list of skills that you excel at.

It usually depends on the role you’re applying for. But there are some common ones that you can try to focus on like: Communication, Organization, Customer Driven, Effective Listener, Teamwork, etc.

What else can you add to your resume besides skills?

We recommend adding some extra activities for your career. Even if you haven’t attained any professional work experience yet. The few ways you can do that as a student is:

• Find internships
• Help volunteer at student-led or non-profit organizations
• Participate in extracurricular activities
• Take on side-projects

Not only will you have more examples of experience to show on your resume. You can show employers how much initiative and leadership you’ve performed on your own. This helps you stand out much better than a candidate who only lists generic skills.

For example, instead of only listing skills like:

• Communication
• Collaborative

An employer might prefer to move forward with a resume that looks like this:

• Summer Intern at XYZ
• Volunteered for non-profit at XYZ
• Ran student organization for XYZ

What if you’re unable to get any kind of experience?

Fear not, your chances towards landing your first job can still be within grasp. We recommend taking an approach that explains the skills you’ve acquired. And how you’ve applied them in real-world settings.

Here’s an example of adding depth to your skill sets:

• Demonstrated effective teamwork and leadership in various class projects by taking the initiative to organize group’s goals, objectives, and tasks.
• Received consistent praise and admiration from course professors and team members as being highly collaborative, an effective communicator and group leader with clear presentation skills and abilities.
• Organization
• Meticulous about even the smallest of details. Always taking the extra effort towards making sure that filenames, folder hierarchy and labeling are descriptive, versioned, tagged and easily discoverable.
• Received constant praise from past and present team members who were able to jump into any collaborative project and accurately trace back previous versions to see how decisions were made.

Do you see how this can be more effective than listing out a set of skills? Taking this approach will let employers know that you’re not only listing skills. But have also demonstrated how you were able to apply these skills and put them into action.

3. Combination Format

The final type of resume that we mentioned earlier is the Combination or Hybrid format. This combines concepts from both reverse chronological and functional/skills-based formats.

We recommend this format for jobs that expect relevant experience and technical skills. An example might be a Graphic Designer who has experience working in design agencies. As well as necessary skills like Branding, Sketching, Illustration, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Take a look at our in-depth guide on how to select the right resume format .

Choosing the best resume template

Now that we know which software to use and the most common resume formats, let’s break down the actual template. This is the make-or-break deal. Picking the right resume template can be the deciding factor if a hiring manager gives you a call. Or if they skip past your resume and never bother to read it.

Our mission here at Easy Resume is to make sure that never happens to you! We’re working hard to make sure your resume is high quality and presented in a way that will impress recruiters.

When speaking with hiring managers, we found that 78% of the time they skip your resume is because of the design. Again, we don’t think that’s fair.

Here’s a checklist to use for your resume

We always use this checklist whenever creating any new resume template.

Use a clear heading structure

Incorrect : Don’t make all headings and body copy the same size.

Correct: Do use typographic hierarchy by using varying heading sizes and font weights.

Use legible, friendly and professional font combinations

Incorrect : Don’t use quirky and eccentric fonts like comic sans or papyrus.

Correct : Do use professional fonts that are easy to read and familiar. Fonts like Georgia, Helvetica, Calibri, and Cambia.

Use an ample amount of spacing

Incorrect : Don’t go overboard with spacing. Using a lot of white-space might spark joy, but not when your resume becomes three pages long because of it.

Correct: Do keep your margins tight but spaced even enough that your text isn’t hugging the borders of the page.

Incorrect : Don’t try to write your entire life story with every single job responsibility you’ve ever had. Recruiters on average spend about 7-8 seconds skimming through resumes. If it's two pages, the chances of them not spending even more than 2-3 seconds reading the second page is pretty low.

Correct: Do keep your information brief, relevant, and clear. If you REALLY need another page, make sure it’s valuable information. Otherwise, choose the right template that can fit the most words on a single page.

Use bullet points

Incorrect : Don’t write very long paragraphs about your work experience. Remember, your resume is a summary and a brief overview of your career. Your resume is not an autobiography of everything you’ve ever done.

Correct: Do use 3-4 bullet points to briefly describe your responsibilities. Feel free to add more bullet points if you have worked at only one or two jobs to fill up some more space.

Overview for writing a resume

Whew, that was a lot of information. Let's quickly summarize what we've learned.

1) Always use an online resume builder, instead of Microsoft Word

• It’s always better to use an online tool instead of Microsoft Word.
• Creating a resume template on Easy Resume will allow you to access your resume at any time. And access to unlimited resumes and a great selection of professional design templates.

2) There are 3 types of resume formats

• Reverse Chronological -This is the most common. Use it if you have a lot of work experience and want to show your career progression over the years. ‍
• Functional - If you lack work experience, use this format to emphasize your skill set. It’s great for students or recent graduates entering the workforce for the first time. ‍
• Combination - If you have a lot of experience and a diverse skill set that is relevant to your job, use this advanced technique. For example, a web developer who has worked at a few technology startups. And has programming skills in languages like Python, PHP, and Javascript.

3) Follow our resume design guidelines

• Utilize clear heading hierarchy, don’t make all fonts the same size. This will help your resume be easy to parse. Remember, recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds scanning your resume. Highlight the most important sections! ‍
• Use legible fonts that are easy to read . Using professional fonts will make your resume more legible. Choose from fonts like Georgia, Calibri, Garamond, Arial, Helvetica, Cambria, Times New Roman, Verdana, Trebuchet, Gill Sans, and Tahoma
• ‍ Use white-space conservatively . If you rely too much on white-space, you might end up with a 2-3 page resume. Keep your margins tight but spaced evenly to make it easy on the eyes for the reader. ‍
• Use 1 page . As previously mentioned, hiring managers and recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds. They might look at hundreds of resumes and applications every week. The chances of them reading every single page from top to bottom is pretty slim. ‍
• Use limited amount of color depending on your industry. Hiring managers need to notice the right parts of your resume. Using the right amount of color on your resume can help. ‍
• se bullet points . As previously mentioned, hiring managers and recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds. They might look at hundreds of resumes and applications every week. The chances of them reading every single page from top to bottom is pretty slim.

Resume sections and details

Let’s take a closer look at the resume itself now. Resumes are typically broken down into the common sections:

Common sections to add on your resume

Resumes tend to have some common sections that employers are used to seeing. Here's a list of what's generally expected as best practice:

• Heading / Name
• Additional Contact Info
• Your Objective
• Your Education
• York Work Experiences
• Your Skills

Of course not all people are alike. There’s no one-size-fits-all model for resumes. Depending on your job, you might want to include more unique sections. Remember any information you include on your resume should have valuable insight into your experience. Employers want to know why you would be a great hire.

Other sections to include on your resume

If you don't have enough information for the sections described above, you can try to add some of these sections below. Keep in mind that you should only add it if it's relevant to the position you're applying for.

• Volunteering
• Achievements
• Organizations
• Certificates
• Publications

As you can see, there are many sections to add depth to your resume. So don’t be alarmed if you’re lacking skills or experiences, there are other ways to let employers learn of your potential.

Tip: Only add information that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. As a best practice, always remember that the most valuable details is the information that recruiters are specifically looking for in the job description that you’re applying to.

Let’s break down each of these sections and how to add the most value to them.

Adding contact information

Information about yourself is a critical element for your resume. It provides a brief description of who you are, where you're based and how to get in touch with you.

The most necessary contact information to add on your resume

There are quite a few ways to add your contact details, but here's what's most necessary.

• Your First & Last Name . You may use a preferred name if that's what you'd rather go by. So for example, someone named "Robert" might prefer to go by a nickname like "Bob". You may also optionally include your middle name or initial. ‍
• Your Email Address. Your email address is necessary if employers want to be able to reach you. Email is generally the most common way that recruiters use to get in contact with applicants.

Always use a professional email address.

Incorrect : Don't use an email address that sounds like you're still in grade school. Something like [email protected] will not look professional on your resume.

Correct : If you don't already have one, create a professional email address with your name on a service like Gmail. An email like [email protected] sounds much more professional.

• Your Phone Number. Adding a phone number will let recruiters know that they can also reach you via phone call if that proves to be more convenient for them. If possible, use your work or cellphone number instead of your home number. ‍
• Your Location. Adding your location lets employers know that you'll be able to physically make it to work. It's preferred that you list your city and state. Some people like to add their full mailing address. However, based on our research, we learned that it's not always important to add in your entire street address.

Let employers know where you're based, not your exact address.

Incorrect : Don't list your entire mailing address like 305 Main St, Apt#25. It's not always necessary. If an employer needs to know your mailing address, ask them and only provide if required.

Correct : You can simply list your city state and sometimes zip code, for example: New York, NY 10010. This will let employers know that you live and work in this geographic location. If you need a work visa or are looking to relocate, be sure to call that out.

Secondary contact information to add on your resume

• Your Website or Blog. If you have a website or a blog, feel free to add it on your resume. Having a website can add to the professionalism of your experience.

Unnecessary contact information for your resume

• Your Photo or Headshot. Adding a photo to your resume is a bit of a controversial topic. While it's not always recommended, and most ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) will ignore it - some countries like South Korea may prefer it. However, in most cases, it's not necessary. ‍
• Your Date of Birth. To avoid any kind of age-based discrimination, it's best to leave your birthday out of your resume.

Adding social media profiles

If you have accounts on social networks, you might want to include them depending on how relevant it is. This will let employers know that you're active and knowledgeable about commonly used platforms online.

• Linkedin is the most popular platform for networking amongst professionals. We recommend that you create a Linkedin profile if you don't already have one.
• If you use Twitter for professional reasons, adding your Twitter handle can be a good way to show off your personality and interests for topics that you like to talk about. However, if you use it purely for personal reasons, you shouldn't add it.

Tip: Only add social media profiles if they showcase your professional experience. Normally, you shouldn't add your personal social media profiles on your resume. Unless you're using social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest to demonstrate your expertise and interests, there's no reason to include them on your resume. For example, if you're a web developer, you might want to include your Github or if you're a designer, you can include a link to your Behance portfolio.

Writing the perfect resume objective

Your resume summary or objective gives employers a very brief overview of your goal and what kind of position you're looking for. It should always be at the very top of the resume. Usually placed directly below your name and contact information. It's always important to leave a great first impression. Remember, hiring managers are spending only 6 seconds scanning your resume.

Here are the key pieces of information that your resume objective should include:

• Your Job Title = e.g. Server
• Your Experience (in years) = e.g. 10+ Years
• Your Achievements = e.g. Managed parties and events upwards of 250+ guests and maintained customer satisfaction rate above 98%
• Your Desired Goal = e.g. Looking for new opportunities to bring expertise to fine-dining establishments
• Your Desired Goal (Personalized) = e.g. Looking to gain new skills and further develop fine-dining expertise at an upscale establishment like Janes Riverside Restaurant

Personalizing your resume objective to the specific company you're applying for can be a great way to make a first impression. We highly recommend tailoring each resume objective to the specific job and company you're applying to.

Follow these tips to write a great resume objective

This checklist will help summarize your experience into a resume objective that leaves a good first impression.

Avoid writing your resume objective in first person.

Incorrect : I am a server and have lots of experience working in various restaurants. I love working with customers.

Correct : Dynamic and engaged server with over 10+ years of experience who loves to provide warm and friendly customer service.

Quantify your achievements.

Incorrect : I worked many catering events and parties, and provided good customer service.

Correct :  Managed parties and events upwards of 250+ guests and maintained customer satisfaction rate above 98%.

Be clear about your desired goal.

Incorrect : I'm looking for a new job to get better at managing people and stores.

Correct : Looking for new opportunities to further develop hospitality and personnel management experience at fine-dining restaurants.

Putting all this together, a bad example of a resume objective might be the following:

Bad example of a Registered Nurse's objective

I am an experienced registered nurse, that has worked at large hospitals with experience taking care of patients and providing medical expertise. I'm looking for a position to help grow my nursing career.

Let's turn that into a better example of a resume objective, based on our guidelines:

Good example of a Registered Nurse's objective

Experienced and veteran RN with 12+ years of experience taking care of patient health. Skilled in providing high quality patient care in ER situations under intense pressure. Hired and trained a staff of 27 nurses and nurse assistants. Looking for a new role to bring empathetic care to the patients at Lincoln Hospital.

Take a look at our guide on how to write a killer resume summary or resume objective to learn more.

Summarizing your job experience

Your resume experience section is the most important aspect of your entire resume. It's a summary of your career experience and progression that outlines your responsibilities and achievements.

This is the section that you'll most likely spend most of your time on. It's good practice to make sure you consistently jot down any new experiences you've had, even if you're not looking for a job.

For example, if you recently landed a $200,000 deal by bringing on a new client at your firm, write that down somewhere you can remember. Over time, you'll have dozens of bullet points you can copy over to your resume when you are ready for a new job.

Here's a simple example of work experience

Server, red lobster.

November 2018 - Present • New York, NY

• Greeted incoming guests and directed them to comfortable seating.
• Memorized and informed guests of daily menu specials.
• Made recommendations about food and beverages as well as other services provided by the restaurant.
• Provided exceptional and friendly customer service by taking food and beverage orders and entering them in our PoS system.
• Job Title = e.g. Server
• Company Name = e.g. Red Lobster
• Start & End Dates = e.g. November 2018 - Present
• Location = e.g. New York, NY
• Responsibilities & Tasks = e.g. Made recommendations and answered questions about our food, beverages and other restaurant functions and services.

This is a simple example, but it can be improved by adding more detail.

Follow these guidelines to really maximize your career experience

These principles will make your resume look more professional, relevant and attractive to hiring managers. This is where most job-seekers have the toughest time when writing their resume.

We highly recommend emphasizing your experience section with these guidelines:

• Focus on achievements and outcomes. Instead of just writing about all of the tasks you did. Try your best to quantify some of the most key and impactful achievements you've made at the company. Using actionable verbs can help. ‍
• Use keywords from the job description. If you're applying to multiple jobs, make sure you tailor each resume to the job description . A great way to tailor your resume is to use keywords from the job description itself. Not only will this feel more relevant to recruiters, but it significantly increases the chances of your resume passing an ATS which scans for common keywords. ‍
• List only key responsibilities. Your experience section isn't meant to be a huge list of every single task you've ever done. Try to narrow your responsibilities to the ones that most relevant ones.

Here's a better example of work experience

• Implemented Happy Hour pre-dinner special that drove an extra $7,500 in weekly revenue.
• Trained and onboarded 6 servers to help increase waitstaff.
• Promoted to Team Lead after receiving exceptional feedback from repeat customers.
• Made food recommendations to customers that helped increase ordering by up to 15% for select items.

Adding skills to your resume

Showcasing skills on your resume lets employers understand the variety of your strengths. While skill sets can vary, the best approach is to use keywords from the job description to show how your skills are relevant.

In general, there are two types of skills you should consider adding to your resume.

• Soft or Transferable Skills
• Hard or Technical Skills

What are soft skills?

Soft skills (sometimes known as "transferable skills") are self-developed skills that will be valuable to employers to many different types of jobs. Some examples of these include communication, teamwork, organization and leadership. Listing soft skills is recommended if you're thinking about a career change where your skills would serve both industries.

For example, there might be a job that requires candidates to be very strong in teamwork skills. If you’ve worked in team settings, and enjoy collaborating with other group members, this is a skill that you might want to call out.

Here's a list of common soft skills:

• Taking Initiative
• Problem Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Collaboration
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Presentation
• Facilitation

What are hard skills?

Hard skills (also known as "technical skills") are specific skills that are learned to perform a certain task or master a craft. These skills are often completed during your job, and sometimes require specific education or training to learn and master. For example, some technical skills can include computers or hardware for jobs like a Web Developer or an IT person.

Adding technical skills to your resume will let employers know how you can solve different challenges using these skills you've acquired. We recommend using your career experience, as described above, to show real examples of how you applied your hard skills at your job. Make sure to keep them relevant to the job you're applying for.

Here's a list of hard skills for specific roles:

Web Developer

• Ruby on Rails
• HTML & CSS
• Cross Browser Testing

Graphic Designer

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator
• Wireframing

Data Analyst

• Database Management
• Google Analytics
• Microsoft Excel

We have come up with a list of over 100 skills that you can include on your resume .

Listing your education

The education section of your resume is an important call-out for showing your school experience and the degree(s) you've received. It's important that the education section of your resume is relevant to fit the position you're applying for.

Here's an example of the information you should add for your education.

• School / University Name = e.g. Harvard University
• Degree & Major = e.g. B.F.A in Arts & Literature
• Minor = e.g. Minor in Spanish
• Years Attended = e.g. Fall 2004 to Spring 2008
• GPA ( optional ) = e.g. 3.8/4.0 GPA
• Honors ( optional ) = e.g. Magna Cum Laude

The most important information to include is your degree (multiple if you have more than one), the schools you attended and during which dates. If relevant, providing more specific pieces of information like your major and minor can also help.

Tip: Always be truthful on your resume. It's not worth lying on your resume. Employers will quickly find out whether you're telling the truth or lying during an interview if they ask specific questions that you are unable to answer. Same goes for your Education. Employers can request a transcript to verify that your school information is correct.

You'll notice we also added GPA and Honors as optional. For GPA, it's not necessary nor required, and should be generally avoided unless you have a high GPA (greater than 3.8). Adding honors and achievements is also likely to be ignored by recruiters. Only add it if you have plenty of extra space on your resume. Otherwise save that space for more important and relevant information.

Additional sections for your resume

Now that we've learned about the most important sections to add on your resume, let's explore some other ways to demonstrate your full potential to future employers.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all model. Every person, every situation and every job is different. Your resume should be tailored based on a variety of these circumstances.

Here are some sections you can include on your resume:

Keep in mind, that you should only add these sections if 1) you have extra space or 2) it's very relevant to the job you're applying for.

• Hobbies & Interests. This is a great way to show off your individual personality. Employers often care about maintaining company culture. Showcasing your different hobbies and interests can be a great way for them to get to know you, before even meeting you! Our advice on how to include hobbies on your resumes will be helpful.
• Languages. Do you speak multiple languages? This is a skill that can become useful, even if it isn't required for the job. When listing languages, you may also write a proficiency level (native, fluent, basic) to show how skilled you are at communicating in that language. ‍
• Volunteering Experience. If you spend time volunteering at different organizations, this can demonstrate to future employers that you're mission-driven and passionate about solving problems for others. If you're a student, acquiring volunteer experience can be a great way to substitute (with real impact!) for any lack of work experience. ‍
• Certifications & Awards. Have you received any certifications and awards that celebrates achievements you've made in your career? If it's relevant to the job you're applying to, then this could be a great way to level up your expertise and skills. Take a look at our guide on including achievements and awards on your resume as well as including certifications on your resumes.

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

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

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

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

Basic resume tips

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Ditch the objective statement

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

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

4. Put the best, most relevant information first

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

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

5. Choose the right resume format for you

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

6. Keep it concise

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

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

7. Include relevant links

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

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

8. Be aware of the ATS

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

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

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

Resume formatting tips

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

9. Keep your resume format simple

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

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

10. Stand out with ATS-friendly design elements

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

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

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

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

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

12. Make your contact info prominent

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

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

13. Design your resume for skimmability

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

Work experience resume tips

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

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

14. Keep your work experience recent and relevant

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

15. Don’t forget your transferable skills and experiences

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

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

16. Write strong, achievement-focused bullet points

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

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

Here’s a simple formula to follow:

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

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

17. Curate your bullet points and experiences

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

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

18. Use as many numbers as you can

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

19. Don’t neglect non-traditional work

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

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

20. Use important keywords from the job description

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

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

Resume tips for including your education

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

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

21. Put experience first, education later

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

22. Also keep it in reverse chronological order

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

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

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

24. Highlight honors and achievements, not GPA

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

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

25. Include continuing or online education

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

Best resume tips for showing off your skills

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

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

26. Don’t forget your skills section

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

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

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

28. Divvy up your skills for readability

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

29. Show—don’t tell—your soft skills

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

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

Other resume section tips

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

30. Include relevant certifications and licenses

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

31. Show some (relevant) personality

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

32. Beware of interests and activities that could be controversial

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

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

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

Resume tips for navigating employment gaps and other sticky situations

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

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

34. Cut the short-term jobs

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

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

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

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

36. Explain serial job hopping

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

37. Explain a long break in jobs

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

38. Be intentional about career gaps

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

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

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

Tips on resume finishing touches

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

39. Ditch “References available upon request”

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

40. Proofread, proofread, proofread

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

41. Save it as a PDF or Word document

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

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

42. Name your file clearly

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

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

43. Keep your resume outline fresh

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

How to Write a Great Resume for a Job in 2024

In This Guide:

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

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

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

Looking at it profoundly:

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

Now, believe it or not...

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

The real reason is that they look like this:

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

But are jobseekers to blame for this?

Not at all!

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

For instance:

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

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

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

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

Let’s get started.

Upload & Check Your Resume

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

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

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

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

What exactly is a resume?

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

In simpler terms:

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

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

Let’s get to the secret sauce…

A good resume is performance-based

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

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

A good resume is human-centric

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

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

A good resume is short & concise

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

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

Do we even have to ask why?

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

A good resume is job-specific

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

Does that seem counterintuitive?

Well, it really isn’t…

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

On the contrary:

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

A good resume is a natural heatmap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ready to hear the best part?

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

Microsoft Word

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

But today, a lot of things have changed.

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

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

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

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

Resume building platforms like Europass

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

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

Thankfully:

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

Photoshop and Illustrator

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

Well… Only if the following two conditions apply:

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

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

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

So, yes… That sounds unreasonable!

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

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

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

In the rest of this guide…

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

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

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

Other additional resume writing guides you might find useful:

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

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

Here are the most popular resume formats:

Reverse chronological resume

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

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

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

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

Functional resume

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

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

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

Hybrid resume

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do all stellar resume templates have in common?

Resume Formatting Checklist:

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

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

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

What sections do headhunters expect to see on your resume?

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

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

How to write a resume header

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to write a resume summary

The resume profile is your elevator pitch.

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

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

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

It’s quite simple!

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

Other impactful selling points you can mention here are:

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

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

On the other hand:

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

How to write your resume experience

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

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

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

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

Here’s how to show it on a resume:

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

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

Can you guess why?

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

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

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

Keep in mind:

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

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

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

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

Two good/bad examples for the experience section:

Now get this:

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

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

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

How to add your accomplishments:

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

Aside from that:

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

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

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

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

How to add skill to your resume

As the name suggests:

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s the secret:

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

As a final step…

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

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

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

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

And another thing…

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

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

How to write your resume education

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

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

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

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

Where should all of that be on your resume?

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

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

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

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

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

Courses, certifications, and awards on resume

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

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

Unsurprisingly:

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

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

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

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

For example:

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

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

Other sections in your resume

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

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

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

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

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

If that sounds like you, don't worry…

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

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

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

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

Can you speak more than a few languages?

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

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

You can break down your proficiency into these five levels:

• Intermediate

Be careful:

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

Volunteering

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

In addition to that:

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

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

When adding volunteering experience:

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

Projects and publications

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

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

Now — here's the deal:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conscientiousness:

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

Agreeableness:

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

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

Tailoring your resume

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

Tailoring your resume to the job offer.

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

Think of it this way:

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

Here’s how you’ll do that:

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

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

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

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

Congratulations!

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

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

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

Here’s our final resume-making checklist:

Proofread your resume —

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

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

Name your file the right way —

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

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

Jeremy Turner Resume — Google.pdf

Choose a proper resume format —

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

Test print your resume on paper —

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

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

Apply to jobs via email —

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

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

How do you find the hiring manager’s email?

Here are a few quick ways:

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

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

Include a references section only when necessary —

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

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

Let’s be honest…

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

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

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Resume Templates

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Choose a [Free] Resume Template

Pick one of our professional resume templates to get started on your job application. Just fill out your favorite resume template to create a flawless, ATS-friendly resume in under 5 minutes. Try out one of our 8+ free resume templates to make an impressive resume and land your dream job in no time!

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We offer both free and premium resume templates, so whatever your budget might be, you can still take advantage of our resume builder.

Creative & Professional Resume Templates

Whether you’re a creative advertiser looking for an outside-the-box creative resume template, or a banker seeking a more professional resume template, we’ve got a template for you!

NO Hidden Fees

If you’ve tried other resume builders, you’ve probably experienced this: You spend hours creating a resume, and when you click “download,” you get hit with a paywall asking you to subscribe.

At Novorésumé, we don’t do that . We have NO hidden fees - upgrade to Premium ONLY if you LOVE our resumes!

ATS Friendly

All Novorésumé resume templates are built with the most popular Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in mind. What this means for YOU is that whichever job you apply for, the CV filtering software they use will be able to read your resume (and NOT automatically discard it).

Expert Reviews

Oana Vintila

Career Counselor

For over 10 years now, I've been on both sides of the fence, career counseling, and recruitment, and let me tell you, the writer's block hits hard when it comes to drafting your resume.

Novorésumé not only offers you a smart and modern template for you to fill in, but their team has also crafted a winning combo of aesthetics and functionality that will inspire you to apply for the job you thought was out of your league. Give it a try!

Biron Clark

Former Executive Recruiter

Novorésumé is one of the few resume builders that I recommend online. Their resume templates are modern and eye-catching, and will grab an employer's attention. As a former Recruiter, if a candidate sent me a resume built with one of these templates, I would take notice and be impressed.

The software also makes it easy to enter your info and handles all of the formatting for you, so you can get your resume ready to send out as quickly as possible. I recommend these templates whether you're a recent graduate or experienced candidate.

Gabriela Tardea

Career Strategist, Coach & Trainer

When I consult people on resume writing, the most common question that I am asked it is about the content and what components to add or avoid, when they have less than 5 years of work experience.

On this platform, you not only have access to many options, but you get guidance on what to choose and why. When the work experience is less than 5 years, the other components such as languages, projects, volunteering experiences, hobbies etc, make a huge difference.

Resume Resources

What is a resume.

A resume is a brief summary of personal and professional experiences, skills, and education history. Its main purpose is to show off your best self to potential employers.

When applying for a job, you’re (in most cases) going to be asked for a resume accompanied by a cover letter.

If you manage to create a “good” resume, you’re going to 2x your chances of getting hired . Want to learn how? Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume .

How to Write a Resume With No Experience?

The process of writing a resume might seem super scary to you. After all, most resume examples you see on the web are 80% about work experience. So, what the heck can you include in your resume if you have none?

Well, here’s some good news. If you’re applying for an entry-level job or an internship, no one expects you to have ANY work experience.

Instead, you should focus on what you DO have: education, projects, volunteering experience, hobbies & interests.

For a complete guide on how to make a resume with no work experience stand out, check out our article.

What to Put on a Resume?

The most common sections on a resume are:

Contact information

Resume summary or objective

Work experience

If you want to personalize your resume a bit more, you can also include the following sections:

Volunteering experience

Hobbies & interests

For more information on how to place these sections on your resume, check out our article on what to put on a resume .

How to Format a Resume?

Here are the three most popular resume formats:

Reverse-Chronological Resume

Functional Resume

Combination Resume

In 99% of the cases, you’ll want to go with the reverse chronological resume format . That’s the format most resumes you’ve seen follow - its main focus is your work experience, written down in reverse-chronological order.

So, unless you’re a student with no professional experience or a career changer, we’d recommend sticking with this format.

If you want to learn more about three resume formats , check out our comparison guide.

How to Write a Resume For a Student?

A good student resume takes advantage of the education section to highlight the candidate’s skills and qualifications.

So, the first thing you should do is talk about all your academic achievements, including any classes you’ve taken that are relevant to the position.

As a student, hiring managers don’t expect you to have extensive professional experience, so you don’t have to worry about the work experience section missing from your resume. Instead, you can focus on highlighting your extracurricular activities , any volunteering you’ve done, and your awards or certifications.

This student resume guide has all the information you need to perfect your resume and land your first real job.

How to Write a Resume For My First Job?

If you’re applying for your first job, chances are you don’t have substantial work experience. That’s fine - hiring managers expect that from entry-level positions.

First things first, go for the reverse-chronological format. Instead of writing a resume summary, use a resume objective to highlight your skills and career aspirations. If you have any work experience, do include it on your resume.

If not, you should put more focus on the following sections:

Internships , where you should focus on what you learned and achieved

Extracurricular activities , where you should highlight your role, responsibilities, and achievements.

Volunteering experiences , where you should mention the organization name, and relevant tasks and achievements.

Projects , where you talk about any personal projects you’ve worked on (that are also somehow relevant to the job you’re applying for).

Check out this guide on writing a resume with no experience to learn more about the topic and get inspired by real-life examples.

How Long Should a Resume Be?

Short answer: one page. If you're a seasoned professional with a lot of work experience that's relevant to the position, you can create a 2-page long resume MAX.

Long answer: check out our guide on how long should a resume be .

P.S. all of our templates are one page long , so you shouldn’t have a lot of trouble sticking to the one-page limit!

How to Write a Resume Summary?

Your resume summary is a “hook” that goes on top of your resume. Think of it as an introduction to the rest of your resume. It should, in 2-4 sentences, explain what your background is, and why it’s relevant for the position you’re applying for.

To learn more about how to create a resume summary that stands out, check out our guide.

How to List Work Experience on a Resume?

Work experience on a resume is one of those things that’s easy to learn but hard to master.

Each work experience entry should contain the following information:

Company name/description/location

Achievements or responsibilities

Dates employed

Now, if you want to create a work experience section that stands out, you want to make your achievements quantifiable. What this means is, instead of creating a responsibility-focused entry, like:

“Carried out sales operations.”

You list your achievements:

“Hit and exceeded monthly sales KPIs for 5 months in a row.”

This shows the employer that you’re not just a random candidate, you’re an A-player! To learn more about how to list achievements in your work experience (and land the job), check out our article.

How to List Skills on a Resume?

Simply create a ”skills” section on your Novorésumé resume template, and list your top skills. We usually recommend going for a mix of hard and soft skills .

Not sure what skills to include in your resume? Check out these 101 essential skills for any resume .

How to Make a Cover Letter for a Resume?

You should always submit a cover letter along with your resume for any job you apply to. Here are some of our top cover letter tips on how to do this right:

Tailor your cover letter to the employer. The more personalized it is, the more likely it is for the recruiter to like you.

Outline your general background (work experience, profession, etc.) and mention your top 2-3 achievements to show off your skills.

If you really want to stand out, create a cover letter that matches your resume template. To do this, you can use one of our cover letter templates here .

If you want to learn more about how to write a convincing cover letter, check out our comprehensive guide.

What Is the Best Resume Template?

There’s no such thing as “the best resume template” - every recruiter/employer has their own personal preference. Our general recommendation is to do your research on the company and its values.

For example, if you’re applying for a position at a bank, you’d want a more traditional resume template. Or, if you want a job in a startup where they value innovation more, you could opt for a creative resume template .

Alternatively, if you want your experience and skills to do all the talking, you can pick one of these minimalist resume templates .

Finally, if you’re still not sure which type of template is right for the job you’re applying for, you can just use a simple resume template just to be safe.

Do I Need to Include a Photo on my Resume?

No, you don’t need to include your photo together with your other contact details. Companies hire based on merit, which means your physical appearance shouldn’t matter to the hiring manager.

Instead, in your contact information section, make sure to include the following:

Professional title

Valid phone number

Email address

Location/where you’re based

Link to website/ LinkedIn /online portfolio, etc.

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

In most cases, when people are talking about a CV or a resume, they are referring to the same thing! The only difference is that it's called a resume in the US and a CV in Europe (and most other countries around the world).

Now, in the US, a CV is a very in-depth document that describes your career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information . Depending on your amount of experience, a CV can range between 2 to 8 pages and it’s typically used when you’re applying for jobs in academia.

Check out our guide for a more comprehensive run-down of the differences between a CV and a resume .

6 Tips for Creating a US Resume (That’ll Land You the Job)

Looking to get hired in the US? Check out our tips for creating a US resume below!

Keep your resume between 1-3 pages . A one-page resume is preferable unless you’re a seasoned professional. In such a case, you can go for two or even three, if your experience is really relevant.

Use Standard American English . So, for example, write “color” instead of the UK version, which is “colour.”

Leave out personal information , such as marital status, birthday, gender, photo, number of children, age, religion, personal identification numbers, and ethnicity/country of origin. They can be grounds for discrimination.

Don’t include references , unless the employer specifically asks you to.

Don’t list English as a foreign language.

Don’t list your GPA, SAT, TOEFL, or ACT scores on your US resume unless otherwise stated. Hiring managers usually don’t care.

Check out this guide for the full list of resume tips and tricks !

Get Inspired with Our Resume Examples

Resume templates faq, how to make a resume with novorésumé.

Follow these simple steps:

Choose one of our top resume templates above

Follow the tips & tricks built-in our resume builder

Fill in your work history and other experiences

Hit download and start applying to jobs!

What If I Am a Student?

All of our resume samples are student-friendly! If you’re looking for something a bit more tailored, we’d recommend picking the “college resume template”

Or, if you want to learn how to create a convincing student resume , check out our guide.

Do I Really Need a Resume?

Yes, you definitely need a resume!

Practically every job out there requires that candidates submit a resume and a cover letter, so if you want your application to be considered by the hiring manager, you definitely need a resume .

Are These Resume Templates Free?

Yep, all of the templates listed above are free resume templates.

However, our resume builder comes with a ton of premium features. So if you want to personalize your resume and make it truly yours, you can upgrade!

Who Created These Resume Samples?

At Novorésumé, we put extensive care in creating each resume template.

We interviewed recruiters and analyzed applicant tracking systems to create resume samples that will maximize your chances of getting hired.

Then, our professional graphic designer worked his magic to make the resume samples compelling, well-designed, and easy to read!

Which Template Do Most Employers Prefer for Resumes?

Typically, employers prefer simple, professional-looking resume templates that follow the reverse-chronological format and don’t surpass two pages MAX in length.

All the Novoresume templates above meet these requirements, so rest assured hiring managers will dig whichever one you choose.

Are These Resume Templates ATS-Friendly?

Yes! All Novorésumé templates are ATS-friendly .

Keep in mind, though, that using the right template is step #1. You should also optimize your resume content for applicant tracking systems. For more on that, check out our guide to creating an ATS-friendly resume .

Do You Offer One-Page Resume Templates?

Yep. All the templates you see above are one-page resume templates. They are, however, pretty flexible, so if you decide to go for 2 pages, our templates will get the job done!

Should I Download My New Resume In PDF or Word?

You should always download and save your resume as a PDF .

Here’s why:

PDF formatting never gets messed up.

It’s compatible with practically any system or device.

PDF documents look cleaner and are overall more professional.

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• How to Create a Professional Resume

Check Your Resume Before You Send It

Review a resume example, review more sample resumes.

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Your resume needs to be professional and polished because, if not, your application materials probably won't get a second glance from any hiring manager.

An unprofessional resume —one that is difficult to read, confusing, covered in errors, or unrelated to the job the person is applying for—will get tossed in the trash right away. Hiring managers often get dozens, even hundreds, of applicants for each job. An unprofessional resume makes you look unprofessional as a job seeker and will cost you a possible interview.

Sloppy resumes that are riddled with typos will be ignored and resumes that are inconsistent —bullets in some places, dashes in others, bold in some headings, plain text in others—may not get a second look either.

Your resume, to be effective, needs to be consistent, concise, and clear and easy to read. Avoid tiny fonts, dense blocks of text, vague language or excessive jargon, and inconsistent formatting.

Tips for Creating a Professional Resume

Grab your current resume (or organize your work experience and education information) and give it a professional boost with these tips:

Select the Best Resume Type

There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances, choose a  chronological ,  functional ,  combination , or  a targeted  resume. Taking the time to choose the best type of resume for your situation is well worth the effort.

Choose a Simple Font

Your resume should be easy to read. You want the hiring manager to easily read and absorb your work history and accomplishments. Therefore, use a  legible font  (such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri). Make sure the font is not too big or too small (choose a size between 10 and 12).

Avoid dense blocks of text and use  standard margins . Use white- or cream-colored paper if you are sending a physical resume; colored paper can be very distracting.

Keep Your Formatting Consistent

Professional resumes need to have consistent formatting. For instance, if you use  bullet points  to describe your responsibilities and achievements at one position, be sure to use bullet points in all other positions as well.

Also, make certain that the bullet points are formatted the same way throughout. For example, don't use circle bullet points in one section, and diamond bullet points in another section. Be consistent with font, font size, and style (such as the use of bold and italics).

Keep it Focused

It's important not to include extraneous information. More isn’t necessarily better. Your resume should focus on the skills and attributes that qualify you for the job. It will be helpful to leave out anything that won’t help you get the job you want.

A resume shouldn’t be several pages long for the average job seeker, a one-page resume is probably enough, or two pages at most.

Give It a Makeover

It's always a good idea to periodically refresh your resume. Be sure you have included all your latest achievements, and your employment and educational history are current. Updating your resume will increase your chances of getting it noticed by the hiring manager.

Use Resume Examples and Templates

Use a  resume example  or  template  to help you write your resume. An example can help you decide what information to include. Templates can help you format your resume. However, whenever you use a resume example or template, be sure to customize your resume, so it reflects your skills and abilities, and the jobs you are applying for. A simple copy/paste isn’t enough.

Get Creative (Maybe)

If you’re in a creative field, you might use a free resume website to build a  creative resume  that includes all the facets of a traditional resume, with add-ons like video, infographics , and links to your accomplishments. However, only do this if you are in a creative industry. Otherwise, you definitely need to stick to a traditional resume.

Carefully Edit Your Resume

Spelling and grammar errors can make an applicant seem inattentive to details. Review proofing guidelines  to ensure that your resume is consistent and error-free. Then check it again. And, if you can, find someone else to look at it too, because it’s so easy to miss your own typos.

Get Resume Help

Writing a resume is hard work and it's important to get help, or at least have your resume reviewed before you send it to employers. Consider using a career counselor or other  professional resume service  to help you make sure your resume is professional and polished. Having a friend or family member check for typos and formatting errors is another option to make sure it's perfect.

Before you send it, use a resume checklist to make sure you have included all relevant information in your resume. Avoid common mistakes on your resume and use writing strategies that lead to success in resume reviews.

This is a professional resume example. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or read the example below.

Resume Example (Text Version)

Dexter Applicant 123 Main Street Jackson, MS 12345 123-456-7890 dexter.applicant@email.com

Production Technician Strong and able-bodied Production Assistant with 8 years’ experience in assembly of components and sub-components for automotive and aviation parts manufacturers.

• Process-oriented, ensuring safe and quality assembly line production within hazardous factory settings.
• Skilled in use of weld guns, air-actuated tools, forklifts, manual tools, and automated machinery.
• Diligent in completing daily production reports and timesheets.
• Outstanding work ethic and team building skills; willing to work overtime and flexible shifts.

Professional Experience

Hughes Automotive Company, Canton, MS Production Technician , July 2017-Present Weld automotive components as technician on fast-paced assembly line. Operate welding tools and automated machinery; perform quality control and pack parts for shipping.

• Maintained perfect attendance record throughout tenure.
• Created a process checklist to help train new hires.

Pine Hills Avionics Manufacturing, Jackson, MS Assembly Technician , June 2014-June 2017 Skillfully set up and operated assembly department test stands. Interpreted schematics; utilized hand tools and testing instruments including micrometers and venire calipers.

• Earned “Employee of the Month” awards at least twice each year.
• Selected by supervisor to train summer workers in assembly line, packing, and cleaning tasks.

Southern Lumber Supply, Mayhew, MS Warehouse Assistant , June 2011-June 2014 Concurrent with education, operated forklift during 2nd shift in warehouse receiving and shipping operations. 

• Willingly worked overtime and weekend shifts as requested.
• Earned top scores on quarterly performance reports.

Associates Degree in Machining Technology , 2010 East Mississippi Community College, Mayhew, MS

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RESUME SAMPLE

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• RESUME TEMPLATE (BULLET POINTS)
• RESUME TEMPLATE (PARAGRAPH FORMAT)
• COVER LETTER TIPS
• COVER LETTER SAMPLE

A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. Although it alone won’t get you a job or internship, a good resume is an important factor in obtaining an interview. Tailor your resume to the type of position you’re seeking. This doesn’t mean that all of your experiences must relate directly, but your resume should reflect the types of skills the employer would value.

• Draft a resume using one of the MCS templates .
• Attend a Resume Workshop to learn the nuts and bolts of getting started. See the MCS events calendar for dates.
• View the recorded MCS Resume Webinar .
• Get advice via drop-ins, Monday-Friday, 1:00-4:00pm. Ask quick career-related questions and have an advisor review your resume.
• Look for industry-specific resume review clinics, listed on our events calendar in employer events.

RESUME TIPS

Resume language should be:.

• Specific rather than general
• Active rather than passive
• Written to express not impress
• Articulate rather than “flowery”
• Fact-based (quantify and qualify)
• Written for people who scan quickly

TOP SIX RESUME MISTAKES:

• Spelling and grammar errors
• Missing email and phone information
• Using passive language instead of “action” words
• Not well organized, concise, or easy to skim
• Not demonstrating results

DON’T:

• Use personal pronouns (such as I)
• Use a narrative style
• Use slang or colloquialisms
• Include a picture
• Include age or gender
• List references
• Start each line with a date
• Be consistent in format and content
• Make it easy to read and follow, balancing white space
• Use consistent spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and capitalization for emphasis
• List headings (such as Experience) in order of importance
• Within headings, list information in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
• Avoid information gaps such as a missing summer
• Be sure that your formatting will translate properly if converted to a .pdf

PLAN TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY?

Resume guidelines can vary from country to country. See our international resources.

ACTION VERBS FOR YOUR RESUME

(click on sample for pdf)

RESUME TEMPLATE 1 (WITH BULLET POINTS)

RESUME TEMPLATE 2 (PARAGRAPH FORMAT)

WRITE AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER

Your cover letter is a writing sample and a part of the screening process. By putting your best foot forward, you can increase your chances of being interviewed. A good way to create a response-producing cover letter is to highlight your skills or experiences that are most applicable to the job or industry and to tailor the letter to the specific organization to which you’re applying.

Some general rules about letters:

• Address your letters to a specific person if you can.
• Tailor your letters to specific situations or organizations by doing research before writing your letters.
• Keep letters concise and factual, no more than a single page. Avoid flowery language.
• Give examples that support your skills and qualifications.
• Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. What can you write that will convince the reader that you are ready and able to do the job?
• Don’t overuse the pronoun “I”.
• Remember that this is a marketing tool. Use plenty of action words.
• Have an MCS advisor provide feedback on your letter.
• If converting to a .pdf, check that your formatting translates correctly.
• Reference skills or experiences from the job description and draw connections to your credentials.
• Make sure your resume and cover letter are prepared with the same font type and size.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

September 1, 2024

Morgan Smith  Director of Communications Jumpstart  308 Congress Street, 6 th Floor Boston, MA 02110 

Dear Morgan Smith: 

I am a senior at Harvard College studying History and Literature. I am writing to apply for the Marketing and Communications position at Jumpstart posted in Harvard’s Crimson Careers database. I’m very excited about the field of education, and would welcome the opportunity to bring my strong communication skills, creativity, and marketing experience to your growing team. 

Jumpstart’s commitment to early education for every child is of particular interest to me because of my passion for youth development. This past summer, I worked as a senior counselor in the Summer Urban Program, which is dedicated to preventing summer learning loss for children in the Boston and Cambridge area. I designed and taught fun, interactive classes to a group of 10 fifth graders, and planned and led local field trips and workshops daily with a junior counselor. Throughout the summer, I consistently strived to create math, science, and reading lessons and activities that were engaging and tailored to my students’ needs. 

Additionally, in my role as the Director of Marketing for the Social Innovation Collaborative, I led our team in creating a social media strategy to drive our member recruitment efforts and promote our programs and events on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. With so many competing events on campus each day, I had to continually be creative in my approach to developing and delivering content that would be compelling and effective. As a result of my efforts, our group experienced a 20% increase in our membership base and a 15% increase in our social media engagement. I’m excited at the prospect of bringing the skills I developed through this experience to the Marketing and Communications role at Jumpstart. 

Thank you for your consideration. I very much look forward to the opportunity to speak with you in person about my interest in this position. 

Sincerely, 

Alex Crimson 

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• 27 Great Resume Summary...

27 Great Resume Summary Examples to Get Hired

20 min read · Updated on June 03, 2024

Your resume summary is the first impression you make on potential employers, so it's crucial to get it right

When it comes to job applications, your resume is often the first point of contact with prospective employers. It's essential to make a good impression right from the start and that's where your resume summary comes in. Your summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that highlights your skills , experiences , and achievements , making it a key part of your job application.

In this article, you'll learn how to write the ultimate resume summary that will grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. You'll discover what makes a good summary and what to avoid, as well as how to sell yourself effectively to potential employers.

You may be wondering: what exactly is a resume summary and how do I write one? We'll answer these questions and provide examples of professional summaries for various industries.

By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to create a standout resume summary that will help you to land your dream job.

What is a resume summary?

To understand a resume summary, it's important to understand the challenge that good summaries are designed to overcome. Employers who are looking for new hires often need to compare many dozens or even hundreds of resumes to find the best candidates for the job. Few hiring personnel have the time needed to thoroughly examine every single resume that they receive.

Instead, employers typically spend no more than five or six seconds scanning any given resume. If a resume manages to capture their interest in those few seconds, they'll take the time to read it in greater detail. 

However, if your resume doesn't grab their attention, it's likely to be rejected without any further examination. So, the challenge is to find a way to quickly earn the reader's interest and inspire them to read the rest of the document.

That's where your resume summary comes into play. As you'll see from our resume summary examples, a good summary is the resume equivalent of a salesperson's elevator pitch. 

This brief statement should highlight your experience and job title, one or two key skills, and a couple of your most prominent achievements. When your summary is crafted well, it will provide the employer with a quick overview of your potential value as a new hire.

Once you've written your summary, you should place it right after your contact information and resume headline , so that it's the first thing employers see. If you've done your job properly, that summary will be compelling enough to make the reader want to learn more about the type of value you can bring to the job.

How should you start a resume summary?

After your headline, you should include a brief opening statement that summarizes who you are. This statement should be concise and compelling, and it should clearly communicate your unique value proposition. Here are some examples of strong opening statements:

Innovative Marketing Manager with over five years of experience in developing and executing successful campaigns for Fortune 500 companies

Results-driven Sales Executive with a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets and building strong client relationships

Skilled Customer Service Representative with expertise in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and communication

Tips for writing a resume summary

To make sure you get your summary spot on, follow our top tips:

Be specific

When writing a resume summary, it's essential to be specific and quantify your achievements wherever possible. Instead of saying, "Experienced marketing professional," try saying, "Experienced marketing professional with expertise in managing successful social media campaigns, resulting in increases of up to 30% in website traffic."

This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers.

Reflect on your career

When it comes to writing a strong resume summary, you should engage in some self-reflection. Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to think about your key skills, experiences, and achievements. This will help you to identify the most important information to include in your summary. Review your past roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments, and think about how they relate to the job you're applying for. Ask yourself:

What have I achieved in my career?

What skills have I developed?

What makes me stand out from other applicants?

Identify your key skills

One of the most important things to include in your resume summary is your key skills. These are the abilities that set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Begin by making a list of your top skills, then prioritize them based on relevance to the job you're applying for.

Highlight your relevant experiences

Next, think about relevant experiences that you can include in your summary. This includes any previous jobs or internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that have given you valuable experience. Consider what you've learned and achieved in each role and how that relates to the job you're applying for.

You should focus on what is most relevant to your target job. Here are some examples:

Proven ability to increase sales revenue by 20% year on year

Expertise in project management and team leadership

Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365

Confident working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders

Keep it concise

Remember, your resume summary should be concise and to the point. Stick to the most important information and avoid filler words or irrelevant details. A good rule of thumb is to keep your summary to 3-5 sentences.

Use action verbs

When describing your experiences and achievements, use strong action verbs and adverbs to convey a sense of accomplishment and momentum. For example, instead of saying, "Responsible for managing social media accounts," say, "Successfully manages social media accounts."

Quantify your achievements

Wherever possible, use numbers and statistics to quantify your achievements. This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers. For example, instead of saying, "Helped to increase sales," say, "Helped to increase sales by 20% in the first year."

Tailor it to the job

Make sure your resume summary is tailored to the job you're applying for. This means highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Look at the job description and identify the key requirements, and then make sure your summary addresses these points.

Professional resume summary examples

Since there's nothing quite like seeing an example of a great summary, we've compiled twenty-seven great resume summary examples that you can use as inspirational templates for your own perfect resume . Below, you'll find summary examples for a variety of different job roles, including:

Customer Service Representative

Sales Representative

Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Software Developer

Human Resources Manager

Graphic Designer

Registered Nurse

Financial Analyst

Administrative Assistant

Data Entry Clerk 

Business Analyst

Operations Manager 

Mental Health Counselor

High School Teacher

Event Manager

Digital Marketing Manager

Content Marketer

SEO Specialist

Bank Teller

Software Support Specialist

Data Scientist

Dental Assistant

1.     Customer Service Representative resume summary example

"Highly motivated Customer Service Representative with 5 years of experience in delivering service excellence. Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving, resulting in a 95% customer satisfaction rate. Proven ability to multitask in fast-paced environments while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience and skills while also showcasing their relevant achievements in ensuring customer satisfaction. It mentions how much experience they have and calls out a measurable success.

2.     Sales Representative resume summary example

"Dynamic Sales Representative with a track record of exceeding sales quotas by 20%+. Proficient in consultative sales techniques and relationship building. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills with the ability to close deals."

Why it works : This summary provides a quantifiable achievement to show the candidate's success in their previous sales roles while also highlighting their key skills in relationship building and communication.

3.     Marketing Manager resume summary example

"Strategic Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns across multiple channels. Skilled in market research and analysis, campaign optimization, and team leadership. Proven track record of driving revenue growth and increasing brand awareness."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's experience and leadership skills while also showcasing their ability to drive results through successful marketing campaigns. The candidate has also demonstrated their ability to grow revenues and raise brand awareness.

4.     Project Manager resume summary example

"Accomplished Project Manager, with confidence in leading cross-functional teams and managing project timelines, budgets, and resources. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders. Proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's extensive project management experience and emphasizes their ability to successfully deliver projects while working with multiple stakeholders.

5.     Software Developer resume summary example

"Innovative Software Developer with 5+ years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex software applications. Skilled in programming languages including Java, Python, and C++. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in Agile environments to deliver high-quality code on time."

Why it works : This job seeker has taken the time to highlight some of the technical skills they possess, while emphasizing their ability to work in Agile environments. They also call attention to the fact that they can take a software development project from design to implementation.

6.     Human Resources Manager resume summary example

"Experienced Human Resources Manager specializing in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management. Skilled in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures that align with business objectives and values. Proven track record of building and managing high-performing teams."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience in various HR functions and emphasizes their ability to build and manage teams. It also shows that they can perform managerial functions like developing policies and procedures.

7.     Graphic Designer resume summary example

"Creative Graphic Designer with particular expertise in developing and executing visually stunning designs for print and digital media. Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, with a focus on typography and layout. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously."

Why it works : This summary works well because it showcases their technical skills and experience while also emphasizing creativity and an ability to work collaboratively.

8.     Registered Nurse resume summary example

"Compassionate Registered Nurse with over 10 years' experience in providing high-quality patient care. Skilled at patient assessment, medication administration, and treatment plan development. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with patients and their families."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's clinical and patient care experience and highlights their key nursing and interpersonal skills.

9.     Financial Analyst resume summary example

“Detail-oriented Financial Analyst with a strong background in financial modeling, data analysis, and forecasting. Combines advanced Excel skills with the ability to create and manage financial reports. Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.”

Why it works : This summary showcases the applicant's specific skills and experience in financial analysis and highlights their proficiency in Excel, a crucial tool for the role.

10.  Administrative Assistant resume summary example

“Skilled Administrative Assistant with 8 years of experience in administrative support and office administration. Resilient, detail-oriented, and able to work under extreme pressure in a team environment. Excellent interpersonal, client management, and interdepartmental liaison skills. Committed to successful management of multiple simultaneous projects, strict adherence to deadline requirements, and accurate maintenance of schedules, meeting obligations, and records.”

Why it works : An Administrative Assistant wears many hats and experiences many challenges. This resume summary covers a lot of ground to demonstrate that the candidate understands those obstacles and knows how to overcome them.

11.  Data Entry Clerk resume summary example

“Task-driven and results-oriented professional with more than 10 years of experience in data entry, project coordination, and customer service. Uses interpersonal skills including effective communication to build rapport and positive relations with customers, gather vital information, and ensure rapid and accurate entry of data into designated software programs.”

Why it works : This resume summary is effective because it gets right to the heart of the job: dealing with customers and entering data into databases. The candidate also emphasizes their results-focused mindset, project skills, and key soft skills.

12.  Business Analyst resume summary example

“Results-driven Business Analyst with a proven record in expanding profitability by 55% in the retail industry.  Confident carrying out data-focused analysis that provides key insights and recommendations for growth strategies. Strong interpersonal and team building skills, innovative approach to problem-solving , and resolute commitment to efficiency and productivity.”

Why it works : Business analysis is all about using data and research to deliver key insights that result in improved operations and greater business success. This summary hits all the right notes as it focuses on key skills, a solutions-oriented mindset, and notable achievements that reflect real value for employers.

13.  Operations Manager resume summary example

“Results-oriented Operations Manager with more than 10 years of supervisory experience in high-level operational environments. Adept at coordinating both large and small teams, outside consultants, and mid-level management personnel. Successfully introduced Lean manufacturing principles that reduced costs by 32% via waste elimination and process revitalization.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary emphasizes key skills that the employer wants to see in any managerial candidate, while also showcasing their knowledge of best operational practices and a commitment to cost reduction.

14.  Mental Health Counselor resume summary example

“Compassionate Mental Health Counselor with more than a decade of experience addressing mental health issues and behavioral concerns. Proven success in both individual and group counseling environments, assisting clients in gaining insight and understanding of their unique conditions. Specialized focus on working with young adults and families, with an emphasis on addressing substance abuse root causes and other social factors involved in mental health.”

Why it works : This resume summary is notable for citing important skills like empathy and compassion. It also focuses attention on the candidate's experience in dealing with common mental health concerns and hints at their preferred approach to assisting patients.

15.  High School Teacher resume summary example

“Dynamic high school teacher with 12 years of experience developing approved curricula for more than 500 students in grades 9-12. Proven track record of helping students to achieve a 98% passing rate in both Western Civilization and World History instruction. Actively engaged in every aspect of education, at the district, local, and parent-teacher level.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary highlights their vast experience, while illustrating their success in ensuring that their students learn what they need to know to pass the class. They also demonstrate their commitment to the educational process by highlighting their involvement in every area of education.

16.  Accountant resume summary example

“Diligent and detail-oriented CPA with seven years of experience in accounting, process improvement, and problem-solving. Skilled at identifying inefficiencies and using reporting to offer insights that can guide employers to better practices and greater profitability. At XYZ Corp., identified labor usage inefficiency that motivated management to introduce new scheduling that eliminated $300,000 in labor waste.”

Why it works : In addition to highlighting a wide range of valuable skills, this candidate also focused on a quantifiable achievement that illustrates real value. This type of summary would certainly capture a hiring manager's attention and make them want to read more!

17.  Event Manager resume summary example

“Resilient and creative Event Manager with 6 years of corporate experience. Detail-oriented perfectionist with experience in project management, team leadership, and customer relations. Successfully organized and executed more than 40 major business conferences, hosting thousands of guests. Major clients have included three Fortune 500 firms with multi-million-dollar event budgets.

Why it works : As Event Managers go, this one has certainly made the rounds. That summary of achievements highlights their ability to manage even large-scale events, dealing with every aspect of the project. How could a serious hiring manager not want to learn more about this candidate?

18.  IT Manager resume summary example

“Dedicated IT Manager with significant experience in an innovative and growing tech firm. Skilled leader with experience in systems analysis, database architecture, problem-solving, and troubleshooting. Superior client satisfaction rate of more than 99%. Created and implemented IT troubleshooting process that reduced internal client service time by 30%.”

Why it works : This IT professional focuses attention on their key leadership skills , while also mentioning the hard skills that any hiring manager is likely to be looking for. There's also a nice nod to their history of satisfying clients, as well as a notable and measurable achievement.

19.  Product Designer resume summary example

“Innovative Design Engineer with 5 years of experience in the development of products and packages. Skilled in market research, brand development and alignment, and design elements. Led team of seventeen Designers in the creation of industrial products that yielded $20 million in sales in the first month after launch.”

Why it works : This resume summary uses some important keywords, action verbs, and descriptive language to describe the candidate's key skills and experiences. It also cites an impressive product design achievement, along with real numbers that showcase value.

20.  Content Marketer resume summary example

“Creative marketing professional with 7 years' experience as a Content Marketer. Skilled writer who understands how written communication empowers business growth and expansion. Expertise in development of compelling content that drives activities across multiple media channels. Adaptable , detail-oriented, and focused on a brand-building approach to content strategy that drives real results. Developed a cross-platform content strategy that boosted sales conversion rates by 37%.

Why it works : This Content Marketer focuses on their key skills and keen insights into how content impacts business profitability. They even included a measurable result that demonstrates their focus on adding value to their employer's bottom line.

21.  SEO Specialist resume summary example

“Results-focused SEO expert with 6 years of experience in keyword mastery, the promotion of sustainable content, and growing organic website search engine rankings. Proven track record of SEO success, using content development and link outreach to expand website traffic activity from 10,000 daily visitors to more than 2,000,000 per year.”

Why it works : Many hiring managers may not fully understand SEO, but they will understand the need to get more eyes on their digital content. This candidate speaks to that need by focusing on website rankings, content, and overall web traffic - while including a quantifiable achievement that demonstrates their ability to make things happen.

22.  Copywriter resume summary example

“Website Copywriter with 5 years of experience in developing content that creates real conversions. Cross-channel expertise including website content, advertising, newsletters, press releases, email, and podcast / video scripts. Proven track record of increasing social traffic by 36% and driving a 22% boost in landing page conversions.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary is focused not only on the type of things they write, but how those content pieces directly contribute to the company's online presence and sales conversion rate. This illustrates the writer's understanding of how their work aligns with their employer's business needs and goals.

23.  Bank Teller resume summary example

“Empathetic and personable Bank Teller with more than 4 years of experience in client interactions at First Bank. Detail-oriented customer management approach, focused on superior customer experiences and client retention. Strict adherence to bank policy, including safety deposit guidelines, customer account security, and due diligence. Efficiently and effectively processed more than 200 client account interactions each day.”

Why it works : For a Bank Teller, much of the role's value lies in the employee's ability to serve as the face of the branch. This summary is effective because it showcases the Teller's knowledge of bank procedures, while also highlighting their commitment to creating an excellent customer experience.

24.  Software Support Specialist resume summary example

“Problem-solving Software Support Specialist with 8 years of experience in customer-facing user assistance. Provided key problem resolution services for hundreds of customers, with a focus on maximizing their satisfaction with the company to increase loyalty and retention. Experienced in both customer and B2B interactions, with a specialized talent for explaining technical problems in language that is easily understood by the average layperson.”

Why it works : This resume summary focuses not only on the candidate's specialized skills in solving computer issues, but also highlights their ability to simplify their explanations to customers.

25.  Data Scientist resume summary example

“Committed Data Scientist focused on analytical insights that can drive company growth and development. More than eight years of experience providing data-driven analysis to Fortune 500 executives, based on comprehensive statistical models and detailed historical data patterns. Successfully provided insights and recommendations used to increase company profits by 32% over a two-year period.”

Why it works : Data science may not seem like the most exciting field, but hiring managers are always on the hunt for candidates who understand why data matters. This candidate's focus on providing insights that can translate into real value for the employer is something that is likely to earn a hiring manager's interest.

26.  Dental Assistant resume summary example

“Dental Assistant with 5 years of experience with patient preparation, processing, and administrative support. Keen attention to detail and a commitment to dental health and aesthetics. Skilled in dental impressions, hands-on assistance during procedures, x-rays, and record maintenance. Fully committed to developing rapport with patients that creates a welcoming environment and a joyful experience.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary not only highlights key Dental Assistant requirements, but also conveys their personal approach to teamwork and patient care.

27.  Architect resume summary example

“Creative Architect experienced in high-end architectural design and development oversight. Ten years of proven success in creating sustainable designs that earn rave reviews and commendations from clients. Skilled in adapting to new challenges and working under pressure to achieve every client's vision. Consistently produces designs and project plans that come in on time and under budget, at 10%-30% less cost than industry competitors.”

Why it works : In this summary, the candidate highlights key skills that employers will want to see, while also emphasizing quantifiable results that demonstrate competitive value for the employer. They also showcase their ability to not only design architectural structures but to do so with a conscious awareness of critical factors like budgetary concerns, deadlines, sustainability and market competition.

Bonus: how to write a resume summary if you have no experience

Of course, it's also important to know how to write a resume summary if you have no experience. Here's a quick resume summary example that you can adapt if you are just entering the job market:

“Recent Marketing graduate, seeking an entry-level position to kickstart a career in the field. Demonstrated strong leadership and teamwork skills gained through involvement in various extracurricular activities, including volunteering at local events and leading group projects. Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Passionate about using marketing strategies to create engaging content and drive brand awareness.”

Why it works: This summary works because it highlights the candidate's relevant hard and soft skills and qualifications, even though they don't have direct career experience. The use of action words such as "demonstrated" and "proficient" shows the candidate's confidence in their abilities, which can be attractive to potential employers, showcasing the candidate's potential for success in an entry-level marketing role.

Key takeaways

A well-written resume summary can make a significant impact on a job application. A good summary should highlight relevant skills and experiences, use clear and concise language, and avoid unnecessary information. Feel free to customize any of the resume summary examples we've provided to help ensure that your resume captures the attention of potential employers.

We know it can be difficult to condense a whole career full of skills and achievements into a paragraph of only a few sentences. If you're unsure about the document you've crafted, why not send it for a free resume review by our team of expert resume writers? 

Recommended reading:

Ask Amanda: How Are a Resume Objective and a Resume Summary Different?

How to Write a Standout Career Summary

Business Acumen: What It Is and How You Can Showcase It On Your Resume

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

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

See how your resume stacks up.

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More From Forbes

7 simple résumé tips to make sure you get noticed by recruiters.

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Your job search will go much smoother if your resume is designed to catch a recruiter's attention.

People are staying unemployed for longer periods of time as the pace of hiring has slowed down. The median duration of unemployment increased to 9.8 weeks in June from 8.9 weeks in May, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data .

Recruiters are sifting through hundreds of applications. So, it's crucial to make your résumé not only noticeable but memorable. Here’s a guide on how to get your résumé noticed in seven steps, from my perspective as a former recruiter.

1. Limit Your Résumé To One Page

Conciseness is where most résumés quickly fail. Recruiters typically spend 10 seconds or less glancing at each résumé. As a recruiter, I would send résumés over to senior recruiters or hiring managers and get a response back in just a few minutes. A one-page document forces you to focus on the most relevant and impactful information.

By eliminating unnecessary details, you highlight your core qualifications and achievements. This makes it easier for recruiters to quickly assess your fit for the role, and increase your chances of moving onto the next round.

2. Add Your LinkedIn Profile At The Top

Include a link to your LinkedIn profile at the top of your résumé to provide recruiters with a quick way to learn more about you. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, includes a professional headshot, and aligns with your resume. A strong LinkedIn presence serves as an extension of your résumé.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

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Additional recommendations, skills, and experiences that didn’t make it onto the page can be highlighted in your LinkedIn profile. These additional elements also help you become more easily searched for by recruiters whose jobs you may not have applied for, or for companies who are doing confidential searches without a formal job posting.

3. Ditch The Professional Summary At The Top of Your Résumé

As a recruiter, I never read a professional summary that blew me away. Instead of a lengthy one, which can be redundant and often overlooked, start with your experience and work history. Follow this with your key skills and education in a concise, easy-to-read format. This approach allows recruiters to immediately see how your experience lines up with what they are looking for, and what you bring to the table without making them have to skim the page.

4. Focus On The Last 10 Years At Most

Job seekers with long career histories make the mistake of listing every job they’ve ever had. This approach will more likely harm than help your résumé’s appeal to the readers.

Recruiters are most interested in your recent work experience, typically the last 10 years. Highlighting your most recent and relevant roles helps keep your résumé focused and relevant. It also lessens the odds of you getting discriminated against for your age. There’s no job description that will ask for 20 years of experience, and it’s unlikely your experience more than 10 years ago will translate well because of how fast technology has moved since then.

It’s better to spend the bulk of your limited space to highlight your most recent experience. If you have significant achievements from earlier in your career, consider summarizing them in your LinkedIn instead, or shortening the descriptions of the jobs beyond the past 10 years into a short summary.

5. Quantify Your Achievements With Shorter Bullets

When describing your responsibilities and achievements, use bullet points to keep information digestible — not entire paragraphs that you might find in a legal document. It’s more critical now to quantify your achievements wherever possible, such as “Increased sales by 30%” or “Managed a team of 5.” This approach not only grabs attention but also provides concrete evidence of your impact and will distinguish you from other candidates. Keeping these bullet points to no more than two lines ensures clarity and readability.

6. Employ More Impactful Action Words

The words you choose can significantly affect how your résumé is perceived. Swap out common words like “use” for more impactful verbs such as “utilize,” “leverage,” “implement” or “deploy.” Instead of “make,” try words like “produce,” “generate” and “create.” Strong action verbs convey a sense of proactivity and effectiveness, making your accomplishments sound more dynamic and specific. They also reduce reader fatigue from seeing similar bullets from multiple résumés.

7. Have A Career Coach Or Recruiter Proofread Your Résumé

Lastly, have a career coach or recruiter review your résumé. They provide valuable, objective insights from an industry perspective, ensuring your résumé meets current standards, trends and expectations. They can also catch errors you might have missed, or offer suggestions on bullets that seem unclear or confusing to them.

A great way to test this is to ask them to read the résumé for a minute, and then take the résumé away from them and see what they remember from seeing it. Even better is to have a career coach or recruiter do a mock interview with you using the résumé to see where you might have gaps to fill.

By following these seven steps, you can uplevel your résumé so it not only stands out to recruiters but also effectively communicates your qualifications. Keeping an updated résumé helps shorten your job search time and reduces your risk of staying unemployed for longer than you can afford.

Even if you’re not currently on the job market, test your current résumé against these seven steps today to make sure you’re not scrambling when you eventually need it the most.

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Child Care Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

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• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Child Care Resume

• Entry-level
• Senior-level

Child Care Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Celia Cortez (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 456 Main Street, Anchorage, AK 65432

Compassionate Childcare Professional with 3+ years of experience providing quality care of children ages 0-5 in a large daycare setting. Strong knowledge of early child development milestones and supportive strategies for children with SEN and physical disabilities. Reliable team player with a 100% attendance record in 2020 and 2021.

• Compliance with company policies and state regulations
• Confidentiality and data protection protocols
• Engaging with Native American communities
• Planning and leading early education activities
• Teaching and care of children with ASD

Professional Experience

Childcare Giver, Yakutat Community Health Center, Yakutat, AK | July 2019 to Present

• Create and maintain a safe, home-like environment for children ages 0-5
• Co-develop and deliver enriching educational experiences focused on early math, reading, and writing
• Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks
• Engage children in activities that develop their physical coordination and fitness
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, sanitizing toys and equipment regularly
• Follow all safeguarding procedures, and report any concerns to administrator as needed

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Child Development & Family Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks | 2019

• Excelled in coursework on theories of learning, thinking, and teaching in childcare and youth education
• Studied concepts such as child welfare, abuse and neglect concerns, and home and family development
• Completed 400-hour practicum with a university-partnered childcare agency

Certifications

Pediatric First Aid and CPR

Shannon Armor (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA 12345

Attentive Childcare Professional with 8+ years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Skilled at devising fun educational and recreational activities while maintaining utmost safety. Bilingual: Fluent in Spanish and English.

• Activity Planning
• Child Health & Safety
• Parent & Guardian Relations
• Time Management

Childcare Provider, Santa Clarita Department of Family Support Services, Santa Clarita, CA | September 2016 to Present

• Member of a 17-person team providing safe, quality childcare services to ~50 children ages 0-11
• Organize fun, age-appropriate indoor and outdoor projects and activities
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation standards throughout all areas of the facility
• Ensure optimal learning and nurturing of children by observing behavior and providing guidance toward improvement when identified

Childcare Assistant, Happy Babies Day Care, Santa Clarita, CA | June 2014 to September 2016

• Facilitated daily feeding, changing, bathing, and other childcare for up to 15 babies
• Created engaging, age-appropriate games and tasks for each child

Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, Santa Clarita Community College, Santa Clarita, CA | 2014

• Completed fieldwork and gained valuable experience in standardized and nationally recognized childcare practices

American Red Cross | 2020

Jessica Ellis (012) 345-6789 [email protected] 123 Main Street, Orlando, FL 12345

Patient and dedicated Childcare Provider with 12+ years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Proven record creating fun educational and recreational activities. Trusted by parents to care for their children in a safe and nurturing environment.

• Activity Planning & Supervision
• Parent Relations & Communications

Childcare Provider, ABC Fun Day Care Center, Orlando, FL | September 2015 to Present

• Supervise and care for up to 17 children ages 0-4
• Create fun indoor and outdoor activities to facilitate play and learning
• Maintain a high standard of care at all points

Highlights:

• Developed a new training program that upgraded team’s skillset and professionalism
• Helped organization maintain a 5-star rating on Google and Yelp for the past 7 years

Freelance Childcare Provider, Orlando, FL | June 2008 to August 2015

• Babysat infants and children for families in the Orlando area on weekends and weekday afternoons
• Picked up children from school and helped them with their homework as needed
• Fed, bathed, and got children ready for bed

Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, The University of Orlando, FL | 2008

To write a good child care resume, you must show you can create a fun, safe environment for children while building positive relations with parents and other caregivers. The tips and examples below can help you develop a resume that spotlights your skills and positions you as a top candidate for child care jobs.

1. Summarize your child care qualifications in a dynamic profile

Start your child care resume with a brief profile paragraph describing your top qualifications. Good things to mention here include your years of experience working with children, the ages you’re most comfortable with, and any certificates or additional training you’ve done, such as first aid or a degree in early childhood education. If you’re unsure what to put in your profile, scan the job posting for any must-have skills and work those keywords in.

Senior-Level Profile Example

Patient and dedicated child care provider with over 12 years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Proven record of creating fun educational and recreational activities. Trusted by parents to care for their children in a safe and nurturing environment.

Entry-Level Profile Example

Compassionate child care professional with over three years of experience providing quality care of children ages 0 to 5 in a large daycare setting. Strong knowledge of early child development milestones and supportive strategies for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and physical disabilities. Reliable team player with a 100% attendance record in 2020 and 2021.

2. Showcase your child care experience

When listing your previous roles, include the job title, who you worked for, and the dates. This can include formal daycare centers and families you babysat or nannied for. Mention how many children, on average, you were responsible for, their ages, and the kinds of activities you planned or care you provided. If you mainly worked with infants, you may mention adhering to nap schedules, while those working with preschoolers could talk about art activities and motor skills development.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Child Care Provider

ABC Fun Daycare Center, Orlando, FL | September 2015 – present

• Supervise and care for up to 17 children ages 0 to 4
• Helped organization maintain a 5-star rating on Google and Yelp for the past seven years

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

Child Care Giver

Yakutat Community Health Center, Yakutat, AK | July 2019 – present

• Create and maintain a safe, home-like environment for children ages 0 to 5

3. Include education and certifications relevant to child care

Child care job applicants are often required to have a current first aid and CPR certification, so list these prominently if you have them. Daycares and preschools that focus on early learning may prioritize applicants with degrees in child development. But list your education even if it’s not directly related because it still shows responsibility and initiative.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Year]
• Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
• Santa Clarita Community College, Santa Clarita, CA – 2014
• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• First Aid, American Red Cross, 2020

4. Make a list of your child care-related skills and proficiencies

Include a key skills section to show the various ways you can help care for children and keep them happy and safe. While you should always tailor this section to the job posting, you can get some ideas for what to include below.

How To Pick the Best Child Care Resume Template

Resume templates can help you create a high-quality document without having to start from scratch. But there are hundreds to choose from. Narrow down your options by looking for one that is structured with a header for each section and that doesn’t seem too crowded. While creativity is encouraged when working with children, resist the urge to use fancy fonts or colors on your resume. This is still a professional document and should look like it.

Frequently Asked Questions: Child Care Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for child care resumes -.

When writing your professional experience section, you must create a bulleted list of duties for each position. And each bullet should start with a strong action verb that shows the value of your work. If you struggle to think of good verbs for your resume, try the options below.

How do you align your resume with a child care job posting? -

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts average job growth for child care workers through 2031, but you’ll still need to tailor your resume to each job posting for the best chance of getting hired. Start by reading through the job post text and highlighting any specific skills or qualifications listed. You may also notice keywords like “CPR certification” or “ability to pass a background check.” Include as many of these as you can in your key skills list, profile summary, and other relevant sections.

What is the best child care resume format? -

In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also simplest for you to align with your job goals.

With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a Profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a Career Highlights or Awards section. By carefully choosing intro details, you can position yourself for your target job and give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.

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Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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Babysitter Resume Examples and Templates

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