best way to do a resume 2022

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

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

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

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

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

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

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

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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How to Write a Resume That Stands Out

• Paige Cohen

It takes hiring managers less than 10 seconds to decide if you’re qualified.

• PC Paige Cohen (they/them) is a senior editor at Ascend.

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What’s the Best Resume Format for 2022? [+ Examples]

• February 15, 2021
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

It’s 2020 and time for a new job. You probably know you need to update your resume with your most recent experience and achievements. Did you also know you have to update your resume format? Things have moved on and you need to keep up with hiring managers’ expectations. In this article, we’ll help you understand how recruiters and hiring managers think. Also, we’ll take you through the choices you should make.

Table of content:

1. The resume format employers want to see 2. How to choose the right resume format 3. The chronological resume format 4. The functional resume format 5. The combination resume format 6. Things to keep in mind when choosing a resume format

But first, take our 2022 professional resume format quiz and see how many you score. For each question, mark yourself as a ‘Yes’, a ‘No’, or a ‘Maybe’.

Did you know?

• Only 1% of candidates get offered the job they apply for.
• The ‘look’ of a resume is at least as important as the content.
• Many employers simply won’t read an unsuitable resume format.
• 99% of applicants confuse resume format with resume style.
• 9% of people confuse resume format with resume formatting.
• 99% of people choose a resume format once and stick with it forever.

If you didn’t score 6 solid ‘yeses’, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Five minutes of thought, and making the right resume format choice, can lift you into the very top tier of applicants.

1.   The resume format employers want to see

Recruiters and employers have one simple question in mind – “Does this applicant match our requirements?” Unfortunately, the time they’re willing to spend finding that out has become vanishingly small.

2.   How to choose the right resume format

Recruiters and hiring managers simply want to see if you match what they need. As a result, they want information about you and they want it fast. Content is king. That’s because if you haven’t got what it takes they won’t consider you. Clearly, it’s all about showing that content effectively.

To do that, choose one of the three main professional resume formats. These are the:

• Chronological resume format;
• Functional resume format;
• Combination resume format.

3.   The chronological resume format

Present your work experience in time order, but in reverse, to best use the chronological resume format. That’s because your most recent experience is the most important for employers to consider.

Use this format unless there is a reason to use one of the other two. That’s because readers know how to both scan and read this format quickly. Also, ATS (applicant tracking system) software deals well with this format.

Sections should typically show the following in this order:

• Contact details;
• A short profile summary;
• Current position;
• Previous experience;
• Qualifications;
• Other relevant interests or voluntary work.

If you add a sidebar, use it to summarize your skills or competencies.

It’s fine to use 2 pages but use page 1 to show your profile summary and current experience. Everything else should be on page 2 although do put your contact details on both pages.

• Career professionals with a continuous work history.
• People who have worked in the same field for many years.
• Individuals who show good career progression.
• Being sure applicant tracking systems (ATSs) will scan accurately.

Consider using it when:

• You’re not sure which resume format to use.
• You want to apply for a job in the same or a similar field.
• You can present a clear story of promotion from role to role.
• A format well understood by recruiters and hiring managers.
• It provides a full picture of your whole work history and background.
• An easy-to-read narrative of your career history.
• When you have significant or strange gaps in your work history.
• You’ve changed jobs frequently.
• Your work history does not show vertical progress.
• You’ve been unemployed for several months.
• You’d like to change your industry or sector.

4.   The functional resume format

Unlike the chronological resume format, this format enables you to give priority to your capabilities for the job. Your experience gets pushed back, ideally right on to the second page. Some experiences may be completely excluded from your resume if they’re not relevant.

As a result, this format is sometimes called a skills-based resume format. It helps you present your main achievements and thereby demonstrate your strengths.

Be aware that some recruiters are suspicious when faced with a skills-based resume. That’s because they fear a candidate may be trying to hide something.

Sections should typically show the following:

• An extensive profile summary;
• A skills or competencies section (often within the profile);
• Selective work experience summary;
• An additional summary of work experience (often deliberately incomplete);
• People with limited work experience in the field.
• Individuals with several work history gaps.
• Those who are changing industry, sector or type of role.
• Applicants fresh out of college with a short work history.
• You are fresh out of college.
• You’ve had a career break due to pregnancy, illness, unemployment or a sabbatical.
• You have a broken history from frequently changing jobs.
• You particularly want to highlight your relevant and transferable skills as a career changer.
• Your significant achievements are spread across several roles.
• You’re an unconventional fit or not an ideal fit for the company.
• Competencies and transferable skills are emphasized.
• Attention is diverted away from your work history.
• Your most important accomplishments can be showcased
• Causing confusion after recruiters have been reading many chronological resumes.
• Recruiters becoming suspicious that candidates may be hiding or masking their background.

5.   The combination resume format

Obviously, this is a mixture of both the chronological resume format and the functional format. Skills and work experience share the spotlight in this format.

It gives recruiters and hiring managers confidence. That’s because it ensures a timeline remains both visible and complete, after your profile summary.

Aim to show more skills and achievement content in your profile summary. A chronological resume format would show more in the employment section.

The advantage of this format is you have more space in the profile section to tell your story in a rounded and more compelling way. Additionally, you have more scope to show any added value you offer, over and above other likely candidates.

Sections should typically show the following, usually in this order:

• A medium-length profile summary, incorporating main relevant skills;
• Current job information;
• Previous work experience summary;
• Senior or executive management positions where it’s necessary to pick experiences from several roles held.
• People with a diverse employment history.
• Students and recent graduates.
• Professionals with strong achievements making a career change.
• You want to highlight both competencies and a strong history.
• You need more space to show or explain a story in your profile summary.
• You’re looking to change careers.
• You have a strong history but are re-entering work after a break.
• Any added value can be clearly presented.
• Both skills and work experience share the spotlight.
• A full work history is still visible to recruiters and hiring managers.
• Entry-level candidates and fresh graduates.
• Early-years career professionals.
• People who do not possess all the skills required for the job.

6. Things to keep in mind when choosing a resume format

Firstly, choose the format that’s correct for you. Secondly, add your content to build a compelling document. Thirdly, once it’s complete, follow the submission instructions specified.

• Think about the extent of your experience. This will help you to choose the resume format that is right for you.
• Think about your audience. Your resume may go through an applicant tracking system (ATS) initially. That means the chronological format is most easily read without errors. To make sure you include the right content, look at this best-practice advice .
• Don’t use gimmicks. Use a design that looks professional, not garish. Pick your fonts, colors, and any graphic elements to look classy. A template produced by a professional designer is a great starting point. Choose from classic, modern, or elegant styling. We have a large selection of templates for you.
• Do you include a headshot? This is a matter of personal choice. Sometimes a headshot is specifically asked for, in which case definitely add one. Our templates include variations to let you make the choice that is right for you. If you want more information on how to choose the right template, check out this article .

If you have a choice, submit your resume in PDF format. That’s because it will look the same on any machine or operating system. Also, it’s harder for a recruiter, HR person, or hiring manager to modify your resume before forwarding it.

Popular related posts:

• How to Make Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Linkedin Profile Work Together, and Help You Get The Job of Your Dreams
• “Why are You Leaving Your Current Job?“ 4 Best Answers
• How To Get a Job Faster With a Professionally Written Resume
• 23 Job Interview Questions to Ask an Interviewer

Do You Need to Hire a Professional Resume Writer?

Looking for a new job or thinking about a career change? You need a resume that’s going to open doors for you.

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Jon Gregory is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse range of expertise in the career development field.  As a respected and sought-after expert, he serves as a career adviser at Resumeway, a National Careers Week Ambassador, and a Careers Expert Member for The Guardian.

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TOP 8 Tips on How to Write a Resume in 2022

• Career Advice
• Industry Insights

Posted On 03 Dec 2021

Resume writing is far from a static or two-dimensional practice. In fact, like a true art form, it evolves with the times, so trends may work in the past may no longer be effective in today’s job market environment. If your resume fails to keep up with the times, you could soon find your application filed away in favor of another candidate. If you want to get hired quickly next year, here are eight “worth it” tips on how to write a resume in 2022.

1. Include a LinkedIn profile

Potential employers will want to know more about you beyond your resume. Make the research easier for them by including a link to your LinkedIn profile in your resume. As the social media platform of choice for professionals, LinkedIn has become an essential component in how to write a resume. By linking your LinkedIn account, you allow interested recruiters to learn more about you and make it easier to confirm that you are a good fit for the company. So make sure your LinkedIn profile is polished and professional, then attach a working link to your resume heading.

2. Write a compelling summary

Yes, you’re supposed to showcase your accomplishments in your resume summary, but you don’t want to sound too arrogant, otherwise, your resume will only serve to annoy rather than impress. It’s all about mastering how to ‘humblebrag’, a method of how to write a resume wherein you communicate your achievements in a confident instead of a conceited manner.

3. How to write an objective for a resume

Writing a summary objective is one of the most challenging aspects of resume writing. To make your summary compelling, it has to provide three key pieces of information:

• The challenges you resolved

• The skills you used

• The results you achieved

Focus on answering these before you start developing your resume summary objective. If you find it difficult how to write an objective for your resume relating to your qualifications and achievements, an expert resume writer like the ones we have here at Resumeble can help you develop the right words to say this coming 2022.

4. Quantify your achievements

One effective way to humblebrag is to let numbers do the talking for you. Good numbers immediately tell potential employers how effective you’ve been at your previous roles and responsibilities. Use percentages, statistics, and ratios to help them understand your work performance better. For instance, instead of simply saying that you “managed a team,” you can say something like “led a team of five in planning and executing skills monthly training seminars that boosted employee retention by 45 percent and profits by 25 percent.”

Here are further examples of how to quantify your achievements this 2022.

• Developed and launched a Mathematics curriculum that resulted in a 92 percent passing rate for students, while helping them achieve a 4.5 average on AP testing.

• Oversaw five-man HR staff responsible for upholding the relationships, retention and production of 450 employees.

• Introduced innovative policies that yielded a 20 percent year-on-year profitability improvement for the company.

5. Make it two pages long

Though the one-page resume is still the widely accepted format, more and more recruiters and hiring managers are preferring application papers to be two pages long , with a prominent career expert calling it “the new norm.” Not only that, recruiters today are more inclined to read resumes that are two pages in length, study showed.

Especially if you have plenty of relevant work experience, a two-page resume should provide you with enough space to expound on your skills and experience and provide concrete, quantifiable examples. Of course, not everyone will benefit from a two-page resume—recent graduates, those with lengthy employment gaps, and career changers will still be better off limiting their resume to just one page.

6. Use modern font and formatting

Are you still using the Times New Roman font for your resume? You could very well be killing your chances of getting interviewed or hired. This 2022, using modern fonts and formatting not only gives your application a youthful vibe, it also tells the reader that you are excited about your career. Some of the best modern fonts to use on your resume include Avenir, Garamond, Avant Garde, and of course, Calibri.

With regards to format, the safe bet is to list your work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with your latest job role. Try to strike a good balance between print and white space to give your resume a neat and orderly appearance, and practice proper use of sections to effectively sort out details and information.

7. Use similar keywords as the job posting

Now more than ever, it’s important to write prominent words and phrases in your resume exactly as they appear in the job posting. Today’s businesses are increasingly relying on automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) to shortlist resume applications, which rely mainly on keywords. Unless these systems detect specific terms in your resume, they will think that you don’t have the qualifications sought after by the company, and your application will end up getting rejected.

To avoid this particular problem on how to write a resume, comb over the job posting thoroughly for important keywords, and use them “as is” in your resume. Of course, you shouldn’t include skills and experience that you don’t have. Ultimately, you want every piece of info to be honest and accurate as possible.

8. Tailor for the job

Sending out a generic resume will only hurt your chances of getting hired. You need to make sure your resume is customized solely for the job and company you’re applying to. And once again, to customize your resume successfully, you’ll have to thoroughly research the job requirements, making sure to only include information that is relevant to the job in question. Additionally, make an effort to use words that clearly describe and define your expertise, qualifications, and skills. This will help get your resume over the hurdle of getting shortlisted as the HR people assess the value of your resume.

Want more resume writing tips for next year?

As a leading professional resume writing service, Resumeble has plenty of other articles and blog posts filled with tips to make your application stand out in 2022. Feel free to browse through our website for more articles relating to resume writing tips including how to write references on a resume, how to write skills on a resume, how to write a resume summary, how to write an objective for a resume, and more.

Better yet, you can have us write your resume 2022 for you. Just send us your current resume for a free, no obligation evaluation and let’s get you started on your way to getting landing your dream job next year.

• 7 seconds: this is how long your resume has either to impress or be ignored by the recruiter 
• 300+: average number of applications one corporate job opening posted online receives 
• 3%: number of sent resumes that result in interviews 

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What to Put on a Resume in 2022 (with Examples and Tips)

If you have ever written a resume, you have probably found yourself wondering whether or not you are including the right information. There are many elements that make up a strong resume and several formats to choose from. In this guide, we will help you determine exactly what to include on your resume in 2022!

What are the different types of resume formats?

The first step to deciding what to put on your resume is to choose a resume format .

Different formats serve different purposes. The 3 basic resume formats are:

1) Reverse-Chronological

‍ The reverse-chronological resume is the most standard resume format and hiring managers will generally expect to see resumes this way. This type of resume focuses mainly on showcasing your work experience .

Applicants list their most recent and relevant job first. This is then followed with previous jobs in reverse-chronological order to help show your career history & progression.

2) Functional ‍

The functional resume is the preferred format for applicants with little to no experience . Rather than focusing on work experience, this format emphasizes other sections such as your skills or education.

‍ A hybrid resume combines elements from both the reverse-chronological and functional formats. This works best for applicants who may have some work experience but not enough to fill an entire resume.

There is also an alternative to the resume known as the Curriculum Vitae , more commonly called the CV, which slightly differs from a traditional resume.

In the United States, a CV is primarily used for job applications in the fields of science and academia.

This type of document is much longer and more in-depth than the standard resume as it focuses heavily on achievements , skills and other relevant information like degrees, publications, coursework and certifications.

CVs are also the standard format used in international locations, especially in Europe. For applicants applying to jobs outside of the U.S. and Canada, creating a CV will be a necessity.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

Which formats work best for different types of roles?

Generally speaking, you will want to use a reverse-chronological resume whenever possible.

Hiring managers and employers are not accustomed to seeing functional and hybrid resumes as often. This can be off-putting as it may not immediately meet their expectations especially if it isn't relevant for your background and the role.

However, you can absolutely make a functional or hybrid resume work in your favor. The key is to tailor every resume you write to fit the parameters of the specific job.

If you are applying to an entry- or intermediate-level job, you can use any of the 3 basic resume formats. Once you begin applying to higher-level jobs, then you may want to consider switching to a multi-page or CV format.

Check out our guide on How to Write a Two-Page Resume for more information on when and how to use a multi-page format. ‍

What do I need to add to a resume?

A standard resume should always contain the following key sections:

• ‍ A Personal Header: This will include your name and contact information.
• ‍ Work Experience: An overview of your past jobs and professional experiences. ‍
• Education: The level of education you have completed and any degrees earned.
• ‍ Skills: Any skills or proficiencies that make you especially qualified for the job.

These four elements make up the basic framework of a resume. However, there are several additional sections you can include as well, such as objectives, certifications or awards. ‍

What do I include in the key sections of a resume?

In this section, we will provide you a clear breakdown of what information to put in each section of your resume.

We'll also cover additional sections to consider including to make your resume stand out even more.

1) Personal Header

Your personal header introduces you to the employer. This is where you will list your name and contact information on your resume .

There are 5 key pieces of information to include within a personal header on your resume:

• Your Name = e.g. "John Smith"
• Your Phone Number = e.g. "(212) 123-4567"
• Your Email Address = e.g. "[email protected]"
• Your Website = e.g. "easyresume.io"
• Your Location = e.g. "Brooklyn, New York" Read our guide on how to include your location or address on your resume . ‍

You may be wondering. Should you include your LinkedIn Profile?

Yes, and if you have not taken the time to optimize your LinkedIn profile, we recommend doing so.

LinkedIn is particularly helpful for applicants who are new to the workforce and are looking to network with other professionals, and most hiring managers will see this as a proof of your credentials.

Depending on the position you are applying for, it may also be useful to include links to your other professional social media accounts. LinkedIn and other social media platforms can serve not only as networking tools but as online portfolios as well.

For example, if you're a wedding photographer , you may want to include a link to your Instagram or Pinterest page.

2) Work Experience

Your work experience section is where you will detail your past roles and responsibilities. It includes your:

• Job Title (Position) = e.g. "Server"
• Company = e.g. "The Olive Garden"
• Start Date = e.g. "June 2020"
• End Date = e.g. "March 2021" (or "Present" if it's your current job)
• Location = e.g. "New York, NY"
• Work Responsibilities &  Achievements = e.g. See the following: • Organized the weekly staff schedule for a staff of over 20 servers • Completed daily bookkeeping using QuickBooks • Addressed customer questions and complaints with compassion and efficiency

When crafting this section, there are 3 key factors to keep in mind:

A) Relevance

How relevant are the jobs you are including to the job you are applying for? Are there keywords or skills you can emphasize that help to relate them more directly?

B)  Timeliness

‍ How recently did you hold the position you are including? Do you have any very recent jobs that you can include?

C) Longevity

‍ How long did you hold your previous positions for? Do you have any examples of jobs you stayed at for a long time?

What if you have no relevant or limited work experience?

If you have limited work experience, you may need to include entries that are not as relevant as you would like. In this case, find ways to tie your role and responsibilities back into the new position you are applying for.

You want to make your job entries as relevant as possible to the job you are applying to.

In this example, imagine the applicant is applying for a role as an office assistant . Their most recent job was a position of a shift-lead at a restaurant.

The following would be incorrect:

Shift Lead , The Olive Garden New York NY • June 2020 – March 2021 • Served over 10 tables at a time, providing excellent customer service • Determined when to send other staff members home • Led opening and closing tasks for the restaurant

Why is this wrong? Well, although each of these descriptions may be true, they do not highlight the applicant’s transferable skills.

The goal should be to emphasize how their role as a shift lead gave them the skillset to be an office assistant.

Here's a correct way of doing this:

Shift Lead , The Olive Garden June 2020 – March 2021 ‍ • Organized the weekly staff schedule for a staff of over 20 servers • Completed daily bookkeeping using QuickBooks • Addressed customer questions and complaints with compassion and efficiency

In this corrected example, you can see that the applicant has highlighted their most relevant skills and responsibilities.

The role of Shift Lead may not be directly related to the role of Office Assistant. Yet, the applicant has made it relevant by emphasizing their management and office duties within the restaurant.

Your work experience section is one of the most crucial elements of your resume. Get extra help crafting this section with our guide on How to Describe Work Experience on a Resume in 2022 !

3) Education

Unless you are writing a CV, you will want to keep your education section as short and concise as possible.

The key pieces of information to include in this section are:

• Your school or university   = e.g. "Georgetown University"
• Your degree (when applicable) = e.g. "BFA, English" ‍
• Your dates attended (when applicable) = e.g. "Georgetown University"

You'll want to add your highest level of education that you've received, this can be a college or university.

However, even if you lack higher education, it is still important to include this information. Omitting an education section altogether may seem suspicious to hiring managers.

Applicant Tracking Systems look for education sections on a resume. Excluding this section could worsen your chances of having your resume approved by ATS software. You can learn more about adding your education on your resume in our helpful guide .

Continue reading to see how to properly format an education section on a resume:

In this example, the applicant is currently in college. They need to relay to the employer when they will graduate and in what degree program

This would be an incorrect way of showing this:

Education I am currently a student at a local university in Chapel Hill, NC. I will graduate later this year with a double degree. My current GPA is a 3.5 and I am a part of the Honors Society.

Why is this wrong? When writing your education section, it's important to be as specific as possible and to list out your details so it's easy to read. You always want to include the exact name of the university and the date you will be graduating. Additionally, you should use bullet points to organize your information.

This is a more correct way of formatting your resume:

Education ‍ University of North Carolina Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC Expected Date of Graduation: May 15, 2021 • Bachelor’s Degree in Business; Double-Major in Business and Finance • Cumulative GPA: 3.6 • Member of the Honors Society

A quick note on GPAs. Typically, you should only include your GPA if the employer has specifically requested it or its higher than a 3.5 average. Otherwise, it may be unnecessary information that takes up space and won't significantly help your case.

4) Skills and Proficiencies

Your skills and proficiencies section will vary in size depending on what format you have chosen.

In a reverse-chronological resume, the skills section will be smaller and more succinct. In a functional or hybrid resume, this section may be larger and more emphasized.

The key to creating a strong skills section for your resume is to focus on both hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are quantifiable proficiencies, such as the ability to use programming languages.

Soft skills are more abstract proficiencies, such as the ability to communicate clearly or work well in a team.

Here are a few examples of Hard Skills:

• Copywriting
• Bilingual in English and another language
• Programming Languages (Python, JAVA, etc.)
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Cybersecurity
• SEO Marketing

Here are a few examples of Soft Skills:

• Time Management
• Communication
• Adaptability
• Networking Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Independence

Additional Sections to Include

If you do not have enough work experience or skills to fill an entire resume, you may need to add in some extra sections.

Additional sections that are good to consider adding include:

A) Resume Objective or Summary

‍ 1-3 sentences that outline the job title you are seeking and your career goals. Place this below your personal header. Read our guide on adding your resume summary .

B) Achievements and Awards

Listing key achievements on your resume can be a great way to signify your effectiveness as a teammate. You can do this by showcasing academic or work-related accomplishments. Examples include awards such as Employee-of-the-Month or inclusion on a Dean’s List.

C) Certifications ‍

It can be helpful to include relevant certifications you earned through supplemental training.  Some jobs may even require specific certifications for applicants to qualify for the position.

D) Unpaid Experience

‍ Unpaid experiences can include volunteer work, community service, and internships . These are great to include when you lack more professional work experience . ‍

E) Hobbies ‍

Adding hobbies and interests on your resume can help to humanize you more to employers. They also can give hiring managers more to ask you about during an interview to get a sense of your personality.

What should I not include in my resume?

There are a few pieces of information that you should generally omit from a resume. These include: ‍

1) Full Mailing Address

‍ Physical addresses are no longer a staple of resumes. This is because employers will contact you primarily through phone or email. Read our article on Should I Put My Address on My Resume? for more information on when and how to include an address on your resume.

2) References

‍ Including references on your resume can take up a lot of space and be distracting. Wait for the employer to specifically request references before providing them. See our guide to learn when it is an appropriate time to include references on your resume .

3) Personal Social Media Accounts

‍ Never include your personal social media accounts. It is a good idea to keep personal accounts private while job hunting.

4) Multiple Phone Numbers

Including more than one phone number is not necessary. Include only the number you use the most often and be ready to answer the employer’s call!

5) Unprofessional Email

Many of us have personal email accounts with custom usernames. However, if your email is [email protected] , that will likely turn an employer off.

Use only professional emails on your resume, like [email protected] ‍

What do I include in my resume if I’m a first-time job-seeker or have little experience?

Writing a resume without work experience can be tough.

The key to overcoming this challenge is to use a different resume format that shifts the focus away from employment history like we mentioned earlier in this article.

As a first-time job seeker or someone with limited experience, you will want to focus much more heavily on your skills, education, and certifications so you choose a functional resume format.

Also, if you are still currently in school, make sure to mention this on your resume. You may even want to create a larger education section that details your academic accomplishments.

Need extra help writing a resume with minimal work experience? Read our guide on How to Write a Resume with No Work Experience (with Examples). ‍

Final Takeaways

When writing your resume, it is important to include all the best information about yourself.

Here are 5 key takeaways on what to include on your resume in 2021:

• Always tailor your resume to fit the job you are applying for
• Choose a resume format that will best fit your needs and experience level
• Include both hard and soft skills within your skills section
• Omit overtly personal information, such as personal social media accounts
• Always use bullet points to make your key sections more organized and readable

Easy Resume is here to help you create the perfect resume. Be sure to take a look at our entire collection of free guides and career advice for even more examples and tips!

Browse more resume templates that fit your role

Ed is a co-founder of Easy Resume. His background in scaling teams at tech startups over the last decade has given him extensive experience and knowledge around how to hire top talent and build successful teams. He enjoys mentoring, coaching, and helping others reach their career goals. When he's not writing about career-related advice, he's playing with his dog, Lilo, or going on long hikes in upstate New York.

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Healthcare is a massive and important industry that contains all sorts of professionals. To land a job in healthcare, you must understand what relevant skills employers are searching for. In this guide, we will cover key healthcare skills to include on your resume and why doing so is so important.

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IT is a massively growing industry with tons of potential for professional growth. It’s no wonder why so many applicants are flocking to these jobs! In this guide, we will cover what IT skills are and offer you examples of some of the top skills to include on your resume.

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Including technical skills on a resume is an absolute necessity. These types of skills show employers your quantifiable qualifications. In this guide, we will cover exactly what a technical skill is and some of the best examples to include on a resume.

20+ Key Computer Skills to List on Your Resume in 2022 (With Examples)

With the world becoming more digitally focused, having strong computer skills is more important than ever. In this guide, we will cover what computer skills are and which ones are best to include on your resume.

Read our how-to guides on making your resume perfect

How to write a resume header.

Your resume header is the very first thing an employer will see. Not only does it need to contain the correct information, but it needs to stand out as well! In this guide, we will teach you how to write the ideal header for your resume.

How to Write Your Resume in Reverse-Chronological Order

When setting out to write the perfect resume, choosing a format is an important decision. Reverse-chronological resumes are the standard format, so knowing how to craft one is key! This guide will teach you how to write the best reverse chronological resumes.

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Learn how to format contact information on your resume and what information to share with the hiring manager.

How to Write a Two-Page Resume (with Examples & Tips)

Don't know whether you should write a one-page or two-page resume? Find out when it is appropriate to write a two-page resume and learn how to write it correctly.

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Experts warn never put this on your résumé—regardless of what job you’re applying for

It’s hard to find a workplace norm the pandemic hasn’t upended. It’s increasingly rare for white-collar workers to go into the office five days a week. The definition of “workwear” is up for debate. Job-hopping no longer sets off alarm bells. And, as of right now, it’s decidedly a job seeker’s market . 

But while change is everywhere in the workplace, there’s one holdout that hasn’t been updated during these unprecedented times: the résumé. 

There’s no shortage of advice and services to help people condense—or in some cases expand—their work experience into a single document. Googling “how to write a résumé” yields 3.98 billion results. Even pre-pandemic, it was difficult to write a résumé. It can be hard to know where to start, and that question may feel more urgent for recent college graduates , whose relevant work experience might be short—or nonexistent.

New grads shouldn’t worry too much, says Jim Beirne, a career center adviser at Washington University in St. Louis: “The students have had such strange experiences over the past couple years, they can’t really appreciate [the strong job market].” A lack of in-person experience isn’t going to stop employers from snapping up fresh talent. But a bad résumé might.

Back to basics

The good news for entry-level employees: Résumé best practices are pretty straightforward, regardless of what kind of job you’re applying for. 

Marc Cenedella, founder of Leet Résumés , a résumé writing service, gives every young person he works with three tips for putting together a résumé. 

1. The simpler, the better

No matter how artistically inclined you are, you shouldn’t opt for a busy, complicated format. Stick with one column; avoid photos (including headshots), colors, or bar charts; and use a default font like Arial or Times New Roman, Cenedella advises. A résumé is not the place to show off your creativity.

2. Spare the details

Don’t include lots of information that’s irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. “Sure, you’ve got hobbies, interests, languages, favorite bands, and ambitions,” Cenedella says. “But keep the information that doesn’t address your ability to be responsible, accountable, and a hard worker to a reasonable level.”

3. Be honest.

Don’t fudge your college major or minor, any of your certifications or degrees, or relevant work experience. “One of the few things employers check is to confirm the name and date of your degree,” he says. 

Cenedella references one famous example: In 2012, Scott Thompson stepped down as CEO of Yahoo after just four months when it was uncovered that he lied about majoring in computer science in college, when he actually majored in accounting. 

“The résumé is no place for wishful thinking,” Cenedella says.

The most frequent mistakes

While résumés are fairly straightforward documents, it’s still easy to screw them up.

Beth Hendler-Grunt, founder of the career coaching service Next Great Step , can rattle off a list of errors she sees new grads make time and again. You don’t need to include totally irrelevant high school experiences. Don’t forget to include your email at the top—and it better be professional, with your first and last name. This is not the place for your BTSforever55@ or RaiderzFan74@. 

Some of Hendler-Grunt’s best practices are more granular. She advises against saying “responsible for” at the beginning of each sentence—as in, “I’m responsible for the office filing system.” Instead, use past-tense action verbs, like “built,” “created,” or “developed,” like, “I developed a filing system that streamlined the office organizational flow.”

Don’t forget to triple-check grammar and spelling. And when listing out education—particularly if you don’t have much work experience—flesh out what you accomplished in your classes, and how they’ve prepared you for the working world. 

If you didn’t have any internships, Hendler-Grunt says, focus on what you did do. “Many people don’t have internships, but you had to have done something,” she says. “Was it a club, babysitting, a class project, or just something to fill your time? Find the story behind the skills you have.” 

That said, leave most of the storytelling to the cover letter. “Your résumé and cover letter shouldn’t look the same; that’s pointless,” Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake , a career network for recent grads, tells Fortune. “Your résumé should show your breadth of experience while your cover letter shows depth.”

While the exact line-by-line format can vary, Cruzvergara sets some ground rules. “Your résumé should very clearly highlight your education and work experience, and then experiences that are relevant to whatever industry you’re trying to break into,” she says. “It’s OK if that experience is just from volunteering or a class project. What’s important is using action verbs to show what you accomplished.”

The students Cruzvergara work with often underplay their non-job experiences. “They think they’ve only worked in retail or babysat,” she says. “But the reality is, those experiences have so many transferable skills.”

Finding advice on social media

Companies might be hiring more new grads this year , but college students and recent grads still may be feeling equal parts directionless and restless. 

“I think they’re just confused and following what their friends do,” Hendler-Grunt says. “That’s the challenge of this demographic. They don’t want to listen to their parents. And why should they? Often their parents are too far out of the game.”

Hendler-Grunt has found success reaching a younger audience where they are: on TikTok. She regularly posts videos like “3 Reasons Why Your Résumé Isn’t Getting Noticed” and “4 Tips to Prepare for a Virtual Interview,” in an effort to connect with young people and set the record straight about the most effective ways to find a job. 

@next_great_step Resume Revamp: The 3 reasons your resume is not getting noticed! #resumetips #resumehelp #resume #resumerevamp #careercoach #nextgreatstep ♬ original sound – Jobs/internships for grads

Hendler-Grunt is still getting used to TikTok, where she has to truncate her detailed thoughts and recommendations to fit the form. But she hopes the videos keep her viewers from submitting a garish, out-of-touch résumé—whether or not they ever click follow.  

The job market might be hot, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t competition for the top jobs. Sure, it’s a little old-fashioned that hiring managers are still relying on these one-sheets when deciding whether to set up an interview with a potential candidate (and some companies are trying to do away with them altogether ). But a good résumé can help you get your foot in the door. Next step will be nailing that video interview.

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The most well-guarded resume secrets are up for grabs.

Are you ready?

We know how important it is for you to get that job . However, that coveted job you have been eyeballing for months or years is not that attainable.

The most-in-demand jobs come crippled with the fiercest competition.

This means that you need to put your best foot forward. From perfecting your resume to nailing the interview - you have to conquer it all.

Using the best resume tips can get you shortlisted for your dream job.

And in this blog, we have covered the best resume tips and tricks for jobseekers across the world.

Years of resume strategy and curating resumes have left us with an ocean of knowledge. We are sharing this information with you all for free, right here right now!

Here's a list of the top 10 resume tips to write that perfect resume:

• Draft a one-page resume
• Pick a suitable resume format
• Break down your resume into distinct sections
• Customize your resume for each job application
• Draft one-liner points to communicate your professional experience
• Use power verbs to begin each point
• Add achievement figures to highlight your accomplishments
• Place relevant keywords in your resume
• Avoid charts/graphics or visual elements in your resume
• Use the right fonts and spacing in your resume

Give it a read, and tell us all about it later.

In the meanwhile, feel free to check our Online Resume Builder . With our resume-building tool, resume writing becomes an effortless affair.

You also end up with a perfect resume that you can be proud of.

Don't believe us?

Don't take our word for it.

Go experience the thrill of curating an impeccable resume with the help of our resume building tool now!

Limit Your Resume to One Page

A resume should ideally be one-page long!

But it does not mean that a resume cannot be 2-3 pages long.

You need to ensure that your resume exceeds a page only if you have extensive years of professional experience to showcase during a job application.

Doing so will preserve the authenticity and appearance of your resume.

A single-page resume is encouraged to ensure that it contains only the most significant pieces of information and is easier for the recruiters to scan through within a limited period of time.

Hiration Pro Tip: If your resume is 1.5 pages long, write a detailed resume that is either two whole pages long or trimmed down to a single page.

Draft Your Resume in the Reverse Chronological Order

Presenting your details on a resume in reverse chronological order can give you the advantage to highlight your most recent work experience and relevant job profile upfront.

The recruiters are more interested in what you are currently doing or have recently accomplished rather than what you have done 5/10 years ago.

Therefore you should always draft your resume in the reverse chronological format by mapping your professional journey from current to past experience.

Meanwhile, you can also check out the other two alternatives viz. functional resume format and combination resume format .

Create Distinct Sections to Classify Your Details on Resume

You probably know that you should compile your personal and professional information in your resume under relevant sections.

But did you know what they are?

Here's a list of the 7 must-have sections of your resume:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Summary/Objective
• Professional Experience

In addition to this, you can also incorporate the following optional sections in your resume:

• Certifications or Training
• Internships
• Volunteering Experience
• Hobbies or Interests

The right resume sections can help you demonstrate your credibility to the recruiters in the most persuasive manner.

Resume Header, Contact Details & Profile Title

The top section of your resume should contain your name, contact details, and profile title.

Header: The header of a resume should display your name as it gives a resume its unique identity and hence helps the recruiters keep an easier track during job applications. Contact Details: Your contact details should be limited to your contact number, email address, current location, and links to your professional or personal websites. Profile Title: Mention your current or latest profile title that specifies your professional status. This can help you stay relevant to the targeted job profile.

Resume Summary or Objective

Resume Summary: Summarize your resume in 3-4 lines to give the recruiters an insight into the details highlighted in your resume. A resume summary should emphasize your professional experience and profile to grasp the attention of the recruiters right away. Resume Objective: Include a resume objective if you are a fresher, changing career, or in need of covering career gaps. Focus on your skills and career goals under the shadow of what the potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Skills on Resume

The skills section of your resume should draw the attention of the recruiters to your competency in fulfilling the professional duties that come with the targeted job profile.

Include both technical and non-technical skills (Hard & Soft skills) to give an idea of what you excel at as a professional.

While doing so you need to make sure that the skills you mention are valid and relevant to the targeted job profile.

Professional Experience on Resume

One of the main highlights of a resume is the professional experience section .

Always include the following details while drafting the work section of your resume:

• Provide the name and location of the company that you have been/are involved with along with the employment dates and the profile title you held/hold.
• Create a brief list of your roles and responsibilities in the respective company to communicate your contributions and achievements.

Education Details

While including your education details make sure to add only your highest degrees.

You can add your high school degree if you do not have a college degree or only when you are a fresher applying for entry-level profiles.

GPAs are important only if they are high or if you have fewer years of work experience.

Additional Sections

The additional section on a resume is where you can add your relevant accomplishments or contributions.

Focus on details that may be of interest to the recruiters and relate to the targeted job profile. And avoid irrelevant details that may divert the recruiter's interest away from your main points.

There is more to crafting the perfect resume section so keep on reading!

Customize Your Resume for Each Job Application

A common resume blunder that professionals tend to make at a universal level is this:

They use the same resume for all their job applications.

What's wrong with this?

On the outside, it seems acceptable to curate one perfect resume and use the same resume over and over.

However, this is the worst thing that you can do in terms of a job application because it leaves you exposed to rejection by recruiters.

This is why you should not write a single generic resume or use it repeatedly.

Each job has a unique set of criteria, even when you're applying for the same job title. Why?

Because different organizations will have their unique understanding of the ideal candidate for that particular job. This is why you should curate a unique resume for each job application.

Every single resume should be relevant to every single one of your target jobs. You can do this by tailoring it to suit the job description of that particular job.

To learn more about writing a tailored resume, read our Guide to writing a job-tailored resume .

Compose One-liner Points (Not Paragraphs)

There are two types of professionals when it comes to making a resume:

• Those who use paragraphs
• Those who use one-line points

We bet that no one told you that you should strictly avoid paragraphs to communicate your work responsibilities.

Because it makes your resume hard to read.

A reader-friendly resume also has the added advantage of getting parsed by the ATS software which enhances your chances of getting shortlisted.

To conclude: Do not use bulky paragraphs to communicate the details of your professional engagements. Instead, use one-liner points.

Doing this makes your resume reader-friendly and shortlist-worthy.

Start Each Point Using a Power Verb

Now that you know the importance of using one-liner points, you need to further optimize each point. A great way to do this is through power verbs.

When you begin each point, do not use words like 'did' or 'made'.

Using such informal words or terminology can backfire as it'll end up clubbing you with pretty much every other applicant out there. No recruiter will take the extra time to unearth your resume to see if you're the one .

Here are some of the top resume power verbs you can use in your resume:

Provide Achievement Figures to Emphasize Your Accomplishments

Here's one of the best resume tips that you probably never heard of:

Use achievement figures to highlight your accomplishments wherever possible.

Do not give a bland account of your everyday work responsibilities in your resume. Nobody wants to read that. No recruiter wants to read that either.

If a recruiter is sourcing candidates for a marketing role, the applicant is expected to have basic marketing functions such as:

• email marketing
• digital marketing
• campaign planning

Stating the obvious will not get you anywhere close to a shortlist.

If you are making a resume for a marketing position, do not talk about your work responsibilities in the given format:

Responsible for email marketing Planned marketing campaigns Did digital marketing

Instead of curating your work responsibilities in the above-mentioned format, give more depth to it using numbers or achievement figures.

Here's how you can present the same information effectively:

Spearheaded the content calendar for weekly email marketing campaigns Planned & executed 5+ marketing campaigns for top 3 priority clients Deployed digital marketing tools to increase brand awareness by 50%

Formulating information in the above-mentioned format helps you effectively outline your achievements to the hiring organization.

Doing this helps you showcase the relevance of your skills.

This is one of the lesser-known resume tips and tricks.

Now that you know it, make use of it already!

Incorporate Suitable Keywords in Your Resume

Did you know that using keywords in your resume can enhance your shortlist chances?

Using keywords in your resume is one of the best-known resume tips and tricks. And yet, not many professionals use keywords in their resumes.

Hiration Pro Tip : Try to incorporate industry-relevant keywords related to your target job in your resume. This helps you get filtered through the ATS easily.

The problem lies with the vagueness that is associated with the term.

What is a keyword to begin with?

A keyword is a job-specific qualification. It is unique for each job posting.

There are mainly 3 types of resume keywords :

• Skill criteria
• Education criteria
• Work experience criteria

A skill criterion is a skill-based resume keyword . A hiring organization uses this type of keyword to outline a list of the basic + ideal skill sets needed for a particular job vacancy.

An education criterion is an education-based resume keyword . Most recruiters and headhunters use this keyword to outline the basic educational qualification that an applicant must possess to be considered eligible for the job.

This is why some jobs are open to undergraduates while others are exclusively available to graduates.

A work experience criteria is an experience-based resume keyword . Most employers look for professionals who already have past experience in a given job. They do this to minimize micro-managing. Another reason is knowledge building.

Experienced professionals have something new to contribute to the table. They also need minimal supervision as they are already abreast of company ethics.

On the contrary, you will find that some jobs are open to fresh graduates too.

Keywords in a Job Description

Now that you know what keywords are, here's a LinkedIn job posting for a marketing job:

Here, the hiring organization has provided 2 keywords:

• Experience-based keyword
• Skill-based keyword

The job posting is for mid-senior level professionals. This implies that the job applicant must have past work experience. However, it does not specify the no of work experience needed.

If you are a marketing professional with relevant work experience, you can apply for this job.

This half of the job posting also highlights some skill qualifications needed in the ideal candidate. If you are applying for this job, incorporate these skill-based keywords in your resume if you possess these skills.

Since this job advertisement does not have education-based criteria, feel free to apply for it as long as you are an experienced marketing professional.

Skip Charts or Visual Elements from Your Resume

Most professionals have started using charts and graphics in their resumes to showcase important points like their career trajectory.

Skill-based bar diagrams showcasing your efficiency in each skill is one of the most frequently used charts/diagrams in a resume.

While visually appealing and effective in communicating the extent of your skillsets, they might not be the best thing you can do for your resume. Why?

Because they are hard to read.

Most software is not compatible with a chart or graph-heavy resume. They are not able to read them, and as a result, these resumes don't get parsed.

If your resume does not get parsed, your resume will never reach a human recruiter. This means that you will not get shortlisted either.

Secondly, if you come to think of it, including bars and graphs is not that important. It's a nice-to-have add-on, not a crucial component.

Your resume is not a PowerPoint presentation, which is to say that you can make-do without graphics.

The best part?

A text-only resume is more reader-friendly than a chart or graph-heavy resume.

Use Professional Resume Fonts & Spacings

Enhance the readability of your resume by using the right fonts and spacings.

To get on the radar of recruiters, your resume needs to rank high on the ATS (Applicant Tracking System).

The below-given tips can help you in crafting a resume that is easy to read for recruiters and scan by the ATS:

• Opt for 1.5 line spacing
• Leave at least 0.5 inch margins
• Draft your resume in ~ 16 pts for heading, ~ 14 pts for subheadings, and ~ 11-12 pts for text

Top 7 Resume Writing Tips

Everyone needs professional assistance in curating a perfect resume.

While making a resume is not difficult, perfecting one can be a little tricky.

Our goal here is to make a perfect resume. Once you do that, you will get the shortlist you deserve in the company of your dreams.

Now that you know the do's and don'ts of a resume, we will now provide you with the best resume tips to give you the resume help you need.

Here is the top 7 resume writing tips in detail with examples:

• Resume summary tips
• Resume formatting tips
• Resume skill tips
• Resume personal information tips
• Resume work experience tips
• Resume education section tips
• Resume extra section tips

Refer to the examples and tips provided to curate a resume that can help you land the targeted job interview.

Resume Summary Tips

If you don't know how to write a professional resume, then the summary is a good place to start.

The summary is not just an outline of your career trajectory. On the contrary, it is your one shot at keeping the recruiter interested in your resume.

It gives a quick overview of your profile-specific skills , work experience , and achievements . When put together and served with perfection, it helps you make a great resume.

It is a no-brainer that you need to perfect this section at all costs.

So here are some easy-to-implement resume summary tips:

Practice This:

• Think of the summary as a sales pitch and pitch yourself. Include job-specific keywords that highlight your competence in your line of work.
• Keep your resume neat and concise. Stick to a 3-4 lines to effectively summarize your career trajectory.
• Use resume power verbs and action words within the summary. Using them can add a tone of professionalism to your resume summary.
• Present your strengths and highlight your achievements. It all boils down to what you can do for the company. Think along these lines and frame your resume summary accordingly. Bottom line is that the employer must know how hiring you will benefit the company.

Read on to learn some more resume summary tips.

Avoid This:

• Do not talk about what the company/hiring organization can do for you. Instead, focus on what you can do for the hiring organization.
• Do not write an excessively long summary exceeding the 5 lines paragraph limit. 2-3 action-packed sentences are enough.
• First-person pronouns "I" and "my" are considered unprofessional. Do not use this tone in your resume summary.
• Do not include sentences like: “Looking forward to advancing my career/ interview with you/ working with your company/ taking your company to new heights.

Long story short, your summary must leave a lasting impression on the employer.

Here's a resume sample illustrating the perfect summary for a marketing job profile:

*"20+ years experienced Marketing Head highly proficient in developing & executing marketing campaigns to catapult brand visibility and directly impact bottom line. Adept at developing strategic relationships and engineering partnerships with proven success in acquiring & retaining clients like BCG & Goldman Sachs".

Resume Formatting Tips

Here's a valuable tip for resume writing that you probably weren't aware of.

There are three types of resume formats that you can use to make a resume. The ideal resume format for you depends on the nature of your career trajectory.

Hiration Pro Tip : The reverse chronological resume format and the mixed/combination resume format are ATS-compatible. Use them if they fit your work experience & career trajectory.

Here is a list of the top 3 resume formats and who should ideally use them:

• Reverse Chronological Resume Format
• Functional Resume Format
• Mixed/Combination Resume Format

The Reverse Chronological Resume Format is the most well-known and widely-used type of resume format. It is recruiter-friendly. It also helps you write a relevant resume as it shows your career trajectory in a reverse timeline order.

It is ideal for professionals with decent work experience. It is also ideal for professionals who have experience of working in 2 or more places.

The Functional Resume Format is skill-based. The skill-based approach focuses on your skills, not your work experience timeline. As such, it does a fantastic job of hiding the timeline of your work experience.

This resume format is ideal for professionals with career gaps. It is also seen as the preferred format for professionals who switch jobs too often.

The Mixed/Combination Resume Format is a combination of both resume formats outlined above. It follows a skill+timeline approach.

This resume format is ideal for mid-senior level professionals with several years of work experience to their name.

To get a better understanding of resume formats, read Hiration's Blog on choosing the right resume format .

It consists of resume formatting tips that you can easily implement. It also has many resume writing tips and samples that you can read and learn to curate a perfectly optimized resume.

Resume Skill Tips

The skills section is one of the most important sections of your resume.

Your skills matter. They give you a professional identity and make you the professional that you are today.

You need them to execute the demands of your job. You need to cultivate them to get a job. You need to specialize in them to get a promotion.

Read on to learn the do's and don'ts of our resume skill tips:

• Make a distinct 'key skills' section in your resume. Make a 'technical skills' subsection within it to present your tool-based & technology-driven skills.
• Cultivate the most-wanted skills in your niche and present them in your resume.
• Comb through the skill criteria of your target job listing and incorporate those skills that you are adept at in your resume. This will help you get filtered through the ATS.
• Incorporate those skills you may have picked up in the duration of your work. Example: Recruiting, Onboarding, Team Management, etc.
• Stay updated with the latest industry-relevant skills.

DON'T DO IT:

• Do not list every single skill you may have. Customize it according to the job.
• Example: list out those skills that are not relevant to your target job.
• Do not list commonly universal skills like MS Word. These skills are mostly a necessity and are expected by default from everyone.
• Avoid bragging. Leave out phrases like “best of” or “exceptional”. Instead, keep it compact. Example: Instead of saying 'exceptional at retaining clients', write 'Client Retention' in your resume.

Here's a sample showcasing what the skills section should ideally look like in your resume after correctly implementing all resume skill tips.

Resume Tips: Personal Information Section

Here are some of the best resume tips for writing a resume personal information section:

Hiration Pro Tip : The personal information section consists of basic contact details such as your email ID and mobile number. Without this section, you will miss out on potential job offers as recruiters won't be able to get in touch with you.

This just proves that the personal information section is important. While it is an under-rated section, it is extremely relevant.

As such, you need to perfect this section at all costs.

Here are the best resume tips for the resume personal information section:

• List the basics only. Example: phone number, email id, and location information.
• Use a clean and professional email address. A good example would be: [email protected]
• Give a mobile number on which you are available 24x7.
• Include a profile photo only if your job profile requires it.
• Give a link to your LinkedIn profile and online portfolio.
• Provide a link to your blog or your website, if any. This is recommended for creative professionals or freelancers.
• Do not add your home phone number. Your phone number must be accessible during office hours.
• Don't add more than one email ID or phone number to your resume. Stick to one in which you are available for correspondence round the clock.
• Do not use a cringy email address such as [email protected] .
• Do not add extremely personal details as they might lead to biased hiring. Example: age, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, etc.
• Do not give a link to your social media handle unless explicitly stated.

Resume Tips: Professional Experience Section

Here's a valuable tip for the professional experience section of a resume:

Hiration Pro Tip : Strictly avoid using paragraphs to communicate the details of your professional engagements. Instead, use one-liner points as they are reader-friendly, thus making your resume recruiter-friendly + ATS-compliant.

If you don't know how to write a good resume, dive deeper into the professional experience section. This is where the gold lies.

If a professional summary is an appetizer, work experience is the main course of your resume. Your work history section shows potential employers the kind of work you have done in the past.

It also gives a glimpse into the kind of roles you can be delegated.

Read on to uncover the best resume tips for the work experience section:

• Get experience. Do some freelance work, volunteer, or do an internship.
• Draft the professional experience section in the beginning.
• Use the reverse chronological resume format if you don't have any career gap.
• Use the combination resume format if you have a career gap + if you have switched jobs too frequently.
• Use one-liner points to communicate your roles & responsibilities.
• Arrange similar one-liner points under unique headings or buckets.
• Optimize each point by using the cause-effect relation. In other words, show the results of your work instead of blandly stating your work responsibilities.
• Mark relevant career highlights and important words in bold. Doing this helps you divert the recruiter's attention to your key career highlights.
• Begin each one-liner point with a power verb .
• Use consistent tense throughout each listing.
• Use achievements or numbers to demonstrate the result of your professional contributions.
• Do not worry about the “right” experience. Everyone had no experience at one point.
• Do not use bulky paragraphs to communicate the nature of your everyday work responsibilities. Why? because paragraphs make your resume less readable. It can thus act as a deterrent and discourage a potential employer from evaluating your resume in its totality.
• Do not use the wrong verb tenses or switch between tenses.
• Do not give a bland testament of your roles & responsibilities. Focus on how well you performed them.
• Do not use jargon, clichés, or meaningless buzzword- it is unprofessional.

Here's an example of an ideal professional experience section for a Data Scientist:

Resume Tips: Education Section

Here are some valuable resume tips for writing a resume education section:

Hiration Pro Tip : Write your GPA only if you have a good GPA. If you don't, simply mentioning basic education details such as course name, school name, location, and dates of enrolment & graduation are enough.

Follow some of the best resume tips on resume writing below.

• Arrange your degrees in reverse chronological order.
• Add your GPA if you have a good GPA or if it is required by the employer.
• Add your high school details only if it is your highest educational qualification.
• Make sure that this section is placed either right after the work experience section. In case you have a relevant internship, include this section after the internships section.
• Do not list a GPA that is low as it does not give you a job advantage.
• Do not add a GPA if you have many years of work experience.
• Do not give the details of your high school education if you have university degrees.

Here's what a sample education section can look like:

Resume Tips: Extra Sections

Here are the top resume tips for incorporating extra sections.

• Add a certification section if you have updated your skills. It is perfect for professionals looking for a new job or a career change as it demonstrates industry relevance.
• Add a hobbies section or interests section only if it benefits your job application.
• Add the internships section only if you are a fresh graduate, have negligible work experience, or are targeting a job in a different industry.
• Add a co-curricular/extra-curricular activities section if you have good achievements + no relevant work experience.
• Add other sections to your resume if you think they are relevant to your job. This is very essential to get an interview call.
• Do not include a references section unless necessary. Check out when and how to add references to a resume here
• Do not write “references available upon request.”
• Do not add an internship experience section if you have lots of work experience in the past.

The Final Touch

Now that you know all the great resume tips and tricks, give it a final touch.

Do not press SEND right away .

Read these amazing resume tips to learn what to put on a resume and how to make it more personalized.

• Optimize your resume according to the ATS (applicant tracking system).
• Include a .DOC or PDF version, as required by the recruiter.
• If nothing is mentioned, send a PDF resume as it helps to retain the formatting.
• Personalize your resume email. Use a good email provider and a decent email ID.
• Use a powerful subject line to effectively address the recipient of your email.
• To learn the correct way of sending job application emails, take a look at our blog on emailing a resume to a recruiter .
• Label your resume and cover letter with your full name. This prevents your resume from getting lost in hundreds of resumes.
• Run your final mail and documents through a spell check. Use Grammarly for free grammar and spelling checks.
• Send your mail to the personal email address of the hiring manager. This increases your chances of getting the job.
• Make sure that your contact information is correct and all your facts are accurate.

DON'T DO IT :

• Do not flood your resume with irrelevant details.
• Do not put information that is not relevant to your target industry/niche.
• Do not write a generic resume. Write a targeted resume that is relevant to the job you are targeting.
• Do not compose a resume that does not have keywords. Make sure you incorporate them strategically into your resume.
• Do not use a generic subject line in your job application email.
• Do not incorrectly label your resume. Use a name that prevents it from getting lost.

You have reached the end of our Blog on resume tips. We hope that this blog was successful at giving you the resume help you need.

Here are some key takeaways of our Resume Tips 2022 Blog:

• Tip for resume #1: Customization is key. Do not write a generic resume. Make a unique resume for each job application. To achieve this, identify keywords used in the job description of your target job and use them strategically in your resume.
• Tip for resume #2: Your resume should have important contact details that are accurately written without spelling errors. Additionally, leave out extremely personal details such as race, gender, or marital status, etc. It may lead to biased hiring.
• Tip for resume #3: PDF resume formats retain the structure and design. Word resume formats are easy to read. Use the appropriate resume format for your resume.
• Tip for resume #4: Readability is key to getting parsed by the ATS. Your resume will not reach a recruiter if your resume is not reader-friendly. To make a readable resume, organize information using relevant sections. Moreover, try to avoid charts and graphs as much as possible as they reduce the readability of your resume.
• Tip for resume #5: You can make a perfect resume if each section is perfect. [ Click here to go back to our top 7 section-wise resume tips. ]

Go to Hiration career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at [email protected] and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.

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What’s the Best Resume Format in 2022?

Mass remote work. All-digital hiring processes. Advances in upskilling and reskilling. So much about the workforce ecosystem has been in flux for the past year-plus, is it any surprise that resume best practices are evolving as well?

To help you understand what's new, what isn't—and stand out from the competition—we've broken down the three highest-impact resume formats for 2022:

• Reverse-Chronological Resumes
• Functional Resumes
• Combined Resumes

Actionable guidance. Downloadable templates. Tips to help you optimize for the latest hiring tech. This is the definitive resume playbook for 2022.

1. Reverse-Chronological Resumes

The most widely used resume format among job seekers today, reverse-chronological resumes are also probably the easiest for recruiters and hiring managers to understand at a glance—which is itself an advantage. What's more, starting with your most recent experience, then working backward in time, helps frame your career within a narrative of growth and progression.

In other words, don't be put off by the fact that this resume format is so common, because it can be used to present your candidacy as anything but.

Structurally, these resumes consist of three parts, enumerated in the following image. You should also download our reverse-chronological resume template if you're looking for more detailed, hands-on guidance.

1. Start with your name and contact information (which should be pretty straightforward), type in the role you're applying for (make it an H1) and move on to the candidate statement. This is where you should try to connect your experience, interests and areas of expertise to the role in question. Keep it succinct (two or three sentences).

2. Next, summarize—two or three sentences max—your day-to-day responsibilities in the role, keeping the details at a fairly high level and saving specific accomplishments for the bullet points below. Try to make the tone and voice consistent with what you wrote earlier in your candidate statement.

3. Finally, wrap up. This section is where you should provide a quick summary of relevant details around education, certification or training you have received.

2. Functional Resumes

Less common than reverse-chronological resumes, functional resumes offer something else entirely: a more narrowly focused and curated window into your professional experience. By dialing down the gestalt and dialing up the details, this resume format not only highlights skills and proficiencies but connects them to outcomes and applications.

In a nutshell, a functional resume announces, "This is what I do best, and this is exactly where and how l'll contribute value."

So that's the upside.

The downside is that there are other things functional resumes don't do especially well. For example, when did you take on additional responsibilities at work? At what point were you rewarded with a promotion? Details like these get lost on a purely functional resume, since there's no overarching, high-level view of your career.

In other words, while this is definitely the best resume format for some candidates, it's important to recognize that it come with strengths as well as weaknesses. To make that more concrete, let's zoom in and look at this resume format in more detail.

1. Again, jotting down your name and contact information is the first piece of the puzzle. Next, write the name of the job you're applying for, followed by a short candidate statement, which answers the vital "why" questions: Namely, why should you be called up for an interview? Why are you the right candidate for this job?

2. This is where you can break down your most directly relevant work experience for the job at hand. Emphasize dollars-and-cents value, or quantitative benefits you've delivered in the past, as much as possible. You want your skills to stand out.

3. Close with relevant information about certifications, education or training you have received.

3. Combined Resumes

Some candidates will decide on a third course, the combined resume, a hybrid of the two resume formats we've covered so far. It's a way of laying out your overall career trajectory while also foregrounding your most relevant skills and areas of expertise. The former gives recruiters and hiring managers a sense of where you're coming from (and where you might be a good culture fit for the organization); the latter highlights how you'll contribute value.

Given the rise of agile workforce—and an increased reliance on contractors for project-based work in general—it stands to reason that this resume format going to become more popular in the future. So if you think this is the right format for you, good! Just be sure to adequately document your previous work experience. For example, including names of companies, dates worked, titles held and other details matters a lot. Otherwise, those omissions could look suspect in the eyes of a prospective employer.

1. Note that this one looks a lot like a functional resume, but with one notable addition (see number three). As before, start with your name, the job you're applying for and your candidate statement.

2. Call out projects, skills and experiences that are relevant to the job you're applying for, doing your best to quantify deliverables—for example, the budget, timeline for completion or number of stakeholders involved—wherever possible.

3. Document your work history, adhering to the organizational principles of a reverse-chronological resume—that is, starting with your most recent work experience and working backward in time from there. Be sure to include dates. Keep this as succinct as possible.

4. Finally, be sure to include information around certifications, education or training that you have received.

Join Our Team Today!

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