How To Write Your Resume: Comprehensive Guide

Imagine your resume is a dating profile. Would you swipe right? If the answer is a resounding “no,” and the thought of even looking at it fills you with dread… well, you’re not alone.

Be honest. When was the last time you updated your resume? If your answer involves the word “Y2K,” we need to talk.

I get it, resume writing is about as fun as a root canal, but avoiding the problem won’t make it disappear. It’s time to pull out that dusty hard drive and make sure it isn’t silently sabotaging your career. Let’s resuscitate that digital relic and turn it into a modern masterpiece.

Now, before you dive in, remember there’s no single “perfect” resume. The ideal resume for you will depend on your unique background, the industry you’re targeting, your level of experience, and your specific career goals.

However, this guide is packed with best practices and tips that apply to many situations. Think of this as your starting point. Use the information here as a foundation, and then tailor your resume to fit your individual needs.

Resume Formatting: Making It Easy on the Eyes (and the ATS)

Let’s face it: formatting isn’t the sexiest part of resume creation, but it’s crucial. Think of it as the frame around a masterpiece – a bad frame can ruin even the most beautiful painting. We’re going for a clean, professional look that not only catches a human’s eye but also plays nice with those pesky Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Layout and Visual Hierarchy

• Single-Column is King (Unless You’re a Designer): Ditch the two-column layout if you’re applying through company websites or job boards. ATS systems read top to bottom, left to right. Columns can confuse the system, leading to sections being misread or skipped entirely.
• Consistency is Key: Maintain a consistent format throughout your resume. This includes:
  • Dates: If you use “Jun. 2016,” use “May. 2020” – uniformity is the goal.
  • Spacing: Ensure consistent spacing before and after hyphens in date ranges (e.g., “Jan. 2019 - Oct. 2020” vs. “Feb. 2020-Feb. 2022”).
  • Font and Style: Use the same font and style for headings, body text, etc.
  • Line Breaks: Make sure all line breaks are the same size.
  • Bold and Underlining: Be consistent if something is bolded, or underlined.
• Justify Alignment: For paragraphs and bullet points, use “justify” alignment to create a neater appearance and minimize white space.
• Margins: Use narrow margins to maximize space.
• Dates Placement: Put your dates on the right-hand side of the page, and your position and company on the left.
• Resume Order:
  • If you HAVE had relevant experience since your education, then put your professional experience first.
  • If you HAVEN’T had relevant experience and your education was in the past 1-2 years, then put education first.
  1. Experience
  2. Education
  3. (projects)
  4. Skills
  5. (volunteering)
  6. (interests).
• No Photos: Don’t include a photo of yourself if you’re applying to jobs in North America.

Content Conciseness and Impact

• One Page (Mostly): Aim for a one-page resume unless you have 5-10+ years of relevant work experience. If you exceed two pages, be absolutely certain every detail is necessary. Research shows that the ideal length is between 525 and 600 words.
• Bullet Points are Your Friends: Break up large blocks of text into manageable bullet points. Hiring managers don’t want to read paragraphs.
• 4 Bullet Points Max Per Job (Generally): The older the job, the fewer bullet points. A job from 10 years ago might only need 1-2 (if relevant).
• Fill the Line!: Avoid short bullet points that only take up a fraction of the line. Make every line count!
• Bullet Point Length: Each bullet point should be no more than 1-2 lines long (3 maximum).
• Job Description Details: Each job should take up no more than 1/4 of the page (unless you’ve only had one or two jobs or are more senior).

Font, File Format, and ATS Optimization

• Choosing the Right Font and Size: Readability is Key! Avoid script or overly decorative fonts. Choose a clear, professional font that’s easy to read. (i.e. Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• Technical/Software/Program Skills: Put your technical/software/program skills in one line, separated by commas or | lines | like | these.
• File Format: PDF is preferred over Word documents. PDF ensures your formatting remains consistent across different devices and operating systems. Sending as a Word document risks formatting changes that could ruin the look of your resume.
• ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Friendliness: Applicant Tracking Systems are software used by companies to scan, sort, and rank resumes. Understanding how they work is critical to getting your resume seen.
  • Tips for optimizing your resume for ATS:
    • Use keywords from the job description.
    • Stick to standard section headings (e.g., “Experience,” “Education,” “Skills”).
    • Use a simple, chronological format.
  • Avoiding common ATS pitfalls:
    • Do not use columns as they do not play nicely with ATS.
    • Avoid tables, headers/footers, graphics, logos, or other complex formatting elements that ATS may not be able to parse correctly.
• Make your resume specific to the qualifications in the job you are applying for (customize your resume to the job)
• Keep your accomplishments/professional history concise (keep it simple)

What to Leave Off

• Remove References: References should not be on the resume. Provide them when asked, in a separate document.
• DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, NO ONE CARES.

Resume Template

If you want a great starting point to build off of, this is the template from an ex-recruiter that I used to create my resume. I made some personal preference tweaks on font sizing and customized the sections to my needs but it gets all of the basic principles described in this post right so you don’t have to spend time setting everything up yourself.

Standard Resume Template - Google Docs

The Resume Basics: Structure & Format

Contact Information: Making It Easy to Connect

This section might seem like a no-brainer, but even here, small details can make a big difference. You want to ensure recruiters can easily reach you, and that you’re presenting a professional image right from the start.

Essential Information to Include

• Name: Use a clear, professional display of your name.
• Location: Include your City and State/Province.
  • If you’re willing to relocate, consider putting the job’s city instead of your current location.
• Email Address: Use a professional-sounding email address (no partyanimal1995@!).
• LinkedIn Profile: A must-have! This greatly increases interview rates but only if you spend time polishing it. Don’t include a low-quality profile.
• Optional:
  • Portfolio (if applicable, especially for creative roles).
  • GitHub profile (if applicable, especially for tech roles).

Information to Exclude

• Full Address (in North America): Just your city and state/province are sufficient.
• Irrelevant Social Media: Stick to LinkedIn unless you have professional accounts directly relevant to the job (e.g., a design portfolio on Behance, a marketing blog).
• Outdated or Unprofessional Email Addresses: Ditch the old Hotmail or AOL account.

Formatting and Presentation

• Concise Labels: Don’t include the words “PHONE” or “EMAIL” before your contact information. It’s redundant.
• Clean Links: Don’t paste messy, full URLs. Instead, write “GitHub” or “Portfolio” and turn it into a hyperlink.
• Customized LinkedIn Link:
  • Get a custom link from your LinkedIn profile (Edit public profile & URL).
  • Make sure your custom LI link includes your name and not just random numbers.
  • When including your LinkedIn link on your profile, only include the last bit (for example, in/johnsmith).
• Placement: Contact details should be at the top of your resume, either under or next to your name.

The Summary section

A summary isn’t always necessary, but when done right, it can be a powerful tool. There are only a few situations when you should include it:

• You’re not submitting a cover letter.
• You have varied experience that needs context.
• You’re making a career change.
• You have non-standard circumstances that need explanation.

Key Components of a Compelling Summary

• Length: Aim for 50-80 words (2-3 brief phrases).
• Focus On:
  • Who you are and what you do: Clearly state your professional identity and area of expertise, directly relevant to the target role.
    • State the number of years of experience you have.
  • Your top skills/achievements: Highlight your most impressive accomplishments relevant to the target role.
    • Quantifiable Results: Measurable results you’ve achieved (e.g., increased sales by X%, reduced costs by Y%).
    • Recognition: Awards, recognition, or promotions you’ve received.
    • Problem-Solving: Problems you’ve solved or challenges you’ve overcome.
    • Exceeding Expectations: Times you’ve exceeded expectations or gone above and beyond.
  • Goal: Point out the role you are seeking to describe why your skills/current role make you perfect for the role.

Writing Tips for a Killer Summary

• Conciseness: Keep it brief and to the point.
• Relevance: Tailor the summary to the specific job you’re applying for.
• Action-Oriented Language: Use strong verbs and focus on your accomplishments.
• Elevator Pitch Mindset: Think of it as your opportunity to quickly convey your value to potential employers.

Work Experience: Showcasing Your Value and Impact

This is the meat of your resume, the section where you demonstrate you have the skills, experience, and background to excel in the target role. It’s your chance to tell the story of your career, highlighting your accomplishments and demonstrating the value you bring to the table.

Structure and Format

• Reverse Chronological Order: Start with your most recent experience and work backward.
• Context is Key: For each position, include:
  • Company Information: If the company isn’t well known, add information about what kind of company it is. Products/services? Customers? Industry? Size (locations, personnel)?
  • Your Role’s Purpose: How did your work support the company’s bottom line? Which products/customers did you support? Which business unit did you work for?
  • Main Functions: Focus on the tasks that occupied most of your time and/or are relevant to your next job.
• Bullet Points for Skim Value: Incorporate bullets to improve readability and highlight key accomplishments.
• Action-Oriented Language: Use action verbs to start each bullet point.
• Concise and Clear: Avoid overly fancy language. Simple is better. Generic statements should be avoided.
• Tailoring is Essential: Review the job description and prioritize experiences that are most relevant to the role you are applying for.

Content and Quantifiable Achievements

• Action-Oriented Sentences: Structure your sentences to demonstrate impact.
  • Action -> Result: What you did, and its impact (everything is quantifiable).
  • Example: “Created first integration playbook resulting in successful API integrations with major client, leading to 5M increase in yearly revenue.”
• Quantify Your Accomplishments: Numbers are your friend! Use data to demonstrate the impact of your work.
• PAR (Problem-Action-Result): Ideal for showcasing accomplishments, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Example: “Reduced customer support response time by 20% by implementing a new ticketing system and optimizing workflow processes.”
• STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result): Provides a more detailed narrative, suitable for behavioral interview questions and detailed job descriptions.
  • Example: “Managed inventory levels and ensured product availability while minimizing stockouts in a fast paced retail setting; achieved a 15% reduction in inventory costs.”
• Result-First: Leads with the quantifiable outcome, immediately grabbing attention.
  • Example: “Increased sales revenue by 18% through targeted marketing campaigns and effective sales strategies.”
• Action Verb + Skill + Result: Highlights the action taken, the skill applied, and the achieved result; concise and suitable for technical resumes.
  • Example: “Developed a user-friendly website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic.”

Length and Depth

• Experience Level Matters:
  • Less than 5 years of experience: Aim for one page.
  • 5+ years of experience: Multiple pages may be acceptable, but be cautious about over-including information.
• Recruiter Attention Span: Recruiters/managers often spend a limited amount of time reviewing resumes (~30 seconds). Make sure what stands out when skimming is what you want them to notice.
• Dot Points Per Position: Aim for a maximum of 4 bullet points per position if you have multiple experiences.
• Adjusting Based on Experience:
  • Less Work History: Include additional bullet points describing the impacts you’ve had.
  • Extensive Work History: Pick and choose roles that are most applicable to the job you are applying for.
• Recency Matters:
  • Most Recent Role: Should contain the most bullet points.
  • Older Roles: Section length can decrease as you work back through your career.
• Bullet Points in order of Relevance: Feature your most relevant bullet points first.

What to do About Gaps in Employment

• Transparency is Key: Be honest while protecting your privacy.
• Life Happens: Recruiters understand that life events can cause employment gaps.
• Example: If you took time off due to illness, include a line at the top of your experience section: “Personal leave of absence” along with the dates.

Handling Multiple Positions at One Company

• Similar Roles: Combine roles into a single title (e.g., IT Specialist).
• Overlapping Roles: Choose the position name that best reflects your qualifications or is most relevant to your next job. You can add a bullet point about the promotion.
• Exclusive Roles: List them as separate positions.

Handling Non-Consecutive Terms in One Position

• Longer Work Time: If work time is longer than off-time, use a single time range.
• Summarized Terms: Ex. “Summers 2010/11/12/13” for multiple summer jobs.
• Clarity Over Accuracy: Prioritize clarity, as long as you’re not stretching the truth.

Education: Showcasing Your Academic Foundation

This section details your academic background and qualifications. The importance and placement of this section depend on your experience level – for students and recent graduates, it’s a highlight, while for seasoned professionals, it might take a back seat.

Placement and Relevance

• Recent Graduates/Students: Education should be featured prominently on the first page, above the experience section.
• Experienced Professionals: If you have over 5 years of relevant work experience, consider whether it makes sense to include your education at all.
• Factors to Consider:
  • School Reputation: Is the school worth highlighting?
  • Relevance to Job: Does the degree support the skills and qualifications listed in the job description?
• Irrelevant/Outdated: If your education is not relevant to the job or you left school/university more than 5 years ago, place the education section below the experience section.

Content and Format

• Degrees and Certifications: List your degrees (e.g., Bachelor’s, Master’s), majors, minors, and relevant certifications.
• GPA:
  • Include if above 3.5.
  • Exclude if under 3.0.
  • Consider omitting if you’ve been out of school for a year or more and are working in your field.
• GPA Alternatives: In countries that don’t use GPA, represent academic achievement with degree modifiers (e.g., “Upper Second-Class Honours”).
• Relevant Coursework (if recent grad):
  • Be selective! Highlight 3-4 courses that directly relate to the job you’re targeting.
  • Example: For a marketing internship, emphasize courses like Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Analytics.

Showcasing Academic Achievements

• Highlight Major Accolades: Include scholarships, achievements, academic honors, and Dean’s List appearances.
• Brief and Impactful Descriptions: Keep descriptions concise.

Projects

For those with limited work experience, your projects section becomes your proof of capability. While experienced professionals show their work history, you’ll use projects to demonstrate your ability to apply knowledge, solve problems, and deliver results.

Every project on your resume should tell a clear story of what you accomplished and how it made a difference. The most effective project descriptions follow a simple formula: What you built + How you built it + The impact or outcome.

When describing group projects, show your involvement while acknowledging teamwork.

Examples:

• “Led 3-person team in developing inventory management system, coordinating weekly sprints and client communication”
• “Managed front-end development within 5-person project team, delivering all components on schedule”
• “Coordinated with 4 team members to research and present market expansion strategy for local startup”

Documentation matters as much as the project itself. Include links to:

• GitHub repositories with clean, well-commented code
• Live websites or applications
• Project documentation and technical write-ups
• Research posters or presentations
• Process blogs or case studies

Selecting which projects to include requires strategy. Prioritize:

• Projects that align with your target industry or role
• Work that demonstrates relevant skills
• Projects with measurable outcomes or impact
• Collaborative work that shows your ability to work within a team
• Self-directed projects that show your ability to work independently

For technical roles, include project details:

• Technologies and languages used
• Scale and complexity (users, data volume, features)
• Technical challenges overcome
• Performance improvements achieved

Remember: Quality beats quantity. Three well-described, relevant projects are more valuable than a long list of minor assignments. Each project should earn its place on your resume by clearly demonstrating skills relevant to your target role.

Skills (What You’re Good At!)

A skills section is a supplement and not a replacement. Actions give context to your level of each skill and paint a holistic picture of you rather than a generic one. Try to exclude this section unless you have a strong need for it.

If you choose to include it, make sure it showcases your capabilities and how they align with the requirements of the job. For entry-level positions, it’s often the first place recruiters look to gauge your technical foundation. A skills section helps include keywords that demonstrate necessary qualifications.

Use this section to show your understanding of the job requirements. Anything you list is fair game for interview questions, so be prepared to demonstrate your capabilities.

Categories for Organization

• Technical Skills: Software, programming languages, specialized tools.
• Language Proficiencies: Indicate accurate fluency levels.
• Laboratory/Research Techniques: Relevant for STEM fields.
• Industry-Specific Tools: Design software, accounting systems, etc.

Technical Skill Types

• Hard Technical Skills: Hands-on knowledge of specific tools, software, hardware, or techniques.
  • Examples: Programming languages, software applications, operating systems, data analysis tools, networking protocols, cloud computing platforms, specific technical processes.
• Soft Technical Skills: Using technical knowledge to solve problems, analyze data, communicate effectively, and collaborate.
  • Examples: Troubleshooting, data analysis, project management, technical writing, presentation skills.

Content and Format

• Categorized Listing: Create clear categories to make the section easily scannable.
• Relevant Skills: Focus on specialized tools and skills that differentiate you.
• Exclude Basic Software: Avoid listing basic software like Microsoft Word unless specifically requested in the job posting.
• Certification/awards: Highlight any certifications, awards, and unique skills.
  • Example: project management certifications (PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, etc.)
  • Example: if you’re bilingual, list the other fluent languages
  • Call out any platforms or services you’re skilled in using

Soft Interpersonal Skills

• Character Traits: Problem-solving, outgoing communicator, critical thinker, driven, etc.
• Use Case Example: Instead of saying “I have excellent communication skills,” say “Presented quarterly performance updates to internal stakeholders,” to demonstrate it.
• Show, Don’t Tell: They are implied through well-written descriptions of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Ideally, your bullet points will highlight quantifiable achievements as opposed to responsibilities.
• Avoid Overused Terms: These skills are so overused that they have lost all value.

Skill Levels and ATS Friendliness

• Avoid Self-Evaluations: Unless you hold a skill or certification with levels prescribed by a standard, avoid providing a self-evaluation.
• Proficiency as a Given: If you include a skill, the assumption is that you have a working knowledge of it.
• ATS optimization: List your skills and programs/software etc. in a line separated by commas | or | these | lines.
• Outdated Softwares: Don’t include software that you used 10 years ago and never progressed past a beginner level, but list pretty much everything else within reason.

Interests

This is a highly debated section and everyone will tell you a different opinion on this. Sometimes, I include it, other times, I don’t. Since it ultimately comes down to your preference, I’ll include both sides of the debate so you can make your own decision. If you choose to include it, the interests are often combined and put at the end of the skills section.

For

• Conversation Starter: Interests are great conversation starters in interviews.
• Makes You Memorable: It makes you more than just an applicant; interviewers will remember you as the person they discussed their favorite sports team with or who recommended a great cafe.
• Makes You Stand Out: Interests will make you stand out.
• Lighthearted Touch: The personal touch can help build rapport.
• Select Carefully: Be really selective about what you include.
• Keep it Lighthearted: Avoid negative or controversial topics that you wouldn’t want to discuss in an interview.
  • Examples of things to avoid: Anime or Manga, or the shooting range, or reading Holocaust novels, or your weapons collection, or anything political or religious… you get the idea
• Keep It Concise: I would make your interests 1 or 2 lines maximum on your resume, and don’t go into detail (just list them out - for example, “Interests: Motorcycles, Warriors lacrosse, console and PC games, comedy shows, arcades, & searching for the perfect espresso.”)

Against

• Wasted Space: Most of the time, an interests or hobbies section is not needed, simply because there are more pertinent things you could include in its place.
• Uninteresting Content: Most of the time, people don’t include anything interesting at all or worth mentioning.
• Generic Examples:
  • “Reading, running, swimming, coding, research”.
  • Not only is this uninteresting, but it’s a complete waste of space.
• Be Specific (If Included): If you’re going to include this section, at the very least make it specific (i.e., reading WWII history).

Leadership and Community Involvement: Showcasing Your Well-Roundedness

This section provides an opportunity to showcase your skills and experiences beyond traditional work settings. It demonstrates your initiative, leadership abilities, and commitment to making a difference, all of which can make you a more attractive candidate.

Purpose and Placement

• Supplement, Not Substitute: A good supplement to add to show you’re multifaceted and have other interests if your work experience is solid
• Opportunity to Highlight: Projects, volunteering, and other extracurricular activities.

Key Areas to Showcase

• Leadership in Student Organizations:
  • Instead of “Member of Marketing Club,” write “Led 5-person team to increase club membership by 40% through targeted social media campaigns.”
  • Rather than “Spanish Club Secretary,” use “Managed $5,000 annual budget and coordinated 12 cultural events for 200+ members.”
  • Replace “Chess Club Member” with “Organized weekly tournaments for 30+ participants and maintained club’s ranking system.”
• Volunteer Work:
  • Developed and implemented new donor tracking system for local food bank, improving follow-up response rate by 25%.
  • Trained 15 new volunteers on shelter procedures and animal handling protocols.
  • Created social media content strategy that increased donation engagement by 35%.
• Academic Research Experience (Unpaid):
  • Assisted professor with data collection and analysis for published study on consumer behavior.
  • Maintained detailed laboratory records and protocols for 3 concurrent research projects.
  • Collaborated with 4-person research team to develop survey methodology reaching 500+ participants.

Rephrasing Part-Time Work for Impact

• Instead of “Made coffee and served customers,” write “Maintained 98% customer satisfaction while processing 200+ transactions during peak hours.”
• Replace “Stocked shelves” with “Managed inventory rotation system for $50,000 worth of perishable goods.”
• Transform “Answered phones” to “Resolved 40+ customer inquiries daily while maintaining detailed call logs.”

Common Resume Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)

Content and Clarity

• Typos and Grammatical Errors
  • The importance of proofreading: Nothing screams “unprofessional” louder than typos and grammatical errors.
  • Tools for checking grammar and spelling: Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or even just a fresh pair of eyes can make a huge difference.
• Generic Resumes
  • Generic resumes are ineffective: They fail to demonstrate a direct connection between your skills and the specific requirements of the job.
  • Customizing your resume for each job: Tailor your resume to highlight the experience, skills, and qualifications most relevant to the role.
    • Read the job posting carefully.
    • Identify what they’re looking for in terms of experience/responsibilities, skills, licenses/certifications, and education.
    • Company A is requesting at least 5 years of experience doing X. Your summary (if you include one) would begin by saying ‘X Professional with 5+ years of experience in X’.
    • Company B is requesting CPR, AED, ACLS, and PALS certifications. You would include a section labelled as ‘Certifications’ and list these (exactly as they’re presented in the ad).
    • Does the language used in your resume match that in the job description?
• Exaggerations and Lies (Don’t Do It!)
  • Ethical implications of lying on your resume: Honesty is always the best policy, even if you never get caught (for more on this, see our article about integrity). Getting caught in a lie will damage your reputation and career prospects.
• Irrelevant Information (Keep it Focused!)
  • What to leave out: Hobbies that aren’t relevant to the job, old or outdated work experience, etc. Don’t include irrelevant jobs/projects. If you worked at Starbucks for 6 months 5 years back, and you’ve had relevant experience in your field after that, then remove the Starbucks (or whatever other unrelated jobs you have) from your resume.
  • Get rid of the fluff: Sometimes we get caught up using flowery language while losing the effect of the content. Buzzwords and cliches only detract from the substance of your resume. Often simplicity can drive stronger impressions because it’s understood what exactly you did. The hiring manager can then say – “oh, that’s exactly the skill I need for this position.”

Action and Impact

• Start every bullet point with a strong action verb that captures what you actually accomplished.
  • Instead of “Helped with…” use “Initiated,” “Led,” “Created,” “Developed”
  • Replace “Was responsible for…” with “Managed,” “Coordinated,” “Implemented”
  • Transform “Worked on...” to “Delivered,” “Executed,” “Streamlined”
• Use a different verb at the start of each bullet point.
  • Instead of just using the word managed, use words like Coordinated / Directed / Orchestrated / Oversaw / Spearheaded
• Quantify wherever possible, even if the numbers are small:
  • Increased Instagram engagement by 25% through consistent content strategy
  • Reduced processing time by 15% by automating data entry tasks
  • Managed study group of 12 students, improving average test scores by 18%
• When you can’t find specific numbers, focus on scope and scale:
  • Coordinated logistics for three campus-wide events
  • Collaborated with teams across five departments
  • Maintained detailed documentation used by entire 20-person organization
• Be More Precise. Too often resumes have vague descriptions, like “Was top salesperson in SaaS group.” While this may be true, push yourself to be more precise.
  • What is the “top salesperson” denotation measured by?
  • How many individuals are on the SaaS team?
  • By what amount did you perform better than others on the team?
  • For what period of time?
• Taking these into account, your description becomes something like: “Grossed highest sales in 25-member SaaS group for 2 years consecutively and improved SaaS team’s sales by 20%.” See the improvement? Don’t be afraid to bold the metrics throughout the resume.
• Describe Your Impact. Describe how your work on a project significantly impacted the company, role, or the team. Add that you were Employee of the Year in 2015 for developing an algorithm for improving the efficiency of incoming customer service ticket sorting and organization.
• Each job should only include the achievements from that job, and only the most impressive things you achieved should be listed.
  • Include KPIs, processes you implemented, articles you wrote, dollar amounts of your biggest sales or averages, include numbers of accounts you managed, or how many calls you took each day, if you went over your OTE what was the percentage, etc.
  • It shouldn’t read as a job description, you need to sell yourself and show them what you’re capable of!
• In general, a good description will address three informational goals:
  • A challenge or problem to be solved.
  • The action(s) you took to address that challenge.
  • An outcome that resulted as a direct result of your actions.

Format

• Clean and professional formatting: A poorly formatted resume can be just as detrimental as inaccurate or irrelevant information.
• The 30 Second Refresh: A hiring manager will review your resume for approximately 30 seconds or less. When you do this, what do you see? Your resume needs to SCREAM whatever roles, skills, and experience is required by the role you want.

Conclusion: From Digital Relic to Modern Masterpiece

So, there you have it – a comprehensive guide to transforming your resume from a dusty digital relic into a modern masterpiece that grabs attention, showcases your skills, and lands you interviews. We’ve covered everything from formatting and content to common mistakes and strategies for highlighting your achievements.

Remember, your resume is your first impression, your personal marketing document, and your ticket to the next stage of your career. By following the advice in this guide, you can create a resume that not only reflects your unique value but also positions you as a top contender for your dream job.

Don’t let your job search stop here! Be sure to check out our other articles on cover letter writing, interview skills, and networking strategies to further enhance your job-seeking arsenal. Good luck, and happy job hunting!