Knowing how to write a resume means completing the core sections succinctly. This includes the header with contact details, resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. The work experience section is what matters the most—use bullet points and start each one with an action verb to describe an outcome achieved, followed by how you contributed.

Here’s the truth: securing a job has been more difficult lately.

Competition is dense, AI is on the rise, and some companies are on the lookout to cut costs. 

You’ll need a resume that speaks volumes to blitz through the noise.

This guide serves as your ultimate compass so that writing a resume from scratch never feels like a nightmare. 

Short on time? Here’s the entire guide condensed:

• Personalize every resume for every job you apply for. Never use a single, generic resume for all your job applications.
• Add your first and last name, location (city and country), email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile URL to the header section of your resume. 
• Below the contact details, include a resume summary. In 2–3 sentences, highlight your strengths and accomplishments. Prove at first glance why you’re the best candidate to hire for the role you’re applying for. 
• Fill out your work experience section—in each entry, include your job title, company, employment dates, and location (city and country) of the organization. Underneath, use bullet points to talk about your duties and accomplishments. Start with an action verb to describe a responsibility you carried out, then highlight the specific result of your contribution. Aim for a minimum of three bullet points per role. Use more bullet points for the most recent and relevant work experience. 
• List academic qualifications in the education section. Write your degree, the institution name and location, and the date of graduation. If you graduated more than ten years ago, you may omit the graduation date. 
• Mention core competencies in the skills section. List both hard and soft skills directly related to your target role. If there are lots of different types of skills you’d like to include, you can categorize them instead of just flat out listing them. 
• Include additional resume sections if relevant to your role. A certifications or projects section might help showcase your expertise and set you apart from other candidates. 
• Sprinkle the right keywords from the job description throughout your resume where it’s natural. This helps ensure you get past the application tracking system (ATS). 
• Further tailor your resume to the desired role by comparing the wording of your bullet points to the LinkedIn profiles of current employees in your field at the company you’re applying for.
• Get feedback on your resume by either a career and resume expert or using content analysis software. 
• Proofread and format your resume, ensuring that it’s free from errors and well-presented. 

An Example of a Good Resume

What makes great resumes great: 

• Clearly articulating the impact you had in previous roles. This is best shown through describing what you did, how you did it, and what the result was. 
• Relevant skills and experience. Your resume has to immediately make the hiring manager believe you’ll know how to do this job well. Highlight your areas of expertise that will translate into good performance in your desired role.
• Keywords. Companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to determine which resumes match their job description. To get past this, you’ll need to use the right keywords throughout your resume naturally. 

These are the top factors that can make or break your chances of landing an interview. 

Alari Aho, the CEO of Toggl, has reviewed numerous resumes. For him, the best resumes are focused on quantifiable achievements and job relevance.

“I look for candidates who can demonstrate their impact in previous roles through quantifiable achievements. Instead of generic descriptions of job duties, provide clear metrics that show how you contributed to your previous employer's success, such as percentages of growth, revenue saved, or efficiency improvements.” 

He continues to share that: 

“Another crucial factor is the relevance of your skills and experience to the position you're applying for. Customizing your resume to highlight how your background aligns with the job description significantly increases your chances of getting an interview. Emphasize specific skills and experiences that directly relate to the duties and expectations listed in the job posting.”

Bottom line: if you want a job-winning resume, provide concrete evidence and details of your success. 

How to Write a Resume From Top to Bottom 

This is how to write a resume: 

• Select a resume format that fits your current situation. For almost all candidates, the reverse chronological format is the best option. 
• Fill out your contact details in the right order (name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn URL).
• Create a resume summary by writing three or four sentences about your career highlights (although the summary is at the top of a resume, for some people it’s easier to write this section last). 
• In the work experience section, highlight your impact in previous roles by writing bullet points that start with an action verb followed by quantitative data to describe an achievement or outcome you were responsible for.
• List formal qualifications in the education section: degree title, institution, location, and the date of graduation.
• Include a range of core competences in the skills section. From hard skills to soft skills, list your top abilities that you’re proficient in that are relevant to the role. 
• Optimize your resume based on the job description and expert feedback.

Do all of that effectively, and you’ll have the perfect resume that guarantees more interviews. 

The process might sound stressful, but I can assure you that it’s not as daunting as it seems. 

I’ll explain everything below, including: 

• Resume writing formulas to ensure every single sentence is impactful, regardless of whether you have metrics to showcase. 
• What information to prioritize and leave out on your resume. 
• Ways to actually tailor your resume to the job description (it’s not just by picking out words from the job ad and adding them to your resume). 

And I’ll also share how to do the above in less than a day by using AI, because let’s face it, writing a tailored resume from scratch can be overwhelming. 

1. Choose a Format (The Reverse Chronological Resume Is the Way to Go)

Here are the main types of resume formats to choose from: 

• Reverse chronological resume: focuses on your employment history and relevant work experience. The standard order of sections with the reverse chronological resume goes as follows: header with contact information, summary, work experience, education, skills. Additional sections can go either before or after the education section, depending on how much more relevant they are. 
• Functional resume: this is also known as the skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills instead of work experience (not advisable). The typical order of sections for the functional resume goes as follows: header with contact information, objectives, skills summary, experience, education, additional sections, skills. 
• Combination resume: gives a balanced overview between your skills and work experience. The usual sections for a combination resume include a header with contact information, summary, top skills, work experience, education, and additional sections.

The reverse chronological layout is the best resume format for almost everyone. 

On the other hand, the combination or hybrid format can work when you want to emphasize multiple areas of expertise. The functional resume, however, may indicate gaps in your employment history since its structure steers the focus away from your work experience, which can raise concerns.

Ultimately, hiring managers care about whether you’re competent and skilled enough to do what’s required. They typically determine this at a glance by looking at your work history and key achievements, which is why professional experience often comes first in resume reviews. The reverse chronological format is designed to emphasize these aspects, making it the ideal choice for most job seekers.

2. Fill out Your Contact Details

This one’s pretty obvious. Recruiters need to know who you are and how to reach you.

Here’s how to include contact details on a resume: 

• Put your full name at the top of your resume, center aligned, in a font size of 20–24pt in bold. 
• Include your location—the city and country is enough, zip code is optional, no need for street address. 
• Enter your professional email address.
• Add your phone number. 
• Include a link to your LinkedIn profile, website, or portfolio. 

Example of a clean resume header

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Use a professional email address that's based on your name. 

✅ Keep your LinkedIn profile URL customized and concise, making it easy for employers to visit your profile.

DON’T:

❌ Use nicknames, numbers and symbols, or complex combinations in your email address or LinkedIn profile.

❌ Include sensitive information like your social security number, marital status, or birthday.

3. Provide an Overview of Your Professional Background in the Resume Summary Section

The resume summary section is where you provide an overview of your career highlights in around three or four sentences. In this section, summarize key achievements, skills, and experiences to prove you’re a strong candidate for the role. 

Here’s how to write a compelling summary: 

• Start by describing your professional background by stating your position and area of expertise. 
• Prove your credentials by sharing your top career highlights. This can either be a particular achievement, qualification, or a significant task you were responsible for. 
• Emphasize your skills by writing a statement that, either explicitly or implicitly, addresses how you’ll add value to the organization. 

Want an easier way to write a resume summary? Use our free AI Resume Summary Generator: 

• Enter your most recent or most relevant job position.
• List the skills that you want to highlight.
• Press “AI Writer Ready.”

Follow these alternative steps, and our AI resume writer will generate a summary tailored to your background. You’ll also have the option to add your experience level, current job title, company name, and the description of your target job for an even more tailored output. 

Examples of compelling resume summaries

Another option is to write a resume objective section instead of a summary section

Last thing to note is that you might not always write a summary. You can either skip it altogether when you have further experience or accomplishments to include that’s more relevant, or you can use the space to showcase career objectives. In other words, use an objective section instead of a summary section.

The difference between a summary and objective section is that the latter focuses on your professional goals and how they align with the target job position. This is ideal for those at the start of their career, career changers, or candidates with limited relevant experience. 

However, if you’re an experienced professional with a clear track record to share, stick with a resume summary to directly showcase your achievements. 

Here’s when you might go for an objective section:

• You have little to no professional experience in the field you’re applying for. 
• You’re changing careers and your work history lacks a clear trajectory, making it difficult to summarize your experience cohesively. 
• Your resume is dense, and adding a summary would force you to omit more detailed, relevant information about your skills and experiences. 

Here’s how to approach the objective section:

• Begin by introducing yourself. State a recent qualification or accomplishment. Alternatively, state your current or desired role. 
• Include key skills or strengths that demonstrate your potential. This should immediately make it clear that you have a good foundation to succeed in the role. 
• Mention your career goals and aspirations in the field or industry. Make sure it directly aligns with specific company needs and the job description. 

Examples of compelling resume objectives

Resume objective example for an engineer: 

Recent engineering graduate with a background in mechanical design and project management. Seeking a role at [Company] to apply strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities in developing innovative, efficient engineering solutions. Eager to contribute to impactful projects while growing professionally in a collaborative environment.

Resume objective example for a customer service representative: 

Dedicated customer service professional with a strong commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction. Seeking to leverage excellent communication skills and conflict resolution expertise at [Company] to ensure positive customer experiences and support team success.

Resume objective example for an entry-level marketer: 

Creative marketing graduate with experience in digital content creation and social media strategy. Seeking an entry-level role at [Company] to apply knowledge of SEO, analytics, and brand-building to develop engaging campaigns and drive organic growth.

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Tailor your summary to the job description by highlighting relevant skills and experiences. For example, if the company seeks a “dynamic team leader,” use this exact phrasing and mention a career highlight where you successfully led a team in a similar setting. 

✅ Include quantifiable achievements to provide clear evidence of your impact in previous roles.

✅ Keep your summary concise and focused, aiming for three (or a maximum of four) impactful sentences using vivid adjectives or verbs to emphasize your capabilities. 

DON’T:

❌ Use a generic summary that could apply to anyone; personalize it to reflect your unique strengths. Think of particular skills or areas that you tend to be better than most people at, and previous experiences or achievements you can talk about in greater detail than others. 

❌ Mention generic phrases like “hard worker” or “great team player.” These don’t provide specific, measurable insights into your capabilities (and most recruiters cringe hard when reading them).

❌ Include personal objectives or what you hope to gain from the job. Focus on what you can offer to the employer.

4. Work Experience: Highlight Achievements and Positive Outcomes

The resume work experience section details your impact in previous roles. 

It’s all about detailing the results you achieved or worked towards, and explaining how exactly you made a difference. 

The most basic formula to follow is to start with an action verb to describe a result, followed by the task you performed. 

Here’s how to write the work experience section: 

• Start by listing your most recent job—mention your job title at the company.
• Mention the company you worked for, including the dates of your employment by month and year, followed by the location of the company (city, country). 
• Write concise bullet points (see below for more resume bullet point formulas). Highlight your impact by describing your responsibilities and the outcomes that your efforts led to. Start with a clear action verb followed by numbers and data to describe the achievement or result you worked towards. 
• Repeat for every job position in previous companies listed. 

If there’s one takeaway I want you to get from this section, it’s this: 

Don’t tell the reader your skills. Show them. 

Give concrete evidence of your professional skills. Help employers gauge how you can contribute to their organization.

After describing a responsibility, like “Implemented a new B2B follow-up strategy,” never follow it up with a vague statement like “which developed my sales skills.” This sounds amateur, and anyone could say that. Instead, demonstrate the extent of your abilities through the results achieved. A better follow-up statement would be something like, “which led to an increase in sales revenue by 50%.” 

Don’t have the numbers or data for describing responsibilities or achievements on a resume? Then, highlight the purpose of your task. 

Use these formulas to write impactful bullet points for your work experience section

1. Action Verb + Outcome + Task.

• Start with an action verb to describe the outcome achieved, followed by a description of the task you performed.
• Example: “Increased operational efficiency by 50% in less than 1 month by automating report generation processes.”

2. Action Verb + Task + Outcome.

• Begin with an action verb to specify the task you performed, followed by the outcome of your contributions.
• Example: “Developed a new client onboarding process, resulting in a 50% increase in client satisfaction ratings.”

3. Action Verb + Task + Purpose.

• Use an action verb to describe a task you carried out, followed by the purpose of your efforts. 
• Example: “Implemented advanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard company data against emerging threats.”

4. STAR (Situation–Task–Action–Result).

• State the situation, describe your task, mention the actions you took, and then highlight the final result.
• Example: “Revamped the customer relationship management (CRM) system, implementing a new software solution that enhanced customer service response times by 35% and boosted customer satisfaction by 20%.”

Examples of top work experience sections

How to use AI to make writing resume bullet points easier

There are two AI features our resume builder offers that make the entire process of writing resume bullet points twice as easy:

• AI Bullet Point Writer. Enter the field you’re applying for, your experience level, then copy and paste the company’s job description into the provided field (optional). Next, mention the job title you’re writing about. Lastly, press “Generate Bullet” and our AI Resume Builder will generate a tailored bullet point following best practices based on your work background. 
• AI Bullet Point Editor. Wrote a bullet point that you feel could be improved? Simply highlight it inside our AI Resume Builder and press “Rewrite Bullet.” Then, our AI Writer will refine it and provide up to three suggestions based on your professional background details, using the best writing practices. 

This is how our users are able to build their resumes faster and feel less overwhelmed by the process. Here’s what one of our users on Reddit had to say about using a resume editor: 

“Being able to use the generated text as a starting point is a huge help! It's much easier to rewrite something to make it better than to start from a blank page. Rezi has allowed me to create a much better resume than I would have on my own.”

– Oktux

You can get access to both AI resume features (and more) for free by signing up for an account here. 

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Align your work experience section with the job description by emphasizing relevant roles and achievements. For example, if the job requires “project management skills,” highlight your role in managing a key project that delivered significant results on time and under budget.

✅ Prioritize skills, outcomes, and responsibilities directly related to the job requirements. 

✅ Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Use numbers to provide a clear measure of your success.

✅ Use strong action verbs to begin each bullet point. These can make your contributions immediately clear and compelling.

✅ Highlight impact and outcomes rather than merely listing skills you’ve developed. Even without data or metrics, position your responsibilities as impactful by detailing the value added or improvements made.

DON’T:

❌ List duties without context. Instead of just stating what you did, explain how it made a difference.

❌ Use passive or vague language. Avoid phrases like “responsible for” or “involved in.”

❌ Rely solely on describing skills. You're not there to talk about your skills in the abstract, but to show them concrete evidence of your ability by highlighting impactful outcomes.

5. List Qualifications in the Education Section

The education section of a resume lists your academic qualifications. This is crucial for fields that require specific educational credentials. 

It’s also okay to skip or minimize this section if you have extensive professional experience that’s more relevant to the job you're applying for.

List qualifications in the education section like this: 

• State the title of your highest level of qualification, e.g., “Bachelor of Science in Economics.”
• Mention the institution where you earned your degree or qualification. 
• Include the location of your institution (city, country). 
• Add the year of graduation (unless you graduated more than ten years ago).
• Highlight any honors, relevant coursework, or minors. 
• Optionally, include your GPA score (only when you’ve scored over 3.5 and only if you’ve graduated in the past 5 years). 

You can also write a bullet point or two to mention any notable achievements during your time as a student, especially if you have little relevant work experience.

Examples of the education section

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Customize your education section to match the job requirements by listing relevant degrees, coursework, or academic achievements.

✅ Place your education section near the top of your resume when you’re a new graduate, have little to no professional experience, or when your academic background is particularly relevant to the role.

✅ Still include your highest level of education, even if it’s not directly related to the role. It can indicate a broad skill set and your commitment to learning. Plus, some employers prefer candidates with a degree, even if it’s not stated in the job ad.

✅ List any academic honors or awards that prove your dedication and excellence in your field of study, especially when relevant to the job.

DON’T:

❌ List too many qualifications when you have more relevant work experience. Prioritize what’s most relevant to the job at hand.

❌ Include high school information if you’ve completed any higher education.

❌ List every course you completed in the education section. If needed, create an additional section for relevant coursework.

6. List Skills in the Skills Section That Are Directly Relevant to the Role

The resume skills section is where you list core competencies directly related to the job you’re applying for. However, only list the abilities you’re fully confident in and the tools you’re highly proficient at (yes, that’s my roundabout way of saying “don’t lie”). 

Placed toward the bottom, the skills section is usually the final section of a resume. This emphasizes your areas of expertise and where you excel.

Follow these steps to complete the skills section:

• Review the job description to pinpoint the skills that the company’s hiring managers are seeking. 
• Begin listing your skills based on these requirements, starting off with the most relevant ones that you’re most confident in. 
• Include a mix of both hard skills (like software proficiency or languages) and soft skills (like leadership or communication). 
• Create categories depending on the number of skills you list for readability. Examples of categories include hard skills, soft skills, technical skills, software skills, certifications, fields of interest, and more. 

Want more ideas on what skills to include? You can use Rezi AI Skills Explorer to get a list of relevant skills based on its category and the field you’re applying for. 

Examples of the skills section

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Customize your skills section to the job description by highlighting the skills the company expects of candidates. For example, if the job requires proficiency with “GA4,” list it in this section to make it clear you’re skilled at using this tool. 

✅ Specify your knowledge in certain areas. For instance, clarify how fluent you are in another language by simply adding a short description in brackets of your proficiency level. 

✅ Be honest. Only list abilities in the skills section that you’re well-versed in. 

DON’T:

❌ Overload by listing every possible skill you can. Focus on quality and relevance over quantity. 

❌ Overlook the importance of soft skills. These can be as important as technical abilities, especially for management roles. 

❌ Lie and list fake skills only to “hit” the right keywords.

7. Include Any Additional Resume Sections

Up until now, you’ve got all the core sections of a resume. Other common additional sections to add include: 

• Awards. List an award, the issuing body, and the date received. If necessary, add bullet points to highlight any particular skills or knowledge developed. 
• Certifications. Include certification title, issuing organization, and date of achievement. You can also add bullet points to describe how the certificate is relevant. 
• Involvement. This section makes it convenient to add information about your relevant additional activities—be that volunteering, one-off projects, membership in local organizations, and the like. Similar to the structure of the work experience section, detail your role, the organization, dates of involvement, and location. Write concise bullet points that spotlight transferable skills.
• Projects. Mention the project title, organization you did the project at, start and end dates, and include any links if applicable. Then, describe what you did using bullet points. Use the same formulas as discussed for the work experience section.
• Relevant coursework. List courses related to the role. Include the course title, issuing organization, year of completion, and core skills developed. You can also add bullet points to describe achievements.

These are valuable for showcasing skills and experiences that other candidates might not have. In other words, they can help you stand out.

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Be picky. Only include additional sections that help position you as the ideal candidate based on the job description. 

✅ Quantify any accomplishments or responsibilities mentioned whenever possible.

DON’T:

❌ Feel obliged to add extra sections. Overcrowding your resume with too many additional sections that aren’t relevant can make your resume less compelling. 

❌ List outdated or irrelevant awards, certifications, coursework, and projects.

8. Optimize Your Resume Using Resume Keywords and an ATS Scoring System

Companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to efficiently narrow down the list of resumes for human review. The ATS scans every resume for specific words or phrases that relate to the job description, including skills, qualifications, and experiences. 

Using resume keywords is important for getting past the company’s ATS. Without them, you may not reach the hands of your hiring manager. 

Here’s the process for including resume keywords: 

• Check the job description. Find key skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer emphasizes. These are usually listed in the “responsibilities” and “requirements” sections. Also take note of the “desirable skills” section.
• Use those keywords strategically throughout your resume. Add them naturally into your summary, work experience, skills, and additional sections.
• Use variations of keywords to cover different terms an ATS might recognize. 

Tailoring a resume is one of the most challenging parts of job searching

43% of respondents from our LinkedIn survey agreed that tailoring a resume was the most difficult aspect of searching for a new role. 

There’s a lot of back and forth and small details that’s easy to overlook. To eliminate this, you can use Rezi AI Keyword Targeting: 

• Enter the job title you’re applying for. 
• Copy and paste the job description into the provided field.
• Press “Save Job Description” to get the full list of keywords to use. 
• Add keywords from the list into your resume where they naturally fit in. 

You can also use an ATS resume checker to know what skills you should highlight and whether the formatting of your resume is on point. 

Using both an AI Keyword Targeting feature and an ATS resume checker is how our users are able to tailor their resume for every job they apply to and send more quality applications efficiently. 

In one of our user’s success stories on Reddit, they mentioned: 

“The rating scale allowed me to [understand] which skillsets and accomplishments to highlight that were the most relevant to the positions. The ease of tailoring my resume to each position cut out a lot of time I was spending to do so manually and ultimately allowed me to up the number of quality applications that I submitted. Overall a game changer and before I knew it I had multiple call backs and had two job offers.”

– Vagabond_Labs

You can save more time using AI so that you don’t have to ponder over how to tailor your resume and make your bullet points sound professional. 

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Use keywords naturally within the context of describing outcomes and responsibilities. 

✅ Include both the acronym and the full phrase for important keywords. For example, “Search Engine Optimization (SEO).”

✅ Tailor your resume for every company you apply to. All companies will have different job descriptions, so this is essential. 

DON’T:

❌ Stuff your resume with keywords. It should read naturally. 

❌ Expect to land interviews just because of keywords. Your resume must also be well-formatted and well-written, succinctly presenting your impact in previous roles. 

❌ Ignore ATS keywords and use the same resume to apply for the same role at different companies. 

9. Proofread and Finalize Your Resume

Lastly, double-check your resume. Make sure it’s free from spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. A single mistake on your part here could lead to your resume application being disqualified.

Tired of submitting your resume with one eye open? Then, follow this process to effectively proofread your resume: 

• Take a quick break. Make sure to review your resume with a fresh pair of eyes. 
• Use a spell checker like Grammarly to help you catch basic errors, but don’t solely rely on it. 
• Read your resume out loud as you’re checking through it to find any awkward phrasing or grammar mistakes.
• Have someone else read through your resume to help find any writing mistakes. 
• Check for consistency in formatting, such as font size, bullet points, and alignment.
• Verify your contact details, as well as all dates, names, and details for accuracy. 
• Consider printing your resume or sending it to a dummy email to ensure it looks the way it’s supposed to. 

Don’t forget to polish your resume design and formatting

If everything looks good from a content perspective, the only thing left is to make sure your resume looks professional. Resumes are formal documents, so it should be clean, sleek, and easy to read. 

A minimalist design is the most effective approach, so no odd line spacing, margins, or unnecessary graphics and colors. To be specific, here are some basic guidelines: 

• Use a professional serif or sans serif font. Keep the font size between 10–12pt for the main content and between 14–16pt for section headings. You can also use bold text for section headings to make your application more readable. 
• Make line spacing between 1–1.15. 
• Set margins to either 0.5 inches or 1 inch for all sides. 
• Download and submit your resume as a .PDF, or in another format that your employer requests. 

Best practices: what to do and what not to do

DO: 

✅ Review your resume at least twice. The first round is to make sure no details are missing and that everything’s written professionally. The second is for spotting writing and formatting mistakes. 

✅ Give yourself a few hours (or even a day’s break) before proofreading your resume. 

✅ Ask for expert feedback from mentors, peers, or professional contacts to gain insights on both content and clarity.

DON’T:

❌ Completely rely on automatic spell checkers. They can still miss context-specific errors or nuances in language.

❌ Rush the finalization process. I understand you might want your resume over and done with ASAP, but a single mistake could cost you that job interview.

❌ Overlook resume formatting. Make sure its looks match the content quality. 

Know That Resume Achievements Alone Won’t Guarantee a Job Interview

Don’t get me wrong—quantifiable achievements are impressive. It’s what to prioritize when writing bullet points about previous work experience and projects. 

However, listing achievements alone won’t guarantee an interview. 

Michael Alexis, the CEO of teambuilding.com, states that: 

“As a CEO of a company culture company who views thousands of resumes a year, the quality that really makes a resume stand out is when applicants show they understand what’s required in a position [and when that understanding is reflected by their resume structure].” 

He emphasizes that it’s not just about showcasing what you’ve accomplished in previous roles:

“It's not always enough to simply use numbers and impressive results. Recruiters and hiring managers have hundreds of resumes to review. While including wins that don't directly correspond to a job can demonstrate your uniqueness as a candidate and intrigue recruiters, those decision-makers may tune out or move on if you include too many non-relevant details too soon.” 

Don’t place what you believe are your strongest points wherever you see fit. This should be intentional and based on how relevant it is to the job requirements and what hiring managers are looking for. 

“Many candidates fall into the trap of sticking to chronology in their resumes, when they should be arranging the information more strategically. Ordering your achievements to put the achievements most relevant to the role towards the top not only shows that you can get outcomes, but also signals to the screener that you understand the role.”

The outcomes of your work do indeed indicate your expertise. 

But ultimately, the company doesn’t just want a candidate who can demonstrate that they have the skills and qualifications. They also want the candidate to make it clear that they have a good understanding of what the specific position entails. 

And an effective way to do this is by structuring your resume bullet points strategically based on relevance. 

You don’t have to write a resume from scratch for every job posting

Every company has their own job description. Even if the job title you’re applying for is the same, every company will have their own expectations. So, prioritize the details that the company’s hiring managers are most adamant about. 

And you don’t always have to create a new resume for this, as Michael advises: 

“Create a master resume, then selectively copy and paste your highlights based on the job posting—with the skills and results that most closely align with the text in the ad remaining towards the top—or at least, in a prominent position on the page.”

On top of that, I would suggest the following: 

• Edit the summary section accordingly based on the particular skills and experiences the company is looking for.
• Name drop the company in the summary. Even a simple instance of personalization along the lines of “hoping to help Acme Inc. meet and exceed revenue goals in the upcoming year” goes a long way.
• Use Rezi AI Keyword Targeting and tweak certain parts of your resume to fit the ATS keywords of the company. 

Here’s Where Candidates Can Still Go Wrong Even After Following All the Steps Discussed

Followed all the steps in this guide but not seeing any results with your resume? It’s most likely for the following reasons: 

• Job fit: Your skills might not exactly match what the employer needs, even if you tailor your resume.
• Competition: Lots of qualified people might be applying, meaning that there could be other stronger fits for the role.

It’s also worth noting that job hunting can be a numbers game. 

Follow all the steps discussed in this guide and tailor your resume to every company you apply to. Sooner or later, you’re going to receive an invitation for an interview.

The Best Resume Templates for an ATS-Friendly Application

You can’t go wrong with either of the ATS resume templates listed below. Use these to build a professional resume. 

And if you need inspiration, check out our library of resume examples here. 

Standard Resume Template

Compact Resume Template

Summary: How to Write a Resume That Wins Competitive Job Postings

Here’s a recap on how to write a resume: 

• Add your contact details. Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile (optional).
• Put together a succinct summary. Write a brief (2–4 sentences) overview of your professional background, emphasizing key achievements and skills relevant to the position you're applying for.
• Highlight your impact in previous roles in the work experience section. List your jobs in reverse chronological order. For each, include your job title, the company's name, dates of employment, and at least three bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements with quantifiable results when possible.
• List academic qualifications in the education section. State your most recent or relevant qualification first, mentioning the degree obtained, the institution's name, and your graduation year. You can also include notable academic achievements.
• Mention your top skills in the skills section. List the skills you’re most confident and proficient in that’s relevant to the role.

At first, articulating your thoughts and responsibilities in concise paragraphs can feel frustrating. 

This is normal—many job seekers I speak to usually struggle with not knowing the right words to say and how to put those words together in a way that sounds professional without exaggerating. 

But hopefully, the formulas and steps in this guide have clarified everything you wanted to know about writing a resume. 

After following this guide, I’m confident that you’ll have a powerful resume that will help you land more opportunities. 

And if you want to speed up the process, I highly suggest using AI tools (like Rezi AI) that are designed specifically for helping you build the perfect resume. Good luck! 

Resume Writing FAQs

How do you write a simple resume?

Writing a simple resume is all about showcasing relevant skills, experience, and qualifications concisely. Start by listing your contact information prominently. Next, focus on your work experience. Use action verbs and quantifiable achievements to highlight your skills and impact in previous roles. Include a skills section that lists core competences for the role. Lastly, proofread and make sure your resume is free from error. 

What makes a good resume?

A good resume is clear, concise, and tailored to the role. It should showcase achievements with strong action verbs and quantifiable results. Place all relevant points first so hiring managers don’t skip them, and mention any additional projects that highlight your expertise. 

Can you use ChatGPT to write a resume?

You can use ChatGPT to help you write a resume, but don’t treat it as a replacement. Although it can suggest content based on your background, you’ll need to verify the information provided and ensure it aligns with the job description. An alternative tool is the Rezi AI writer, which is built to specifically follow the best resume writing practices.

How to write a resume quickly? I need to apply for a job today.

The fastest way to write a resume quickly is to use an AI resume builder. Simply fill out each section one by one using the provided outline and AI writer to generate or refine bullet points. Alternatively, find a simple resume template online or a resume example for your job position. If you choose to start from a template, fill out the details for each section. If you choose to start from a resume example, replace the existing content with your own details. Lastly, if possible, tailor your resume by mentioning the job title you’re applying to in the summary section, and adding key skills and experiences from the job description into your work experience or skills section. 

What’s the most common resume mistake?

The most common resume mistake is usually one of two things: typos or grammar errors and failing to tailor your resume. Unfortunately, a simple spelling or grammar mistake can cost you an interview. And, not tailoring your resume is off-putting to hiring managers because it means sending a generic application. This suggests you haven’t researched the role and shows less effort and interest. 

How to write a resume if I have close to zero work experience and just graduated?

Start with your resume objectives, followed by the education section. Highlight your career goals and soft skills, as well as your educational background. Write bullet points in the education section about relevant academic achievements. You can also write about relevant coursework and certifications here—but if you have lots of these to list, create separate sections instead of stuffing them into a single section. Next, add a section titled “Experience.” In this, mention all experiences you have even if not directly relevant to the role. This can include internships, volunteering, extracurricular activities, and projects. If you have absolutely no work experience related to the position, title the entries based on their nature accordingly. For instance, after the education section, go for a “projects” section. In the skills section, list your top competences. 

How to write a resume when I feel I’m overqualified for the job?

You can still apply for the role, but instead of listing everything, target your resume. Focus on the most relevant skills, achievements, and experiences that align with the job description. And, consider omitting details that are more “nice-to-haves” than “must-haves.”

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