Writing your first resume or starting over with a new one can feel overwhelming. What do you include? How long should it be? What do recruiters actually want to see?

This guide walks you through every section of a professional resume, with clear examples and tips so you can build something that gets noticed.

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What Is a Resume and Why Does It Matter?

A resume is a one-to-two-page document that summarizes your work experience, education, and skills for a potential employer. Its only job is to get you an interview nothing more.

Recruiters spend an average of 6–7 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read it properly. That means your formatting, structure, and opening lines have to work immediately.

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Step 1: Choose the Right Resume Format

There are three main resume formats. Most people should use the first one.

Chronological (most common)

Lists your work experience from most recent to oldest. Best if you have steady work history in a similar field.

Functional

Focuses on skills rather than job titles. Useful if you have gaps in employment or are switching careers but many ATS systems struggle to parse this format, so use with caution.

Combination

Mixes both approaches. Good for career changers who also have relevant experience to show.

Recommendation: If you have any work history at all, go chronological. It’s what recruiters expect and what ATS systems handle best.

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Step 2: Set Up Your Header

Your header goes at the top of the page and should include:

• Full name (larger font, prominent)
• Phone number
• Professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com, not coolkid99@hotmail.com)
• LinkedIn profile URL
• City and country (no need for a full street address)
• Portfolio or personal website (if relevant to your field)

Example:

Jane Smith
+1 (555) 234-5678 | jane.smith@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/janesmith
New York, NY | janesmith.dev

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Step 3: Write a Strong Resume Summary

A resume summary (also called a professional summary) is 2–4 sentences at the top of your resume that give a recruiter an immediate sense of who you are and what you bring.

Formula:

[Job title/seniority] with [X years] of experience in [field/industry]. Skilled in [key skills]. Track record of [key achievement or value you bring].

Example:

Marketing specialist with 4 years of experience in B2B SaaS. Skilled in content strategy, SEO, and paid social campaigns. Helped grow organic traffic by 130% at previous company through targeted content programs.

Don’t use generic phrases like “hardworking team player” or “results-oriented professional.” Every candidate says that. Show something specific.

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Step 4: Write Your Work Experience Section

This is the most important part of your resume. Each job entry should include:

• Job title
• Company name
• Dates of employment (Month Year – Month Year)
• 3–5 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements

How to Write Good Bullet Points

The biggest mistake people make is describing what their job was rather than what they actually accomplished.

Weak: Responsible for managing social media accounts.

Strong: Grew Instagram following from 2,000 to 18,000 in 8 months by implementing a consistent content calendar and weekly engagement strategy.

Use this formula:

Action verb + what you did + measurable result

Strong action verbs to start with: Led, Built, Improved, Reduced, Launched, Negotiated, Designed, Increased, Managed, Developed.

Example entry:

Marketing Coordinator | Acme Corp | June 2022 – Present
- Managed a $50K/month paid advertising budget across Google and Meta platforms
- Increased email open rates by 22% by redesigning the newsletter template and segmenting the list
- Launched a referral program that generated 400+ new signups in Q3 2023

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Step 5: Add Your Education

List your education below your work experience (unless you’re a recent graduate with little work history then put it at the top).

Include:

• Degree and field of study
• University name
• Graduation year
• GPA only if it’s above 3.5 and you’re a recent graduate

Example:

B.S. in Business Administration | University of Texas at Austin | 2021

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Step 6: List Your Skills

Create a dedicated skills section with your most relevant technical and professional skills. Keep it scannable a simple list or two-column layout works well.

What to include:

• Software and tools (e.g., Figma, Excel, Salesforce, Python)
• Technical skills specific to your field
• Languages (if relevant)

What to skip:

• Vague soft skills like “communication” or “leadership” these belong in your bullet points with context, not in a skills list.

Example:

Skills: Google Analytics, HubSpot, Copywriting, A/B Testing, SQL, Figma, Spanish (conversational)

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Step 7: Add Optional Sections

Depending on your background, you might also include:

• Certifications (especially valuable for tech, finance, or marketing roles)
• Volunteer work (great for career starters or gaps in employment)
• Projects (important for developers, designers, and recent graduates)
• Publications or speaking (for academic or thought leadership roles)

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Step 8: Format and Polish

A few non-negotiable formatting rules:

• Length: One page if you have under 10 years of experience. Two pages maximum.
• Font: Use a clean, professional font Calibri, Garamond, Georgia, or Arial. Size 10–12pt for body, 14–16pt for your name.
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch on all sides
• File format: Always save and send as PDF unless the job posting specifically asks for Word
• Consistency: If you bold one job title, bold all of them. Consistent formatting signals attention to detail.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using one generic resume for every application (always tailor it see our guide on how to tailor your resume for each job posting)
• Including a photo (in most English-speaking countries, this is not standard and can create bias)
• Listing “References available upon request” this is outdated and wastes space
• Using tables or text boxes these often break ATS parsing
• Spelling errors always proofread, then proofread again

Also read: Top 10 Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected

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FAQ

How long should a resume be? One page for most people. Two pages if you have 10+ years of highly relevant experience. Never three pages.

Should I include every job I’ve ever had? No. Focus on the last 10–15 years and the most relevant roles. If you had a job 20 years ago that has nothing to do with what you’re applying for, leave it out.

What if I have no work experience? Include internships, freelance projects, university work, volunteer experience, and relevant coursework. See our full guide on how to write a resume with no experience.

Do I need a different resume for every job? Yes at least a tailored version. You don’t need to rewrite everything, but adjust your summary and bullet points to match the language in each job description.

Can I use AI to write my resume? AI tools can help you draft and improve your resume, but always personalize the result with your real experience and achievements. A generic AI-generated resume is easy to spot.

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Resume Writing Checklist

Use this before you send your resume to any employer:

• Header includes name, phone, email, LinkedIn, and location
• Professional summary is 2–4 sentences and specific (no generic phrases)
• Work experience is in reverse chronological order
• Every bullet point starts with an action verb
• At least 50% of bullet points include a measurable result or number
• Education section is included with degree, school, and year
• Skills section lists tools and technical skills relevant to the role
• No photos, no “references available upon request”
• Consistent formatting throughout (fonts, spacing, bullet style)
• Saved and exported as PDF
• Proofread at least twice (ideally by someone else)
• Tailored to the specific job posting

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Next step: Once your resume is ready, learn how to write a cover letter that gets you noticed.