How To Build a Resume

Your resume can be the single most important element to landing a job interview. It’s not just a summary of your skills and experience — this marketing tool showcases why you’re the right fit for the role. With recruiters and hiring managers spending just six seconds scanning resumes, it’s important to make a resume that captures attention and passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). We’ll walk you through everything to know about building a resume that gets results.

Understanding the Basics of a Resume

A resume serves one primary purpose: to communicate your qualifications in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. There are several types of resumes, and choosing the right one depends on your career stage and job goals. Here are the three main formats:

• Chronological resume: Lists work experience in reverse chronological order. Best for candidates with a consistent career trajectory.
• Functional resume: Focuses on skills and competencies rather than work history. Ideal for career changers or those with employment gaps.
• Combination resume: A hybrid that highlights both skills and work experience. Great for candidates with relevant experience and transferable skills.

For most professionals in the corporate world, the chronological resume format works best.

Preparing To Write Your Resume

Gathering necessary information (work history, education, skills)

Before you start writing, gather all relevant information, such as your work history, education, certifications, and skills. Study the job description carefully to understand what the employer is looking for. Pay close attention to the required skills and keywords.

Many companies use ATS software, which means your resume may need to pass through an automated scan before it even reaches a human recruiter.

Understanding the job description and required keywords

One of the best resume writing tips is to build your resume by thoroughly analyzing the job description. Employers often include specific skills, qualifications, and competencies they expect in candidates, and incorporating these into your resume can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. Here’s how to effectively do this:

Identifying Key Requirements

• Highlight essential skills: Look for repeated keywords, such as specific software programs, certifications, or soft skills (e.g., “teamwork” or “communication”).
• Job titles: Make sure the job title on your resume closely matches the one in the job description if your past roles are equivalent. Adjust as necessary without misrepresenting your experience.
• Action verbs: Use action verbs and results-oriented language that mirrors the job description to show how your experience aligns with the role.

Writing Your Resume

Choosing the right format

The three most common formats are chronological, functional, and combination. Select the one that best highlights your strengths while staying relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, a functional format may work for someone changing industries, but a chronological resume is preferred for someone with steady career growth.

Crafting a strong header

The header should include your full name, city and state, phone number, and a link to your LinkedIn profile or link to portfolio (if applicable). Make sure the contact information is up-to-date and professional — no nicknames or outdated email addresses.

Writing a compelling objective or summary

Depending on your experience level, you can choose between a resume objective or a professional summary.

• An objective is a brief statement outlining your career goals and is suitable for entry-level candidates or career changers.
• A summary highlights your experience and key achievements, ideal for experienced professionals.

When writing your summary, be concise, factual,  metrics based, and job-specific.

Example:

[First sentence – sum up your background in one sentence. Years of experience plus roles/field and types of companies.]

The next one to four sentences should provide examples of specific measurable results related to the role, company, or industry.

Detailing your work experience

When listing work experience, focus on accomplishments, not job duties. Start each bullet point with a strong action verb and, whenever possible, include quantifiable achievements.

Example:

Highlighting your education

For recent graduates, this section can go above work experience. List your degree(s), institution(s), and graduation date(s). You can also include relevant coursework, honors, or extracurricular activities that align with the job you’re applying for.

For professionals with more than three years of work experience, the education section can be moved to the bottom of your resume, as recruiters are more focused on your recent work experience and accomplishments. Always list your highest level of education and include both the full name of your degree and the acronym next to it.

Example: Education

Showcasing Your Skills

When listing your skills, it’s important to include both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Types of skills to include:

• Hard skills: These are specific, teachable abilities that are often technical. Examples include proficiency in a foreign language, software expertise, data analysis, or certifications like CPA or PMP.
• Soft skills: These are interpersonal or people skills. Examples include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability.

How to match skills to the job description:

• Analyze the job posting: Carefully read the job description to identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is seeking.
• Mirror the language: Use the same terminology found in the job description. This can help your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for specific keywords.
• Prioritize relevant skills: List the skills that are most relevant to the job first.
• Provide evidence: Whenever possible, demonstrate how you’ve applied these skills in your previous roles.

Example of a skills section:

Adding Extra Sections

Including additional sections can provide a more comprehensive view of your qualifications and help your resume stand out.

Possible sections to include:

1. Certifications:
   • Why include them: Certifications demonstrate your commitment to the profession and can showcase specialized expertise.
   • How to list them: Include the certification name, the awarding organization, and the completion date.

Example:

If you have additional certifications relevant to the position, include them either under the education section or in a separate “Certifications” section.

Unless directly related to the future job, you can leave volunteer work out, so that the focus is more on your work experience.

Include any languages you speak fluently in a separate “Language” section.

There is no need for an interests section.

Formatting and Polishing Your Resume

A clean, professional design is crucial. Use a legible font like Arial or Calibri, and keep font sizes between 10 and 12 points. Utilize bullet points for clarity and avoid clutter. Make sure to leave plenty of white space to keep your resume easy to read. Avoid using tables, columns, images, graphics, or fancy fonts, as they may not be ATS-friendly and turn recruiters off.

Proofreading is essential to avoid mistakes that could cost you an interview. Use tools like Grammarly or ask a trusted friend to review your resume. Ensure the resume is consistent in formatting, punctuation, and tenses.

Tailoring your resume with keywords from the job description is crucial for passing ATS scans. If the job description mentions specific software or skills, make sure these keywords are included in your resume. You can gather keywords from the job description.

Common Resume Mistakes To Avoid

• Typos and grammatical errors: Even a small typo can make you seem careless. Always proofread.
• Vague language: Avoid clichés like “hard-working” or “dynamic.” Instead, use specific and measurable achievements.
• Too much information: Keep your resume concise — stick to one or two pages.
• People often think that a resume should be no more than one page, but as long as the information is applicable, a two-page resume is fine.
• Irrelevant work experience: Focus only on the most relevant roles, even if that means leaving out earlier positions. Five to six years of experience is usually sufficient. If you want to include more, add an “earlier experience” section with just the company name and title under your professional experience section.
• Unprofessional email addresses: Use a professional email that includes your name, not nicknames. Use a more modern email address like Gmail, and avoid AOL, Hotmail, and Yahoo (these can make your resume look outdated).

Examples of Poorly Written Sections and How To Improve Them

1. Poorly written professional section

Why it’s poor:

• Vague description of responsibilities
• Doesn’t highlight specific achievements or outcomes
• Lacks quantifiable results
• Uses weak verbs like “handled” and “was responsible for”

Why it’s better:

• Highlights specific skills and achievements
• Focuses on how the candidate can add value
• Tailored to the industry

2. Poorly written work experience

Why it’s poor:

• Lacks specificity
• Doesn’t show any measurable achievements
• Uses weak action words (e.g., “responsible for”)

Why it’s better:

• Uses strong action verbs (“led,” “executed,” “streamlined”)
• Quantifies accomplishments with percentages and metrics
• Demonstrates leadership and impact on business outcomes

5. Poorly written accomplishments

Why it’s poor:

• Too vague
• Doesn’t quantify or specify how performance was improved

Why it’s better:

• Quantifies the achievement with a percentage
• Explains the method used to improve performance
• Shows a direct impact on the business