When you’re applying for a job, your résumé is more than just a list of jobs — it’s the first impression you make on a hiring manager. Done well, it tells your story, highlights your impact and clearly communicates why you are a strong fit. In today’s competitive job market, simply listing your duties won’t suffice. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive set of resume‑writing tips designed for professionals at all levels. Use them to craft a document that resonates, stands out and helps you move to the next stage.
Prepare Before You Begin
Before you open a template, take a few minutes to get grounded:
- Clarify your target role. What kind of position are you targeting, and what value do you bring to it?
- Gather your career history. Collect job titles, dates, major accomplishments, metrics, certifications and education.
- Research the employer’s language. What keywords, skills or qualifications are emphasized in the job posting? Plan to reflect—or mirror—them appropriately.
1. Choose a Clean, Scannable Format
Hiring professionals typically spend only seconds on an initial résumé review. Make those seconds count.
- Use a professional font (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman) in size 10–12 pt.
- Stick to one column when possible; avoid complex graphics or multi‑column layouts that ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) might mis‑read.
- Use clear section headings (e.g., Contact Info, Summary, Experience, Skills, Education).
- Ensure margins and spacing deliver white space that enhances readability, not distracts.
2. Write a Strong Professional Summary
A compelling summary at the top of your résumé acts like a 30‑second elevator pitch. It frames who you are, what you do and the value you deliver.
- Limit it to 2–3 sentences if you’re mid‑level; 4–5 for senior roles.
- Include your job title, years of experience, key accomplishments and your unique selling proposition (USP).
- Avoid generic objectives like “Seeking a challenging role…” unless you’re pivoting careers — in which case tailor the objective to your new field.
3. Tailor Every Résumé Submission
Even if you keep a master résumé, adjust the document for each real job application.
- Match keywords from the job description — but only if they genuinely reflect your skills.
- Order your bullet points so the most relevant content appears first.
- If you’ve ever changed industries or have a career gap, emphasise transferable skills and meaningful results rather than trying to force a perfect match.
4. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties
Recruiters don’t only want to see what you did — they want to see why it mattered.
- Use active verbs: “Led”, “Implemented”, “Reduced”, “Collaborated”.
- Quantify wherever possible: e.g., “Reduced processing time by 30%”, “Managed team of 8”, “Increased revenue by $ 1.2 M”.
- Keep each bullet concise (one or two lines) and results‑oriented.
5. Prioritise Relevance and Trim Excess
Your résumé should present your very best and most recent professional story.
- If you have under 10 years of experience, aim for one page; if more senior, two pages is acceptable — as long as all content is relevant.
- Remove outdated technical skills (e.g., legacy software) unless still vital to the role.
- Combine or remove job descriptions that don’t add meaningful value to your target position.
6. Use Keywords and Optimize for ATS
Modern recruitment often begins with automated systems scanning for keywords and eligibility.
- Include keywords from the job description naturally. Avoid “keyword stuffing”.
- Use standard headings and avoid graphics, text boxes or tables that ATS may mis‑read.
- Submit your resume in a widely acceptable format (such as PDF or .docx) unless the employer requests otherwise.
7. Highlight Skills Strategically
A dedicated “Skills” section helps demonstrate your technical and soft capabilities at a glance.
- Separate technical/hard skills (e.g., “Python, SQL, Adobe XD”) from soft/transferable skills (e.g., “Cross‑functional collaboration, stakeholder engagement”).
- For junior applicants, you may include coursework, certifications, volunteer work or internships here.
- Avoid listing generic terms like “hard‑working” or “team‑player” unless you support them with specific achievements.
8. Include Education & Certifications Wisely
Education matters, but treat it in proportion to your career stage.
- Recent graduates: list relevant coursework, honours, GPA (if >3.5).
- Experienced professionals: list degree name, institution and graduation year only if relevant — omit GPA or older credentials if no longer distinguishing.
- Add certifications, licenses or training relevant to the target role.
9. Proofread, Format & Final Check
Even minor errors can affect your credibility.
- Read your résumé aloud or backwards to catch mistakes.
- Have someone else review it from the perspective of a recruiter.
- Ensure formatting is consistent (bullets, fonts, spacing), no broken links, and that the file name is clear (“Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf”).
10. Maintain a Master Résumé & Tailored Versions
Rather than editing from scratch each time, maintain a comprehensive master document, then create tailored versions for each application.
- Your master résumé includes everything: jobs, certifications, projects, metrics.
- For each job application, trim and adjust to match the role — often 70–80 % of content is reused, 20–30 % is adjusted for fit.
Bonus: Layout and Design Best Practices
- Use one inch (or 0.5–0.75 inch) margins to make content feel balanced.
- Align dates and job titles consistently.
- Use bolding or subtle colour sparingly for section headings — keep the emphasis on content.
- Choose a neutral design; a creative industry may allow bolder designs, but for most, readability and professionalism matter most.
Conclusion & Action Step
Whether you’re crafting your first résumé or revising one you’ve used for years, the key is this: present a clear, reader‑friendly document that tells the story of you as value‑creator. Tailor for each role, highlight what you achieved, and present it in a format that can be quickly scanned and easily understood.
If you’re ready to generate a strong cover letter to pair with your résumé, consider using LetterLab — a tool designed to help you craft a compelling companion document that complements these résumé best practices.