How to write a resume that gets read
A recruiter often spends only a few seconds on a first look. Your job is to make the right information easy to find. Follow these steps in order.
1. Choose the format and length
For most people, a reverse-chronological resume works best: your newest job comes first. Keep it to one page if you have under ten years of experience, and two pages at most otherwise.
2. Add clear contact details
Include your full name, job title, email, phone number, city and country, and one link such as LinkedIn or a portfolio. Your full street address is not needed.
3. Write a short summary
Use two or three sentences: who you are, your strongest result, and the role you want. Skip vague phrases such as “hard-working team player”.
4. Describe experience with results
For each job list the title, company and dates, then three to five bullet points. Start each with an action verb and add a number where you can.
Weak: Responsible for social media.
Stronger: Grew Instagram followers from 3,000 to 12,000 in eight months with a weekly video series.
5. List education, skills and languages
Give degree, school and years. Students and new graduates can put education above experience. Keep skills to ones you can discuss in an interview, and reuse the exact wording from the job posting where it is true.
6. Decide about a photo
Photos are common in many countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and usually left off in the US, UK and Canada. Check what employers in your region expect. Our ATS guide covers the no-photo case.
7. Tailor and proofread
- Change the summary and top bullets to match each job posting.
- Use one date format everywhere.
- Read it aloud once to catch typos.
- Save as a PDF named after yourself.