How to Write a Resume That Gets You Hired

Professional updating a resume on a laptop next to a clipboard — A clear, tailored resume dramatically improves interview callbacks.

Your resume’s job is simple: earn you an interview. Recruiters scan in seconds, applicant tracking systems (ATS) filter aggressively, and hiring managers want proof you can deliver. This guide shows you how to build a concise, keyword-aligned resume that highlights measurable impact—so you make shortlists consistently.

Pick the Right Structure

Most candidates should use a reverse-chronological resume: most recent role first, then earlier roles. It’s scannable and ATS-friendly. Use functional or hybrid formats only if you have major gaps or a complete career pivot.

Essential Sections (and What to Write)

Header

Your full name, city & state (or “Remote”), phone, professional email, and a link to your portfolio or LinkedIn. Avoid personal details like age or photo.

Professional Summary

2–3 impactful lines that match the target role. Mention years of experience, core strengths, and one or two standout results. Example: “Marketing specialist with 4+ years driving 30% YoY growth through paid social, CRO, and email automation.”

Experience

For each role: Title — Company — Dates. Underneath, 3–6 bullets focused on impact, not chores. Each bullet should show action + metric + outcome. For example:

Increased qualified leads by 42% by launching targeted LinkedIn campaigns and optimizing landing pages (3.1% → 5.4% CVR).
Cut churn by 18% by building a lifecycle email program with segmented onboarding and win-back sequences.
Reduced support tickets 25% by creating knowledge base articles and in-product tips.

Skills

Group by category (e.g., “Analytics”, “Design”, “Cloud”). Mirror keywords from the job post, but list only what you can demonstrate.

Education & Certifications

Highest degree first. Recent, relevant certifications (e.g., Google Analytics, AWS, PMP) can be a tie-breaker.

Optimize for ATS (and Humans)

Keywords: pull from 3–5 target job descriptions. Integrate naturally in summary, experience, and skills.
File type: submit as PDF unless the posting asks for DOCX.
Layout: one column, standard section headers, no text in images.
Fonts: system fonts (Arial, Roboto, Calibri) 11–12 pt; consistent spacing.
Length: one page (early career) or two (5–10+ years with relevant impact).

Achievements Beat Responsibilities

Responsibilities explain what you were assigned; achievements prove what you changed. Use the formula Action → Metric → Outcome. If you lack access to exact numbers, use ranges or proxies (e.g., “reduced response time from ~24h to ~6h”).

Tailor for Every Application

Save a master resume, then tailor a copy for each role in 10–15 minutes:

Highlight 5–7 must-have skills from the posting.
Move the most relevant experience to the top of each section.
Replace generic verbs with outcomes aligned to the job.
Mirror the employer’s language for key tools and deliverables.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Dense paragraphs and tiny fonts.
Listing every responsibility instead of outcomes.
Buzzwords without proof (“team player”, “hard worker”).
Typos—always run a spell check and read aloud.
Irrelevant jobs older than 10–12 years (summarize briefly).

Simple Resume Template (Copy & Adapt)

NAME LASTNAME — City, ST — email@domain.com — linkedin.com/in/you — portfolio.com

SUMMARY
Role/industry + years. 1–2 signature strengths. One quantified result.

EXPERIENCE
Job Title — Company — Dates
• Result with metric, how you did it.
• Result with metric, how you did it.
• Result with metric, how you did it.

Job Title — Company — Dates
• Result with metric, how you did it.
• Result with metric, how you did it.

SKILLS
Category: tool, tool, tool
Category: tool, tool

EDUCATION & CERTS
Degree — School — Year
Cert — Provider — Year

What to Do Next

Proofread, export as PDF, and tailor for each application. If you also want to boost your earning potential, explore Top High-Income Skills to Learn in 2025. For financial stability while you search, see How to Create a Personal Budget That Actually Works.

FAQ

Should I include a photo?

In most countries and roles, no. Photos can introduce bias and confuse ATS parsing.

How do I show freelance or contract work?

Create a “Selected Projects” section with bullets showing outcomes (revenue generated, conversion lifts, turnaround time).

How do I handle employment gaps?

Group relevant projects, courses, or certifications during the gap and focus on outcomes. Use a crisp summary to bridge the narrative.

Is a one-page resume mandatory?

One page is ideal for early career; two pages are fine if each line adds value for the target role.

Bottom Line

A resume that wins interviews is concise, tailored, and measurable. Lead with outcomes, match the employer’s language, and keep it clean. When you get the interview, prepare with Proven Job Interview Tips That Work.