How to Write a Resume That Gets Noticed

A strong resume gives an employer a quick, accurate picture of your qualifications and why they fit a particular role. Before you begin, identify the job you want and gather the details of your work, education, skills, and accomplishments. You do not need a special template or paid service; a simple, readable document is often the easiest to update.

What You’ll Need

The job posting or a clear description of the role you are targeting.
Your employment dates, job titles, responsibilities, education, training, and relevant credentials.
Examples of results, projects, and contributions you can describe accurately.
A computer or device with a document editor and a way to save or export a PDF.
A professional email address and a phone number or other contact method you check.

Step-by-Step

Study the job posting. Note the position’s core duties, required qualifications, and repeated skill terms. Decide which of your real experiences best demonstrate those needs. Use the posting as a guide, not as text to copy: your resume must describe your own background accurately.
Choose a straightforward layout. For most applicants, a reverse-chronological format works well: list roles from most recent to oldest. Use a functional or skills-focused format only when it genuinely makes your relevant experience easier to understand. Keep the design simple, with consistent headings, spacing, and type.
Add your contact information. Put your name, city and state, phone number, and professional email near the top. Add a LinkedIn profile or portfolio only if it is current and relevant. Avoid unnecessary personal details such as a Social Security number, birth date, or photograph.
Write a brief summary if useful. In two or three concise sentences, state your professional focus, relevant strengths, and the kind of work you can contribute to. Skip generic claims such as “hard worker.” If a summary would repeat the rest of your resume, leave it out.
Describe your work experience. For each relevant position, include your title, employer, location, and dates. List the most recent role first. Use a few bullets to show the work you did and its value; begin with clear action verbs such as “organized,” “designed,” or “resolved.”
Show evidence, not just duties. Include concrete outcomes, scale, or scope when you can verify them. For example, explain a process you improved, a project you completed, or the people you supported. Use accurate figures only when you know them; otherwise describe the result plainly rather than guessing.
Add relevant skills and education. Include job-related tools, technical abilities, languages, licenses, or certifications you actually have. List education with the institution, credential, and completion date when relevant. Recent graduates may place education above experience; experienced applicants generally lead with relevant work.
Include other useful experience. Add projects, volunteer work, internships, or community roles when they demonstrate relevant skills or fill in important context. Label each section clearly and describe the work with the same care as paid employment. Do not include an activity merely to make the document longer.
Edit for relevance and length. Remove repeated, outdated, or unrelated details. There is no universal page-count rule: use enough space to explain relevant qualifications clearly, without stretching the document. Keep important information near the top and make each bullet easy to scan.
Proofread and save the file. Check spelling, dates, job titles, contact information, and formatting. Ask someone you trust to review it for clarity. Follow the employer’s file instructions; when none are given, a PDF usually preserves layout, while a Word document may suit an application system that requests one. Use a clear filename, such as “Jordan-Lee-Resume.pdf.”

Common Mistakes

Sending the same resume everywhere: A general document may bury the qualifications that matter for a particular opening. Adjust emphasis and wording for each role while keeping every claim truthful.
Listing duties without impact: A task list says what a position involved but may not show your contribution. Add a verified result, improvement, or example where possible.
Using vague or inflated claims: Phrases such as “expert communicator” are hard to assess without evidence. Give a specific example, and do not exaggerate your title, skills, or results.
Overdesigning the page: Unusual fonts, decorative graphics, multiple columns, and text boxes can make a resume difficult to read or parse. Choose clear headings and a simple layout.
Including unnecessary personal information: Keep the document focused on qualifications and professional contact details. Do not share sensitive identity or financial information.
Ignoring small errors: A typo or inconsistent date can distract from strong experience. Review the final saved file, not just the draft, to catch layout changes and missing text.

Tips

Use keywords from the posting when they accurately describe your experience. This makes your qualifications easier to spot without resorting to keyword stuffing.
Make headings descriptive, such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills,” so readers can find information quickly.
Use consistent verb tense: past tense for completed roles and present tense for work you still do.
Explain employment gaps briefly if doing so will help the reader understand your timeline. You do not need to disclose private details.
Keep a master document with your complete work history and accomplishments, then create a tailored copy for each application.
Use a plain, readable font and adequate spacing. Check that the text remains legible on screen and when printed.

Troubleshooting

Your experience seems unrelated: Look for transferable skills such as customer service, scheduling, writing, troubleshooting, or teamwork. Give a concrete example and connect it to a task in the target role.
You have little work experience: Include coursework, school or personal projects, volunteer roles, internships, and relevant activities. State what you contributed and what skills the work demonstrates.
Your resume is too long: Remove older or less relevant details, shorten repeated bullets, and combine similar tasks. Keep information that helps show your fit; do not shrink the font until the page becomes hard to read.
The application system changes your formatting: Use a simpler layout, standard section headings, and ordinary text rather than columns or graphics. Follow the requested file type and review any information the system extracts before submitting.
You cannot quantify a result: Do not invent a number. Describe the outcome in plain language or explain the project’s scope with details you can confirm.
You are unsure whether a detail belongs: Ask whether it is relevant to the role, accurate, and useful to a reader. If it fails those tests, leave it out or discuss it elsewhere in the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a resume be?

Use the length needed to present relevant qualifications clearly. A concise resume is common for early-career applicants, while a longer one may be appropriate for extensive, relevant experience; avoid adding unrelated details just to fill pages.

Should I tailor my resume for every job?

Yes. Adjust the summary, skills, and order of experience to reflect the role’s requirements. Keep the facts consistent and do not claim qualifications you do not have.

Should I include a cover letter?

Submit one when the employer requests it or when the application allows you to explain your fit. A cover letter should add context rather than repeat the resume word for word.

Do I need to include references?

Usually, you can leave references and the phrase “references available upon request” off the resume. Provide references separately if the employer asks, and ask those people for permission first.

Should I use a resume template?

A template can help with spacing and consistency, but choose one that is easy to read and edit. Check that it does not hide content in graphics, columns, or text boxes that an application system may not handle well.

What file format should I send?

Use the format requested by the employer. If no format is specified, a PDF generally preserves the layout; some application systems may ask for a Word document instead.

Further reading: U.S. Department of Labor. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.