1. Choose the right format
For most people the reverse-chronological format works best: your most recent job comes first. It is the format recruiters expect and the one ATS software parses most reliably. Use a hybrid format only if you are changing careers and want to lead with skills.
2. Write a clear header
Include your full name, target job title, phone, professional email, city and country, and a LinkedIn or portfolio link. Skip your full address, date of birth and marital status unless they are customary in your country.
3. Add a short professional summary
Write 2–4 sentences (40–90 words) answering three questions: who you are professionally, what you are best at, and the proof. Example: “Marketing manager with 8 years in B2B SaaS. Grew pipeline 70% in two years while cutting CAC by 25%. Leads a team of 5 and a $1.5M budget.”
4. Turn duties into achievements
Every bullet point should start with an action verb and show a result. Use the formula Action + What + Result:
- Weak: “Responsible for social media.”
- Strong: “Grew Instagram followers from 4K to 22K in 9 months with a weekly Reels series.”
Aim for 3–5 bullets per role, and include numbers wherever you can — money, percentages, time, volume or rankings.
5. List relevant skills
Add 6–12 hard skills that match the job description (tools, methods, certifications), plus a few soft skills you can prove elsewhere on the page. Mirror the wording used in the job ad so ATS keyword matching works.
6. Education and extras
List your degree, school and dates. Recent graduates can add GPA (if 3.5+), relevant coursework and projects. Add certifications, languages and projects when they support your target role.
7. Tailor for every application
Paste the job description into an ATS checker, add missing keywords you genuinely have, and reorder bullets so the most relevant achievements come first.
8. Proofread and export as PDF
Read it aloud, check dates and contact details, then export to PDF so the layout stays intact. Name the file FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a photo where it is not expected (US, UK, Canada).
- Listing duties instead of results.
- Fancy layouts with text in images or tables that ATS cannot read.
- Typos and inconsistent date formats.
- Going over two pages without senior-level experience.