Writing a resume is one of the most challenging aspects of job hunting. How do you summarize years of experience, projects, and skills onto a single sheet of paper? In this guide, we will break down the exact steps to create a professional resume. From formatting margins to writing bullet points, we've got you covered.
Before you begin, decide on your creation tools. You can use standard text editors, or leverage the best AI resume builder to speed up drafting. To pass recruiter screenings, make sure to read our guidelines on how to create an ATS-friendly resume.
Step 1: Choose the Right Resume Format
There are three primary resume structures used by professionals. Choose the format that aligns with your experience level:
- Reverse-Chronological: The most popular layout. Lists experience from newest to oldest. Best for candidates with stable career histories.
- Functional (Skills-Based): Focuses on skill matrices over job histories. Best for career changers and freshers.
- Combination (Hybrid): Combines skills listings with a detailed chronological history. Best for experienced candidates.
Step 2: Format Contact Details Accurately
Keep contact headers clean. Include your full name, phone number, email address, location (city/state), and links to professional profiles (e.g. LinkedIn or GitHub). Never include personal information like birth dates, photos, or marriage status.
Step 3: Write a Compelling Professional Summary
Your summary is your elevator pitch. In 3-4 sentences, summarize your years of experience, top achievements, and primary skills. For inspiration, check out our list of 50 resume summary examples.
Step 4: Detail Work Experiences Using Action Verbs
Under experience, list your accomplishments rather than daily tasks. Use Google's XYZ formula: *'Accomplished X], as measured by [Y], by doing [Z].'* For example, instead of 'Responsible for updates', write: *'Redesigned front-end interfaces, boosting page loading speeds by 30%.'* Structure your skill list using our [100 resume skills examples guide.
| Resume Section | Target Length | ATS Priority | Required Elements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Info | Header (1 line) | Critical | Name, Email, Phone, Location, Portfolio |
| Professional Summary | 3-4 sentences | High | Years of experience, core skills, achievements |
| Work Experience | 3-5 bullets per job | Critical | Company, role, dates, achievements |
| Core Skills | 10-15 keywords | High | Hard skills, frameworks, software tools |
| Education | 1-2 lines per degree | Medium | Degree, school, graduation year |
Step 5: Outline Core Skills & Education
List hard skills in a dedicated skills section, grouping them by category (e.g., Languages, Software, Frameworks). Under Education, list your degree, school, location, and graduation year. Only include GPA if you recently graduated and it was above 3.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a resume from scratch?
Choose a format, write your contact details, draft a professional summary, list your experiences, map your skills, and add education history.
What is the best resume format?
The reverse-chronological format is best because it is easy for recruiters to scan and parses accurately in ATS systems.
Should a resume be one page?
Yes. Keep your resume to a single page unless you have 8+ years of experience. Focus on your most relevant achievements.
How do I list skills on my resume?
Create a dedicated skills section and list 10 to 15 keywords. Focus on hard technical skills matching the job description.
Do I need to include references on my resume?
No. References take up valuable page space. Only provide references if explicitly requested by the hiring company.
Can I use AI to write my resume?
Yes. An AI builder like ChatCV can help you write metrics-driven accomplishments and format your resume in LaTeX automatically.
What is a professional summary?
It is a short paragraph at the top of your resume that pitches your top achievements and skills to the recruiter.
Should I include my GPA on my resume?
Only include your GPA if you are a student or recent graduate and your GPA is 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, leave it off.
What standard fonts are best for resumes?
Stick to clean sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, or Geist for high readability.
How far back should my work experience go?
Only go back 10 to 15 years. Older experience is usually less relevant and takes up valuable document space.
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