A good resume does one job: it convinces a busy recruiter, in a few seconds, that you are worth an interview. This step-by-step guide shows you how to write one from scratch, what to include, what to leave out and how to make sure both people and applicant tracking systems can read it.
Step 1: Choose a clean, ATS-friendly format
For most people, the reverse-chronological format is the safest choice: your most recent job comes first, followed by earlier roles. Recruiters expect it, and applicant tracking systems (ATS) parse it reliably.
- Use a single column and standard headings: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills.
- Pick a readable font such as Arial, Calibri or Georgia at 10–12 pt.
- Avoid text boxes, tables for layout, icons and images for important information.
- Save as a text-based PDF or DOCX, unless the employer asks for something else.
Step 2: Write your header
Your header should contain your full name, a professional title, phone number with country code, a professional email address, your city and country, and a LinkedIn URL if you have an up-to-date profile. You do not need your full street address, date of birth or marital status in most countries.
Step 3: Add a short professional summary
Two to four lines that answer three questions: who you are professionally, what you are best at, and what you want next. For example:
Customer success specialist with 5 years of experience in B2B SaaS. Known for reducing churn through proactive onboarding and clear communication. Looking to lead a small customer success team.
Our guide to resume summaries has more examples by career level.
Step 4: Describe your experience with achievements
For each role, list your job title, employer, location and dates. Then add three to six bullet points. Each bullet should start with an action verb and, wherever you honestly can, show a result.
| Duty-based (weak) | Achievement-based (strong) |
|---|---|
| Responsible for social media accounts | Grew LinkedIn followers from 2,000 to 9,500 in 12 months with a weekly content plan |
| Handled customer complaints | Resolved 40+ customer cases a week and kept satisfaction above 92% |
| Did monthly reporting | Automated the monthly sales report in Excel, saving the team 6 hours a month |
A simple formula: Action verb + what you did + result or scale.
What if you do not have numbers?
Use scale instead: how many people, projects, customers or locations you worked with, or how often you did something. "Trained 8 new team members" is concrete even without a percentage.
Step 5: Add education and certifications
List your degree, institution and graduation year. Recent graduates can place education above experience and add relevant projects, coursework or a strong grade. Experienced professionals keep it short and place it after experience. Add a Certifications section for industry credentials such as PMP, CPA or Google certificates.
Step 6: List the right skills
Create a skills section with the tools, methods and technical skills the job asks for and that you genuinely have. Soft skills such as communication are better proven in your experience bullets than listed on their own. Read the job description carefully; our ATS Keyword Generator can pull out the skills it emphasizes.
Step 7: Tailor, proofread and check
- Adjust your summary and top bullets for each job you apply to.
- Read your resume out loud to catch errors, or ask someone else to read it.
- Keep dates and formatting consistent throughout.
- Run it through the Resume Analyzer to spot missing sections and weak areas.
Want a faster start? Read how to use a free AI resume builder with no sign-up, and check every suggestion against your real experience.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a resume be?
One page is usually right for students and people with under about 5 years of experience. Two pages are normal for experienced professionals. Academic and some government roles may expect longer CVs.
Should I include a photo?
In the US, UK, Canada and Australia, leave photos off. In parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia, photos are more common. Follow local norms for the country where you are applying.
How far back should my experience go?
Usually the last 10 to 15 years. Older roles can be summarized in one line or removed unless they are directly relevant.
Conclusion
A strong resume is clear, honest and focused on results. Start with a clean format, write achievement-based bullets, tailor it to each role and check it before you send it. Your next step: open the Resume Builder and write your first draft today.