How to Write a Resume — Complete Guide
3 templates — Step-by-step guide to writing a resume from scratch — sections, order, action verbs, ATS tips, and how to quantify your achievements.
Overview
Writing a resume can feel overwhelming, but it follows a clear structure. This guide walks you through every section, explains what to include (and what to leave out), and gives you the language and techniques to make your experience stand out. Whether you are writing your first resume or overhauling one that isn't getting results, follow these steps.
Format Guide
RESUME SECTION ORDER (Standard)
─────────────────────────────────────────
1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary (or Objective for entry-level)
3. Skills
4. Work Experience (reverse-chronological)
5. Education
6. Certifications (if applicable)
7. Volunteer Work / Projects (optional)
─────────────────────────────────────────
STRONG ACTION VERBS BY CATEGORY
─────────────────────────────────────────
Leadership: Led, Directed, Managed, Oversaw, Mentored, Spearheaded
Achievement: Achieved, Delivered, Exceeded, Surpassed, Attained
Creation: Designed, Developed, Built, Launched, Established, Created
Improvement: Optimized, Streamlined, Reduced, Improved, Transformed
Analysis: Analyzed, Assessed, Evaluated, Researched, Identified
Collaboration: Partnered, Coordinated, Collaborated, Liaised, Facilitated
─────────────────────────────────────────
HOW TO QUANTIFY ACHIEVEMENTS
─────────────────────────────────────────
Weak: "Managed social media accounts"
Strong: "Managed 4 social media accounts totaling 85K followers;
grew engagement rate from 1.8% to 4.2% over 12 months"
Ask yourself:
• How much? (dollars, hours, percentage)
• How many? (people, accounts, projects)
• How fast? (turnaround time, timeline)
• Compared to what? (previous results, industry average, target)3 Templates
Each template is written for a specific situation. Click Copy to copy the full text to your clipboard, then personalize the bracketed placeholders.
How to Write a Professional Summary
Writing the 2-4 sentence summary at the top of your resume.
WHAT TO INCLUDE:
• Years of experience + industry/field
• 2-3 most relevant skills or areas of expertise
• One notable achievement or distinguishing quality
• (Optional) What you are looking for next
FORMULA:
[Job Title] with [X] years of experience in [Field/Industry].
Expertise in [Skill 1], [Skill 2], and [Skill 3].
[One achievement or quality that sets you apart].
[Optional: seeking/focused on specific type of role or impact].
EXAMPLE — Software Engineer:
"Backend software engineer with 5 years of experience building
scalable distributed systems at high-growth SaaS companies.
Expertise in Go, Python, and AWS. Delivered infrastructure
improvements saving $180K annually; passionate about developer
tooling and engineering mentorship."
EXAMPLE — Career Changer:
"Former high school science teacher with 6 years of instructional
design and curriculum development experience, transitioning to
corporate L&D. Strong background in adult learning principles,
LMS platforms, and facilitating engaging training programs for
diverse audiences."
EXAMPLE — Entry-Level:
"Recent marketing graduate with hands-on experience in social
media management, SEO content writing, and HubSpot through
internships and campus roles. Eager to contribute analytical
skills and creative energy to a data-driven marketing team."
WHAT NOT TO DO:
✗ Don't use clichés: "results-driven," "self-starter," "team player"
✗ Don't write in first person ("I am a...")
✗ Don't copy-paste the job description
✗ Don't exceed 4 sentencesHow to Write Work Experience Bullet Points
Writing strong, quantified bullet points for each job entry.
STRUCTURE FOR EACH JOB:
Job Title | Company Name, City, State | Month Year – Month Year
• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [result or scale]
• [Action verb] + [what you did] + [result or scale]
• (3–6 bullets per job; more for recent/relevant roles)
THE CAR METHOD:
Context → Action → Result
"The team had high turnover" → "I redesigned the onboarding
program" → "reducing 90-day attrition by 35%"
BEFORE AND AFTER EXAMPLES:
Before: "Responsible for managing social media"
After: "Managed Instagram and LinkedIn accounts (combined 42K
followers); grew engagement rate by 85% in 8 months
through consistent posting and audience targeting"
Before: "Helped with customer service"
After: "Resolved 80+ daily customer inquiries via phone and
chat; maintained 4.8/5.0 CSAT score for 4 consecutive
quarters, ranking in the top 5% of the 60-person team"
Before: "Worked on data projects"
After: "Built automated Excel reporting dashboard that reduced
weekly reporting time from 6 hours to 45 minutes,
freeing the team for higher-value analysis"
TIPS:
• Start every bullet with a past-tense action verb (present tense for current job)
• Put the most impressive/relevant bullets first
• Cut bullets older than 10 years unless highly relevant
• Aim for 1–2 lines per bullet — no run-onsHow to Write the Education Section
Formatting and deciding what to include in the Education section.
STANDARD FORMAT: Degree Name | Major (if applicable) | University Name, City, State | Year GPA: X.X (include only if 3.5 or above, and only within ~5 years of graduation) Relevant Coursework: [List 3-5 if entry-level or career change] Honors: [Cum laude, Dean's List, etc.] EXAMPLES: Recent Grad (feature education prominently, near top): ──────────────────────────────────────────────────── B.S. Computer Science | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | May 2026 GPA: 3.7 | Dean's List (4 semesters) Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Systems Senior Capstone: Built a mobile app for real-time transit data; 500+ beta users Experienced Professional (education moves to bottom, minimal detail): ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── M.B.A. | Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management | 2019 B.S. Finance | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 2014 Multiple Degrees: ──────────────── List most recent first (reverse-chronological). Include both degrees with institution and year. Certifications can go here or in a separate section: ──────────────────────────────────────────────────── PMP Certification | Project Management Institute | 2023 Google Analytics 4 Certificate | 2024 WHAT TO LEAVE OUT: ✗ High school (once you have a college degree) ✗ GPA below 3.5 (simply omit it) ✗ Graduation year if it reveals age and you're 50+ ✗ "Graduated" — the year implies it
Dos & Don’ts
Do
- Tailor your resume to each job — use keywords from the posting.
- Lead every bullet point with a strong action verb.
- Quantify results wherever possible — numbers stand out.
- Keep formatting clean and ATS-friendly: no tables, no graphics.
- Proofread at least twice — typos are an immediate red flag.
- Save as .pdf unless the job posting specifies .docx.
Don’t
- Don't include a photo, age, marital status, or other personal details.
- Don't write in first person ('I managed a team...').
- Don't use fancy fonts, colors, or decorative elements that ATS can't read.
- Don't list every job you've ever had — go back 10-15 years max.
- Don't use a generic objective statement — use a targeted summary.
- Don't include references or 'References available upon request.'
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back should my resume go?
Generally 10–15 years. For entry-level candidates, include all relevant experience. For experienced professionals, older positions can be listed briefly or omitted entirely if they're not relevant.
Should I use a resume template?
Yes — but choose an ATS-friendly template with a single-column layout and no tables or text boxes. Avoid fancy visual resume templates from design sites, which often fail ATS parsing.
What if I have employment gaps?
Be honest and brief. You can use year-only dates (2020–2022) to de-emphasize short gaps. In your cover letter or interview, briefly explain the gap — caregiving, health, education, or personal matters are all legitimate.
What should I do if I don't have much experience?
Lead with a strong education section, highlight internships, class projects, volunteer work, and campus leadership. Focus on transferable skills. Everyone starts somewhere — be honest and enthusiastic.
How often should I update my resume?
Update it every 6–12 months even if you're not job searching — add new skills, certifications, and accomplishments while they're fresh. It's much harder to reconstruct details years later.