How to Write a Resume for Today’s Job Market

Want to land more interviews? It starts with knowing how to write a resume that works.

Most recruiters spend about seven seconds deciding whether to keep reading or move on.

So your resume has to be sharp, focused, and optimized for both humans and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to do it, step by step.

How to write a resume from scratch in 6 steps

Starting from scratch? Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through each resume section, one step at a time. By the end, you’ll have a clean, professional resume ready to go.

Step 1. What is the right resume format?

There is no one-size-fits-all resume format. Although every resume should include the six sections listed above, they can appear in different orders depending on your experience level, career goals, or job seeker status.

There are three different types of formats to choose—chronological, functional, and hybrid. Let’s take a deeper look at each one.

What is a chronological resume format?

The chronological resume format lists your work history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent jobs listed first.

Your skills and education should come after your work history in this format.

This is the most traditional resume format, especially for job seekers with lots of relevant experience.

What is a functional resume format?

In the functional resume format, your skills and education should be emphasized over your work history.

This resume format focuses on your skills rather than your work history. It helps you downplay your lack of experience in a particular field.

Generally speaking, I don’t recommend the functional resume format.

Recruiters want to see some kind of work history. Instead of the functional format, try the next resume format—the hybrid.

What is a hybrid resume format?

A hybrid resume is a combination of the chronological resume and the functional resume.

This is why it’s sometimes called a combination resume. It showcases both your work history and your skills.

In this format, your skills come before your work history. But your work history is still the heart of your resume, just like in the chronological format.

If you have employment gaps, a hybrid resume is a great way to keep the focus on your skills and achievements rather than specific dates.

At the same time, it maintains a clear work history, making it easy for hiring managers to follow your career progression.

I like the hybrid resume because it offers the best of both worlds, combining the strengths of the chronological and the functional resume formats.

No matter which resume format you choose, having a well-structured template can make the writing process much easier.

You can find free templates in Jobscan’s resume builder.

Each template is fully optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS), ensuring your resume is formatted correctly and has the best chance of getting noticed by employers.

You can also build a resume using free Google Docs templates or Microsoft Word templates. Just choose a format you like, then customize it to fit your experience and career goals.

Step 2. What do you include for the contact information in your resume?

This part goes at the very top of your resume. It might seem simple, but it’s more important than you think. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, you won’t get the interview.

Your contact information should include your:

• Name
• Phone number
• Location (City, State, Zip Code)
• Email Address
• LinkedIn profile URL

You don’t need to include your full home address on your resume. Just your city, state, and zip code are enough to show recruiters where you’re located while keeping your personal information private.

Use the location where you want to work, not necessarily where you live now. According to a Jobscan survey, 43.4% of recruiters filter resumes by location when using an ATS.

Here’s an example of a resume contact information section:

Use a professional email address from a modern provider like Gmail. If you’re still using an old Yahoo or AOL account, consider creating a Gmail address just for your job search.

It’s free, easy to set up, and helps you look more up-to-date to employers.

Step 3. Do you need to include a resume headline?

Your resume headline goes right below your contact info. It’s a short, punchy line that sums up who you are and what you bring to the table.

Here’s the key: include the exact job title from the job description, if you can. Recruiters often start by typing that title into the ATS search bar. If it’s not on your resume, you might not show up.

Jobscan analyzed 2.5 million job applications and found that resumes with matching job titles received 10.6 times more interviews than those that did not. 

Your headline can also include years of experience, key qualifications, and certifications.

Here’s an example of a resume headline:

If you’re aspiring to a job title or changing careers, you can still include it in your headline by using phrases like “Aspiring [Job Title]” or “Transitioning to [Job Title].”

Step 4. Do you need a resume summary?

Your resume summary gives recruiters a quick snapshot of why you’re a strong candidate for the job. Think of it as your elevator pitch—a short, focused way to say “Here’s what I bring to the table.”

It should highlight your top qualifications, key achievements, and relevant skills. You’ll place it right under your resume headline, like this:

Never use personal pronouns (e.g., “I,” “me,” “my”) in your resume summary, or anywhere else on your resume.

Here’s a simple formula you can use to write your summary:

Here’s an example of a resume summary that follows this formula:

Sometimes job seekers will use a resume objective instead of a summary.

A resume objective is like a summary except it outlines your career goals and what you’re looking for in a job.

Resume objectives are usually used by students with no work experience. Here’s an example:

While resume objectives were once common, they’re generally not recommended today because they focus on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer.

If you’re struggling to write your resume summary, try Jobscan’s resume builder.

It features a resume summary generator that writes a compelling introduction in seconds.

Watch this brief video to see the summary generator in action:

Step 5. Do you need a skills section in your resume?

Your skills section helps recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) quickly spot your top qualifications. There are two main types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities like using software, analyzing data, or speaking another language.

Soft skills are how you work with others—things like communication, teamwork, and adaptability.

Read more: Best Resume Skills

You can list your skills in several ways: as bullet points in columns, as a single list, or by using vertical lines to separate each skill (Python | Excel | Data Analysis).

Try to include 10 to 20 key skills in this section.

Here’s an example:

Employers often use different terms for the same skill in job postings. To increase your chances of getting noticed, use the same wording that appears in the job description.

Step 6. What do you need to include in your resume work experience?

Now it’s time for the most important part of your resume—the work experience section.

This is where employers will spend the most time when reviewing your application.

Why does it matter so much? Because it backs up everything you’ve said in your headline, summary, and skills section with real-world proof.

How many jobs should you list on your resume?

Stick to the most recent 10–15 years of relevant experience. This usually works out to 3 to 6 jobs.

The key is to focus on roles that best support your current career goals.

List your jobs in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent, and include the following details:

• Company name and location
• Job title
• Start and end dates
• Achievements and responsibilities

What is the right date format for your resume?

Dates might seem like a small detail, but they matter, especially when it comes to applicant tracking systems (ATS).

According to Jobscan data, 99.7% of recruiters use an ATS to filter candidates. If your dates are formatted inconsistently, the system might not read your resume correctly.

To stay ATS-friendly, use a standard date format like:

• Jan 2021 – Mar 2023
• January 2021 – March 2023
• 01/2021 – 03/2023

Whatever format you choose, just make sure it’s consistent throughout your resume.

Jobscan’s resume scanner performs checks for formatting and will flag any errors or inconsistencies in your date structure. Along with additional checks for content and keywords, the generated match report provides recruiter tips on how to improve your resume to land an interview invitation.

Should you focus on resume accomplishments or responsibilities?

One of the biggest work experience section mistakes is only listing job responsibilities. These describe what you were expected to do, but not how well you did it.

Responsibilities give employers a general idea of your role, but they don’t show the impact you made.

That’s why it’s so important to highlight accomplishments. Use numbers when you can. For example: “Increased sales by 20%.”

Here’s an example of a work experience section with measurable accomplishments:

Make your accomplishments stand out more by providing context.

Instead of just saying “Increased sales by 20%,” explain the situation, what you did, and the impact:

“Revamped the company’s email marketing strategy, launched targeted campaigns using customer segmentation, and increased sales by 20% in six months.”

Step 7. What should you include in your resume’s education section?

Your education section should come right after your work experience. If you’re applying for a role that requires advanced education—like in medicine, law, or academia—you’ll want to include more detail.

For most jobs, though, you just need to include the basics:

• Name of the degree/certification
• Institution name
• Location (optional)
• Graduation date

If you’re an older job seeker and don’t want to reveal your age, leave out your graduation dates. They’re not required, and employers are more interested in your skills and experience than when you earned your degree.

Keep reading: How to List a Degrees on Your Resume

Here’s an example of an education section on a resume:

Optional: Should you include honors, awards, and volunteer work on your resume?

Only include honors and awards that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

If something really stands out, consider placing it in your summary so it doesn’t get overlooked at the bottom of your resume.

Have any volunteer experience? Add it, especially if it’s relevant to the job you’re seeking.

Here’s how to list your volunteer experience:

1. The name of the organization.
2. The dates of your service.
3. A brief description of your duties and responsibilities.

Here’s an example of what this section of your resume should look like:

How do you create a resume?

Writing your resume from scratch can be painstaking and leech hours from your day. Jobscan’s resume builder was designed to save you time so you can focus on finding the right jobs, tailoring your resume, and preparing for your influx of interview requests!

You can build your resume from scratch, upload your existing resume, or import from LinkedIn to get started.

As you start building your resume, you’ll be guided through each step to ensure you include everything from work history, skills, education, and certifications, to awards, publications, and projects.

When you’re done building your resume, you can save it as a base resume to your dashboard. This makes it easy to scan against job descriptions. Or you can download your resume straight to your computer.

How do you write a resume with strong action verbs?

Action verbs convey doing, and include words like achieved, designed, and implemented.

The best place to use these words is at the beginning of bullet points on your resume.

Strong action verbs make your resume more engaging, easier to read, and more memorable to hiring managers.

In fact, one study showed that using strong action verbs on your resume can increase your chances of getting an interview by 140%.

Avoid saying “responsible for” on your resume—it’s outdated and vague.

Instead, use strong action verbs that show what you actually did.

How long should your resume be?

The ideal resume length depends on your experience level and career stage, but in most cases, shorter is better.

Generally speaking, try to keep it to 600 words or less.

Recruiters and hiring managers don’t care if your resume is one page or two pages. They just want to see if you have the qualifications to do the job.

Cut unnecessary details like outdated jobs, unrelated experience, or generic soft skills.

Your resume should be laser-focused for the job you’re applying to. This is why tailoring your resume is so important.

How often should I update my resume?

You should aim to update your resume at least once or twice a year, even if you aren’t actively job searching. This keeps your professional story current and makes it easier to apply quickly when opportunities arise.

Immediately update it whenever you complete a major project, receive a promotion, gain a new certification, or acquire a significant new skill, ensuring it always reflects your best accomplishments.

How do you tailor your resume to a specific job position?

Tailoring your resume isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage the flood of resumes they receive.

When you apply, your resume goes into an ATS database. Then hiring managers search that database using keywords from the job description.

Jobscan’s 2025 State of the Job Search report reveals that recruiters overwhelmingly rely on filters to find candidates. Skills (76.4%), job title (55.3%), and education (59.7%) are top filtering criteria.

The first step to tailoring your resume is reading the job description carefully. That’s where you’ll find the exact keywords to include.

Yes, customizing your resume takes time. But a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner can speed things up.

Just paste in your resume and the job description, hit scan, and you’ll get a match report showing how well your resume aligns with the job—and which keywords to add to improve it.

Try the resume scanner for free below:

Keep reading: How to Create and ATS Resume

Should you include references on your resume?

In the past, job seekers often listed references directly on their resumes, but today, that’s no longer necessary.

Hiring managers typically request references later in the hiring process.

Including them upfront takes up valuable space that could be used to highlight your skills and accomplishments.

By keeping references off your resume and focusing on your achievements, you’ll create a stronger, more effective document that keeps the hiring manager’s attention where it matters most.

How should you format your resume?

Properly formatting your resume makes it easy for hiring managers to find what they’re looking for.

At the same time, good formatting helps the ATS understand your resume.

Fonts: keep it simple and professional

Stick to clean, easy-to-read resume fonts that look professional and are ATS-friendly.

• Sans-serif fonts: Arial, Calibri, Verdana (modern and easy to read on screens).
• Serif fonts: Georgia (classic and professional).
• Avoid: decorative, script, or heavily stylized fonts.

Color: keep it subtle and professional

A black-and-white resume is always safe, but adding a touch of color can help your resume stand out if you do it correctly.

• Use subtle accents: (e.g., dark blue or gray) for headings or section dividers.
• Ensure high contrast: so the text is easy to read.
• Avoid: bright, distracting colors or too many colors.

Layout: organized and ATS-friendly

Your resume layout should be clean, structured, and easy to scan.

• Use clear headings: (e.g., Work Experience, Skills, and Education).
• Left-align your text: ATS struggles with centered or justified text.
• Use bullet points: for achievements instead of long paragraphs.
• Set resume margins: to 0.7 inches or more to ensure readability.
• Avoid: complex graphics, tables, columns, and text boxes. These can confuse ATS and cause formatting issues.

Save your resume with a clear, professional resume file name like “FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf” instead of generic names like “Resume_Final” or “Document1”.

This makes it easy for recruiters to find and identify your file.

What are resume examples for different roles?

Looking for inspiration? Below are resume examples for a project manager, marketer, business analyst, human resources professional, and a software developer.

Each one is designed to showcase key skills, experience, and achievements in a way that stands out to employers.

All these resumes were created using templates from Jobscan’s free resume builder.

After these examples, you’ll find a list of additional resume examples by job title. Click on any link to see a resume for your specific role.

1. What does a project manager resume example look like?

A project manager plans and organizes projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. They coordinate teams, track progress, and solve problems. Project managers help keep everything on track and running smoothly.

2. What does a marketing resume example look like?

A marketing professional helps promote products or services to reach customers. They create campaigns, study market trends, and find ways to attract and keep customers. Marketing helps businesses grow and connect with their audience.

3. What does a business analyst resume example look like?

A business analyst helps companies solve problems and improve processes. They study how things are done, gather information, and suggest changes to make work more efficient. Business analysts also help teams plan and reach their goals.

4. What does a human resources resume example look like?

A human resources professional helps manage a company’s employees. They handle hiring, training, and answering questions about benefits or workplace rules. Human resources professionals work to support employees and create a positive work environment.

5. What does a software developer resume example look like?

A software developer creates and improves computer programs and apps. They write code, fix problems, and test their work to make sure it runs smoothly. Software developers work with teams to build tools that meet users’ needs.

Resume examples by job title

Follow the links below to see job-specific resume examples tailored to different roles. Each example is designed to highlight key skills and experience while following best practices for formatting and ATS optimization.

• Accounting
• Administrative
• Business Data
• Computer Science
• Customer Service
• Education
• Engineering
• Healthcare
• Human Resources
• Legal
• Marketing
• Nursing
• Pharmaceutical
• Project Management
• Sales
• Writer

Find more resume examples: Professional Resume Examples for Every Career Path in 2025

How do you match your cover letter to your resume?

Are cover letters still necessary?

According to Jobscan’s data, job seekers who included a cover letter landed 3.4x more interviews. That’s a strong case for taking the time to write one.

To make the most of it, match your cover letter with your resume to create a polished, cohesive application. Here’s how:

Related: How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You a Job Interview

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