Guide
Resume tips that actually move the needle
Skip the templates and buzzwords. These are the things that decide whether your resume gets read.
1. Tailor it to each job
A generic resume is the most common reason strong candidates get filtered out. Read the posting, find the skills and outcomes it emphasizes, and make sure the ones that are true of you appear clearly on the page, in the same language the employer used.
2. Lead with impact, not duties
Do not just list what you were responsible for; show what changed because you were there. Start bullets with a strong verb and, wherever you can, attach a number: a percentage, an amount, a time saved, a scale handled. “Cut onboarding time 40%” beats “responsible for onboarding.”
3. Keep it ATS-friendly
Use a single-column layout, standard section headings, and normal fonts. Avoid tables, text boxes, and images for anything important, and keep your contact details in the body of the document. See our ATS guide for the full picture.
4. Get the length right
One page for early-career, up to two pages once you have the experience to justify it. Every line should earn its place; cut older or irrelevant roles down to a line or drop them.
5. Show proof, not just claims
Link to the work that backs you up: a portfolio, GitHub, published writing, a case study, a public profile. Evidence turns a claim into something a hiring manager can trust.
6. Make it easy to read
Consistent formatting, clear hierarchy, and generous white space. Recruiters skim first; a clean layout gets you the second, closer read. Proofread twice, then have someone else read it once.
7. Never invent
Sharpen what is true; do not fabricate. Made-up titles, dates, or numbers fall apart in interviews and references. The goal is the real you, framed at your best.