How To Make A Resume For A Job - Writing Guide (30+ Examples & Tips)

12/24/2018 How to Make a Resume for a Job: Writing Guide [30+ Examples & Tips]
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How to Make a Resume for a Job:

Writing Guide [30+ Examples &
Tips]
Resume Writing 12/07/2018
Christian Eilers
›
Resume Expert at Zety
Blog › Resume Writing › How to Make a Resume for a Job: Writing Guide [30+ Examples & Tips]
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We're about to learn how to write a resume, but think about this,
rst:
Landing an interview is a race against the clock—dozens of job

seekers have already written their resumes and applied for *your*
dream job.
How to beat them and land that position?
Either you make a resume perfect for your situation:
https://zety.com/blog/how-to-make-a-resume 1/45
Resume With No Experience • Teen Resume • Military to Civilian

Resume • Federal Resume • Resume With Employment Gaps • Entry-
Level Resume • Student Resume • Internship Resume • Career
Change Resume • Speci c Resume Examples
Or, for the rest of you, keep your chin up as you scroll on down.
Let's get started with our step-by-step guide on how to make a
resume.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try
our resume builder. It's fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and
right vs. wrong examples while writing your resume. See 20+
resume templates and create your resume here.
›
Bad/Good Resume Examples—See more pain-free resume
templates and create yours now.
Note: We have designed all our resume templates to be ATS-

scannable.
CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW
Exactly what is a resume? Sometimes spelled résumé, a resume is a

record of academic and professional achievements, skills,
certi cations, and other details that make the case for the job. It is
usually the rst contact between a company and candidate.
What the US and Canada call a resume, most of the rest of the world
call a curriculum vitae (CV). South Africa, India, New Zealand, and
Australia tend to use the terms resume and CV interchangeably. For

more, you can learn the di erences between a resume and a CV.
If you're an international reader, switch over to: How to Write a CV

for a Job in 7 Easy Steps: (15+ Examples) or Biodata Format for a Job
in India
HOW TO write a GREAT RESUME! 6 TIPS that WORK in 2018
›
1
Choose a Resume Format that Fits
You can't just start writing a resume by putting your info into the
resume template all willy-nilly.
Instead, rst select from the standard resume formats:
Reverse-chronological format
Pros: Traditional resume style, familiar to potential employers.
Cons: Very common, not the most creative resume design
format.
Combination format
Pros: Great for experienced pros and career changers for
highlighting transferable skills.
Cons: Uncommon, not as familiar, not recommended for entry-
level job seekers.
Functional format (skills-based)
Pros: Entry-level job hunters can emphasize skills over lack of
experience.
Cons: HR managers may think you're hiding something.
›
Most job applicants will likely want to choose the reverse-
chronological resume template:
The chronological resume is a traditional resume format which

emphasizes your duties, experience, and work history. You'll list
your most recent positions rst, and go back through past jobs in
reverse-chronological order from there. As the standard resume
format, it tends to be the easiest to read and scan.
To learn more about the best resume format to use for your
particular situation, compare the common resume formats, or
check out our articles on the chronological, combination, or
functional formats.
Resume Tip: There are several studies that theorize relationships

between resume cues and the applicant's personality and hireability,
further impacting hiring judgments through resumes. Be careful
which info you choose to include!
Get Your Contact Information & Personal

Details Right
A career diplomat knows what information should be given and

which to hold back.
›
Likewise, on a great resume contact information section, there are
items which you must include, personal details that are
recommended, and some data which you should de nitely leave
out:
Necessary Contact Information
Name: First name, last name (middle name optional).

Phone Number: Personal cell phone preferred over home phone
number.
Email Address: Today's preferred means of communication.
Recommended Contact Information
LinkedIn URL: Since it's the favored platform for professionals,

include your LinkedIn pro le URL to give them a better idea of what
you have to o er professionally.
Optional Contact Information
Mailing Address: Sounds old-school, but many employers still send

o ers & rejection letters via snail mail. Also, jobs that prefer local
candidates may rather choose applicants from speci c locales.
Title: Brief professional title or branding statement, like a
catchphrase or a licensed status.
Social Media: Add only if they are related to the job. Are you a
designer? Perhaps link to your Behance. Likewise, link to your
Github if you're in IT and have made great contributions.
Blog/Website: Got a website, portfolio, or blog? Are they relevant?
Add its URL to your personal info section to show it o !
›
Ryan Robinson
writer & part-time entrepreneur
Starting a blog has genuinely helped me land every job I've ever gotten because
my employers have wanted me to help them do the same thing I've been able to
do with my own blog.
Marketing speci c advice? Perhaps. But employers will look you up

online. Your professional blog will easily show up rst in Google and
make quite the statement.
Contact Information to Avoid

Date of Birth: Adding your birthdate could lead to ageism. Add only
if required, such as for jobs serving alcohol, for example.
Second Email or Phone Number: A second email address, mailing
address, or phone number will just confuse them (and you).
Photo/Headshot: In the United States, resume images and pro le
photos are usually not recommended.
Resume Tip: Give them a professional email address, not your old
high school handle (sexypapa69xoxo@....) or an outdated email
provider (....@hotmail.com). Studies have proven that a formal email
address is much more hireable than an informal one.
›
To be sure you get the personal details on your resume right, have a
glance at our resume contact information guide.
Introduce Your Resume with a Heading

Statement
Most Tinder users have little patience. It takes a witty statement or

provocative image to get a match not to swipe left on you.
Well, the employer ips through resumes just like a Tinder user with
an attention de cit, as they spend an average of just 6 seconds
skimming resumes, initially.
That's why a professional resume heading statement is super-

important to get right. You've got to make a statement, with wit,
that paints an attractive image of your candidacy.
Your resume summary statement or resume objective statement

are likely to have the most eye time since it's at the top of the page.
Here's how to write an about me blurb that makes the recruiter

swipe right:
Resume Summary Statement
Got enough relevant experience? Choose the resume summary
›
statement.
A good resume summary works when you apply at a job in which

you have experience. It summarizes your position-related skills and
quali cations.
Let's take a look at how to write a professional summary, both right

and wrong:
RIGHT
Personable and dependable graphic designer with 4+ years expertise
in a fast-paced global marketing rm. Achieved company-best quality
satisfaction rating according to internal review (99.76%). Seeking to
advance career by growing with the DeZine team.
WRONG
I have been a graphic designer for the last 4 years. In addition to my
knowledge of various software and design programs, I also handle
some tough customer accounts, and I am always able to work well
under pressure, even the tightest of deadlines.
See the di erences here? While the Wrong one has some
experience listed, it focuses on everyday duties, not
accomplishments. In the Right example, you give evidence of your
IT consultant resume skills, achievements, and experience.
›
Resume Tip: The "right" resume summary above also mentioned the
company by name. This is a great way to make sure that your resume
feels personalized, rather than just sent to every company out there.
Learn more about how to write a professional resume summary.
Resume Objective Statement
Choose the resume objective statement if you have no work

experience at all, or at least none related to the position you're
applying for (entry-level applicants, career changers, students, etc.).
Since you don't have relevant experience to summarize, you'll

highlight transferable skills from other areas. You'll make the case
that though you don't have experience with this position, you do
have experience relevant to it.
Let's looks at another set of good/bad examples on writing an

objective for a resume:
RIGHT
Diligent customer support specialist with 3+ years experience at large
computer hardware company. Obtained highest grades in build spec
knowledge (100%) and quality (97.3%). Seeking to further career by
growing with the BQNY team as an entry-level IT technician.
WRONG
›
I am a customer support specialist eager to become an eld
technician. I don't have experience in eld work, but past coworkers
have said that I am a quick learner. I am highly motivated because I
enjoy being outside for work rather than behind a desk at a cubicle.
See the di erences here? The company is taking a greater chance

by hiring someone without exact experience.
So you'll need to show them you have what it takes.
In the Right one, we used some transferable skills from the previous
company and some proud resume achievements…with numbers.
Remember: numbers speak louder than words!
The Wrong one doesn't show enough to hold the hiring manager's
attention.
Resume Tip: If you noticed, both "wrong" examples above used the
rst-person. Avoid this on your resume.
Check out our guide to understand more how to craft the perfect
resume objective.
Our resume builder (you can create your resume here) will give
you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary,
objective, and any other section. You can easily copy them straight
into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.
›
Inside Zety's resume tool, you will nd tips and examples for your
resume.
Detail Your Work Experience on a Resume
If you think of your resume as a fancy meal, the resume experience

section is the main course.
You've knocked out the appetizer with the previous sections, so now
it's time to ll in your work history and past achievements before
moving on.
Let's go through the various job history components of the perfect

resume experience section now.
How to format the resume work experience section
If you look at the above infographic, you'll see our recommended

way to format your employment history in the job experience
section:
Job Title—This should go at the very top of each entry of work history so
that it's easy for potential employers to scan and nd. Make it bold and/or
increase the font size by 1pt or 2pts from the rest of the entry.
Company, City, State—On the second line, include the previous
employer's company name, and the city and state of the location you
›
worked at.
Dates Employed—Thirdly, put the timeframe of your employment there.
You can add the year or both the month and the year, but there's no need
to put exact days.
Key Responsibilities—Don't just list every single task you did in your job
history. Focus on the few duties most relevant to the new job.
Key Achievements—Achievements: often overlooked, but super
important. Employers know what you did, but they need to know how well
you did them.
Keywords—It is important to sprinkle resume keywords throughout the

experience section (we'll talk more about this shortly).
If adding more than one job history entry to your resume or CV

experience section, start with the most recent position and go back
in reverse-chronological order from there.
Use ve or six bullet points (combined) to lay out your case in each
entry's responsibilities and achievements.
Also, your experience section bullet points should go near the top of
your resume, just under your heading statement. However, if you
have little or no professional experience, put your education section
above your work history.
Got a promotion you want to show o , or more than one job title
within the same company? Don't worry, our guide on how to show
promotions & multiple positions with show you how.
›
Erin Kennedy
CEO, Managing Director at Professional Resume Service, Inc.
Think about accomplishments you've had, not necessarily meaning solid sales
numbers or percentages. Were you involved in something that had great success?
If so, include it! Showing what you've done beyond your daily duties is what will
prompt employers to call you. Employers want to hire someone who exhibits
motivation, participation, and ambition.
The work experience section of your resume where you describe

your past jobs is the most crucial component of your whole job
application. Make sure you get it right: Work Experience on a
Resume: Job Description Bullets that *Kill* [100+]
Tailoring your resume work experience
Robots are taking over.
As hiring practices continue to modernize, larger companies are

turning to applicant tracking systems (ATS) to give them a hand. ATS
software automates the early stages of the recruitment process.
How? They look for keywords and assign a score per candidate.
So, tailoring your resume is an absolute must, and your experience

section is where you'll do most of it.
To tailor your resume, go back to the job description and look for
keywords related to your responsibilities.
›
If you see duties you've performed, include them in your resume
job description bullet points.
To make sure you understand exactly what to do, read our guides
on using resume keywords and tailoring your resume.
Experienced a spell of unemployment? Don't worry! Check out our

guide on how to explain gaps in your resume.
Tailoring your resume also involves knowing how long a resume

should be. There are pros and cons for a one-page resume and the
two-page resume, but you most likely want to avoid anything
longer.
Also, don't use the same, tired words ("responsible for…") in your
resume job experience area. Instead, choose power words and
action verbs which will keep them interested.
Finally, don't use passive voice, as it feels evasive and unclear.

Instead, choose active voice when writing a resume, as it's concise
and to the point:
WRONG
Growth team was managed by me.
›
RIGHT
Managed growth team.
How much work experience to include on a resume?
Senior-level applicants, such as executives and managers, should

list up to 15 years of relevant work experience with powerful action
verbs to introduce each bullet point.
Mid-level job seekers should include detailed job descriptions of

relevant positions and a brief mention of any other positions.
Entry-level candidates should list and describe all paid work,

particularly calling out responsibilities and achievements that are
most relevant.
First-time job hunters with no work experience can still include

other history, such as a student organization role, internship, or
volunteer experience, to ll out their experience section.
As you learn how to write a resume, remember the best resume

templates will highlight your experience and eligibility. Don't hide it
with the wrong order, a dull resume layout, or a template free of
character. With dozens of good resume examples, templates, and
styles, Zety is the best resume builder online.
Make a resume in no time with our resume builder app and 20+
great templates.
›
5
List Education Correctly on a Resume
Many people treat the education section as an afterthought, but

you shouldn't.
Here's how to put education on your resume so you don't get

schooled:
The right resume education order is to place your highest degree rst.
Add any other degrees after in reverse-chronological order.

If you nished a university degree, don't add high school info.
Add any relevant coursework, honors, or awards you received.
Simple, huh?
Resume Tip: We mentioned this earlier, but we'll repeat it, just in case:
if you have little or no working experience, place your education on
top and your experience section below it. Otherwise, keep your
resume education section just beneath your work history.
Here's a brief look at how to list education on a resume:
We recommend skipping your GPA on your resume. If it's not

perfect, it will only count against you.
›
Want to know how to create a resume education section if you have
a GED or didn't graduate? Not sure on the proper resume education
format? Check out our article on how to put education on a resume.
Resume Tip: Don't lie in your resume or CV education section. A credit

short of a diploma is not a diploma. Also, don't round your GPA up.
Anyway, many business degrees don't necessarily improve job
prospects.
Put Relevant Skills on the Resume
Picture a hunk of beef (the cow variety, not Chris Hemsworth).
Now imagine a well-cooked, perfectly-seasoned steak.
Your resume is one of these two: it's either unprepared to be

served, or it's the prime cut sprinkled with the perfect resume
skills.
Hard skills vs. soft skills
Hard skills are speci c abilities and know-how (e.g., Photoshop,

cash register).
Soft skills are self-developed, life-learned attributes (e.g., social
›
skills, adaptability).
Combined, these make up a skill set, which is a job seeker's range

of skills and abilities.
Resume Tip: Don't list irrelevant skills! An IT resume doesn't need to

disclose your veterinary skills, and a resume for a chef shouldn't
include your ability to use Photoshop.
What skills to put on a resume?
When you consider how to create a resume that will de nitely stand
out, it has everything to do with sprinkling your skills throughout.
But it also makes sense to have a big section labeled "SKILLS."
Remember that job description you had handy from earlier?
Use the key job-related skills and keywords listed in that ad to help
you create a great resume for a job that will make the ATS light up
like Times Square.
Here is a list of some common skills to put on a resume:
Communication skills—These can include social skills, non-verbal

communication, listening skills, and interpersonal skills.
Technical skills—Knowledge required to perform speci c tasks, like
computer skills or clerical skills.
Job-speci c skills—Particular prowess the company speci cally requires.
Leadership and management skills—Ability to be a good manager, leader,

and supervisor.
Critical thinking skills—(Organizational skills) Ability to make your own,
›
thought-based decisions and take initiative. Includes analytical skills,
decision-making, and problem-solving.
Transferable skills—for career changers, these are abilities you learned

that can be carried over to your new position.
Resume Tip: Don't just google "skills for a [industry] resume" and
throw in the results. Take time to tailor your resume skills list to the
job posting, as we mentioned earlier.
How to list skills on a resume?
There are several ways to include a list of skills on a resume. For

most, a simple skills section which includes 5-6 key abilities and
your pro ciency level is enough:
For speci c job titles and technical skills, you may want to list your
particular knowledge per item, to give them speci c detail into the
areas of the skill you excel at:
Resume Tip: Not every skill is worth mentioning on a resume! Saying

you can use Microsoft Word is like bragging about being able to use a
fork.
A good CV skills section takes up little real estate but has great
impact. For more on how to make a skills resume section, learn
›
what key skills to put on a resume.
Include Other Important Resume Sections
Here's the thing—everyone's resumes include those sections above.

But what should a resume include to make it personalized?
Make your resume unique by including extra resume sections.
Additional sections on your CV/resume can showcase just about

anything about you, from your proud commendations to languages
in which you're uent and more.
Here are some recommendations for extra sections to include on

your resume which will help you stand out:
Hobbies and interests
You might not think that your love of baseball and being the Little
League assistant coach would be of interest to a potential employer.
However, listing your hobbies and interests subtly proves your

ability to work well in a team, and the coaching can verify your
leadership and management expertise.
Volunteer work
Volunteering boosts employability, studies nd. For most job

seekers, listing any volunteer experience as one of your additional
›
CV sections is a great way to show your commitment and values. It
also lets them know that you don't only care about the money. For
entry-level or rst-time applicants who have no experience,
volunteer work makes an excellent stand-in.
Certi cations and awards
Got any certi cations, licenses, or proud awards to show o ? If they

are relevant to the job and industry, include them!
Placed rst in a chili cook-o at the state fair? If you're looking to be

a cook, it will de nitely help. Likewise, a food safety certi cation or
food handler's license that you already have would surely be in your
favor.
Languages
Speak another language? Impressive!
Listing language skills on a resume only extends your usefulness as

an employee, particularly in international corporations or localities
where there is a large population speaking that second language.
List the language, international variation (Latin American Spanish,
for example), and your language uency levels.
Publications & projects
Have guest posts or articles written in a blog, newspaper, scienti c

journal, or elsewhere? If it's related to your eld, such as for writers
or researchers, a URL link takes up little space on your resume but
highlights your clout. If your published material isn't online, create a
short bibliography of the works you'd like them to acknowledge.
›
Also, if you've built graphic designs or other creative creations, or if
your list of publications or projects is too long to go on a resume,
consider building an online portfolio to document everything. Link
to it from the contact section, in this case.
Complement Your Resume With a Cover

Letter
You need a cover letter, most de nitely.
Your cover letter or job application letter lets you expand upon
things that you need to keep brief on your resume. Also, it allows
you to speak easily in normal sentences!
Sound like overkill?
Think again.
More than half of employers think a resume is not enough to make

a decision.
Follow our guide on how to make a cover letter (or a cover letter
with no experience or cover letter for an internship), and you'll
knock this out quickly and painlessly.
A great cover letter that matches your resume gives you an

advantage over other candidates. You can write a cover letter in our
›
resume builder! Here's what it may look like:
See more templates and create your resume and cover letter here.
Wrap It Up Nicely
You're almost there, but don't send it o just yet.
Here are some resume best practices to keep in mind so you can
rest assured that you wrote a perfect resume.
Proofread & double-check
Double-check your CV or resume draft before sending it out. Scan

your resume and cover letter (and email!) with a tool like
Grammarly. Then, ask a friend or family member to triple-check.
Better safe than sorry!
Resume Tip: Have a look at our guides on resume tips and resume
mistakes to avoid, for more.
Brittney Ross
Head Proofreader at Grammarly
It can be especially hard to proofread your own resume because you've probably
been staring at it for ages. The more time you spend rewriting things and dgeting
with bullet points, the more likely you are to miss that typo in your job title. Even if
your experience is impressive, it will look like your attention to detail is lacking, so
it's worth running your resume by a fresh pair of eyes.
Online presence
Remember when we discussed social media and LinkedIn back in

the contact section? Well, do you remember the naked pictures you
posted onto Facebook several months ago?
Yeah, those have to come down.
Before a recruiter or hiring manager gets the chance to look you

and your employment history up, you better have your online
presence sanitized! That means removing any o ensive posts, or at
least marking them private. While you're at it, tweak your LinkedIn
pro le so that it's up-to-date and complete.
Resume Tip: Don't send your email to the catch-all public email
address for the entire company, unless the job listing speci cally asks
you to do so. Find the personal email address of the HR manager,
instead, if you can.
Saving your resume
Word Doc or PDF? PDF resume downloads are the most common,
nowadays. Its format is nalized when you save it, so they get a
nice, clean document that doesn't cause formatting issues.
However, Microsoft Word's .doc & .docx have been the standard for
some time, and many still prefer it for their CV or resume because it
causes less issues with any ATS software.
Our advice: include both!
How to save your resume? Use a naming convention across all

your attachments that includes your name, hyphens or
underscores, the position you're targeting, and the word resume or
cover letter.
RIGHT
jane-doe-accountant-resume.pdf
john-smith-cashier-cover-letter.docx
Resume Tip: When emailing your resume, check the job description to
see if they ask applicants to send emails with something speci c in the
subject line of the email. If not, go with the position title, posting any
job reference number, if required, your name, and include the word
"resume."
What about references on a resume? You de nitely shouldn't

include them on a resume, but you can include a reference page
with a resume.
Make it legible
This entire document you're making is completely useless if the

employer can't actually read it. Make it easy for them to scan by
keeping these points in mind:
Choose the best resume font—a standard font that will render correctly on
most machines, like Cambria, Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica.
No cursive!
Go for single line spacing, and 11pt or 12pt font size for the regular text.
Increase to 14pt—16pt font size for section titles.
Use bold text to draw attention to particular words or phrases, and italics
for supporting text. Avoid underlining, as it just makes the resume feel
cluttered (and URLs already use it).

Complement the standard font of your text by alternating serif for sans-
serif (or vice versa) in any section headings. For example, you can pair the
Arial font (sans-serif) of Calibri font (sans-serif) with the Times New Roman
font (serif).
Natalie Severt
Resume Expert at Zety
Stick with fonts that sound like hipster baby names - Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, and
Verdana.
Be consistent
Consistency on your resume draft is crucial, just like your

consistency as their future employee. For example, format your
dates any way you'd like (31 Dec, December 31, 12-2019, etc.), but
follow the same throughout.
If you nd an icon to introduce a particular resume section, nd

resume icons for each section or skip them altogether. Also, make
sure that your resume margins have the same width on all four
sides.
Don't use the wrong verb tenses or go back and forth between
tenses. If it was a past job that you no longer work at, use the past
tense. If you're listing a current position, use the present tense.

Whatever you do, keep them consistent throughout.
Want to make sure your resume will hook every recruiter and get
you that interview? Get our free checklist and learn what makes a
job-winning resume: 46 Things You Need To Do Before You Send Your
Resume.
Email your resume the right way
When you send a resume to a catch-all email address such as

contact@company.org, your resume and cover letter are entering a
sea of similar emails from other job seekers ghting for the same
position as you.
Find the name of the person who will be reading your resume and
personalize your email with that information. Sending a resume is
much more compelling when you use Dear Susan instead of To
Whom It May Concern.
Key Takeaway
We started o talking about how to write a resume, but by now you

know how to right a resume.
Keep these points in mind to ensure your resume is perfect:
Stay relevant—Every single item on your resume should prove you are the
best possible candidate.
Tailor—Make one resume speci cally for one speci c job and company to
apply at. Name the company and pick skills which relate to the open
position.
Choose the right stu —Use active voice, write a heading statement for
your situation, and don't include unnecessary details.
Be consistent—Follow the same formatting, styles, colors, and conventions
throughout your resume.
Double-check—Don't send your resume o before you are certain there
are no typos and errors. Ask a friend for help.
Make a resume online—Use Zety's easy resume helper to write your cover
letter and resume in no time. More than twenty resume examples and
templates are there to help guide you. And, with the tips and advice it gives
along the way, you know you'll have a great resume that gets the dream
job!
Have any questions on how to write a resume? Not sure how to

make the perfect resume experience section or how to build a
resume list of skills or achievements? Get at us in the comments
below and we'll answer your questions. Thanks for reading, and
good luck on your job search and career path!
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AUTHOR
Christian Eilers
"Career advice, I've researched and read it, Then I try to write it
better than anyone's said it, Once I am nished with all of my edits,
You'll have a job, and I'll take some of the credit." Hey there! I'm
Christian, a New Yorker and a writer of career advice at Zety. As an
avid traveler and amateur poet, I also write for a travel website and
dabble in doggerel in my spare time.
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Featured Comment
Christian Eilers Mod • 5 months ago

Hey there, thanks for reading! I hope that this "Resume 101" article was helpful for you to
learn how to write a resume!
Got any questions about how to create your resume?
Need advice on which resume sections to include or remove?
Have any other tips and advice which could be useful for resume writing?
Let us know in these comments, and we'll get back to you right away. Thanks again, and good
luck on your job search!
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Natalie Severt • 2 years ago

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the article. Let's start the discussion!
1. What’s the worst part of making a resume in your opinion?
2. Which extra sections do you think add the most value to a resume?
3. Do you have any resume success stories you’d like to share with us?
We'd love to hear from you!

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Musharraf Choudhary > Natalie Severt • 2 years ago

hi Natalie i need help from your side i will give to you details can you please make an
attrective resume for me it's a request musharraff12@gmail.com
48 △ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
Filly Slinko Mod > Musharraf Choudhary • a year ago

Hey Musharraf, thanks for commenting!
We don't currently offer any one-on-one resume advice services.
We created this blog so that you can hopefully get all the advice you need here.
If you ever have any specific questions about something in our articles, let us know.
We're always more than happy to help. :)
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
Akash GG > Natalie Severt • a year ago

Greetings Madam.
Apart from the section dealing with selection of fonts, I found all of your points perfectly
valid and applicable in real-life situations.
If you allow me, there is one clarification on the section dealing with progressions and
promotions along the career path that would be most enlightening - see, I have worked for
more than a decade in a company that boasted its flat organisation structure as its main
strength - allowing me to start-up projects and finish them within many departments
internally while still attached to my direct line manager - , and despite my benefits and
salary package would increase over the years, there was no change in the job title, nor in
the other ways of describing it - how would you suggest highlighting this, please?
Filly Slinko Mod > Akash GG • a year ago
Hi there Akash,
That's a great question!
You can highlight this in your Experience description by including examples of

some of the work you've done.
Think of any particular achievements that you've made, and how they have
positively affected the company you worked for. It's always beneficial to include any
specific numbers in this section if you can.
You can find out more about listing your achievements in this blog post we made:
https://uptowork.com/blog/a...
Akash GG > Filly Slinko • a year ago

Thank you Mr Slinko.
The fact is that I have had recourse to some CV writers who were unable to
summarise this important part of my professional life without shortening it to
an insignificant level.
About the article link: please transmit my heartfelt gratitude to Ms Severt for
the very insightful piece she wrote!
Best regards,
- AGG
Filly Slinko Mod > Akash GG • a year ago

Hi again Akash,
Very understandable! It's difficult to fully explain your work experience in a

concise way.
The best approach is to write a few different formats, cutting out as much
unnecessary info as possible, and pick your favorite.
You can even have friends and family look over it for you.
I will also make sure to pass on your feedback to Natalie!
Have a great day. :)

Ademola Taiwo III > Natalie Severt • 2 years ago

1. Trying to trim your resume to two pages when you have valuable content spilling
beyond two pages and you don't want to cut any of it out.
2. The Profile Summary section.

Filly Slinko Mod > Ademola Taiwo III • 2 years ago

Great points Ademola!
It's certainly tricky condensing your resume. Maybe I'll speak to the writing team
and suggest they make a post with some tips on how to keep your resume one
page.
What do you think?

Ademola Taiwo III > Filly Slinko • 2 years ago

That would be fantastic!! Any knowledge in this regard is welcomed. Ideas
on how many achievements is ideal to be listed per position (I think I read
somewhere that about 3 or 4 is okay but shouldn't exceed 6), how long each
achievements should be (1 line or 2 lines?), should we reduce font size or
font type to buy valuable space?
I must confess, I've tried a combination of all of the above. However,

benefiting from your experience is appreciated as well.

Hey again! I think it's a great idea too. I'll make sure they have something
like that in the future!
To answer your questions, it's all a bit of a balancing act. I would definitely
stick to having less than 6 achievements if I'm aiming at a one page
resume. These achievements should also be condensed to fit one page.
Regarding the font, it's ultimately up to you. Just remember that making
your font too small could impact the readability of your resume, and give it
an express pass to the waste bin.
None of these rules are set in stone, but it's a good idea to stick to them
unless you really need to.
Kajani Ravindradas • 9 months ago

Absolutely, This is significantly helpful reading.
Filly Slinko Mod > Kajani Ravindradas • 9 months ago
Thanks Kajani!
Let us know what articles you'd love to see on our blog next!
keerthy vijayan • 7 months ago

Hi, Thanks for the information. Its really helpful. Could you please advise on below points?
1) References - Are they good to have or is it better to not have it?
2) Application mail - Do you have any email templates which i can use while sending resumes to
companies?
Thank you
Filly Slinko Mod > keerthy vijayan • 7 months ago
Thanks for the awesome feedback, Keerthy!
I'd be happy to help with your questions.
1) References are good to have available, but it's usually not necessary to include them on
your resume these days.
Many hiring managers won't bother with asking for references until after screening your
resume for a first pass, and if they need them, you'll likely be asked for them. This also
means you can skip the "references available upon request" line at the end of your
resume.
On the other hand, if you're confident that you'll be asked for referrals, or that the
application mentions them, then you can create a reference sheet; a separate document
that only contains your references on it.
2) We have just the thing for this question!
Our talented team of writers has created a guide to emailing your resume effectively, so
that you can improve your chances of getting that coveted interview phone call.
Please have a look and let us know what you think: https://uptowork.com/blog/h...
Hopefully this helps answer your questions, but if you'd like more information about
anything, feel free to let me know!
Alex JS • 7 months ago

I want to thank you guys, not only for that article, but for the whole best-resume-blog-ever! Got a
lot of useful tips here.
In our country we have this job-website, where you could just fill in you profile and most of the
employers would use it as your resume. But, recently, i decided to apply for a job in international
company, and such application requires well-written resume as well as a good cover letter. I don't
know how i would handle it without you, guys! Thank you very much!
And i got a simple basic question: What job title should I use in the header of the resume and
cover letter? Is that my current job or a position I'm applying to? And what if I have a gap for the
last six months? Should I write my last job title then?
Filly Slinko Mod > Alex JS • 7 months ago
Hey Alex! Thank you so much for the awesome feedback! It's always great to hear that our
articles are helping people out! :)
When it comes to the job title on your resume, it's always a good idea to use the title of the
j b '
https://zety.com/blog/how-to-make-a-resume
l i f 34/45
job you're applying for.
Even if you're doing a career change, or trading your position upwards, you don't want a
silly thing like the wrong job title costing you an interview.
Just make sure you have an effective resume objective, and you'll be a shoe-in!
Check our guide on resume objectives if you'd like to find out how to make yours a knock
out: https://uptowork.com/blog/r...
Divesh Bansal • a year ago

Just one point that I did not like was about the email address.
In my opinion @hotmail.com is a sophisticated email provider. Its owned by Microsoft.

Filly Slinko Mod > Divesh Bansal • a year ago

Hey there Divesh!
That's a great point, but it still doesn't help get away from the general stigma of using a
hotmail account.
If I had to guess, I'd say that it has this negative reputation both for the name (hotmail, not
exactly very professional), and because it's one of the more common early email domains.
A lot of people could see the hotmail account and think "why hasn't this person updated to
a gmail" or another email provider?
Even worse, they might think you're not totally serious, as hotmail has a reputation among
some users as being the email you use when you're trying to keep your spam away from
your main email.
In general, you're right, there's nothing wrong with a hotmail address. I use one myself all
the time. For professional purposes though? I'll either use my gmail address, or the email I
use with my custom domain.
J.D. • a year ago

Another quick question. Most online job ads have a closing date, I've always been curious to
know if recruiters look at resumes as they come in, before the closing date, and contact people
they may like, or do they wait until they have all the resumes of potential candidates and the ads
been closed to then start sifting through applications? In other words, is there any advantage to
applying well before the online ad closes?
Filly Slinko Mod > J.D. • a year ago
Hey again J.D.
There's no simple answer to this question, and it'll vary from company to company.
Our recruitment process at Uptowork involves checking our inbox daily, and scheduling
phone interviews as soon as possible.
Other companies, on the other hand, will wait until the end of the offer promotion before
reviewing resumes in bulk.
J.D. • a year ago

Hi, first off, great article. I'm looking to apply to a position within the insurance industry. I have
almost 7 years of experience within the industry, all of which is from one company where I worked
in multiple roles secured through promotions. I see that you guys touched on a good way to list
multiple roles within one company, but I'm curious if it is acceptable to only list this one company
on my resume since I've been there so long, and it is the only insurance company I've worked
for? My other work was in customer service. Lastly, how far back should someone go in their job
history for a resume? Thanks for your help.
Filly Slinko Mod > J.D. • a year ago − ⚑

Hi J.D.
That's a really good question!
The last two positions you've held are the ones that recruiters will focus on the most.
You can definitely split up your positions/roles at the one company for different experience
entries, and it's recommended you do so.
If your last position is similar to the one you're trying to get, then focus on highlighting any
skills and achievements that will transfer over.
Of course, you can always list just one position, but listing a few job titles from the same
company helps lay out your career path.
Don't go too far back into your job history; if your customer service experience doesn't
match the new position you're applying for, then don't include it unless you need to fill up a
bit of extra space on your resume.
J.D. > Filly Slinko • a year ago

Appreciate the input. Thanks!
Filly Slinko Mod > J.D. • a year ago

Hi again J.D.
No problem at all! We're always happy to help. :)
https://zety.com/blog/how-to-make-a-resume
△ ▽ • Reply • Share › 36/45
Accord Consultants • 10 months ago

Nice article, thanks for sharing... Happy to read this
Filly Slinko Mod > Accord Consultants • 10 months ago
Thanks for the comment!
We're happy to hear you enjoyed it. :)

Andrea Ligios • 12 days ago

Hello @Christian Eilers , nice one!
FYI, I've written an article on the topic ( https://www.linkedin.com/pu... ), then noticed some views
were from Zety, visited the website and found this nice article, which I've linked in mine's
comments.
Cheers
Andrew Murphy • 3 months ago

How do you include education that has not resulted in a degree? I have some classes that are
relevant, but I am unable to finish school right now. Just not sure how to include incomplete
education.
Christian Eilers Mod > Andrew Murphy • 3 months ago

Hey, Andrew, thanks for writing in!
I would still be sure to list that education, including the degree that you are aiming for. In
your case, however, I would probably write something like "Expected graduation in XXXX,"
or something to that effect. This way, you have all the potentially relevant keywords from
your coursework, and you aren't lying about it!
For a more in-depth article, check this one out: https://zety.com/blog/educa...
Hope that helps, and good luck to you!

Andrew Murphy > Christian Eilers • 3 months ago

But what if I am not attending school to complete the degree right now and have no
set plans to return? Like I said, I would like to finish it, but I have no timetable for
this right now and would like to include those relevant skills.
Christian Eilers Mod > Andrew Murphy • 3 months ago

C st a es de up y 3 o t s ago
Hey there, again, Andrew!
In this case, I would style it more like this:
New York University, New York, NY

2012 -2014
Completed 60 credits toward BA in Psychology
Then, I would follow that up with your high school info as a second
education item.
Hope that helps!

Christian Eilers Mod • 5 months ago

🏆 Featured by Zety
Hey there, thanks for reading! I hope that this "Resume 101" article was helpful for you to
learn how to write a resume!
Got any questions about how to create your resume?
Need advice on which resume sections to include or remove?
Have any other tips and advice which could be useful for resume writing?
Let us know in these comments, and we'll get back to you right away. Thanks again, and good
luck on your job search!
Katerina Ivanova • 10 months ago

choose a sophisticated email provider??? are you serious? employer might not be satisfied with
my hotmail email?
Sarah Aasland > Katerina Ivanova • 9 months ago

From my experience as a recruiter, this is absolutely true-- especially if applying for a
position in the technology field. Resumes with @hotmail or @yahoo emails are rarely
taken seriously and often get thrown out immediately.
Filly Slinko Mod > Sarah Aasland • 9 months ago

Thanks for the comment, Sarah!
It's always great to hear from recruiters who comment on our blog. :)
I hope you've been enjoying our articles!

Filly Slinko Mod > Katerina Ivanova • 10 months ago

Hi there Katerina,
Thanks for writing in with your comment!
Believe it or not, it's actually true.
Because of its age and reputation for being an email provider for spam, it comes across as
less than professional.
Microsoft themselves have even shied away from the domain, preferring their new live
address system.
Although you may love your old Hotmail account, it's certainly recommended to stick with
something like gmail, live, or your own private domain when it comes to including your
email on your resume.
Nuffs Enuff • a year ago

I'm in my mid 50's, worked as maintenance man or in the construction field for years, and then
went on hiatus for five years working under the table ocassionally. I am also 8.5 years in my
recovery from drugs and alcohol. I recently (December) graduated from college with a Bachelor's
in Social Work. I did very well in school, graduating with honors having a 3.94 gpa. I put together
one resume in my life, and that was for my field placement at a drug and alcohol rehab that I
currently volunteer at. It was as basic a resume as one could write. I am lost at where to start, and
how to fill the void of the years I hardly worked. Any suggestions? My goal is to work in the drug
and alcohol recovery field. Thanks.
Michael Tomaszewski Mod > Nuffs Enuff • a year ago
Hi!
First of all, thanks for writing in and congratulations on your recovery!
As for your resume, I'd suggest you write a strong resume objective: highlight your
impressive academic record and your current volunteer experience. For more in-depth
information on writing an effective objective, see our guide: https://uptowork.com/blog/r...
It'll be a good strategy to include your volunteer experience in the work experience section
of your resume. Write about your responsibilities and what you've accomplished as a
volunteer. Here's an article that'll show you how: https://uptowork.com/blog/v...
Also, however tempting that might be, don't try to camouflage your employment gaps. My
suggestion would be to list the dates when you were unemployed and note "Medical
Absence." Addiction is a disease, and time spent in recovery is time spent healing from
your disease.
If you're struggling with a "resume writer's block," check out this excellent piece written by
my friend, Christian: https://uptowork.com/blog/h...
see more
Brian Crain Fan • a year ago

This is such useful information to know and I am glad I found out about this thank you. What if you
have no experience within an industry and you are stuck in a job that will not allow you to grow?
Or say when a qualification is not desirable and yet when I apply I am not landing the job
interviews.
Filly Slinko Mod > Brian Crain Fan • a year ago

Hey Brian!
That's a great question.
The best thing to do in that situation is to focus on any achievements or skills from
previous positions that you can use to match the job offer for your new position.
If you are missing experience for the position you're applying for you can also mention any
courses you have taken or are planning to take to retrain for the job.
Remember to check the job offer and pay attention to any keywords that you can include
in your resume, as tailoring your resume is one of the best ways to impress a hiring
manager.
We recently wrote an article about writing a resume for students. Since they don't have
any experience, this could be a great place to look for additional ideas on formatting your
resume.
Have a look and please let us know what you think!
https://uptowork.com/blog/s...
D Rip • a year ago

Thank you for your blog; you taught me some new creative ways to refresh my old resume.
The hardest part for me is the objective-I feel like I need to lie or beg for the job I'm applying for.
Should't this part be in the cover letter?
and the resume be our skills, talents and experience?
Cross your fingers!
Filly Slinko Mod > D Rip • a year ago

Hey there, thanks for writing in!
You always want to avoid lying on your resume, and begging is never a good look for a
candidate
candidate.
Sure, the information could be included on your cover letter, but if your resume doesn't
catch your hiring manager's eye, your cover letter won't even be considered, and both files
will end up in the trash.
So what can you do? Easy: focus on your skills, talents and experience.
Your objective is a quick three sentence synopsis of who you are, what you do, and what
you can offer at a new position.
Think of your transferable skills, achievements, and any other selling points of your
experience history, and use those to impress recruiters before they even have a chance to
check your employment and education sections!
We wrote a great article that goes into even more detail so that your resume objective is
as effective as possible:
https://uptowork.com/blog/r...
Satish Choudhury • a year ago

Hi, may I know What font or theme U've used to create the above resume..?
Filly Slinko Mod > Satish Choudhury • a year ago

Hi Satish,
Thanks for writing in with your question!
The font used the resume example is Arimo, our builder's default font choice.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. :)

Kumud Ranjan • a year ago

hi Natalie, first of all thanks for your article its useful in writing good cv. I have small query, can cv
be two pages and can you provide format it would be great.
Filly Slinko Mod > Kumud Ranjan • a year ago

Hi Kumud,
Thanks! We're happy to hear you enjoyed our resume making guide. :)
Your CV can definitely be two or more pages long, but it's only recommended if you have
10+ years of experience.
If you have less than 10 years of experience, then you will want to make a resume that is
one page long for the best chance of landing an interview.
o e page o g o t e best c a ce o a d g a te e
Regarding your question about the best resume format, we wrote a fantastic article that
should help answer the question for you!
https://uptowork.com/blog/r...
Ademola Taiwo III • 2 years ago

This is the best and most comprehensive content on resume writing I've read and believe me
when I say I've a ton of content about it. Excellent work Natalie! On a different note, I would
inquire about something I read on a different article on resume writing. The article recommends
that a job seeker should frame their achievements on their current job in the present tense (e.g.
Collaborate with hiring managers on the role and skill set required to fill vacancies and ensure
that applicant qualifications are at least an 80% match to established requirements to ensure
person-to-job-fit.). While the article maintains that achievements in past jobs should be framed in
the standard past tense (e.g. Provided change management consultation for 3 companies
towards building organizations from semi-structured to structured thereby increasing productivity
by 8% and achieving a 54% employee retention rate.). What's your take on the achievements
being framed in the present tense on the current job Natalie?

Thanks for the feedback Ademola!
The article you're describing makes a good point! If you are still currently employed at your
job, you can definitely keep your current achievements and duties in present tense. The
exception to this would be if your achievement is linked to a specific time (ie: Increased
productivity of department by 35% between 2015-2016)
Return to all articles
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How To Make A Resume For A Job - Writing Guide (30+ Examples & Tips)

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12/24/2018 How to Make a Resume for a Job: Writing Guide [30+ Examples & Tips]

How to Make a Resume for a Job:

Landing an interview is a race against the clock—dozens of job

How to beat them and land that position?

Either you make a resume perfect for your situation:

Resume With No Experience • Teen Resume • Military to Civilian

Note: We have designed all our resume templates to be ATS-

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Exactly what is a resume? Sometimes spelled résumé, a resume is a

Australia tend to use the terms resume and CV interchangeably. For

If you're an international reader, switch over to: How to Write a CV

HOW TO write a GREAT RESUME! 6 TIPS that WORK in 2018

Choose a Resume Format that Fits

Instead, rst select from the standard resume formats:

The chronological resume is a traditional resume format which

Resume Tip: There are several studies that theorize relationships

Get Your Contact Information & Personal

A career diplomat knows what information should be given and

Necessary Contact Information

Name: First name, last name (middle name optional).

Recommended Contact Information

LinkedIn URL: Since it's the favored platform for professionals,

Optional Contact Information

Mailing Address: Sounds old-school, but many employers still send

Marketing speci c advice? Perhaps. But employers will look you up

Contact Information to Avoid

Introduce Your Resume with a Heading

Most Tinder users have little patience. It takes a witty statement or

That's why a professional resume heading statement is super-

Your resume summary statement or resume objective statement

Here's how to write an about me blurb that makes the recruiter

Resume Summary Statement

Got enough relevant experience? Choose the resume summary

A good resume summary works when you apply at a job in which

Let's take a look at how to write a professional summary, both right

Learn more about how to write a professional resume summary.

Resume Objective Statement

Choose the resume objective statement if you have no work

Since you don't have relevant experience to summarize, you'll

Let's looks at another set of good/bad examples on writing an

See the di erences here? The company is taking a greater chance

So you'll need to show them you have what it takes.

Remember: numbers speak louder than words!

Detail Your Work Experience on a Resume

If you think of your resume as a fancy meal, the resume experience

Let's go through the various job history components of the perfect

How to format the resume work experience section

If you look at the above infographic, you'll see our recommended

Keywords—It is important to sprinkle resume keywords throughout the

If adding more than one job history entry to your resume or CV

The work experience section of your resume where you describe

Tailoring your resume work experience

Robots are taking over.

As hiring practices continue to modernize, larger companies are

So, tailoring your resume is an absolute must, and your experience

Experienced a spell of unemployment? Don't worry! Check out our

Tailoring your resume also involves knowing how long a resume

Finally, don't use passive voice, as it feels evasive and unclear.

How much work experience to include on a resume?

Senior-level applicants, such as executives and managers, should

Mid-level job seekers should include detailed job descriptions of

Entry-level candidates should list and describe all paid work,