14 Resume Writing Tips to Get Your Foot in the Door in 2024

If you're not getting an interview or being constantly turned down for jobs you're applying for, it's time to fix your resume.

It’s common knowledge that recruiters spend less than 10 seconds reviewing your resume—with the latest eye-tracking study putting that number at 7.4 seconds. With such a small window, you have to make a great first impression quickly.

Your resume must highlight key achievements and skills while aligning with the role. It's more about what you include and how you present it than some fancy design to trick applicant tracking systems (ATS).

In this guide, we'll teach you how to write the perfect resume from start to finish.

14 resume writing tips to create a standout resume

We spoke to some of the best resume writing experts in the game to bring you tips to help you create an effective resume. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Choose the right resume format for your industry

You need to keep the job role and industry in mind before choosing your resume format. The format you choose will be determined by the type of role you're interested in and your experience level.

There are three main resume formats to consider:

• Chronological resume

• Functional or skills-based resume

• Combination resume

Reverse chronological

This type of resume lists your work experience and qualifications in reverse chronological order, with your most recent achievements or roles listed first. This is the most common resume style, and it's perfect for those with a lot of relevant experience.

Functional resume

The skills-based format is ideal if you lack relevant job experience as a student or recent graduate or you’re undergoing a career change. As opposed to the more popular chronological format, your relevant skills are listed first.

Combination

A combination resume is an alternative for job applicants with a wide range of skills.

It's beneficial if you're applying for a position needing experience in three or four different areas and want to demonstrate this in your resume.

2. Make sure you have quantifiable achievements and hard skills listed

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for one thing: proof that you can do the job you've applied for. So you need to show them that by listing the impact you've had in previous roles.

“My #1 tip is to showcase your results,” says Viktoriia Prydatko, tech recruiter and HR specialist at HireDevelopersBiz, a tech recruitment marketplace. "For example, if you increased sales by a certain percentage, implemented cost-saving measures, or received recognition or awards for your work, include these details in your resume. Potential employers are just seeking the value you can bring to their organization, so it works."

Also, make sure you quantify these aspects so that the recruiter can see the tangible outcome of your work. Take a Sales Manager, for example, whose day-to-day duties would include:

• Cold-calling to generate leads

• Managing current company clients

Quantifying the achievements would look like this:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs for 25%+ for 4 months in a row

• Generated over $27,000 in sales in just 1 month

Highlight your hard skills to complement these achievements. You can include the following:

• Technical skills

• Language proficiencies

• Certifications

• Expertise in specific software or tools

3. Ditch the objective or summary unless you’re personalizing it

An objective statement takes more space on your resume, so if you have nothing substantial to add, you can forget about it.

But if you have a personalized statement to offer that meets the job requirements, add it.

“Write your resume summary with the specific employer in mind,” says Samuel Johns, CPRW and Recruiting Manager at CV Genius, a resume builder. “As the first part of your resume that the employer sees, your summary is a golden opportunity to demonstrate that you understand the employer's needs and have the skills to address them.”

“Think carefully about the challenges the employer is trying to address by hiring a new employee and how your expertise fits into the equation.”

Avoid using vague or cliché statements that could apply to any candidate. Instead, use this space to showcase your unique value proposition and grab the recruiter's attention.

4. Use an inverted pyramid structure to discuss achievements

Consider using an inverted pyramid structure when highlighting your achievements on your resume.

“Follow an inverted pyramid structure when detailing your work experience,” says Kris Lippi, founder of I Sold My House, a real estate agency. “Write 4 achievements in bullet points for your most recent role and 3 points for the role before that. Keep reducing a bullet point for each previous role.”

Starting with the most impressive and relevant accomplishments at the top of each section and then gradually moving towards less significant ones. It lets recruiters and hiring managers quickly grasp what you've achieved in the past and if you'd be a good fit for the role.

Begin each achievement with a strong action verb like "implemented," "spearheaded," or "organized." Then, explain the outcome of your work in a bullet point.

5. Include a relevant resume section to use as a resume template

While tailoring your resume to the job you're applying for is important, you must also work smart. Make sure you have a resume that includes all the relevant sections that you can cut and paste or shorten for different job applications.

Here’s a list of sections a professional resume should have:

• Resume header: First and last name, Email address, Phone number, Links to portfolio/LinkedIn profile

• Summary or resume objective: Offer a 2 sentence summary that uses a framework like, “[Type of professional] seeking a position at [company name] to [action verb] [key skills/experiences] bring in [outcomes/value proposition].”

• Work experience: Include the job titles, years of experience, company name, location, key achievements, and years you worked there.

• Skills section: Include hard skills like software or certifications and soft skills like communication and teamwork to match your strengths. It should indicate you have the know how to do the job well.

• Education: Add your education in reverse chronological order and limit it to university (unless you're a high school graduate). If you're a newer graduate, include awards or relevant courses.

• Miscellaneous: You can also include sections like language, hobbies and interests, volunteer work, publications and projects to set it apart. However, limit it to less than a quarter of the page.

6. Be straightforward and use a clear structure for the resume

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is cramming too much information or making things up on the go. If you're applying for a role, you'll have better luck being honest about your capabilities and presenting the information.

"I've been a hiring manager for the last nine years, and I absolutely never remember or give my attention to basic, boring resumes," says Martin Kanaan, head of marketing and business development at Mako Lab, a consultancy. When I see a resume, I don't want a wall of text, and I think many other employers might feel the same. Try to stand out, especially visually, with your resume. A list will work well."

It shows your clarity of thought and makes it easier for the recruiters to review your resume quickly.

Kanaan adds, "Many candidates think writing an essay will convince me. It won't. I want to see if you're qualified immediately and if you will match my team. If you pass these two checklist points, I might want to read your essay."

Organize your resume into clear sections, such as:

• Education

• Work experience

• Skills

• Achievements

• Certifications/publications

• Projects

7. Tailor your resume to the position you’re applying for

Generic, one-size-fits-all resumes are less likely to grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. These resumes typically fail to demonstrate how your skills and experiences align with the job’s requirements.

Instead, personalize the resume to the role you’re applying for. For example, if the job description mentions the need for strong project management skills, focus on your experiences that align with this skill.

“I've seen resumes that include objective statements with generic information like ‘Seeking an exciting position with a growing company where I can utilize my training and education,’” explains Alicia Mitchell, resume writer and career coach at Spark Resumes, a resume writing consultancy. “These resumes don’t present any information that shows what type of role you're targeting or that you can do the role.”

Adjust the order of your resume to prioritize sections that offer the most relevant information. For example, if a position requires specific certifications, push that section to the top. Or if a specific job meets the job duties, highlight that first.

8. Format your resume with ATS in mind

Many companies use ATSs even at a relatively smaller stage. It helps them streamline their recruitment process and automate the most time-consuming parts of it. But that also means you need to format your resume accordingly.

Travis Taborek, a contributing writer at Workable, a talent acquisition software company, recommends removing any images or graphics from your resume. "It confuses Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and can get you rejected right off the bat," says Taborek.

Plus, the document needs to be easy to parse, so avoid adding unnecessary tables or fancy layouts.

In addition, use relevant keywords from the job description to indicate fit. If you use industry-specific or job-specific keywords, your application can pass the ATS and get you to the next round of the hiring process.

9. Use AI to build your resume—but do so cautiously

Artificial intelligence (AI) has done a lot for the hiring process, as many tools help you analyze job descriptions and craft resumes. In some cases, it even offers tailored suggestions to improve your resume.

While it’s great for saving time and effort in the application process, you also need to be careful about how you use it.

When asked about a common mistake applicants make while writing resumes, John mentioned AI-generated content.

“I'm very supportive of applicants in their job search using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to improve their resumes — but resumes that are generated without any thought or personalization get an immediate rejection email from me,” explains John.

In this case, review the content so that it’s in line with your voice and tone. A good resume doesn’t read like it has come from a bot—so refine the output accordingly.

10. Highlight recent professional development opportunities

In a separate section of your resume, highlight any recent professional development opportunities you’ve taken up. A few examples include:

• Courses

• Workshops

• Conferences

• Certifications

Don't just include everything you've done. Instead, choose the ones most relevant to the job you're applying for. This way, it'll be easier for the recruiter to see that you're keeping up with industry changes and re-skilling as needed.

“Highlight your adaptability and continuous learning,” says Alari Aho, founder and CEO of Toggl, a time-tracking software. “In today’s fast-paced work environment, showing that you can learn quickly and adapt to new tools or methodologies is invaluable.”

“For example, mentioning how you mastered a new programming language or project management tool on the job can demonstrate your willingness to grow and tackle new challenges, a trait highly valued at dynamic companies.”

This can set you apart from other candidates and show employers you are dedicated to growing and excelling in your field.

11. Explain unemployment gaps and address them upfront

Having employment gaps is normal, but that doesn't mean you gloss over them completely.

Gates Little, CEO at altLINE Sobancos, a financing solution, says that resumes that don't address these gaps tend to go to the bottom of the pile.

“Some candidates try to hide them with vague or missing dates, but every employer understands that gaps and short experiences happen,” explains Little. "You're much better off addressing them upfront so you don't look like you're trying to conceal a dark mark on your work history."

One way to do that is to include a brief explanation about how you've filled those gaps with meaningful activities, such as volunteering, parenting, online courses, etc. It gives a much better look than a blatant gap in years.

Little also shares, “Quickly address an employment gap in your cover letter to show your conscientiousness, and include the skills you honed during that gap.”

12. Keep your resume short and highlight the most relevant aspects

When we asked hiring managers and recruiters what their number one pet peeve was with resumes, they all mentioned long resumes.

Typically, one or two page resumes are common—and anything above that is unnecessary. Longer resumes with no white space take too long to go through the ATS and review manually. Plus, it shows your inability to communicate effectively.

"I prefer single-column resumes because it's the easiest layout for my eye to scan from top to bottom," says John. "If you want to keep your resume length to one page, though, a two-column layout will keep things more concise."

When formatting your resume, John recommends using a 1:2 ratio, placing shorthand sections like the header and skills in the slimmer column.

“This will enable me to focus on the most important part of your resume—your work experience—and it'll reduce the amount of negative space on the page,” explains John.

13. Don’t forget to proofread your resume for errors

If long resumes are a no-go, resumes with grammatical errors come in second place. A resume with such issues can quickly undermine your credibility—no matter how qualified you are.

It also messes with the processing of your resume, as the ATS may not be able to read important keywords if they’re misspelled.

You'd be surprised how simple it is to make a small error and how difficult it is to detect one in your writing. Start by reading over your work multiple times, and be on the lookout for any spelling or grammatical errors.

It’s also a good idea to give your work to someone so they can proofread it. You can also use software like Grammarly and ProWritingAid or Microsoft Word's built-in editor to check for mistakes.

Here’s a handy checklist to help with the process:

• Add your correct contact information

• Don’t add sensitive information like photos

• Keep the length to a maximum of 2 pages long

• Use popular fonts like Arial or Times New Roman

• Make sure the fonts are above 10pt with sufficient spacing

• Use a professional design that’s black and white

• Make sure it includes relevant sections

• Include measurable accomplishments in your job experience section

• Address the requirements identified in the job description

• Check if it’s free of typos and grammatical errors

• Format the information in bold and italics where relevant

14. Save your resume in standard formats only

After you’ve proofread your resume, it's time to save it—preferably as a PDF file (.pdf). Even if you use fonts that aren't available on the hiring manager's device, saving your work as a PDF will maintain its formatting.

A few ATS reject PDF files, so keep a backup MS Word (.docx or .doc) file handy. If the job posting specifically requests a resume in Microsoft Word (DOCX) or another format, follow those guidelines.

Save the file on your computer or hard drive for easy access. Also, carry physical copies of your resume to interviews.

Your resume's file name should be simple and obvious, making it easier for the hiring manager to locate. The usual format is [Name—Resume], which would look like this: "Sarah Clarke—Resume."

Avoid saving your resume in less common or proprietary formats, such as Apple Pages (.pages), Google Docs, or OpenOffice (.odt). These may not be compatible with all systems and could hinder the accessibility of your application.

Land your dream job with these resume-writing tips

Your resume is essential to showcasing vital information to prove you're the right person for the job. Thankfully, after reading this guide, you know what to put on your resume and where to impress any hiring manager in a competitive job market.

Following the steps outlined above will bring you closer to landing your dream job than ever before. All you have to do next is ace your phone screen interview, and the position will be yours.

Also, getting your resume reviewed or written by a professional is always best, as they tend to have a better idea of what hiring managers are looking for.

If you need help with a resume writing service, sign up to Fiverr for free today.