How to Make a Resume: Writing Guide & Examples for 2024

This comprehensive guide will show you all you need to know about making a resume that wows the recruiters. 

See some great resume writing tips, get inspired by helpful resume examples, and find answers to all your questions. I guarantee you’ll soon know how to build an excellent resume for any job you’re after!

In this guide, I’ll show you:

• 9-step instructions on how to make a resume for your desired job.
• 10 complete resume examples for various jobs approved by career experts.
• An FAQ section to dispel doubts about how to write a resume that hits your career goals.

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 ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Create your resume now

Use this resume template

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

After analyzing 11 million resumes created with our builder, we’ve gathered valuable insights from a diverse range of users across different industries and experience levels. Here are our top findings to help you create a more effective resume:

You can start by watching our video to get the basics of resume writing

How to Create a Great Resume Fast

I know you might be in a hurry to write a resume before the recruiter finds a perfect candidate and the job ad gets taken down. 

Here’s a short list that explains how to write a resume:

1. Choose the best resume format.
2. Add your contact information to your resume header.
3. Write a resume profile: a summary or an objective.
4. Create a detailed work history section with your most impressive achievements.
5. Highlight your education.
6. List your relevant skills.
7. Add additional sections that will prove your skills and be relevant to the job offer.
8. Include a cover letter, adding even more relevant information and achievements.
9. Proofread and send your resume in the correct format.

But first, let’s take a look at a great example of how to create a resume.

Write a perfect resume that gets you interviews. Visit our guide: How to Write a Job-Winning Resume

How to Make a Resume: Example

Now that we know what a resume should look like let’s see how to make one!

How to Write a Resume

Let’s expand the 9 resume tips listed above and dive deeper into better understanding the process behind writing an interview-worthy resume.

1. Choose the Right Resume Format

Before writing your resume, organize your information first. This will make your resume clear and attractive, increasing your chances of getting interviews. To show that information well, you need to understand how to format a resume. There are three main resume formats:

1. Reverse-chronological resume—a classic resume layout that emphasizes your work experience and professional accomplishments, listing it from the most current going backward. It’s the most popular format, and the recruiters prefer it.
2. Functional resume—a skill-based resume with a skills summary as its most important section. Used for writing a creative resume or transitioning to civilian with a military resume.

Combination resume—a hybrid of the two above, highlighting your experience and skill set. It’s best for professionals with a vast amount of relevant experience in a career change resumes and for covering employment gaps if you wish.

What’s the best resume format? It’s the chronological resume. Let me show you what it looks like.

Here’s how to write a great resume following the reverse-chronological format:

• Create even margins on your resume, 1-inch on all sides.
• Use single or 1.15 line spacing. 
• Add an extra line before and after a heading.
• Set a legible resume font, like Calibri or Verdana, in 10–12 pts. For headings, use 13–14 pts in font size.
• Exceed a resume’s page limit only when unavoidable. Stick to a one-page resume template for the best results. However, if you’re very experienced, opt for a two-page resume.
• Start with a resume header. Make it distinctive to highlight your name and contact information.
• Organize your resume categories in the following order: 
• Resume Profile (Resume Summary or Resume Objective)
• Work Experience 
• Education
• Skills
• Extra Sections
• Use up to 6 bullet points for your entries under each section.
• Find resume icons for each section or skip them altogether.
• Look for a preferred file format (PDF or .docx) in the job ad. If the company asks to send resumes in Microsoft Word .docx format, create a resume in Word.
• Save your resume in PDF format, which preserves the structure and formatting on all devices.
• Name your resume file by including the job title first, then the word resume, and lastly, your full name.

Pro Tip: Consistency on your resume draft is crucial, just like your consistency as their future employee. For example, format your dates any way you like (31 Dec, December 31, 12-2020, etc.), but follow the same throughout.

2. Add Contact Information and Personal Details

You must include essential items in the contact information section, but you should also know what not to put on a resume. Let’s go through the do’s and don’ts of your personal details.

Here’s what to keep in mind when constructing your contact information section:

• Start with your first name and last name first. 
• Provide your current or the most recent job title.
• Add your phone number and an email address. 
• Don’t add your home address, as it’s an unnecessary detail.
• Avoid adding information such as date of birth, as it could lead to ageism.
• Include your LinkedIn profile if you have one. 
• Consider adding a personal website if you have one.
• Skip adding a photo if you’re applying for a job in the US unless it’s an acting or a modeling position.
• Use a resume headline if you don’t want to go for a resume summary or objective. They usually cover that part.

See how you could arrange your header and personal details:

Pro Tip: Before a recruiter or hiring manager can look you and your employment history up, you better sanitize your online presence! That means removing any offensive posts and making private things private. While at it, optimize your LinkedIn profile to make it up-to-date and complete.

3. Start With a Resume Summary or Resume Objective

Our HR statistics report says a hiring manager will scan your resume in 7 seconds. That means the top of the page will likely have the most eye time. And that’s where the resume summary or objective statement is.

What’s the difference between these two?

• A resume summary is a 2-3 sentence paragraph that gives recruiters a gist of your relevant experience and boasts about your accomplishments in the field. The purpose of a resume and summary is to immediately draw attention to your candidacy and paint a picture of a fit applicant. It’s great for you if you’ve got more than a year of relevant experience.
• A resume objective is a short statement providing insight into the qualities and skills you can transfer to the company. The goal of an objective is to show your potential employer what you can help them achieve, considering your skill set. It’s great for you if you have little or no relevant experience. 

How to write a resume profile that makes the recruiter stop and stare? Simply follow the formulas below:

Resume Summary Formula

Objective Statement Formula

Let's take a look at how to write a professional summary with right and wrong examples for clarity:

How to Write a Resume: Summary Examples

The second example focuses on everyday duties, whereas the first one shows graphic design skills, achievements, and experience. The right example also mentions the company by name. That is a great way to make sure your resume feels personalized rather than just sent to every company out there.

Now, let's look at another set of right and wrong examples for writing a career objective:

How to Write a Resume: Objective Examples

The first example uses some transferable skills from the previous company and proud achievements, with numbers as they speak louder than words. The second one doesn’t show enough to hold the hiring manager’s attention. Plus, once again, the second example above used the first person. Avoid this in your resume.

Pro Tip: If you have enough experience, consider writing a summary of qualifications instead.

4. Create a Great Work Experience Section

The experience section includes the most important things to put on a resume, such as your work history and impressive achievements. Let me take you through the three most important aspects of creating a great work experience section on your resume.

Build Your Resume Work Experience Section in the Exact Order

1. Job title: This should go at the very top of each work history entry so that it's easy for potential employers to scan and find. Make it bold or increase the font size by 1pt or 2pts from the rest of the entry.
2. Company, city, state: In the second line, include the previous employer's company name and the city and state of your location.
3. Dates employed: Thirdly, put the timeframe of your employment there. You should add the month and the year, but there's no need to put exact days.
4. Key responsibilities: Focus on 5 to 6 essential job duties most relevant to the new job and list them in reverse chronological order. Use present tense to describe the current job and past tense to discuss previous experience.
5.  Key achievements: Often overlooked but super important. Employers know what you did. They need to know how well you did them. Say it using action verbs to reinforce your capabilities.

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.

Tailor Your Work History Entries to a Job Description 

To tailor a resume means making it as relevant to the job description as possible by including keywords taken from a job ad and scattering them throughout the resume. The idea is to create an ATS-friendly resume that will show the software you have what it takes to take on the role.

You can include the keywords that an ATS will scan and assign you a score. The more relevant keywords, the higher the score you get. That leads to getting your application seen by a recruiter.

Refer to the job description and look for resume keywords related to your responsibilities. They can touch upon the following:

• Duties (coordinate marketing campaigns, plan and implement promotional campaigns, etc.)
• Skills (project management, marketing communications, B2B marketing, etc.)
• Qualifications (5 years of experience, marketing or business-related degree, etc.)
• Qualities (creative mindset, etc.)

Later, when writing your work history section, use (or refer to) as many of the above as possible in your duties and key achievements.

Consider How Much Work Experience to Put on a Resume 

A resume should go back at most 10-15 years. But the more experience you have, the less you should worry about the length of your resume. Don't try to cram everything into a one-page resume if you're a highly experienced candidate. And don’t mention academic achievements unrelated to the role, only to land on a two-page resume.

Let’s go into greater detail:

• First-time job hunters with no work experience can still include other gigs, such as a student organization role, internship, or volunteer experience, to fill out your experience section.
• Entry-level candidates should list and describe all paid work, particularly calling out the most relevant responsibilities and achievements.
• Mid-level job seekers should include detailed job descriptions of relevant positions and mention any other roles briefly.
• Senior-level applicants, such as executives and managers, should list up to 15 years of relevant work experience and introduce each bullet point with powerful action verbs.

Pro Tip: If you don't have relevant experience, emphasize the skills you have that can apply to the job you want.

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better. 

5. Reference Your Education Correctly

Many people consider the education section an afterthought, but it's an essential part of your resume structure. Simply because it’s an excellent opportunity to prove your qualifications and gain some bonus points for relevancy.

The list below entry applies to all candidates. It entails the essentials, which is the best solution for candidates with more than a year of experience. 

Create your education section following the order below:

1. Degree: Place your highest degree first. That means leaving out the high school info if you finished a university or college.
2. University: Add the name and location.
3. Dates attended: List your dates of attendance, mentioning the month and the year. I advise against being as specific as including the days.

However, if you’re writing an entry-level resume, you should add more details to your education sections:

• Completed credits if your education is ongoing or unfinished. 
• Relevant coursework and major and minor to exhibit your knowledge of the subject matter.
• Latin honors or your awards (e.g., making the Dean's List) to show your commitment to growth.
• Relevant extracurricular activities for proof of job-related skills.
• Additional information, such as academic projects or Phi Kapa Beta.

Your resume education section could look something like this:

This example has it all: the right structure and relevant and impressive achievements backed by numbers. 

Pro tip: As for mentioning your GPA on a resume, it’s only a good idea if you graduated recently and your GPA was high enough to impress employers—at least 3.5. Otherwise, just leave it off your application. Also, don't round your GPA up.

6. Put Relevant Skills That Fit the Job Ad

The skills you include on a resume are crucial to making it relevant to the position (and attractive to employers). A good resume uses the job ad as a reference and includes relevant skills to show you're a good fit for the job. 

There are two types of skills you can include in your resume:

• Hard skills are specific abilities and know-how (e.g., Photoshop, using a cash register).
• Soft skills are self-developed, life-learned attributes (e.g., social skills, adaptability).

These comprise a skill set and a job seeker's range of skills and abilities.

How to Make a Resume: Best Skills to Include

Reread the ad for a job you’re after and pay attention to any specific skills it mentions. If you have any of them, great—those are the keywords to put on your resume.

See what skills the job ad might include:

• Communication skills: These can consist of people skills, non-verbal communication, active listening skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership skills and management skills: An ability to be a good manager, leader, and supervisor.
• Critical thinking skills: Making thought-based decisions and taking the initiative. Includes analytical skills, decision-making skills, and problem-solving skills.
• Organizational skills: A knack for planning, organizing, and seeing initiatives through.
• Transferable skills:For career changers, these are abilities you learned to carry to your new position.
• Technical skills: Knowledge required to perform specific tasks, like computer skills or clerical skills.
• Job-specific skills:Particular prowess the company specifically requires.

How to List Skills on a Resume 

There are several ways to include a list of skills. For most, a simple skills section that contains 5-6 key abilities and your proficiency level is enough:For specific job titles and technical skills, I recommend listing your particular knowledge per item to give them specific detail into the areas of the skill you excel at:

However, to really match your skill section with the job ad, follow these 6 steps:

1. Create a list of all your soft skills and hard skills examples. Don’t limit yourself; you’ll do it later.
2. Find all the skills mentioned in the job ad. 
3. Visit the company’s website and social media for more skills.
4. Write those skills down.
5. See which skills on those two lists overlap. 
6. Include up to 10 skills on your resume.

Pro Tip: You might be tempted to write your resume in ChatGPT. While AI can be helpful, you still need to put a lot of work to make it right.

7. Include Additional Resume Sections

Every good resume includes those sections above. But how to make a resume that stands out? To have a unique resume, include some extra information.

Those things can include:

• Awards and recognitions demonstrate that you're a standout candidate and a valuable addition to the team.
• Certifications and licensesverify your expertise and proficiency.
• Memberships indicate that you stay current with industry trends.
• Language skills enable you to collaborate with diverse groups.
• Publications and appearances elevate your status from professional to expert.
• Projects you participated in can easily highlight your biggest accomplishments.
• The conferences you attendedhighlight your passion for continuous learning.
• Hobbies and interests showcase your soft skills and add to your personal appeal.
• Volunteer work, according to studies, boosts employability.

Pro Tip: Should you put references on your resume? Most experts say to avoid doing so at the start of job applications, and your resume is the very first stage.

8. Complement Your Resume With a Cover Letter

You must most definitely submit a cover letter. 

Your cover letter or job application letter lets you expand upon things you need to keep brief on your resume. Also, it allows you to speak easily in standard sentences!

Most employers think more than a resume is needed to make a decision.

Here’s a brief how-to list of acing your cover letter:

• Tailor your cover letter just like you tailored your resume. Make it as relevant to the job ad as possible.
• Open your cover letter with the right introduction to capture your readers’ attention.
• Mention the company’s name and highlight your achievements
• Explain why this position is perfect for you.
• Create an enthusiastic cover letter conclusion with a powerful call to action, offering a precise date for your interview.

Pro Tip: Keep the correct cover letter length. Don’t submit anything longer than a page.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

9. Proofread and Email Your Resume the Right Way

You've got a good-looking resume, but don't send it off just yet. Here are some resume best practices to keep in mind so you can rest assured that you have the perfect resume:

1. Review your resume with this checklist to tick off all the check marks for formatting and style. 
2. Double-check your resume before sending it out. See if you have all the right sections and whether they have all you need to succeed.
3. Scan your entire application with a tool like Grammarly to check for spelling or grammar mistakes.
4. Ask a friend or family member for help. Better safe than sorry!
5. Personalize your email with the name of the person reading your resume. Sending a resume is much more compelling when you avoid To Whom It May Concern.

Now, you wish you had an email template for emailing a resume? Say no more: 10+ Email Examples for Emailing a Resume.

10+ Resume Examples for Various Jobs

Now that you know all the resume dos and don’ts, let me show you what you can achieve by following it. See the examples depicting how to build a resume for different types of jobs:

1. Accounting Assistant Resume

See Text Version & Guide

2. Data Engineer Resume

See Text Version & Guide

3. IT Specialist Resume

See Text Version & Guide

4. Manager Resume

See Text Version & Guide

5. Office Administrator Resume

See Text Version & Guide

6. Paralegal Resume

See Text Version & Guide

7. Sales Associate Resume

See Text Version & Guide

8. Teacher Resume

See Text Version & Guide

9. Technical Writer Resume

See Text Version & Guide

10. User Experience (UX) Designer Resume

See Text Version & Guide

Our guide serves to write a resume for any job. However, making a resume for your specific situation is ideal for maximum efficiency. Check out a few of our guides; they may also apply to you:

• Resume With No Experience
• Teen Resume
• Student Resume
• College Application Resume
• College Student Resume
• Internship Resume
• Resume for a Part-Time Job
• Entry-Level Resume
• Resume With Employment Gaps
• Federal Resume
• US Resume
• Canadian Resume

If you’re an international reader, you can also switch over to:

• How to Write a CV
• How to Write a Biodata

Pro Tip: In case you wondered! What the US and Canada call a resume, most of the world calls a curriculum vitae (CV). South Africa, India, New Zealand, and Australia interchange the terms resume and CV. Read about the differences between a resume and a CV for more.

Key Takeaway

Time for a quick summary. Here's how to write a professional resume:

1. Select the correct resume format.
2. Start with a resume header containing your name and contact information.
3. Create a summary or an objective, shortly describing your qualifications.
4. Include your professional experience.
5. Describe your relevant education.
6. List your hard and soft skills relevant to the job you’re after.
7. Add extra sections that will impress the recruiter.
8. Write a cover letter to add more details to your application.
9. Use Zety's easy resume helper to write your resume in no time. More than eighteen resume examples and templates are there to guide you, with tips and advice along the way.

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your resume preparation!

Have any questions on how to do a resume? Not sure how to make the perfect resume work experience section or how to build a resume list of skills or achievements? Reach me in the comments below, and I'll answer your questions. 

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• Leisurejobs.com, "cognitive trajectories: Analysis from a UK ageing cohort"
• Das.iowa.gov, "Drafting Essential Functions"
• Christopher Spera, Ph.D.; Robin Ghertner, M.P.P.; Anthony Nerino, M.A.; Adrienne DiTommaso, M.P.A., "Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?"

How to Write a Resume FAQ

What is a resume? 

A resume, also referred to as a résumé or a CV, is a document summarizing a person’s professional and academic background, relevant skills, and accomplishments. It’s usually used to introduce yourself and present your qualifications to a prospective employer when applying for a job.

Do you need a specific type? Zety’s prepared hundreds of resume examples, from an entry-level resume to a software engineer resume to a video resume. Visit our page to find your own.

How to make a good resume for a job? 

First, read the job ad carefully to pick up keywords for your resume that you’ll target to pass the Applicant Tracking Software test. Next, create resume sections necessary to present yourself, your qualifications, and your strengths. The sections are:

• Personal details
• Professional summary or resume objective
• Employment history
• Education section
• Skills section
• Other, such as awards, certificates and licenses, or language skills

Depending on the industry and experience, you’ll have to think about which additional sections work best. But you definitely can’t write a resume without the other five. You can spare yourself the worry by using our resume maker.

How to write a resume with no experience? 

Write your first resume with transferable skills and resume objective sections. In the work history part, add accomplishments examples that prove your qualities of a valuable employee, such as curiosity, eagerness to learn and assist, and developed communication skills. Internships and volunteering placements fit there perfectly. And most importantly—put your academic achievements right below the objective to highlight your educational advancement.

How to write a resume that stands out?

Creating a standout resume can be tough, but these strategies can help you catch a recruiter's eye. Here are some quick tips:

• Choose the right resume format.
• Target a resume for each job offer.
• Use strong action verbs.
• Showcase measurable achievements.
• Keep the right resume length. 
• Incorporate relevant resume keywords.
• Emphasize your unique strengths.
• Follow a professional resume layout.

How to build a good resume that will impress recruiters? 

An impressive resume is a resume that reads well and looks so, too. So before you get down to writing the nitty-gritty details of your professional and academic achievements, take care of the resume formatting and layout.

Only then move on to adding the biggest successes under each section: resume profile, experience, education, and skills. But—additional parts make the strongest impression, so don’t forget to include awards, certifications or licenses, or extracurricular activities to your resume. Say you’re an achiever, not a doer.

How long should a resume be?

A resume should be one page long: that’s the ideal length of your resume. However, if you have a lot of relevant experience that will impress the recruiter, finding the right one-page resume template might not be enough. In that case, write a two-page resume instead.

What is the format of a resume? 

The chronological format is the most popular resume format suitable for every job applicant—an entry-level position, a specialist, or an executive. By choosing it, you decide to show off your career progression.

Functional format, or skills-based resume, presents you in the best light when changing careers. It concentrates on your skillset and leaves work history in the back seat.

Combination format, aka a hybrid, is a well-blended mixture of chronological and functional formats. It’s the most complex one to write as it includes a skills summary and an extended experience section, which is apt for senior positions.

What is the best resume format?

The reverse-chronological resume format is the best choice. It lists your work experience and education, starting with the most recent and moving backward. Here’s why it works well:

• Recruiters are familiar with it and can easily skim through it.
• It highlights your most relevant experience and achievements at the top.
• It's the most ATS-friendly resume format, making it easy for recruitment software to process.

All of Zety’s modern resume templates use this format. Just fill in the blanks, and you'll be ready to apply for your dream job in minutes!

How to make a resume in Word? 

You can spare yourself the trouble and use a pre-made Word resume template. But if you have quite some experience with text formatting (and plenty of time), start making your resume in Word. Create a clean layout, choose a font that reads well, and limit the number of graphic elements on the page so as not to overwhelm the ATS. Then, add the main and additional resume sections in an order suitable for theresume format. Save it in a Word or PDF file at the end, keeping in mind the instructions from the recruiter.

Or, if you need a top-notch resume that takes just minutes to make and looks better than any Word resume, pick one of Zety’sresume templates, add your info, and land that job.

How to write a resume in Google Docs?

Here's how to access free resume templates in Google Docs:

1. In Google Drive, select “New” → “Google Docs” → “From a template.”
2. Alternatively, in Google Docs, find “Template gallery” in the top right-hand corner.
3. Scroll down and find “Resumes”.

If you can’t see the templates, change your display language to English:

1. Go to “Manage Your Google Account” → “Personal Info” → “General Preferences for the Web/Language.”
2. Click “Edit” and select English.

Choose a Google Docs resume template to build a simple resume. However, if you're looking for a creative resume template, we recommend using our resume builder instead. It allows you to choose color, font, and size, offering great personalization to each document.

What does a good resume look like in 2024? 

In 2024, you need to make an even stronger impression than in previous years. Find the best resume template and include the most important sections: personal information, summary or objective, employment history, education, and skills. Add your best achievements under each section and quantify them. Show your future employer that you’ve had an impact and will continue to bring results.

How to make a free resume?

To create a free resume, use the Zety resume builder. Our online builder offers ready-to-use content suggestions and an application wizard. Anyone can create a resume and preview it to see the final result. The only paid feature is downloading the document.

Can I use AI to write a resume?

You can use AI for resume writing but don’t rely on it completely. Artificial intelligence can help you edit your document, find mistakes, and shorten it. However, you still need to correct all made-up information. AI won’t know you, your experience, and your achievements as well as you do. Using AI resume builders might help you with writing your resume, but it won’t write a resume for you.