How to Write a Resume: Guide & Examples for 2026

How to Write a Resume in 9 Easy Steps

Writing a resume is straightforward when you know the steps to follow. Here's what you'll learn in the guide below:

1. Choose a format that's appropriate for your career goals: Decide between chronological, functional, or combination formats based on your experience and goals.
2. Pick a template with a design that highlights your professionalism: Select a visually appealing design that emphasizes your qualifications and is ATS-friendly.
3. Provide your contact information: Ensure your name, phone number, professional email, and your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio are easily noticeable.
4. Write a resume profile that pitches your best qualifications: Write a brief resume summary or objective to showcase your key achievements, skills, and career goals.
5. Demonstrate your abilities and impact with quantifiable work experience: List your previous jobs, focusing on relevant and measurable accomplishments to highlight your value.
6. Emphasize your most relevant skills: Highlight both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
7. List the highest education or training you've obtained: Include your degrees or certifications, especially if the job description mentions them as a requirement.
8. Add optional sections like awards and volunteer work: As long as you have the space and they are relevant, provide additional sections that showcase your unique qualifications.
9. Proofread your resume and save it as a PDF: Carefully review your resume for errors and save it as a PDF to preserve formatting.

Let's explore each step in more detail so you can confidently make a great resume.

Choose an appropriate format

While every resume contains the same sections—professional summary, work history, skills, and education—the resume format you use to organize them determines what the final result focuses on.

There are three standard formats:

The best resume format for you will depend on your career goals, work experience, skill set, and whether you have unique challenges like employment gaps.

But for most job seekers, the chronological resume is the way to go. This is because most employers value work experience as the best way to validate a candidate's qualifications. The structure of a chronological resume makes it easy to understand an applicant's job history and assess its relevance to the hiring manager's needs. 

For this reason, chronological resumes are also more compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Here's an example of a reverse-chronological resume format:

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While the chronological resume is the most common, functional and combination resumes both have their benefits.

For example, a functional resume can be preferable if you are an entry-level candidate with no experience. Focusing on your skills can help make your resume stand out and empower you to lean on your strengths rather than emphasizing areas where your resume is less strong.

Combination resumes are also a great compromise, especially if you have a couple of years of experience under your belt. With this format, you can still bring attention to your skills while showing that you have the experience to back them up.

Pick a template

You can make the words on the page say so much more with an eye-catching resume template. Templates provide the design and layout to put your skills, qualifications, and work experience in the best possible light.

We have many different styles to choose from. Here's an example of how a professional and stylish resume layout can transform your resume:

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Add your contact info

It may seem obvious, but you need to include your name and contact information so employers know who you are and how to reach you. 

Your resume's header is just as important as your content. It needs to be clear, prominent, and accurate so that interested employers know how to reach you for an interview.

Every resume header should include the following:

If you're in a creative industry, your header may also include:

No headers should include:

Finally, you might want to add a resume headline underneath your name. A headline includes a few words that describe your career.

Resume headline examples:

Write a summary or objective

After your contact information, it's time to quickly communicate what makes you the best candidate for the job. Think of this as your elevator pitch—something that will quickly grab a hiring manager's attention. 

In this section, you'll introduce yourself and articulate your most relevant qualifications in a brief two- to four-sentence statement that encourages the employer to learn more about you.

There are two common approaches for sharing this information—resume summary or resume objective—and the one you choose depends on your experience level. Here's a quick guide:

• Resume summary: A resume summary, also called a professional summary, provides an overview of your most relevant skills and achievements, drawing a direct connection to your fitness for the position. For this reason, it's usually the strongest choice for candidates with experience.
• Resume objective: A resume objective, also called an objective statement, is a strategic option for candidates who lack relevant experience. Instead of focusing on achievements, you use a resume objective to explain your goals, emphasize your learning journey, and describe how you intend to grow in your next role.

Here's an example of a well-written resume objective:

Here's a sample of a professional summary for an experienced candidate:

If you want more help, check out our AI Resume Summary Generator to quickly make one based on your resume. In just a few clicks, you'll have a customizable resume summary that grabs people's attention.

Describe your work history

Work history is one of the most important parts of creating a perfect resume. Employers want to know you can deliver results, and here is where you show them your track record.

Start by listing your most recent employer first and move backward. Work experience over 15 years old may not be relevant anymore, so as you get further into the past, carefully weigh the benefits of adding each job. Don't be afraid to cut an irrelevant job or add a second page to the resume if you need more space.

Customize your work experience to the job ad

To get an advantage over other job seekers in a competitive market, you need to make a targeted resume that's tailored to the position you're applying for.

A good rule of thumb is to match everything to the job description. But be honest! If the job calls for someone with strong math skills and yours aren't that great, focus on your skills that do match the position and tailor your achievements around those.

Matching your skills and experience to the job description will help your resume stand out to applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Here's a job description with some of the most important keywords highlighted—the exact words you'd want to add to your resume:

Now that you have your keywords from the job listing lined up, here's how you'd add them to your resume:

Highlight your achievements

The most valuable parts of your job history are the quantifiable achievements. Hiring managers prefer metrics over lists of job duties because they show the results of your work, suggesting you can do the same for them. 

If you're wondering how to make a resume that highlights your achievements, start by asking yourself a handful of questions.

Four questions to help you make a results-oriented resume:

Your list of answers will help you create much stronger bullet points. As you write these, focus on specific outcomes to make your achievements feel concrete, and use energetic action verbs to start each bullet point with a sense of motivation and achievement.

Here are four examples of well-written, quantifiable successes:

See how much stronger work experience sounds when you have data to back it up? Writing your work history as a list of measurable accomplishments will help you stand out from the competition and can boost interview chances by up to 40%.

Accomplishments can be hard to quantify in retrospect, especially if you don't have access to a previous employer's analytics tools, so keep careful track of them while you're working.

Next up, the abilities that make you uniquely talented: your skills.

Emphasize your most relevant skills

Skills are the lifeblood of your career. Without them, making a resume would be impossible.

The key to writing a resume that employers love is to showcase the breadth and depth of your skill set. By including a variety of soft and hard skills, the employer will recognize your versatility.

• Soft skills are personal attributes, innate abilities, and personality traits that we are born with and develop throughout our lives.

• Hard skills are practical abilities learned in school, on the job, or through training. These are the niche technical abilities that allow you to perform the specific responsibilities of the role.

Here's a side-by-side comparison to help you understand the difference:

Additionally, you should name-drop specific software or technical skills you use in your day-to-day job, whether it be Photoshop for graphic design or a working understanding of OSHA safety procedures.

For concrete hard skills, like software proficiency or programming languages, you can also include a proficiency level to indicate your expertise. Being highly proficient in a key skill area can help set your resume apart.

When matching your skills to the position, comb through the job requirements. Employers often list "Required Skills," "Essential Duties," or "Skills and Competencies," which often mix together all types of skills.

Employers also weave soft skills throughout job descriptions, like so:

It's perfectly acceptable to use a skill twice in your resume, such as in your job history and skills section, but you need appropriate context. You should only repeat the most important keywords, and you shouldn't repeat them enough to become repetitive.

For example, look at this job requirement:

In your work history section, you could add an achievement like:

Simultaneously, you can mention "organization" in your skills section.

Another example is if the job description for a server position says they expect their employees to build rapport with guests.

In that case, one way to show you can do this might be to list interpersonal skills in your resume skills section. Then, in the job history section of your resume, point out a time you were recognized for building relationships with clients, which resulted in increased sales and customer retention.

Finally, let's talk about transferable skills.

Transferable skills

Transferable skills are abilities and qualities that are valuable across various jobs and industries. Changing careers? Trying to climb the corporate ladder? Coming back to the workforce after a break? In each situation, transferable skills are your friend.

Consider the following guides to better understand some of the most popular transferable skills that can be useful for any professional.

Communication 

Clearly expressing ideas through speaking, writing, and listening supports collaboration and understanding in any setting, making communication a key skill to consider on your resume.

Teamwork

Working well with others to reach shared goals shows that you can contribute to group success and thrive in collaborative environments, which makes teamwork a strong addition to your resume.

Problem-solving 

Problem-solving skills carry over into many types of roles because many professions require the ability to find practical solutions to everyday challenges by thinking clearly and taking initiative.

Time management 

Managing your time effectively and prioritizing tasks helps you stay productive and organized, making time management a valuable skill to showcase.

Leadership

Regardless of your role, many employers will value your leadership abilities because taking the lead on tasks or guiding others shows you can motivate, support, and make decisions. 

Adaptability 

Adjusting to new situations and learning quickly signals that you're flexible and able to handle change, making adaptability extremely useful in the dynamic modern economy. 

Critical thinking

Critical thinking means analyzing information and making thoughtful decisions. Demonstrating your ability to think through difficult situations will help show employers that you can be relied upon.

Organization

Keeping tasks, deadlines, and information in order helps you stay on top of responsibilities, which makes organization a practical skill in any profession.

Project management 

A useful skill across industries, highlighting project management shows that you can coordinate work from start to finish to keep things on track.

Creativity

Thinking of new ideas or approaches shows that you can bring fresh solutions and perspectives, which makes creativity a versatile and impactful skill to highlight.

List your education or training

Listing your degrees is critical for a resume that showcases your expertise. You don't want to overload your education section with too much information, however. There are facts you should include and others you shouldn't.

Your education section should include:

• The name and location of schools you've attended
• Any degree(s) and academic honors or awards you've earned
• Relevant coursework or special projects (if you don't have much experience)

Your education section should not include:

• Your GPA (unless it's at least 3.5 and you recently graduated)
• The years you attended
• Your graduation dates, which could introduce bias into the hiring process

Sometimes, though, education isn't a straight line. For example, millions of people who started college never finished it. In that case, only include your unfinished degree if your area of study is relevant to the job; otherwise, don't include it. 

How to list an unfinished college degree on a resume:

In cases where you're still attending school, you should also include an expected date of completion: [Month] + [Year].

Here's a visual example of a strong education section:

Add optional sections

Resumes shouldn't be generic. Every candidate has unique abilities to offer, which may require adding a new section.

Perhaps you took continuing education classes or went overseas to volunteer. Maybe you joined a professional organization or a parent-student council. These are all details that belong on your resume, but where to put them?

Create new sections for any outside-the-box experiences. The key is that they must be relevant to the role you're applying for.

Common optional resume sections include:

Let's take a closer look at a couple of these optional sections.

Volunteer work

Volunteer work is a great way to distinguish yourself from other candidates. Not only does it show you care about a particular cause or community, but it also demonstrates a commitment to giving back and a willingness to go above and beyond.

Listing volunteer work on your resume is a great way to showcase your career values and align yourself with employers that value the same things that you do. Plus, it gives you a chance to highlight valuable skills like collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving.

How to list volunteer work on a resume:

Publications

Including publications on your resume can help you show your expertise and how you've contributed to your field. A list of publications supports your ability to conduct research, articulate your ideas, and share knowledge with a wider audience.

How to list publications on a resume:

Quick note: It's much more common to see publications listed on a CV. If you're writing a CV, visit our library of CV examples and choose a CV template that appeals to you.

Certifications

Certifications show that you have specialized skills and knowledge, often validating your qualifications for specific roles. Including them on your resume can make you stand out, especially in technical or highly regulated fields. In some cases, you might even want to feature your most relevant certifications in your resume header.

Here's a visual example of what your certifications section might look like:

Proofread your resume and save it as a PDF

A resume containing typos, inconsistencies, misspellings, improper formatting, inappropriate fonts, and missing information can cost you the job, no matter how strong your qualifications are.

Easy-to-catch mistakes tell the employer you're sloppy and don't pay attention to details.

There's an easy way to avoid this: Proofread every resume you write more than once. After your first glance, walk away for a while to clear your mind (ideally for an hour) and review your document again with fresh eyes to make sure everything is in order. Give it to a friend to proofread it if you can. Then, before you send your resume to employers, proofread it once more. 

When you're ready to submit your resume, save it as a PDF. Always check the job listing for the employer's preferred file type, but using a PDF is typically the industry standard.

Making your resume as a Word document or Google Doc is fine, but you should also save it as a PDF. Unlike Word documents, PDFs are very good at retaining their formatting, ensuring your document appears as intended when uploaded.

Make Sure Your Resume Is ATS-Friendly

Many employers use ATS to filter candidate resumes without actually reading them unless they match the ATS screening expectations. This means that a well-written resume can get overlooked if it's not optimized for ATS.

Before you submit your resume, follow this simple checklist to ensure your resume lands in human hands:

• Use an ATS-friendly template. Avoid overly designed resume templates with complex graphics that might not be parsed by ATS. Resume Now's resume template library is designed to give you peace of mind about your resume's layout.
• Double-check your formatting. Make sure you're using an appropriate font style without serifs so that your resume is easy for ATS to read.
• Search for targeted keywords. It's not enough to list relevant experience and skills—your resume needs to be customized for the role with keywords from the job description that show employers that you're a match for their expectations.
• Try our ATS Resume Checker. Our ATS Checker scans your resume and gives you a score based on its ATS-friendliness. Use the personalized tips to maximize your score and apply with peace of mind.

Resume Formatting Tips

Knowing how to make a resume that succeeds means knowing how to format a resume so that employers and ATS can both easily access your most relevant experience and skills. For every resume, there are certain formatting standards you will want to follow to make it look professional and ATS-friendly. These include: 

1. Font choice: Select a professional and easy-to-read font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in a size between 10-12 pt. for body text and slightly larger for headings.
2. Margins and spacing: Use 0.5 to 1-inch margins and ensure consistent spacing between sections to make your resume look clean and organized.
3. Section headers: Make your section headers stand out by using bold text, larger font size, or underlining.
4. Bullet points: Use bullet points to list achievements and responsibilities clearly and concisely.
5. Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting throughout your resume, including font sizes, bullet points, and spacing.

Want to make sure your resume will get past the applicant tracking system? Try our ATS Resume Checker so you can feel confident, regardless of the format you choose. This tool will give you an ATS score and suggestions on how to make your resume more compatible with most systems.