Avoid copying from resume samples. Your resume must reflect what makes you uniquely qualified and should speak directly to the company and the position. You’re bound to get rejected otherwise.

First, look at the job description closely to find keywords for your resume and study an example of a resume for the job you want. Notice which skills and other qualifications in the job requirements match yours. If the employer lists “nice to have” credentials, then add those too because they will help you stand out even more. But be honest!

Only choose words that genuinely reflect your employment history and skill set — chances are hiring managers will ask for details should you get an interview. Plus, your employer will expect you to put those qualifications to use if you get the job. Once you have a substantial list of keywords to use, study an example of a resume for guidance on how to place them in your resume sections.

Your resume format can help you work around a career change or a gap in your resume work history section. The functional resume format, for instance, works well for job seekers with employment gaps because it emphasizes resume skills over experience. It makes your qualifications clear to prospective employers before noticing inconsistencies in your job history.

Another way to address job changes or gaps when writing a resume is to explain them in a cover letter. In about three sentences or less, explain what you learned from your experience in a way that assures the hiring manager that you learned from it (if it’s a gap) or why you feel a new job path is right for you (if you seek a career change).

There are many ways to build a resume that stands out, but pay particular attention to the following six:

• Start by studying an example of a resume that matches your industry and desired job.

• Use the correct resume format and design for your industry and goals.

• Add quantifiable achievements, such as “Delivered an average of 45 meals per day on time and efficiently while maintaining excellent customer service.”

• Use keywords from the job description without overdoing them.

• Write a three-sentence professional resume summary or resume objective explaining who you are and what you can do for the prospective employer.

• Proofread it so that it's error-free!

Yes! You should always send a cover letter with your resume when you apply for a job unless explicitly told not to hand one in. Not only will it help you stand out but it’s also your chance to introduce yourself to the employer, explain any possible red flags on your resume (such as many short-term jobs) and show your personality. Plus, it lets you convey your enthusiasm for the job and tell the employer exactly why you want to work for them.

As you write your cover letter, use our excellent cover letter examples for content ideas, cover letter templates to find a design that matches your resume and cover letter formats to make sure your document is up to industry standards.

A good resume example will include the following:

• A header that includes the candidate’s contact information (name, email address and phone number).

• A work history section that begins with the most recent job. Each job will have bullet points highlighting significant tasks and achievements, emphasizing quantifiable results whenever possible.

• A professional summary or resume objective that encapsulates the candidate’s career and, in just a few sentences, makes the case that they are the best person for the job.

• At least one skills section, touching on the soft skills and hard skills featured in the job listing.

• An education section that showcases completed and in-progress degrees and diplomas. Job seekers with professional certifications could highlight them here or devote a separate section to them.

Those are the five resume sections that all examples of great resumes will feature. Keep in mind, however, that there are optional sections — volunteer work, foreign languages, awards — that should be considered depending on the candidate’s career history.

Definitely! Think of resume examples as starting points for ideas and inspiration as you write your resume. Let’s say you’re an administrative assistant who wants a new job. With a resume example, you will find real-world skills, work experience bullet points and professional summaries. Many job seekers copy this content, then make it their own by changing the wording, adding specific details and inserting quantifiable metrics that speak to their abilities.

Absolutely. Our resume examples are written by Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW) trained in the latest standards and practices. They stay current on new research from recruiting firms and job market experts to ensure we only share resume examples likely to get called back for an interview in 2023.

Our resume examples are fully customizable in our Resume Builder. Here’s how to make one of our examples your own:

• Move your cursor over the resume image until the yellow “Create Your Resume” button appears. Click on it.

• When the page loads, you will see two options: upload your resume or create a new one. Select the option that suits you best.

• Next, choose your level of experience and pick a template. You will be presented with recommended templates based on your previous experience. If you want more, you can always see our entire template library by clicking the “All” button.

• From there, the builder walks you through every resume section, including header, work experience, education, skills and professional summary. Based on your previous job titles, you can add recommended text to the resume and edit it to make it your own.

• When you’re finished, pay for the resume and download the document in the file format of your choice.

Your resume should be well-organized and easy to read. Here are a handful of tips for doing exactly that:

• Don’t use any flashy colors or design elements that distract from the substance of your career.

• Pick a font that is legible — Arial, Garamond and Georgia are good options. Avoid artsy fonts like Brush Script.

• Put your best content toward the top. If you are experienced, put work history near the top. If this is your first job, emphasize your skills or education section.

• Keep your resume to one or two pages. You can keep it short by including only your most relevant and impressive credentials.

• Don’t include exact street address. City and state is fine, but new resumes rarely include the precise location.

In most cases, we recommend using a reverse-chronological resume format. This resume format is by far the most popular one, so recruiters and hiring managers have come to expect it. The format is set up to showcase the work experience section and includes bullet points to emphasize achievements.

A subset of job seekers, mainly those without professional experience, should explore alternative resume formats. Functional resumes focus on skills above all else, while combination resumes strike a balance between skills and experience.

Here’s how to write your first resume:

• Choose an appropriate design. You want your resume to be easy to read and well-organized.

• Include your contact info in the header. Make sure to use an email address that sounds professional, like “[your name]@gmail.com.”

• Write a resume objective. Advertise your skills and explain what you want to achieve in the job.

• Build an education section. Start with your most recent degree. Include GPA if it’s at or above 3.8.

• Create a work history section. If you haven’t held many jobs, add volunteering, extracurricular activities and special projects to your resume.

• Highlight your skills. Make a section to include hard and soft skills you’ve picked up in and out of school.

• Add optional sections. You can bolster your resume with sections for awards or foreign languages.

• Proofread your resume. Recruiters will reject a resume for a single grammatical mistake, so read your document carefully before submitting it.