Your resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer. In 2026, with over 75% of resumes being filtered by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before a human ever sees them, knowing how to write an effective resume is more important than ever.
This guide walks you through every step of creating a resume that not only passes automated screening but also impresses hiring managers when it lands on their desk.
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Choose the Right Resume Format
The format you choose sets the foundation for your entire resume. There are three main formats, each suited to different career situations:
Reverse-Chronological
Lists your most recent experience first. The most common and ATS-friendly format.
Best for: Steady work history in your target field
Functional
Focuses on skills rather than job history. Less ATS-friendly but useful in specific situations.
Best for: Career changers or employment gaps
Combination
Blends both approaches with a skills section followed by chronological experience.
Best for: Experienced professionals with specific expertise
Our recommendation: Go with reverse-chronological unless you have a specific reason not to. It's what recruiters expect, what ATS systems parse most accurately, and what hiring managers scan most efficiently.
Add Your Contact Information
Your contact section should be clean and easy to find at the top of your resume. Include:
Full name
Use a larger font to stand out
Phone number
One reliable number
Email address
firstname.lastname@email.com
LinkedIn URL
Customize your URL
Location
City and state is sufficient
Skip personal details like age, marital status, or a photo (unless you're in a country where it's expected). These can introduce unconscious bias.
Write a Compelling Resume Summary
A resume summary is a 2-3 sentence overview at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant qualifications. Think of it as your elevator pitch. A strong summary includes:
Professional title & years of experience
Key skills or area of expertise
Notable achievement or value prop
“Results-driven marketing manager with 6+ years of experience in B2B SaaS. Specialized in demand generation and content strategy, with a track record of increasing qualified leads by 150% year-over-year. Seeking to leverage data-driven marketing expertise at a high-growth startup.”
“Hardworking professional looking for a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and grow in a dynamic environment.”
The first example is specific, quantified, and tailored. The second is vague and could apply to anyone. Always aim for specifics.
Detail Your Work Experience
This is the most important section of your resume. For each position, include your job title, company name and location, employment dates, and 3-5 bullet points describing your accomplishments.
The key to writing great bullet points is the Action Verb + Task + Result formula:
Notice how each bullet point includes numbers. Quantifying your achievements makes them concrete and credible. If you can't use exact numbers, use estimates or ranges.
List Your Education
For most professionals, education should come after work experience. Include:
If you're a recent graduate with limited work experience, place education above your experience section and include relevant coursework, projects, or academic achievements.
Highlight Your Skills
Your skills section helps ATS systems match you to job requirements and gives recruiters a quick snapshot of your capabilities. Organize them into categories:
Technical Skills
Programming languages, software, tools, platforms
Industry Skills
Skills specific to your field (e.g., financial modeling, UX research)
Soft Skills
Use sparingly — only if mentioned in the job description
Pro tip: Mirror the exact phrasing from the job description. If the posting says “project management,” don't write “managing projects.” ATS systems often look for exact keyword matches.
Optimize for ATS
Applicant Tracking Systems filter resumes before a human reviews them. Here's how to make sure yours gets through:
Use a simple, clean format — avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics
Use standard section headings — "Work Experience" not "Where I've Made an Impact"
Include keywords from the job description — match exact terms and variations
Save as PDF — unless the application specifically asks for .docx
Use standard fonts — Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or similar
Don't use images for text — ATS can't read text embedded in images
Use an AI resume builder like Resumei to automatically optimize your resume for ATS. It analyzes job descriptions and suggests the right keywords, formatting, and structure to maximize your match score.
Try Resumei Freearrow_forwardCommon Mistakes to Avoid
Even strong candidates make resume mistakes that cost them interviews. Here are the most common ones:
Sending the same resume for every job
Tailor your resume to each position by adjusting your summary, skills, and bullet points.
Including irrelevant experience
Focus on the most relevant roles. 15+ years experience? Skip the college internship.
Using an unprofessional email
cooldude99@email.com won't impress anyone. Use firstname.lastname@email.com.
Making it too long
One page for early career (0-5 years), two pages max for experienced professionals.
Typos and grammatical errors
Always proofread. Have someone else review it too. A single typo can get you rejected.
Listing duties instead of accomplishments
"Responsible for social media" vs. "Grew Instagram following from 5K to 50K in 8 months."
Using an outdated format
Objective statements, "References available upon request," and fancy graphics are all outdated.
Final Thoughts
Writing a great resume takes time, but it's one of the highest-ROI activities in your job search. A well-crafted resume can mean the difference between getting filtered out by an ATS and landing an interview at your dream company.
Remember: your resume is a marketing document, not a biography. Every line should be strategically chosen to demonstrate your value to the specific employer you're targeting.
Ready to put these tips into practice? Try Resumei's AI Resume Builder to create an ATS-optimized resume in minutes.
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