6 Steps: How To Make A Resume In 2024 (With Examples)

Learn how to make the best resume possible so that you can get your dream job. All it takes is a little persistence and an understanding of how to write a resume effectively.

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Prepare Writing Resume

Before writing a resume, taking the necessary steps to ensure it’s great is important.

Make a List

Since your resume will reflect your past experiences, a good place to start is making a list of:

        • Previous jobs, with job title, company name and dates of employment.
        • Skills you’ve acquired through jobs, education and training.
        • Accomplishments and quantifiable achievements you’ve attained.
        • Education degrees, certifications, licenses and trainings.
        • Review resume examples for your desired role.

Study the Job Description

You should tailor your resume to a specific job opening to increase your chances of success. This will help you stand out and make your resume ATS-friendly.

Take the job description and identify the skills, experience, qualifications and other buzzwords the employer seeks in that role. Prioritize including these keywords in your resume if you have them.

Also, you may have the skills and experience, but you use different words or phrases. It is a good idea to reword and match the terminology to make it more obvious to the recruiter, hiring manager, or applicant tracking system (ATS) that you are a great candidate.

Choose a Resume Format

Once your prep work is complete, you need to learn which resume format is the best fit for you. How you write your resume depends on your chosen format to highlight your best attributes.

        • Chronological: The chronological format focuses on the work experience section. This format is ideal for candidates with a long and consistent career of more than 10 years. You should emphasize all the accomplishments and experiences you’ve gained in your previous roles.
        • Functional: The functional format is all about skills, meaning that candidates should spend much time crafting their multiple skills sections. This format can be helpful for candidates who just came out of college or have little formal experience.
        • Combination: When writing a combination resume, you place equal focus on both the work experience and skills sections. Career changers or candidates looking for promotion do well with a combination format since it shows how well-rounded they are as professionals.

It is important to note that most recruiters, hiring managers, and applicant tracking systems prefer the chronological format. Therefore, we recommend it for most job applications.

If you think you lack the work history to fill out a chronological resume, consider how you can highlight your transferable skills through experience.

When using either the functional or combination formats, make sure you are doing it because it is the best way for you to highlight your qualifications.

How To Write A Resume

After your prep work, it is time to make your resume. To write a great resume, you will want to follow seven simple steps:

sections-of-CV

Step One: Contact Information

Your resume contact information goes in the header of your document, which includes:

        • Your full name.
        • Your location (city and state/country).
        • Your phone number.
        • Your professional email address (preferably something that has your name in it).
        • Your LinkedIn profile and/or any other professional social media.

Make sure your contact information stands out and is easy to read without taking up too much valuable space. The reader should be able quickly gather all that they need.

Step Two: Summary or Objective

A resume profile, also known as a resume heading or headline, is a brief statement (one to three sentences long) that provides an overview of who you are and why you are qualified for the job. There are two types of resume headlines you can choose:

        • Resume summary: A resume summary discusses your past work experiences and the most relevant skills or achievements for the job. A resume summary is a good choice for those who have the experience and want it to be made clear right away.
        • Resume objective: A resume objective reveals why you are applying and what transferable skills and experiences you have to offer. Due to this, a resume objective can be used if you don’t have a lot of professional experience or are changing careers.

In both cases, you can also include what value you offer and wish to gain from employment.

Do your best to address your qualifications and the needs of the employer. A well-written resume profile can help the reader quickly understand that you deserve further attention.

Here is an example of what a good resume summary can look like:

“Results-driven and seasoned software developer with over 10 years of experience, spanning dynamic roles in both startup and corporate environments. Proven expertise in crafting robust and scalable solutions, with a specialization in API development. Demonstrated proficiency in leading cross-functional teams, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products, with a passion for cutting-edge technologies to a forward-thinking organization.”

And here is how you might write a resume objective:

Recent graduate from an accredited nursing program, eager to apply academic knowledge, clinical experience, and compassionate nature to a dynamic and challenging role as a Registered Nurse (RN) in an emergency room setting. Passionate in providing high-quality patient care by leveraging my education, hands-on experience, and commitment to delivering prompt and effective medical assistance in critical situations and working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to make a positive impact on patient outcomes.”

Step Three: Work History

When listing your work experience, you will work in reverse chronological order, which means you start with your most recent job title and work backward.

Each entry in the work history section of your resume should include:

        • Job title.
        • Name of employer.
        • Location.
        • Dates employed.
        • Bulleted information about responsibilities and accomplishments (if you are using the reverse chronological or combination resume formats).

The work experience section is one of the most important parts of your resume. It offers credibility that backs up your claims and gives the reader context into what type of employee you are.

Therefore, there are several key points that you want to keep in mind when writing about your work history on your resume:

        • Keep everything relevant: Don’t list any experiences or responsibilities that have nothing to do with the job you are applying for. You may need to provide work experiences to explain gaps in your resume, but even in this case, look for ways to highlight any transferable skills so that you keep your resume focused.
        • Use words and phrases found in the job description: Even if you have the skills and experience, if you don’t match the job description’s wording, the ATS or reader may not make the connection.

For example, a job description may ask for “social media advertising experience” and your resume may say “experience in social media marketing”, which may or may not be picked up by the ATS or reader. In this case, you would want to change your words to reflect the job description exactly.

        • Provide quantifiable achievements: Don’t just list off your responsibilities for a job. Show what type of impact you had and what value you brought to the position with specific metrics. This adds excellent context and credibility to your qualifications.

Additionally, it helps your resume stand out because it makes your experience more unique.

Be as specific as you can with your accomplishments. Provide details such as amounts, growth rates, and revenue earned.

        • Use appropriate action verbs: Boring or cliche verbs will make your resume blend in with the rest. The right action verbs can add energy to your words. Pick verbs that appropriately describe your responsibilities. Look in the job description and see if there are any verbs you can use to match.

Together, these key points will help keep your resume ATS-friendly and easy to read. An applicant tracking system works by parsing through a resume for specific criteria, usually based on what is found in the job description. That is why you want to provide the exact terminology.

The recruiter or hiring manager who reads your resume will only be interested in information that shows off your value, so everything should be relevant and stand out from the page. Most readers will skim your resume quickly, so give them a reason to pause and consider you further.

Here is an example of what a work history section on a resume may look like:

“High School Math Teacher | North-South High School, Faketown, NY | September 2011 – June 2023

        • Spearheaded an innovative curriculum redesign, resulting in a 15% improvement in standardized test scores among students.
        • Incorporated technology-driven teaching methods, boosting student engagement by 20% and fostering a more dynamic learning environment.
        • Implemented a proactive classroom management approach, leading to a 25% reduction in behavioral incidents and creating a more conducive atmosphere for learning.
        • Collaborated with the math department to develop and implement targeted interventions for struggling students, contributing to a 10% increase in overall student performance.
        • Initiated and facilitated a successful after-school math club, attracting 30% of the student body and improving enthusiasm for mathematics outside regular class hours.”

Step Four: Education

The education section of your resume includes:

        • Name of the institution.
        • Location (city, state/country).
        • Type of degree.
        • Area of focus.
        • Years attended or graduated (optional)
        • Honors (optional)
        • Relevant coursework or projects (optional)
        • GPA (if notable)

Generally, you will want to keep this section short. However, if you lack professional experience, you can use the education part of your resume to showcase relevant qualifications, such as coursework or projects.

Step Five: Skills

On your resume you can divide your skills into two different categories:

        • Hard skills: Hard skills relate to specific abilities and are quantifiable. They generally result from specific types of job experiences. Hard skills stand out on resumes, so include your most relevant ones. Examples include technical skills, programming languages, project management software, other computer skills, or certified procedures.
        • Soft skills: Soft skills are transferable interpersonal skills. They are harder to quantify, which means they are harder to prove on a resume. Therefore, save most of your soft skills for the job interview. Examples include communication, time management, and empathy.

When you choose which of your skills to list, focus on the ones the job description asks for. It is recommended to list between six to ten skills that help you tailor your resume.

Step Six: Additional Sections

Sometimes you may need to include additional sections to your resume to showcase your qualifications better. Such sections include:

        • Awards.
        • Certifications.
        • Volunteer work.
        • Research projects and publications.
        • Conferences attended.
        • Relevant hobbies.

Only add additional sections if you can justify their relevance. Otherwise, any information should be placed in the work experience section or skills section of your resume.

Resume Examples To Help You Write

Writing a resume can be made easier with the help of some examples. Especially if you can find one for the same job title or industry.We have resume examples for almost any profession. Listed below are some of our most popular. Check out our entire collection of free and premium resume examples for even more options.

After You Write Your Resume

After writing your resume, you obviously need to review it. Don’t just hand it a resume without checking it for:

        • Spelling mistakes.
        • Grammatical errors.
        • Format issues.
        • Irrelevant information.
        • Information that can be tailored to the job.

Also, consider asking someone to proofread your resume. Another perspective can help spot issues you may have otherwise missed.

If you can, ask someone with experience reviewing resumes, especially if it’s related to the job you are applying to. This could be a family member, a friend, a coworker that you trust or a third-party consultant.

Even if the person doesn’t have the greatest experience reviewing resumes, it is still helpful to get feedback.

Let Us Build Your Resume

If you want to make a resume fast, try our builder. With the help of career experts, our resume builder automates the writing process. All you need to do is answer a few questions, then customizable suggestions will fill in the rest!

Tips For Writing A Resume

When writing your resume, keep the following tips in mind so that you can be sure you are maintaining a high level of professionalism:

        • Be consistent and use standard format choices: You want your resume to be easy to read, which means the reader should expect a layout with one-inch margins with single to 1.15 spacings, professional typeface such as Arial or Times New Roman, 14 to 16-point font for headings and 11 to 12-point for regular text, have both DOC and PDF file versions available.
        • Tailor your resume to the job: Make sure all the information on your resume is relevant to the job you’re applying for, and revise any skills or experience to meet their wording.
        • Quantify when possible: This is especially true for the work history section. Employers and recruiters love to see quantifiable information because it makes your resume more specific and provides unique context to the value you offer.
        • Be ATS-friendly: Unless you know for certain that someone will read your resume (such as if you directly email a recruiter or hiring manager), assume an ATS will first scan your resume.
        • Ask for feedback: Have a trusted friend, family member, or coworker look over your resume. It can be extra helpful if they have relevant experience in your job or industry however this isn’t necessary. You can still get some good help by having another pair of eyes spotting things you may have missed.

Make A Resume With Our Templates

Save yourself from the headache and let our free and premium resume templates make your next resume look professional and engaging.

Refined

This simple layout features a traditional font and the clever use of section borders to help each section of your resume stand out

Standout

This distinctive two-column resume template identifies your name and professional experience in a bold color and clean presentation.

Original

A clever design that breaks each of your professional accomplishments into distinct sections while following a format that will pass applicant tracking systems.

Acclaimed

The elegant initials, simple header and strategic use of bullet points in this template help keep your professional accomplishments well-organized.

Accentuate

The bold use of a colorblocked heading paired with an elegant resume layout helps your name and contact information stand out.

Insightful

This structured design combines a two-column approach with bullet points to highlight your key accomplishments and professional history.

Whitespace

A traditional template uses a crisp combination of dark text and thin borders to radiate professionalism. Your name sits prominently above your professional history.

Knowledgeable

This template’s design features plenty of whitespace neatly divided by gray bars to make the information on your resume easy to read for employers.

Remarkable

This two-column resume conveys a very clear breakdown of its sections that allows a hiring manager to quickly scan your resume.

Bold

The subtle color accents in this template add visual pizzazz in a classy way, a great option for most traditional industries.

Emphasized

This resume’s modern design and bold use of color make it pop. Its uniqueness is well-suited to those seeking jobs in creative industries.

Centered

Everything about this template is assertive from the boxy layout to its all-caps heading text that gives the impression that you’re all about business.

Pacific

The understated contact information at the top puts attention front and center on your professional summary, skills, work experience and education sections.

Artistic

The subtle use of red alongside black gives this template a bold feel while still featuring plenty of white space to make it easy to read.

Resume Writing FAQ

Updated: December 15, 2023

To make your own resume you will want to:

  • Choose a resume format.

  • Add your contact information.

  • Write a resume summary or objective statement.

  • Provide detail about your work experience.

  • Provide your education history.

  • Write down your most relevant skills.

  • Include any additional relevant information such as volunteer experience, certifications, and awards.

Every resume should have at least five sections for contact information, resume profile, work history, education and skills.

How much emphasis you place on skills or experience will determine your resume format. There are three choices:

Combination: Equal focus on both work history and skills.

A resume should be one to two pages long, with most resumes staying under one page. If you have over ten years of experience your resume can be longer than one page. Additionally, if you have extensive relevant experience and justify including it, your resume can be over page long. 

If you are writing a resume with no job experience, then you will want to tailor your resume a bit differently:

  • Use the functional resume format: A functional resume will focus on your skills and minimize your lack of work experience.

  • Consider all unpaid experiences: This includes academic projects, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and internships. 

  • Write a resume objective: State your goals in your resume objective and underscore how your skills can be successfully applied to the job.

Focus on transferable skills: At first you may think you lack enough skills, but many skills, particularly soft skills, are transferable and important in the workplace. Examples include communication, organization, and project management. 

Some of the most common resume mistakes include:

  • Ignoring spelling and grammar mistakes.

  • Adding irrelevant information. 

  • Cluttering the page with text. 

  • Lacking any specifics or quantifiable data.

  • Not tailoring the resume to the job. 

  • Not using an ATS-friendly format. 

  • Focusing too much on style over substance. 

  • Being too vague.

In most countries outside the United States, a curriculum vitae, or CV, is synonymous with a resume. 

However, in the United States, and in certain professions, a CV usually refers to an academic CV. This is a comprehensive record of all your academic and professional experiences, including research projects and grants. Since it provides much more detail, this type of CV can be up to ten pages long.

In 2023, your resume should still include the five main sections of a resume which are: contact information, professional summary, work history, skills, and education. You also want your resume to have a professional design that meets the standards of the industry. For conservative fields, such as banking or law, your resume should be pretty straightforward, while in creative industries such as graphic design and architecture, your resume can reveal a little more character.

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Conor McMahon, CPRW

Conor McMahon, CPRW

Conor is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) for Hloom.com. He has over three years of professional writing experience as well as experience in professional development training. As a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC) Conor has written on career development topics ranging from resume and cover letter best practices, employer/employee communication, job seeking help, and more. He received his degree in Music Industry at Northeastern University and plays guitar in his free time.

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