Guides for writing your resume
Practical guides on writing a resume, the summary and skills sections, cover letters, length, applicant tracking systems and starting with no experience.
See resume examples by job →Writing your resume
From a blank page to bullet points that show results.
- 9 min readHow to update your resume, step by stepA checklist for updating an old resume: add your current job, cut what has gone stale, refresh the top and the format, then check it and bring LinkedIn in line.
- 12 min readCareer change resume: how to write one, with examplesHow to write a resume when changing careers: map transferable skills, use a hybrid format, explain the switch in your summary, and see a full before and after.
- 10 min readHigh school student resume: free template, example and how to write oneA free high school student resume template that opens filled in, and how to write each part for a first part-time or summer job, even with no experience.
- 11 min readEmployment gaps on a resume: how to explain them honestlyHow to handle a gap in your work history on a resume, cover letter and in interviews, with wording examples for caregiving, health, layoffs and study.
- 11 min readResume action verbs: strong verbs by category, with examplesStrong action verbs for resume bullet points, grouped by what you did, with weak-to-strong rewrites, verbs to retire and simple rules for tense.
- 11 min readHow to write a resume with no experience for your first jobA step-by-step guide to a first resume for students, graduates and first-time job seekers. What to include instead of work experience, the best order, and examples.
Section by section
What goes in the summary, skills, education and the rest.
- 8 min readHow to show a promotion on your resume, with examplesTwo ways to list a promotion on a resume (stacked under one employer or as separate entries), what to write under each title, which dates to use, and the edge cases.
- 10 min readHow to list certifications and licenses on a resumeWhere to put certifications and licenses on your resume, how to format them, what to do with ones in progress or expired, and examples by field.
- 14 min readHow to list education on a resume: degrees, GPA, high school, examplesHow to write the education section of your resume and your degree, whether to include high school and GPA, and unfinished or ongoing degrees, with examples.
- 9 min readReferences on a resume: should you list them, and how?Whether to put references on your resume, how to format a separate reference list, who to ask and how to prepare them, with country differences.
- 14 min readSkills for a resume: what to list, how many, and where to put themHow to write the skills section of your resume: hard vs soft skills, how many to list, skill levels, how to list languages, examples by job, and matching the job ad.
- 11 min readResume summary examples, with "about me" and objective versionsHow to write a resume summary in two to four sentences: a simple formula, examples for 10 jobs, 'about me', objective and blurb versions, and help with no experience.
Length, format and photo
How long, which layout, and what changes from country to country.
- 8 min readWhat should a resume look like? Layout, fonts and spacing, with an exampleWhat a good resume looks like on the page, from top to bottom, with the font sizes, margins and spacing that work, one column or two, and a real example to open.
- 10 min readWrote your resume with ChatGPT? Turn it into an ATS-friendly PDFChatGPT can draft your resume text but not a clean PDF. How to ask for the text, what to check, and how to turn it into an ATS-friendly resume step by step.
- 11 min readGerman CV format: how to write a Lebenslauf for jobs in GermanyHow to write a German CV (Lebenslauf): layout, section headings, photo and personal details, dates, language levels, foreign degrees and the application package.
- 10 min readResume formats: chronological, functional or hybrid?The three resume formats explained, with outlines, pros and cons, and a simple way to choose for career changers, students and gaps.
- 9 min readResume vs CV: the difference in the US, UK, Europe and beyondWhat "resume" and "CV" mean in different countries, how an academic CV differs, and which document to send when a job ad asks for one.
- 8 min readHow long should a resume be? One page, two pages, or moreHow long your resume should be by career stage and country, what to cut when it runs long, and how to fit it on fewer pages without tiny text.
- 10 min readResume photo: should you add one? A country-by-country guideWhen to include a photo on your resume or CV, when to leave it out, and how to take a professional one at home, with norms for the US, UK, Germany, Turkey and more.
ATS and job ads
How application systems read your file, and how to match an ad honestly.
- 9 min readIs a Canva resume ATS-friendly? How to check yoursCan an ATS read a Canva resume? It depends on the design and the file. What trips parsers up, how to test your Canva PDF and how to fix it in Canva.
- 8 min readResume in Word or PDF? Uploading to job sites and application formsWhen to send your resume as a Word (.docx) file and when as a PDF, and how to upload it to job sites and fill in application forms without mistakes.
- 11 min readHow to tailor your resume to a job description: a worked exampleA step-by-step way to adapt your resume to each job ad in about 30 minutes, with a worked example, keyword list, before/after bullets and honest limits.
- 14 min readATS resume guide: how applicant tracking systems read your CVWhat an ATS really does with your resume, which layouts and files it reads well, how keyword matching works, and a checklist so your experience survives parsing.
Cover letters and LinkedIn
The documents that travel with your resume.
- 8 min readHow to add your resume to LinkedIn, and which way to chooseThree ways to put your resume on LinkedIn (for Easy Apply, on your profile, or as a PDF of your profile), who sees each one, and how to add LinkedIn to your resume.
- 8 min readHow long should a cover letter be? Words, paragraphs, pagesHow long a cover letter should be in words, paragraphs and pages, by situation (first job, career change, email, online form), and how to cut one that runs long.
- 10 min readLinkedIn headline and About section examplesHow to write a LinkedIn headline and About section that say what you do, with the character limits, a simple formula and examples for 12 jobs.
- 11 min readHow to write a cover letter, with a paragraph-by-paragraph templateA practical cover letter guide. Structure, length, how to open and close, a paragraph-by-paragraph template, and common mistakes.
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