How to Write a Resume in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you are looking for your first job or making a mid-career transition, knowing how to craft a resume that highlights your strengths and achievements is invaluable. This resume guide will show you, step-by-step, how to write a resume that will get you noticed by potential employers. Let’s get started!
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Are you struggling to write a resume that catches the attention of employers? You’re not alone. Millions of people every year submit resumes that don’t get them the jobs they want.
Your resume is the most important tool in your job-seeking arsenal. A good resume can help you get your foot in the door, while a bad resume will likely keep you from even being considered.
This resume guide will teach you, step-by-step, how to make a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd. We’ll provide tips on how to format your resume, what information to include, and how to tailor your resume for different jobs using the right keywords.
Step 1. Choose a resume format
The right resume format can help highlight your strengths and downplay your weaknesses. It can also make it easier for recruiters to scan your resume and identify the key information they are looking for.
There are three standard resume formats to choose from.
Chronological Resume
This is the most popular resume format, especially for job seekers with lots of relevant experience. This format lists your work history in reverse chronological order, with your most recent jobs listed first. It’s ideal for:
- Job seekers with a lot of professional work experience.
- People with no employment gaps.
- Those who want to showcase their career progression over time.
Functional Resume (also known as a Skills-Based Resume)
The functional resume is organized around your transferable skills and abilities rather than your work history. It helps you downplay your lack of experience in a particular field. While it is helpful for certain situations, it’s not always the best. Recruiters sometimes don’t like the functional resume format because it can make it seem like you’re trying to conceal something. So be wary of that.
Under each skill you list, try to add bullet points that provide specific examples of times when you’ve used that skill. This format is ideal for:
- Recent graduates
- Entry-level job seekers
- Career changers
- Those with gaps in their employment history
Functional
- Focuses on your skills and abilities.
- Minimizes work experience.
- Not preferred by recruiters.
- Leaves out work experience.
- Jobs seekers with no relevant work experience.
Hybrid Resume (also known as a Combination Resume)
A hybrid resume can be a great way to showcase both your work history and your skills. For many job seekers, it’s the best resume format. With this format, you would begin with a brief overview of your skills and accomplishments, followed by a chronological listing of your employment history. This format is ideal for:
- Mid level job seekers with some experience in their field.
- Career changers who need to highlight transferable skills.
- People reentering the workforce.
Hybrid
- Puts equal emphasis on skills and experience.
- Provides a lot of space for resume keywords.
- Combines best elements of chronological and functional formats.
- Cannot hide resume gaps.
- Most job seekers.
Step 2. Add your contact information and personal details
This is one of the most important sections of your resume. If hiring managers can’t contact you, it doesn’t matter how great the rest of your resume is. So you need to make sure that your contact info is accurate and up-to-date.
The following information should appear at the top of your resume:
- Name
- Phone number
- Location (City, State, Zip Code)
- Email Address
- LinkedIn profile URL
Here’s an example:
It might seem obvious, but job seekers sometimes forget a key piece of contact information in this section. Double check to make sure it’s as easy as possible for recruiters to contact you for a job interview.
Do’s
- Include your full name, including your middle initial if you have one. This will help ensure that you’re easily found in online searches.
- If you have an unusual name or a name that could be easily mispronounced, consider including a phonetic spelling to avoid confusion.
- You don’t need to include your full address but do add your city, state, and zip code. Recruiters often search for local candidates first.
- Include a link to your professional website or online portfolio, if you have one.
- Create a strong LinkedIn profile and be sure to include the URL on your resume (make sure it’s up to date).
Don’ts
- Never include a work phone number, only a personal number.
- Don’t include more than one phone number or email address. This will only confuse hiring managers.
- Unless required, don’t include your date of birth. Employers may unknowingly discriminate against older job seekers. It can also make it easier for identity thieves to commit fraud.
- Don’t use a quirky or unprofessional email address. Instead create a new professional sounding address just for your job search. Research has shown that formal email addresses perform better on resumes than informal ones.
- Unless required, a headshot is unnecessary. How you look isn’t important, and a photo takes up valuable space on your resume.
- If you use an outdated email service like Hotmail or AOL, consider creating a free Gmail account for your job search.
Step 3. Write a standout resume headline
One way to make sure your resume stands out is to write a catchy headline. This is a concise, one-line description of who you are as a candidate.
A well-written headline can grab a recruiter’s attention and encourage them to take a more detailed look at your resume. It can also highlight your most relevant skills and experience, making it easier for recruiters to see why you would be a good fit for the role.
You should place your headline near the top of your resume, so it’s one of the first things that a hiring manager or recruiter sees.
Here’s an example:
Resume headlines are most beneficial for people who have a lot of relevant experience, but anyone can use them.
If you don’t have any experience or are applying for an entry-level job, you can use your resume headline to show off your soft skills, your proficiency with tools, or your winning personal attributes.
When writing your headline, it’s crucial to include the job title that appears at the top of the description of the job you’re applying for. This is the most impactful keyword of all, and the headline is a good place to put it, especially if you haven’t held the exact position before.
Do’s
- Always tailor your headline to each job you apply for.
- Use title case (capitalize the first letter of each word) and use a bold or slightly larger font so the headline stands out visually.
- Position yourself as an expert in your field. This can help to set you apart from other candidates who may not be as confident in their abilities.
- Use numbers and statistics to back up your claims. The applicant in the example above uses “5 years experience” to highlight their expertise.
- Use attention-grabbing action verbs. The example above uses the verb “leading,” which quickly tells employers what the applicant has accomplished.
- Be specific. Generic phrases such as “hard worker” or “team player” are nice, but they don’t really tell employers anything. If you can, include a specific accomplishment or skill that makes you stand out from the rest.
Don’ts
- Don’t make your headline too long or it will lose the reader’s attention. Keep your headline under ten words to make sure it packs a punch.
- Avoid using jargon. Stick to language that can be easily understood by everyone.
- Don’t be too salesy. A resume headline is not the place to make a hard sell; instead, focus on giving a snapshot of your skills and experience.
- Steer clear of clichés. With so many resumes to sift through, recruiters will appreciate a fresh, original headline that cuts to the chase.
Step 4. Add your resume summary statement or resume objective
Most recruiters only spend between six and eight seconds looking at a resume before they make a decision about a job candidate, according to a study by Ladders.
This means you need to make a strong first impression! You can do this by adding a resume summary statement underneath your resume headline.
A summary statement is a brief paragraph or a set of bullet points that summarizes your professional qualifications.
Your summary statement should expand on your resume headline and provide evidence of your skills, achievements, and experience.
Here’s an example:
Do’s
- Keep it brief – no more than a few sentences or bullet points.
- Look for patterns in your work history – anything that you can point to and say “this is what I do, and I’m good at it.”
- Focus only on your most relevant skills and experience.
- Use numbers and specifics to show that you are a results-oriented individual who is able to produce tangible outcomes.
- Incorporate keywords from the job description whenever possible.
- Tailor your summary statement to each job you apply for.
Don’ts
- Don’t make bold claims that cannot be backed up.
- Don’t just list your job duties; instead focus on your accomplishments.
- Don’t include personal information unrelated to the job.
- Avoid using personal pronouns (I, me, or my).
Resume summaries are ideal for job seekers who have plenty of relevant work experience and accomplishments that can be tied to actual numbers.
If you don’t have much job experience or are changing careers, you could write a resume objective statement instead.
Your resume objective basically explains what the object of your resume is. It is a short statement that communicates your reason for wanting to work in a new field. It should include:
- The job title or field you are interested in.
- Any transferable skills that make you a good fit for the position.
- Relevant accomplishments that demonstrate how you would excel in the new role.
- Your career goals and how the position you are applying for can help you achieve them.
For example, if you are a recent college graduate seeking a position in marketing, your resume objective might state: “To secure a position in marketing where I can utilize my creativity and analytical skills to contribute to the company’s success.”
Read the full guide: Handy Tips To Build Your First Resume
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