Writing a resume that works in 2025 means satisfying two audiences at once: an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that scores it before any human sees it, and a recruiter who has 7 seconds to decide whether to read further. This guide walks you through every section, in order.
Step 1: Choose the Right Format
For most candidates, reverse chronological is the right format. Single-column layout. Standard section names. No tables, text boxes, graphics, or photos. Save as DOCX for maximum ATS compatibility (PDF works but not universally).
Step 2: Write Your Contact Information
- ✓Full name (no titles or nicknames)
- ✓Professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com)
- ✓Phone number with country code if applying internationally
- ✓LinkedIn URL (personalise it: linkedin.com/in/yourname)
- ✓Portfolio or GitHub URL if relevant to the role
- ✓City and country (not your full street address)
Step 3: Write Your Professional Summary
Your summary is 2-4 sentences. It names your professional identity, your primary specialisation with a metric if possible, and what you are targeting. It should include 2-3 keywords from the job description naturally.
Step 4: List Your Work Experience
List jobs in reverse chronological order. For each role, include: job title, company name, location (city and country or city and state), start month/year, end month/year (or "Present"), and 4-6 bullet points.
- ✓Start every bullet with an action verb
- ✓Focus on achievements, not responsibilities
- ✓Quantify results wherever possible: numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, time, team sizes
- ✓Keep each bullet to one to two lines
- ✓Use past tense for previous roles, present tense for current role
Step 5: List Your Education
Include your degree, institution name, graduation year, and GPA if above 3.5 and within the last 5 years. If you have 5+ years of experience, move education below work experience. List in reverse chronological order.
Step 6: Write Your Skills Section
List hard skills in categories. Include tools, languages, platforms, and methodologies. Target 15-30 skills. Every skill you list should be in the job description or clearly relevant to the role.
Step 7: Add Optional Sections (If Relevant)
- ✓Certifications: List the certification name, issuing organisation, and year
- ✓Projects: Include 2-3 significant projects with tech stack and measurable outcome
- ✓Publications or research: Include for academic or research roles
- ✓Languages: List if the role requires or benefits from multilingual ability
- ✓Volunteer work: Include if recent and relevant to the role or company values
Step 8: Run an ATS Check
Before submitting any application, run your resume through an ATS checker. Verify your score, check which keywords are missing for the specific role, and confirm no formatting issues are present. Target an ATS score above 75 before applying.
Pro Tip
Build a master resume with every role, project, and skill you have ever had. Then create a tailored, application-specific resume from it for each job. This approach makes tailoring fast and ensures you never lose good content.