Resume Tips: How to Write a Resume That Gets You Hired

Let's be honest – writing a resume can feel overwhelming. You're trying to condense years of experience into a single page while making yourself stand out from hundreds of other applicants. But here's the good news: with the right approach, you can create a resume that genuinely represents your value and catches recruiters' attention.

Start With a Strong Summary

Your professional summary is prime real estate – it's the first thing recruiters read, and it sets the tone for your entire resume. Think of it as your elevator pitch: who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you're the right fit.

Instead of writing something generic like "Hardworking professional seeking new opportunities," try something specific: "Marketing specialist with 5 years of experience driving 40% year-over-year growth for B2B SaaS companies. Passionate about data-driven campaigns that actually convert."

Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties

Here's where most resumes fall flat. Anyone can list job responsibilities – but achievements show what you actually accomplished. The difference is crucial.

Use numbers whenever possible. Percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, team size – these concrete details make your accomplishments tangible and memorable.

Keep It Clean and Scannable

Here's a number that might make you sweat: according to a 2024 eye-tracking study by Ladders, recruiters spend just 7.4 seconds on their initial resume scan. That's barely enough time to read this paragraph! So your resume needs to make every second count.

The good news? You can design your resume to guide their eyes exactly where you want them to go. Think of it like a billboard on a highway – clear, bold, and impossible to miss.

• Use clear section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) – creative names confuse both humans and ATS
• Stick to 1-2 professional fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia – your resume isn't a design portfolio
• Embrace white space – cramming everything in makes recruiters' eyes glaze over
• Bullet points are your best friend – aim for 3-5 per role, each starting with a strong action verb
• One page is the sweet spot for most professionals (two pages only if you have 10+ years of truly relevant experience)

Make It ATS-Friendly

Here's a reality check: according to 2024 data from Jobscan, up to 75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human ever sees them. That's right – three out of four resumes never even make it to a recruiter's desk.

These AI-powered gatekeepers scan for keywords, formatting, and relevance. The good news? Once you understand how they work, beating them is pretty straightforward.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even strong candidates make these errors. Make sure you're not sabotaging yourself:

• ✕Typos and grammatical errors – always proofread (and have someone else proofread too)
• ✕Using an unprofessional email address – yourname@email.com, not partyguy2005@email.com
• ✕Including irrelevant information – no one needs to know your high school GPA if you graduated 10 years ago
• ✕Being too vague – specific achievements beat generic descriptions every time
• ✕Lying or exaggerating – it will catch up with you eventually

The Bottom Line

A great resume isn't about using fancy words or cramming in every detail of your work history. It's about clearly communicating your value and making it easy for employers to see why you're worth interviewing. Make sure to avoid these common resume mistakes.

Take your time, focus on achievements (using strong action verbs), keep it clean, and always customize for each application. Your resume is a living document – update it regularly and don't be afraid to experiment with what works best for your industry.