How to Make a Resume That Gets Noticed

Creating a resume can feel difficult when you don't know what information to include, how to organize it, or how to make your experience stand out. A well-structured resume can make it easier for recruiters to understand your skills, experience and qualifications.

This guide explains how to make a professional resume step by step, including what to put in your resume, how to write your work experience, how to use keywords, how to make your resume ATS-friendly and how to customize it for different jobs.

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What Makes a Good Resume?

A good resume is more than a document containing your employment history. It is a concise presentation of your professional background, skills, achievements and qualifications that helps an employer understand why you may be suitable for a particular position.

Your resume should be easy to read, logically organized and focused on information that is relevant to the job. Recruiters often have limited time to review applications, so important information should be easy to find.

A strong resume also needs to work well with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which many employers use to organize and filter applications before they reach a recruiter.

Resume tip: Don't think of your resume as a complete history of everything you have ever done. Think of it as a targeted document that presents the experience and skills most relevant to the job you want.

A Good Resume Should Be

  • Easy to read
  • Professionally structured
  • Relevant to the job
  • Keyword optimized
  • ATS-friendly
  • Free from unnecessary information

How to Make a Resume Step by Step

Follow these steps to create a resume that presents your professional profile clearly and is suitable for modern recruitment processes.

1

Choose the Right Resume Format

Start by choosing a resume structure that suits your professional background. Most job seekers use a chronological or combination-style resume that makes their recent experience easy to understand.

The format should make your career progression, relevant experience and important qualifications easy for a recruiter to identify.

2

Add Your Contact Information

Include your name and relevant contact information at the top of your resume. You can also include your LinkedIn profile and other professional links when they add value to your application.

Make sure your contact information is accurate and professional.

3

Write a Strong Professional Summary

Your professional summary should quickly communicate your experience, areas of expertise and the value you can bring to an employer.

Keep it focused on the type of position you are targeting rather than using generic statements.

4

Describe Your Work Experience

List your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order. For each position, include your job title, employer, dates and a concise description of your responsibilities and achievements.

Whenever possible, focus on outcomes and measurable achievements rather than simply listing duties.

5

Highlight Your Skills

Include technical, functional and professional skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Review the job description and prioritize skills that genuinely match your experience.

6

Add Your Education

Include your relevant educational qualifications, institutions and completion dates. You can also include certifications, professional training and other relevant qualifications.

The amount of detail required depends on your level of experience and the requirements of the job.

How to Write Work Experience on a Resume

The work experience section is often one of the most important parts of a resume. Instead of simply copying responsibilities from an old job description, explain what you actually achieved and how your work contributed to your team or organization.

Focus on Achievements

Whenever possible, use specific outcomes, numbers or measurable improvements. For example, instead of saying that you were "responsible for sales", explain what you accomplished in the role.

Stronger descriptions can communicate the scale of your work, improvements you made, projects you delivered or business results you contributed to.

Use Strong Action Words

Start bullet points with clear action verbs such as managed, developed, delivered, implemented, improved, analyzed, coordinated, optimized or launched when those words accurately describe your work.

Example approach:

Instead of writing only "Managed a team of employees", explain the scope of the team and the outcome of your leadership when possible.

How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to manage job applications. These systems can scan resumes and extract information such as job titles, skills, education and employment history.

An ATS-friendly resume should use clear headings, readable formatting and relevant keywords from the job description. Avoid unnecessary design elements that could make important information difficult for a system to interpret.

  • Use clear section headings
  • Use relevant keywords naturally
  • Keep formatting clean and consistent
  • Avoid unnecessary graphics and decorative elements
  • Check your resume for ATS-related issues
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Common Resume Keywords

Relevant keywords depend on your profession and the job description. Examples include:

Project Management Leadership Agile Data Analysis Sales Customer Service Java Python SQL Digital Marketing

Always use keywords that genuinely describe your skills and experience.

Customize Your Resume for Every Job

One of the most common resume mistakes is sending exactly the same document to every employer. Different jobs may emphasize different skills, responsibilities and qualifications.

Before applying, read the job description carefully. Identify the most important requirements and make sure your resume clearly demonstrates relevant experience wherever appropriate.

Generic Resume vs. Job-Targeted Resume
Generic approach
Uses the same content for every application.
Targeted approach
Highlights experience and skills relevant to the specific job.
Better approach
Maintain your core resume while making relevant changes for each important application.
Customize My Existing Resume

What Sections Should a Resume Have?

The exact structure can vary depending on your career stage and profession, but most professional resumes contain several core sections.

Contact Information

Your name and professional contact details should be easy to find at the top of the document.

Professional Summary

A concise introduction that communicates your experience, expertise and professional direction.

Work Experience

Your relevant employment history, responsibilities and achievements.

Skills

Relevant technical, functional and professional skills that support your application.

Education

Your degrees, institutions and relevant educational qualifications.

Certifications and Additional Information

Add certifications, professional training, projects, awards, publications or other information when it is relevant to the position.

Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

A strong resume is not only about what you include. It is also about avoiding information and formatting choices that make your application harder to understand.

Too Much Information

Avoid including every detail of your career. Focus on information that supports the position you are applying for.

Generic Descriptions

Statements such as "hardworking professional" are less useful when they are not supported by specific experience or achievements.

Ignoring the Job Description

A resume should be relevant to the position. Review the requirements before submitting your application.

Inconsistent Formatting

Different fonts, inconsistent spacing and poorly organized sections can make a resume difficult to read.

Spelling and Grammar Errors

Proofread your resume carefully. Errors can make a professional application appear less polished.

Using the Same Resume Everywhere

Customize relevant sections for important applications instead of relying on one generic resume for every position.

Make Your Resume With MakeCVNow

MakeCVNow is designed to help job seekers create and improve their resumes as part of a broader job-search process.

Resume Builder

Create a professional resume using structured resume templates and organize your career information in a clear format.

AI CV Builder

Use AI-powered assistance to help create and improve your resume content.

ATS Checker

Check your resume and identify potential ATS-related issues before using it for job applications.

Resume Customization

Customize your resume according to specific job descriptions to make your application more relevant.

LinkedIn Optimization

Improve your LinkedIn profile so that your professional profile is aligned with your career goals.

Job Search Tools

Go beyond resume creation and use tools that can help you with the wider job-search process.

Final Tips for Creating a Better Resume

Your resume is an important part of your job application, but it should not be treated as a document that you create once and never change. Your career develops, your skills change and the requirements of different jobs vary.

Review your resume regularly and update it when you gain new skills, complete important projects, receive certifications or take on new responsibilities.

Before submitting an application, compare your resume with the job description. Make sure the most relevant qualifications are easy to find and that your content accurately represents your experience.

Finally, check the document carefully for formatting, spelling, grammar and consistency. A clean, focused and relevant resume gives recruiters a much clearer picture of your professional background.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resumes

Answers to some common questions about creating and improving a professional resume.

If you are applying for your first job, focus on your education, relevant skills, projects, internships, certifications, academic achievements and other experiences that demonstrate your ability to perform the role. You do not need extensive employment history to create a professional resume.
Resume length depends on your experience, career stage and the requirements of the position. The goal should be to communicate relevant information clearly rather than reaching a particular page count.
It is generally useful to tailor your resume for important job applications. You can maintain a core resume and adjust relevant skills, achievements and keywords to better match each position.
An ATS-friendly resume uses clear organization, readable formatting and relevant keywords so that important information can be more easily identified by Applicant Tracking Systems.
Yes. Online resume builders allow you to create, edit and customize your resume without installing desktop software. MakeCVNow provides online tools for creating and improving resumes.
A good resume template can make it easier to organize your information consistently. Choose a clean, professional template that keeps your experience, skills and qualifications easy to read.

Ready to Make Your Resume?

Create a professional resume, customize it for your target jobs and use additional tools to improve your job-search profile. Start building your resume with MakeCVNow today.

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