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Resume guide

How to Write a Resume (Step-by-Step + Free Builder)

Not sure how to start a resume? Begin with the job you want, not a blank page. Collect your work history, education, and two or three results from each role, then fill in a template in this order: contact details, summary, experience, education, and skills. Tailor it to the job description, keep it to one page if you have under 10 years of experience, and proofread it out loud. The steps below walk you through each part, with a shortcut to build it as you go.

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Key takeaways

  • Start with the job posting and pick 3–5 keywords to target
  • Use a reverse-chronological format and a single-column template
  • Write achievements with numbers, not a list of duties
  • Keep it to one page if you have under 10 years of experience
  • Tailor your summary and top bullets for every application

Step 1: Prepare Before You Write

Before you write a word:

  • Pick a target job and save two or three postings. Note the skills and keywords that repeat.
  • List your experience: every job, internship, and major project, with dates.
  • Collect your wins: numbers, awards, praise, and results for each role.
  • Choose a format: reverse-chronological for most people, or combination if you're changing careers. See types of resumes.

Start your resume in the builder →

Step 2: Write Your Header and Summary

Header: your name, phone, professional email, city and state, and LinkedIn. Skip your full address, photo (in the US and UK), and date of birth.

Summary: two to four sentences. Use this formula: [Title] with [X years] of experience in [field]. Skilled in [2–3 skills]. [One achievement with a number].

Customer service representative with 4 years in high-volume call centers. Skilled in Zendesk, de-escalation, and training. Maintained a 94% CSAT score while handling 70+ calls a day.

Need help? Try the AI resume summary generator.

Step 3: Write Your Work Experience

List jobs from newest to oldest. For each one, include the title, company, location, and dates, then three to five bullets.

Write each bullet as action verb + what you did + result:

  • Weak: Responsible for social media.
  • Strong: Grew Instagram followers from 8K to 45K in 12 months, driving 30% of website traffic.

No experience? Use internships, part-time jobs, projects, and volunteering. See how to write a resume with no experience.

Add your experience in the builder →

Step 4: Add Education, Skills, and Extras

  • Education: degree, school, and graduation date. Add GPA (3.5+) and coursework if you're a student. See how to list education on a resume.
  • Skills: 8–15 skills that match the job posting, mostly hard skills and tools.
  • Extras: certifications, projects, languages, or volunteer work, when they support the job.

Not sure which sections you need? See the resume outline.

Step 5: Tailor, Check, and Send

  1. Tailor your summary and top bullets to each job using the posting's language.
  2. Check your ATS score with the free ATS resume checker.
  3. Proofread out loud, then have someone else read it.
  4. Save as a PDF named like Jane-Smith-Resume.pdf.

For a full list of do's and don'ts, read our resume tips.

Put it into practice

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