How to Write Resumes That Get You Hired

If you want to be seen by a recruiter, you need to know how to write a resume that actually gets you hired. Highlighting your experience, using keywords relevant to the job you are applying for, and presenting relevant skills will help you stand out and get things moving.

And in this article, we’ll guide you through the process step by step, because writing a resume isn’t as overwhelming as it may seem. With the right approach and a few practical tips, you’ll be able to craft a strong, professional resume with confidence.

20 Tips for Writing Resumes That Will Get You Hired

Let’s learn the best practical tips to get your resume noticed and land your dream job.

1. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

You need to customize your resume for every application, including the job title, different keywords, and skills. Review the job description, consider your relevant experience, and compare it with the employer's qualifications. Mention anything to stand out and let the employer know that you are applying specifically for that job.

2. Start with a Professional Summary

Begin your resume with a professional summary with some key accomplishments. You can also write them in three or four bullet points. These are the most impactful sentences that clearly state the value you bring to that particular job. But keep these accomplishments separate from your work experience to stand out and don’t get overlooked.

3. Write the Experience that Best Matches the Position

Recruiters often use an F-pattern to scan resumes in 6-10 seconds. So, if you highlight the best experience that matches the job in the first headline, they will probably read the rest of your resume.

4. Use the Right Keywords

Most recruiters rely on application tracking software (ATS) to filter applicants by keyword to get to a smaller pool of qualified candidates. Find the relevant keywords by reviewing the job description, qualifications, and the requirements section. And since hiring managers skim resumes, they want to see the keywords immediately so they don't waste time reading further.

For example, if the job is “Graphic Designer”, they’ll filter by the keyword “Adobe Illustrator”, “Figma”, and similar.

5. Add Relevant Experience and Skills

Only add the most relevant experiences and skills that match the job description. So, if you’ve worked in similar roles, industries, and have used similar tools, highlight these skills because you have a better chance of being hired. These are the qualifications recruiters and ATS systems are looking for.

This “relevance test” happens within seconds. Recruiters often scan resumes quickly to see if candidates fit the role.

6. Use Strong Verbs

Use an action verb that clearly highlights your skills and accomplishments. Confident and powerful verbs can increase your chances of being hired because they capture the recruiter’s attention faster. Action verbs you can use include: Led, Designed, Implemented, Optimized, Developed, Increased, etc.

For example:

• Don’t say “Responsible for managing social media accounts.”
• Say, “Managed social media accounts, increasing engagement by 40% in six months”.

7. Optimize for ATS

The ATS system ranks thousands of resumes based on keywords and other qualifications. Then they sort them and only show the top resumes that ATS believes are a good fit for the job.

To pass this filter, your resume should be straightforward, use simple formatting, have a consistent font, be easy to read, and be scannable. Include the latest education, relevant work experience, and dates or years for each role or achievement.

8. Focus on Achievements Rather than Tasks

Quality over quantity. Focus on explaining how you made processes more efficient, saved money, and achieved goals. This showcases real value, and that’s what most recruiters are looking for.

• Don’t write just _“Experienced Sales Manager”. _
• Write: “Increased sales by 20% in one year by implementing a targeted client outreach strategy.”

This demonstrates your ability to succeed and solve problems, rather than just stating. And is also a better filter for the ATS system.

9. Use Numbers and Bullet Points

Structure your resume in bullet points or numbers by achievements rather than responsibilities. Show proof of what you achieve. For example, you can use this type of formula:

Results + Metric + Context

• Results - What you accomplished
• Metric - How you measured it
• Context - Where or how you achieved it

The result: Reduced customer support response time by 30% through workflow optimization.

10. Include Soft Skills

Highlight your soft skills in each work experience you’ve listed in bullet points. This helps hiring managers better understand the role you played in previous job positions.

So, if you want to mention that you are responsible for managing a team, don’t say “responsible for team management”. Instead, use a soft-skill explanation: “Led a team of 8, fostering collaboration and improving project delivery speed by 25%”.

11. Organize in One or Two Pages

Keep the bullet points as concise as possible and focus on results. This will take one page long resume. But if you have 10 or more years of work experience, a two-page resume is appropriate.

12. Keep it Concise

Make every sentence and bullet point clear, precise, and to the point. Avoid long, wordy descriptions that may be overlooked by both recruiters and ATS software. Structure your resume with simple, easy-to-understand language.

13. Write for Skimming

Recruiters often spend a few seconds scanning a resume, so it’s important to make your key information immediately visible.

• They first skim it - it takes under 2 seconds.
• Then the scam usually lasts around 10 seconds.
• And if you pass both of those, they’re gonna read it.

Use clear headings, bullet points, short sentences, and bold or italic formatting for important achievements or skills.

14. Use Simple Design

Fancy templates may hurt your chances by making it hard for the ATS to read them. And it may be even harder for people to skim it. Try to use a signal column resume for better flow. If it feels too boring, use some color or shading. Clean design equals easier reading.

15. Include Relevant Certifications

Include only certifications or training that are relevant to the job description. These documents highlight your skills and show employers that you have gained additional knowledge. Mention the certification name, issuing organization, and date earned.

16. Add a Link to Your LinkedIn or Portfolio

Include links to your portfolio or LinkedIn profile so recruiters can easily view your work and experience. Don’t forget to update these profiles, as they can significantly boost credibility and chances of being hired.

17. Maintain Consistent Formatting

Keep your resume visually clean and professional by using consistent fonts, sizes, spacing, and bullet styles throughout. Consistent formatting makes your resume easier to read for both recruiters and ATS software, and it reflects attention to detail.

18. Be Honest

Always represent your experience, skills, and achievements truthfully. Exaggerations or false claims can be easily uncovered during interviews or reference checks, and may cost you the job.

19. Choose PDF format

Save and submit your resume as a PDF file unless the job posting specifically requests another format. PDFs preserve your formatting, fonts, and layout across all devices, ensuring your resume looks exactly as you intended.

20. Proofread Several Times

Carefully review your resume multiple times to catch spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. Read your resume, use spell-check tools, and ask a friend or mentor to review it for better accuracy.

Tip: If you want to create an ATS-friendly resume, check out our AI resume builder that will land you more interviews and get you noticed by employers.

Conclusion

Your resume is your first chance to make a good impression. By clearly showing your skills and achievements, you help employers see why you’re the right fit. Take time to make it precise, error-free, and tailored to each job. A strong, well-crafted resume that gets you hired can open doors and bring you closer to your dream job.