How to Write a Resume

Your resume is often your first impression with a potential employer. In today's market, it needs to work for both algorithms (ATS) and humans.

Resume Fundamentals

What ATS Systems Look For

Applicant Tracking Systems scan for:

• Keywords matching the job description
• Standard formatting they can parse
• Relevant experience based on titles and skills

What Hiring Managers Look For

Humans want to see:

• Clear impact - What did you actually accomplish?
• Relevance - How does your experience apply to this role?
• Professionalism - Is it well-organized and error-free?

Key Resume Sections

Professional Summary

2-3 sentences that highlight your value proposition. Include keywords for your target role.

Experience

• Start each bullet with an action verb
• Quantify impact whenever possible
• Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities

Skills

• Include both hard and soft skills
• Match language from job descriptions
• Prioritize most relevant skills first

Education

• Recent grads: include GPA, relevant coursework
• Experienced professionals: degree and school only

Common Mistakes

1. Generic resumes - Tailor for each application
2. Dense blocks of text - Use white space
3. Focusing on duties - Emphasize results
4. Typos - Proofread multiple times
5. Wrong format - Use clean, ATS-friendly design

Use AI to Build Your Resume

These prompts help you create a resume that's optimized for both ATS systems and human reviewers, with quantified achievements and industry-specific language.