How to Write a Resume in 2021

Published on: July 28, 2021

Table of Contents

1. Before You Start Writing
2. Understanding Resume Basics
3. Choose from the 3 Resume Formats
4. Write an Attention-Grabbing Resume Summary Statement
5. Choose the Right Skills for Your Resume
6. Capture Your Work History Highlights
7. Completing the Rest of Your Resume
8. Proofread and Check Your Formatting
9. Why You Should Include a Cover Letter
10. FAQ
11. Let's Get You Hired

Step 1 – Before You Start Writing

There are a couple of things you need to do before you start writing your resume. Remember: Each resume you write should be tailored to the job you're applying for – it's not a one-size-fits-all document. With that in mind, here are some tips that will help you:

Tip 1 – To write a professional resume, you need to be prepared. First, make a list of:

• Major accomplishments from previous jobs
• Skills: soft, hard and technical
• Details about past employers, date of hire, location, job title and responsibilities
• Qualifications such as a college degree, certifications or licenses

All of this information will be used when you write your resume — having it noted beforehand will save you a ton of time later and will not disrupt the creative writing process.

Tip 2 – Find time to dedicate solely to crafting your resume.

Tip 3 – Sit in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and can concentrate.

Tip 4 – Write and don't stop to perfect your prose along the way. That will happen later.

Tip 5 – When you get it all down, step away for a few hours and come back with fresh eyes to perfect your writing.

Now let's start!

Step 2: Understanding Resume Basics

These are the key components of every resume. They each serve a different purpose and, based on your experience, might be placed in different areas of your document – but more on that later.

Step 3: Choose from the 3 Resume Formats

Now that you know the basics of what goes in a resume, it's time to talk about the three resume formats. A resume format is essentially the way your resume is organized based on your years of experience.

Functional Resume Format

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The functional format is excellent for first-time job-seekers or people with less than two years of experience. It highlights your skills and training, focusing on the abilities you possess that can make you a great addition to the team.

Combination Resume Format

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Also known as the hybrid resume, the combination format is a mixture of the functional and chronological resumes. It's ideal for people with three to seven years of experience, as it includes a balance of your work history and displays your relevant skills.

Chronological Resume Format

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The chronological format is the most commonly used format. It's perfect for people with a lot of professional work experience because it emphasizes work history, focusing on your top achievements and career progression.

Step 4: Write an Attention-Grabbing Resume Summary Statement

A summary statement is where you present yourself in two to three sentences. It's the first thing recruiters or hiring managers read, so it's important to make a strong statement right off the bat that aligns with what they're looking for. Avoid using personal pronouns (I, me or my) and feature your top skills and qualifications, using keywords and phrases found in the job description.

For example, if you're applying for a UX designer job and the employer lists knowledge of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite as a major requirement, you could write:

Or if a company is looking for a distribution manager with experience leading a warehouse team, your summary could be:

For more tips, check out our How to Write the Best Summary Statement page.

Step 5: Choose the Right Skills for Your Resume

As with the summary statement, your skills section should be tailored to the job you're applying for. Aim to include six to eight relevant hard and soft skills – and in some cases, a summary of qualifications. Not sure what these are or how to determine the right skills to include? Here's a handy guide:

• A hard skill (or a professional skill) is an ability acquired through practice, education, and repetition that is job-specific. For example: operational planning, translation, video production, Microsoft Word, budgeting or analytics.
• A soft skill is an intangible ability or personal trait that isn't tied to a single job and generally helps you thrive in the workplace. For example: organized, team player, critical thinking, excellent communication, or problem-solving.
• A summary of qualifications consists of a couple of short sentences where you talk about the top set of skills you learned on the job and the accomplishments that qualify you for the new role you're applying to. This section is used on functional and combination resume formats only, for junior to mid-level job seekers.
• The employer will tell you what skills they're looking for in a candidate in the job description. Read it thoroughly and make a list of the skills you possess, both hard and soft, relevant to that specific job. You can also research similar job roles and take note of the most sought-after skills.

Consider the following examples of skills sections with a mixture of soft and hard skills:

Bank teller

Example of a single skills section:

Example of a standalone summary of qualifications:

Medical receptionist

Example of a single skills section:

Example of a summary of qualifications and skills list combination:

Looking for skills to include? Here are some of the Top Skills Employers Value.

Step 6: Capture Your Work History Highlights

Organizing and writing about your work experience may sound like a daunting task, but just follow these pointers and you'll have a convincing work history section in no time.

• • Make it relevant to the job you're applying for. We've mentioned it before, and it still holds true here: Be relevant to the job you want. Use keywords found in the job description and tailor your work experience to the new role. For example, if you're aiming for a managerial position, include examples of leadership experience.
  • Focus on accomplishments instead of daily tasks. Did you play a vital role in a project? Did you go above and beyond your regular duties? For example, an assistant operations manager could write: "Set up and improved accounting systems and processes to maximize the effectiveness of operations."
  • Use quantifiable metrics to highlight your achievements. Numbers help recruiters or hiring managers see what you're capable of doing and what you can bring to the company. So instead of writing something like: "Compiled general ledger entries," a statement with a quantifiable metric would look like: "Compiled general ledger entries on a short schedule with 100% accuracy" or "Served an average of 6 tables per hour on 8-hour work shifts."
  • Use action verbs to begin your statements. When describing previous or current job experiences, always start your bullet points with an action verb. Stating "Was responsible for project X …" makes less of an impact than "Managed project X" or "Oversaw project X." Some other examples of action verbs you can include in your resume:

• If you don't have a lot of experience, think outside the box. Work experience isn't just a regular 9-to-5 or part-time job. It can also be relevant internships, volunteer programs, or personal projects related to the position you're applying for. Remember, having relevant experience is valuable.

Here are some examples you can use as inspiration to write your work history section:

Event manager with 9+ years of experience

Personal trainer with 5+ years of experience

Social media manager with no work experience

Note: In this particular case, you will show your accomplishments through the summary of qualifications section instead of your work history:

For more work history tips, check out our article on How to Write the Perfect Work History Section.

Step 7: Completing the Rest of Your Resume

These sections are the easiest to complete, but they require just as much of your attention. Make sure all of your information is up to date and double-check your wording for accuracy.

Contact Information:

Use a phone number where recruiters where can easily reach you and a professional email address. You can also include a link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio site.

Education:

Write your academic credentials with the latest at the top. If you have more than 10 years of work experience, it's not necessary to include the year you graduated.

Licenses, certifications, awards and publications:

If you have relevant licenses, certifications, awards or publications, include them in a separate section below your Education. Our Resume Builder can do the job for you and help you customize sections with just a click.

Step 8: Proofread and Check Your Formatting

Typos and grammatical errors are the most common mistakes found in resumes — and a deal-breaker for about 70% of hiring managers. Reread your resume thoroughly to make sure that everything is written correctly. Our Resume Builder has a helpful spell-checking tool that scans your document and lets you know if there are any mistakes.

You should also make it easier for hiring managers to read your resume by:

• Making sure that it isn't longer than a page (unless you have 10+ years of work experience. In this case, it can be two-pages long)
• Using appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica
• Sticking to a font size between 10-12 on the body and 14-16 on headers
• Using a straightforward template that employers and the applicant tracking system (ATS) can read

Step 9: Why You Should Include a Cover Letter

Submitting a cover letter with your resume will help you look more professional and enthusiastic about the job opportunity.

A cover letter is a blank canvas where you can complement your resume and market yourself, providing extra details about your history and who you are. You can also include further context on specific projects or work achievements, and give hiring managers insight into your personality and how you can be of value to the company.

Get started with your cover letter by checking out our large selection of Cover Letter Examples.

FAQ

Let's Get You Hired

We know that finding the right job is a task in and of itself. The good news is that you don't have to tackle things alone. To create a resume that turns heads, use our Resume Builder, which takes you through the process step by step, and helps you fill out your information by providing phrases, keywords, and suggestions. We also have a large library of resume templates perfect for any industry.

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