Resume guides
How to write a resume, part by part
Short, practical guides with examples to copy.
- A resume for a career changeHow to show that what you've done carries over to a new field: lead with transferable results, close the gaps you can, and say plainly what you want.
- Certifications and licences on a resumeWhere to list certifications and licences, what details to include, and which ones are worth the space.
- Contact details on a resumeWhat a recruiter needs to reach you, what to leave off, and how to keep your phone number and address off a public page.
- Gaps in your resumeTime away from work is common. How to show dates honestly, explain a gap in a line, and keep the reader's attention on what you can do.
- How long should a resume be?One page or two: a rule of thumb by career stage, what to cut first, and when a longer CV is expected.
- How to write a resume summaryThree or four lines at the top that say who you are, what you're good at and what you want next, with examples to adapt.
- How to write a skills sectionGroup your skills so a reader and an applicant tracking system can find them, and choose the ones that matter for the job.
- How to write the education sectionWhat to include for each qualification, where the section goes, and when to leave dates, grades or high school out.
- How to write your work experienceTurn duties into results: a simple pattern for each bullet point, how many to write, and how to show numbers when you don't have them.
- Keeping your resume up to dateUpdate a little and often: a habit that takes minutes, and why keeping your resume as data makes it easier to reuse.
- PDF or Word?Which file to send: PDF keeps your layout, Word is what some application systems ask for. How to get both from one resume.
- Put numbers on your achievementsHow to turn duties into results with numbers, where to find them when you think you have none, and how to stay honest about estimates.
- References on a resumeWhether to list references on your resume, what "references available on request" is worth, and how to prepare the people you ask.
- Resumes and applicant tracking systemsWhat an applicant tracking system does with your resume, what trips it up, and how to make sure it reads yours correctly.
- Showing projects on a resumeWhen a projects section helps, what to write for each project, and how to link to the work itself.
- Tailoring your resume to a jobTen minutes per application that make the difference: match the job's words, reorder your strongest evidence, and keep your master resume intact.
- Volunteer experience on a resumeWhen volunteering belongs on your resume, where to put it, and how to describe it with the same results you would give a paid job.
- Which resume format to useReverse-chronological, skills-based or a mix: what each one is for, which recruiters and tracking systems prefer, and how to choose.
- Writing your first resumeNo work experience yet? What to put in instead: projects, study, volunteering and part-time work, written to show what you can do.
- Your resume headlineThe line under your name: a job title in the words recruiters search for, with your level and focus.