How to Write a Resume (Step-by-Step)

A resume has one job: get you the interview. This guide walks you through exactly what to write — section by section — so recruiters and applicant tracking systems both say yes.

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1. Choose the right format

Use a reverse-chronological resume (most recent first) — it's what recruiters expect and ATS parse best. Keep it to one page (two only with 8+ years of experience).

2. Add your header

Name, phone, a professional email, your city, and links (LinkedIn, GitHub or portfolio). Skip your full address, date of birth and photo unless specifically asked.

3. Write a punchy summary

2–3 lines stating who you are, your strongest skills, and the role you want. Freshers can use a career objective instead.

4. List experience with impact

For each role: title, company, dates, and 3–5 bullet points. Start each bullet with an action verb and quantify the result:

❌ "Responsible for sales."
✅ "Grew B2B sales 32% in 2 quarters by building a 40-account pipeline."

5. Add skills, education & extras

List role-relevant tools and skills (mirror the job description). Add education, then certifications, projects or achievements to fill the page.

6. Make it ATS-friendly and proofread

Use standard headings, real text (not images), and a clean layout — see our ATS resume checklist. Then proofread twice and export a PDF.

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