Write the Best Resume (2026)

1. Customize each resume

The days of creating one resume and making dozens of hard copies are gone. Today, every resume a candidate sends must be carefully tailored to the job title and actual company.

How to achieve it? Study job listings and make sure your resume content matches the job summary and required qualifications. You want to make the hiring manager see firsthand that you have the experience, skills, and qualifications necessary to be hired for a particular position.

2. Choose the right resume format

Whether you choose a chronological resume format, a combination resume format, or a functional format, your resume format should showcase your strengths, skills, and work experience. If you have a poor work history, for example, a functional resume may be more appropriate for you than a chronological resume.

For more information on choosing the right resume format, visit our resume formats page.

3. Write a strong resume summary

Because the resume summary is placed near the top of the resume, you should spend extra time thinking about it. You want to make an impression from the start. This is an area where you need to include your strongest attributes in just a few sentences.

How to write a summary for a resume? You can mention your current job role and a brief summary of your professional career experience. It should not be said that you are just looking for a job but that it fits the description of the job you are looking for. If you are experienced in the industry, you can mention your many years of experience and great contributions. If you are an entry-level candidate or are changing careers, focus on writing a resume objective where you state your career goals.

4. Limit your work experience to the last 10 years

There’s no need to include every job you’ve ever had on your resume. We recommend limiting yourself to the last 10 years to ensure you discuss relatively recent and relevant work experience and accomplishments. Include job roles that highlight your career experience and skills that would qualify you for the specific role you are applying for.

In addition to outdated information, you don’t want to stuff your resume with unnecessary information. Hiring managers need to see what is relevant. A straightforward resume will be appreciated by hiring managers, who can see at a glance that you have the experience, skills, and qualifications the company is looking for.

5. Use keywords from the job description

As mentioned, your resume should be written for each specific job role you apply for. It’s also important to include important keywords in your resume. Keywords are critical to being recognized through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Reflecting the language used in the position’s job description — the skills and experience the role requires — in your resume is a great way to ensure you have a good chance of passing the ATS. Just match the skills and experience you have with the keywords. For example, if the job posting emphasizes “project management” and you can claim that skill, include it in your resume and provide one or two examples of work history where you demonstrate good project management.

6. Use action verbs, accomplishments, and numbers

A hiring manager reads many resumes for a particular job. You need to write a resume that will make you stand out. Passive language is one of the most common resume mistakes. Phrases like “I am responsible for” don’t tell recruiters anything about how you do the job. Instead, use action verbs like “oversee” or “accomplish.”

While hiring managers are certainly interested in your skills, they will be more impressed with your contributions and how your creativity and innovation can benefit their organization. If possible, in the featured section of your resume, include related numbers that help measure your success in that particular accomplishment (for example, “Created a new customer service response system that increased customer satisfaction by 20%”). These numbers and facts will impress hiring managers and give them a good look at what’s important in your career. List your most impressive and important accomplishments first.

7. Create a strong skills section

Recruiters are often as interested in your resume’s skills and qualifications as they are the jobs you’ve held, so even if you choose a chronological format, you should create a strong skills section. List all your relevant hard and soft skills, and note any certifications, awards, or notable accomplishments.

8. Include your education and relevant awards

If you have a fair amount of work experience in your chosen industry, you should list your work experience before your education. However, your education part is still important so make sure to include it in accordance with your work experience. Rather than mentioning your specific GPA, just mention any high honors you have achieved. In other words, demonstrate summa or magna cum laude status or the fact that you are in an honors program.

You can also include continuing education, online courses, and professional development, as part of the education section of your resume. This will show that even though you are already working in the industry, you are still willing to acquire any skills to further strengthen your career.

9. Include social media URLs

If you have a LinkedIn profile, it’s a good idea to include it on your resume so hiring managers can get more insight into your qualifications and connections. Depending on your industry, it’s a good idea to include links to any professional websites or blogs you have.

10. Keep your resume to one page

While resume length is debatable, it is generally recommended that job candidates try to organize resumes to fit a one-page format. The more concisely you highlight your attributes, the better your chances that the hiring manager will read the entire resume.

A one-page resume is ideal if:

• A candidate is applying for an entry-level position and has limited experience.
• A candidate has less than a decade of work experience.
• A candidate has held more than one position in one company.
• A candidate is in the process of trying to change careers.

The only time you should consider a two-page resume is if you have more than a decade of related experience.

11. Use proper fonts and margins

You have one chance to make an impression, so it’s best to make sure your resume is as easy to read as possible and looks professional.

• Choose an easy-to-read professional 10 or 12 point resume font such as Calibri, Cambria or Arial with line spacing of 1.15
• Make sure the 1 inch margin is even on all sides
• Divide your resume into sections with clear headings
• Bold each section title
• Reduce or eliminate extraneous white spaces

Remember, whatever resume format you choose to suit your specific industry, your primary goal in creating a resume format should be to make it readable by hiring managers.

12. Correction (serious)

Nothing will ruin the hard work you’ve put into creating your resume like a typo. Carelessness is a turnoff for recruiters, so taking the time to proofread your resume is always a good idea. If you use our Resume Builder to build your resume, our built-in tools will help do the proofreading for you.

These 12 steps will help your resume get read by hiring managers and invited for an interview. In short, make sure to only include relevant information and specific keywords to meet the description of the job you are applying for. Organize your resume to highlight your accomplishments and make you stand out among other candidates. Proofread the completed resume carefully for typos and other errors. Then, save as PDF. You will then be ready to apply.

13. Skip the inclusion or mention of any references

Your references will not be an issue until later in the application process. Inserting it into your resume or even adding the line “resume references available upon request” just wastes page space. Additionally, it’s rare for a company to investigate your background before they interview you. If your prospective employer asks for references along with the application, send them in a separate document.