How to Write a Resume

1. Read the job advert first

Before you write anything, read the job post twice. Note the job title, the skills it asks for and the words it repeats. Your resume should use the same words wherever they are true for you. This helps both human readers and the software many employers use to sort applications.

2. Put your contact details at the top

Include your name, a professional email address, a phone number and your city. A link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio is optional. You do not need your full street address, a photo, your age or your date of birth. Employers in the US and UK generally do not want them.

3. Add a short summary

Write two or three lines that say who you are, what you are good at and what kind of role you want. Keep it specific. See our guide to resume summary examples.

4. List your experience, newest first

For each job, write the job title, the company, the place and the dates. Under each, add three to five bullet points about what you achieved. Start each with a strong verb and add a number when you can. Our guide on writing bullet points shows how.

5. Add education and skills

Put education below experience unless you are a recent graduate, in which case it can go higher. List only skills that match the job, such as software you use, languages you speak and certificates you hold. Skip vague claims like "hard worker".

6. Keep it to one page where you can

In the US, one page is the usual target until you have about ten years of experience. In the UK, up to two pages is normal for a CV. If your resume is longer, cut the oldest or least relevant material first.

7. Check it before you send it

• Read it out loud to catch awkward sentences.
• Check every date, spelling and phone number.
• Make sure the font is readable, about 10 to 12 points for body text.
• Ask a friend to read it for ten seconds and tell you what they remember.
• Save it as a PDF named like firstname-lastname-resume.pdf.

Common mistakes

• Using one resume for every job instead of adjusting it.
• Listing duties ("responsible for sales") instead of results ("grew monthly sales by 12%").
• Using fancy layouts, tables or graphics that confuse applicant tracking software.
• Leaving gaps unexplained when a short line would do.
• Including a photo, age or marital status.