How to Make a Resume in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Making a resume doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're creating your first resume or rebuilding one from scratch, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process — from gathering your information to submitting a polished, professional document. By the end, you'll have a resume that's ready to land interviews.

Step 1: Gather Your Information

Before you open a resume builder or template, gather all the raw materials you'll need. This saves time and prevents you from forgetting important details. Pull together your work history (job titles, company names, dates, and key accomplishments), education details (degrees, institutions, graduation dates), certifications and licenses, technical skills, volunteer work, and any awards or honors. Having everything in front of you makes the writing process much smoother.

Step 2: Pick a Professional Template

Your resume template sets the visual tone. Choose one that matches your industry — creative fields can handle more design elements, while corporate and technical roles call for clean, traditional layouts. Regardless of industry, your template should be easy to read, ATS-compatible, and well-organized with clear section headings. Avoid templates with excessive graphics, tables, or columns that ATS software might struggle to parse.

Step 3: Add Your Contact Information

Place your contact information at the very top of your resume. Include your full name, professional email (firstlast@email.com — not partyguy99@email.com), phone number, LinkedIn URL, and city/state. If relevant to your role, add a link to your portfolio, GitHub profile, or personal website. Don't include your full mailing address, Social Security number, or date of birth.

Step 4: Write Your Professional Summary

Your professional summary sits right below your contact info and acts as your personal elevator pitch. In 2–4 sentences, summarize your years of experience, core competencies, top achievements, and what you're looking for next. This section should be customized for every application — it's your chance to immediately show a recruiter that you're a strong match for their specific role.

Step 5: List Your Work Experience

This is the most important section of your resume. For each role, include the job title, company name, city/state, and start/end dates (month and year). Underneath, write 3–5 bullet points that highlight your achievements — not your job description. Start each bullet with a powerful action verb and include numbers whenever possible. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a resume, so make every bullet count.

• Use the formula: Action verb + task + quantified result
• Example: 'Increased quarterly sales revenue by 28% by implementing a consultative selling framework across a team of 12 reps'
• Prioritize bullets that match the target job description
• Include 3–5 bullets for recent roles and 1–3 for older positions
• Remove irrelevant roles from 15+ years ago unless they demonstrate unique value

Step 6: Add Education and Certifications

Include your degree(s), school name, and graduation year. Recent graduates can add GPA (if 3.5+), relevant coursework, and academic projects. Professional certifications should be listed in a separate section or combined with education. Industry certifications like PMP, Google Analytics, HubSpot, or AWS carry significant weight and can set you apart from other candidates.

Step 7: Build Your Skills Section

Create a dedicated skills section with 8–15 relevant skills. Mirror the language from the job posting — if they say 'project management,' don't write 'managing projects.' ATS software looks for exact keyword matches. Organize skills by category if you have many (e.g., Technical Skills, Tools & Software, Languages). Only list skills you can confidently discuss in an interview.

Step 8: Tailor, Proofread, and Export

Before sending your resume, tailor it to the specific job. Adjust your summary, reorder your bullet points, and ensure the top keywords from the job posting appear naturally throughout your resume. Then proofread — once silently, once aloud. Check for consistent formatting (dates, bullet styles, font sizes). Export as a PDF with a professional filename like 'FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf.' Never name your file 'resume_final_v3_REAL.pdf.'