How to Write a Resume: Complete Guide (2026)

Writing a resume can feel overwhelming, especially if you're starting from scratch or haven't updated yours in years. The good news is that a great resume follows a proven structure, and once you understand it, you can create a document that opens doors to interviews. This complete guide walks you through every step — from choosing the right format to writing bullet points that showcase your value.

Choose the Right Resume Format

Before you start writing, you need to pick a format that highlights your strengths. There are three main resume formats: reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. The reverse-chronological format is by far the most popular and preferred by recruiters because it puts your most recent experience front and center. The functional format focuses on skills rather than work history, making it suitable for career changers or those with employment gaps. The combination format blends both approaches, leading with a skills section followed by a chronological work history.

Write a Compelling Resume Header

Your resume header is the first thing a recruiter sees, so make it count. Include your full name (in a larger font size), professional title, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn profile URL, and optionally your city and state. Do not include your full street address, date of birth, or a photo — these are outdated practices that can introduce bias and waste valuable space.

Craft a Strong Resume Summary or Objective

A resume summary is a 2–4 sentence overview at the top of your resume that highlights your experience, key skills, and what you bring to the table. It's your elevator pitch on paper. If you have three or more years of experience, use a professional summary. If you're a recent graduate or changing careers, a resume objective — which states your career goals and what you hope to contribute — may be more appropriate.

Detail Your Work Experience with Impact

Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. For each position, list your job title, company name, location, and dates of employment. Then write 3–6 bullet points describing your achievements — not just your duties. The difference is crucial: duties describe what you were supposed to do, while achievements describe the results you actually delivered. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or the XYZ formula (Accomplished X by doing Y, which resulted in Z) to structure each bullet.

• Start each bullet with a strong action verb (managed, developed, increased, reduced, launched)
• Quantify results wherever possible (percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, team size)
• Tailor bullets to match keywords from the job description you're applying to
• Focus on your most recent 10–15 years of experience — older roles can be summarized
• Use past tense for previous roles and present tense for your current position

Highlight Your Education

List your highest degree first, including the degree name, institution, and graduation year. If you graduated within the last 3 years, you can include your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher, relevant coursework, and academic honors. For experienced professionals, education should be a concise section near the bottom of the resume. If you have a college degree, there's no need to list your high school.

Add a Skills Section That Gets Noticed

A dedicated skills section helps ATS software quickly identify your qualifications. Divide your skills into hard skills (technical abilities like Python, Salesforce, financial modeling) and soft skills (communication, leadership, problem-solving). Prioritize skills that appear in the job description, and be honest — you may be tested on anything you list. Aim for 8–12 relevant skills.

Include Optional Sections to Stand Out

Depending on your background, additional sections can strengthen your resume. Consider adding certifications (especially industry-recognized ones like PMP, CPA, or AWS Certified), volunteer experience, professional associations, publications, languages, or notable projects. Only include sections that add value for the specific role you're targeting.

Format and Proofread Your Resume

A clean, professional format is non-negotiable. Use a modern, readable font like Calibri, Arial, or Garamond in 10–12pt size. Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch. Use consistent formatting for dates, headings, and bullet points. Save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting across devices — unless the job posting specifically asks for a Word document. Finally, proofread at least twice. A single typo can cost you an interview. Read your resume backward sentence by sentence to catch errors your eyes might skip, and ask a trusted friend to review it as well.