best resume format for online submission

How to Format a Resume for Online Applications

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How to Make a Free Printable Resume With a Form

How to create a digital resume, how to send a cover letter & cv by e-mail.

• Should I Send a Cover Letter as an Attachment?
• The Importance of Using the Proper Grammar on a Resume

If you're like a lot of job seekers, you've probably agonized over the spacing, formatting and other little details of your resume. That stuff will look great when you print out the resume – but may not fare so well when you plug that file into an online application, where the formatting may be off and can make your resume look like a jumble of odd spacing and formatting mistakes. The solution to this may mean a more simple approach.

Why it Matters

A lot of formatting issues happen when job seekers create their resumes in proprietary programs such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs. It looks great on your screen – but if the receiver doesn't have the same version of the software as you, problems can arise. That's why online job sites and corporate recruiting sites often dictate that you submit only plain text versions of your resume.

Creating the File

If you already have your resume created in Word, copy the entire document and then open Notepad on your Windows computer, or TextEdit on your Mac. Paste the resume into a new document, and hit "save as" and save it as plain text. In Google Docs, you can simply download the document in plain text. While some job boards will let you upload a Word document, others will require you to paste your plain text resume into an online form, report Top Resume .

If you haven't started your resume, it's probably a good idea to create one nicely formatted version in Word or Pages, so you can use it when you submit hard copies of your resume. Then copy and paste it into a plain text document as described above. Plain text is the best resume format for online submission since it can be read by anyone on any computer.

Suitable Spacing

Spacing is the first thing to suffer when you cut and paste or upload your resume to an online job site. A lot of the problems stem from using the "tab" key or excessive use of the space bar. As a general rule, justify every element of your resume to the left-hand side of the page. Don't try to center your name or address or any of the subheadings, as they may not appear centered when the prospective employer reads your resume. To put spacing between sections, hit "enter" instead of using the space bar.

Fonts and Formatting

Fonts and formatting can take a beating when you export your resume. If the employer has specified a certain font to use, do it. Otherwise, a "nonproportional" font such as courier will make all letters appear the same size. In a text editor, you may not even have a choice between fonts. Also avoid bold, italics or bullet points – all things that can get messed up in an online applications, suggests Indeed.com . To emphasize words or to highlight subheadings, use all caps. In lieu of bullet points, use "-" or "*" characters.

• Indeed: Top Resume Formats: Tips and Examples of 3 Common Resumes
• Top Resume: 6 Must-Do Tips for Online Resume Submissions

Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.

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Resume Submission Format: PDF vs. Word – Which is Best?

When it comes to submitting your resume to potential employers, the format you choose can greatly impact your chances of landing an interview. It’s important to understand the different formats available, and how they can affect how your resume is perceived by hiring managers.

Two of the most common formats for submitting resumes are PDF and Word. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and understanding these can help you decide which format is best for your specific situation.

Understanding Resume Submission Formats

A. what is a pdf format.

A PDF [Portable Document Format] is a file format that was created by Adobe in 1993 that allows documents to be shared and viewed easily on different devices and operating systems. A PDF file retains its formatting and fonts, looks the same across all devices, and is not editable without special software. This makes it a popular format for sharing important documents, including resumes.

B. What is a Word Format?

A Word format refers to documents created using Microsoft Word. This format is also very popular for creating and sharing documents because it is editable, customizable, and can work on both Mac and PC computers. When it comes to resumes, Word format allows job seekers to easily add and update their work experience, skills and qualifications.

C. Comparison between PDF and Word Formats

When it comes to submitting your resume to recruiters or prospective employers, it is important to choose the right format. One major difference between PDF and Word format is the level of compatibility with different systems. While PDFs retain their formatting, they are not always compatible with older software versions of Microsoft Word, which can make it difficult for recruiters using older systems to read a PDF resume. However, Word format allows HRs to easily navigate through the document and highlight important information.

D. Pros and Cons of Each Format

• Retains formatting and fonts
• Looks the same across all devices
• Cannot be easily editable without special software
• Protects your resume from being altered or tampered with
• Not always compatible with older software versions of Microsoft Word
• Font size might change if opened in different PDF viewers

Word Format

• Customizable
• Can be easily read and navigated by recruiters
• Compatible with most software
• Formatting may look different on different operating system
• The document can be accidentally altered or modified

The choice between PDF and Word format comes down to personal preference and the specific job you are applying for. It’s important to consider the compatibility of your document, the ease at which recruiters can navigate through it, and the formatting and layout of the final document.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Format

When submitting a resume, it is important to consider the format. Some companies may only accept resumes in a specific format, while other factors such as file size and visual appeal can also impact your chances of being hired. Here are five factors to consider when choosing a format.

A. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is used by many companies to sort resumes and identify candidates to move forward in the hiring process. Some ATS can only read resumes in specific formats, such as Microsoft Word or PDF. It is important to research whether the company you are submitting your resume to uses an ATS and which formats are accepted.

If the company uses an ATS, it is recommended to submit your resume in the preferred format to increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

B. Company’s Preference

In addition to ATS requirements, it is important to consider the company’s preference for resume format. Some companies may prefer resumes in PDF format, while others may prefer Word documents. It is recommended to research the company or industry standards to determine which format is preferred.

Adhering to the company’s preferred format shows that you are familiar with their hiring processes and can provide a positive indication of your ability to follow instructions.

C. File Size

When submitting your resume, it is important to consider the file size. Large files can be inconvenient for recruiters to open and may cause them to overlook your application. To avoid this, try to keep the file size as small as possible without sacrificing the quality of your resume.

Compressing images and using optimized fonts can help reduce file size while keeping the document visually appealing.

D. Visual Appeal

A well-designed resume can make a positive first impression on a recruiter or hiring manager. However, it’s important to balance aesthetics with functionality.

Visual appeal does not always mean using complex designs or graphics. A clean, organized design with proper spacing, bullet points, and relevant headings can make your resume stand out while allowing the reader to quickly scan and absorb the information.

E. Security

The security of your personal information should also be considered when choosing a resume format. While PDF documents are generally considered more secure than Word documents, it is important to ensure that the file is password protected or encrypted.

This can provide added security and prevent any potential unauthorized access to your personal information.

When choosing a resume format, it is important to consider the ATS requirements, company preference, file size, visual appeal, and security. By taking all these factors into consideration, you can increase your chances of being noticed by recruiters and securing your dream job.

Advantages of a PDF Format

When it comes to submitting resumes, there are two popular formats to consider: PDF and Word. While both formats have their advantages, in this section we’ll examine the key benefits of choosing a PDF format.

A. Preserves Document Formatting

One of the biggest advantages of a PDF format is that it preserves the formatting of your document, ensuring that it looks exactly the same on any device or platform. This is crucial when it comes to resumes, which often contain headings, subheadings, bullet points and other formatting elements that are designed to make the document easy to read and navigate.

In a Word format, however, the formatting can easily become distorted when opened on a different device or platform. This can result in a messy, unprofessional-looking document that is difficult to read and navigate. By contrast, a PDF format eliminates this risk, ensuring that the document looks the same no matter where it is opened.

B. Compatibility Across Different Devices and Operating Systems

Another advantage of choosing a PDF format for your resume is that it is compatible with virtually all devices and operating systems, including desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, and tablets. This means that no matter what device or operating system the recipient is using, they will be able to open and view your resume without any issues.

This is particularly important in today’s world, where recruiters and hiring managers often review resumes on the go, using their smartphones or tablets. By submitting your resume in a PDF format, you can ensure that it is accessible and easy to read, no matter what device or operating system the recipient is using.

C. Conveys a Professional Image

Another advantage of using a PDF format for your resume is that it conveys a professional image. PDFs are widely used in the business world, and are considered a more formal and professional format than a Word document. By submitting your resume in a PDF format, you signal to the recipient that you take your job search seriously, and that you have taken the time to create a polished and professional document.

D. Ensures Confidentiality of the Data

Finally, another key advantage of using a PDF format for your resume is that it ensures the confidentiality of your data. PDFs can be password-protected and encrypted, making them a more secure format than Word documents. This is particularly important when it comes to job applications, as you may not want your personal data and employment history to be shared or disseminated without your consent.

By submitting your resume in a PDF format, you can ensure that your data is protected, and that only the intended recipient has access to it.

While both PDF and Word formats have their advantages, when it comes to submitting a resume, a PDF format is often the best choice.

Disadvantages of a PDF Format

While it has its advantages, the PDF format also presents some drawbacks, particularly when it comes to resume submission. In this section, we will explore some of the main disadvantages of using a PDF format.

A. Applicant Tracking Systems Limitations

One of the main drawbacks of submitting your resume in PDF format is Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) limitations. ATS is software that many employers use to automate the recruitment process. This software reads resumes and orders them based on how well they match the job requirements.

However, ATS can have trouble parsing text and data from PDFs. This can lead to some of the information on your resume being lost or distorted, making it difficult to match your skills and qualifications to the job requirements. As a result, you may miss out on job opportunities that are a good fit for you.

B. Difficulty in Editing and Customizing

Another disadvantage of using PDF format for your resume is the difficulty in editing and customizing it. PDFs are not as easily editable as Word documents, which can make it tricky to tailor your resume to different job opportunities.

If you need to change anything on your PDF resume or add additional information, you will need specialized software to do so. This can be a hassle and may involve an additional expense if you don’t already have the required software.

C. Limited Use of Fonts and Graphics

Graphics and fonts can make your resume visually appealing and help it stand out from other applicants. However, using PDF format can limit your ability to use different fonts and graphics because of compatibility issues.

Recruiters and hiring managers may have preferences for specific fonts and layouts that they prefer to see in resumes. If you take a creative approach with graphics and font, you may run the risk of sending an out-of-date, non-compliant or a wrongly formatted document.

D. Not Ideal for all Roles

Finally, it’s important to consider that the PDF format may not be ideal for all roles. Some industries and job functions may require more detailed or technical information, which may not be conveyed as effectively in PDF format. In these cases, submitting your resume in a Word document may be a better choice.

For example, if you’re applying for a graphic design job, a PDF that showcases your portfolio is ideal. However, if you’re applying for a role that requires you to have knowledge of certain programming languages, a PDF may not be the best choice as websites that match your resume to job postings need job-specific keywords.

While PDF format can be a viable option for submitting a resume, there are some notable disadvantages to consider. Taking the time to consider the pros and cons of each format can ultimately result in more successful job applications.

Advantages of a Word Format

A Word format is one of the most commonly used formats for submitting resumes. Here are some of the advantages of using a Word format for your resume submission:

A. Easy to Edit and Customize

One of the biggest advantages of using a Word format for your resume is the ability to easily edit and customize it. You can easily make changes to your resume content, formatting, and layout to tailor it to the requirements of the job application. For instance, you can highlight your relevant skills and experience and reorder the resume content to spotlight your strengths.

B. Widely Supported by Applicant Tracking Systems

Most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by employers today are designed to support Word formats. This makes it easier for employers to scan, process and evaluate your application quickly and without any complications. Using a Word format will enable your resume to pass through ATS without any formatting issues, thus increasing your chances of getting a call for an interview.

C. Offers Advanced Editing Features

Word is equipped with a wide range of advanced editing features that can help you create a visually appealing resume. You can choose from different font types and sizes, add graphics and images to make your resume stand out, and use tables and charts to showcase your skills. Additionally, you can use advanced formatting features such as page borders, shading, custom bullet points, and section breaks to make your resume look polished and well-organized.

D. Suitable for All Roles

Whether you are applying for a technical job or a non-technical job, using a Word format is suitable for all roles. When it comes to an ATS, Word formats are easily processed by HR departments of all industries. Moreover, even if the employers require you to submit a PDF format, having the Word format as a backup version is always a good idea since you can make changes to the document as required without having to start from scratch.

Using a Word format for your resume submission provides a host of advantages compared to other formats such as PDF. A Word format is widely supported by ATS, offers advanced editing and formatting options, is suitable for all roles, and allows you to make quick changes as required. Therefore, consider using a Word format when submitting your resume to increase your chances of securing an interview.

Disadvantages of a Word Format

When it comes to submitting your resume, Word format may not be the best option. Here are some of the disadvantages:

A. Compatibility Issues Across Different Devices and Operating Systems

Due to differences in software and hardware, Word documents may appear differently on different devices and operating systems. Text and formatting may shift, making your resume appear unprofessional or difficult to read. This is especially true if you’re using non-standard fonts or graphics.

B. File Size May Increase due to Formatting

Word documents can be easily formatted with tables, columns, and images, but these features can quickly increase the file size of your document. This can be problematic if you’re submitting your resume online, as some submission platforms have a maximum file size limit that you may exceed.

C. Formatting Errors May Occur during Transmission

It’s not uncommon for Word documents to lose formatting or experience errors when transmitted via email or other online platforms. This can be frustrating and time-consuming to correct, and may cause your resume to be overlooked by potential employers.

D. Can be Modified by Anyone

Another downside to Word format is that the document can be easily modified by anyone who receives it. Even if you have password protection enabled, it’s not technically difficult for someone to make changes to your document. This can be especially problematic if your resume is being passed around to multiple people for review.

While Word format may be convenient and easily editable, it can create a number of issues when it comes to submitting your resume for job applications. Consider using a different format, such as PDF, to ensure your resume looks professional and is free from formatting errors.

Best Practices for Resume Submission

When it comes to submitting your resume, choosing the right format is crucial. Two of the most common formats are PDF and Word. In this section, we will discuss the best practices for each format and common mistakes to avoid.

A. Using PDF Format

1. converting word documents to pdf.

Converting your Word document to PDF ensures that your formatting remains intact and appears the same for recipients. When converting your Word document to PDF, make sure to:

• Check that all fonts and images are embedded in the document
• Save the document as a PDF file
• Preview the document to ensure that it appears the way you intended

2. Optimizing the File Size

PDF files can become large, which can cause issues with email attachments or online submission forms. You can optimize the file size by:

• Compressing images
• Removing unnecessary bookmarks or links
• Using online compressing tools

B. Using Word Format

1. choosing the right font and size.

When using Word format, it is important to choose a readable font and size. Some good options are:

• Times New Roman
• Font size between 10-12 pt

Avoid using decorative fonts, as they can be hard to read or may not appear the same for every recipient.

2. Using Templates

Using a pre-designed template can give your resume a professional look and save you time in formatting. Make sure to:

• Choose a template appropriate for your industry
• Customize the template to highlight your skills and experience
• Proofread the document before submitting

C. Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

• Spelling and Grammar Errors: Make sure to proofread your resume and have someone else check it over for errors.
• Inappropriate Email Addresses: Use a professional email address that includes your name.
• Irrelevant Information: Only include information relevant to the position you are applying for.
• Lack of Keywords: Use keywords from the job description to show that you are a good fit for the position.
• Too Long or Too Short: Aim for a one to two-page resume, with enough details to showcase your experience without being overwhelming.

By following these best practices and avoiding common mistakes, you can improve your chances of getting noticed by potential employers. Remember to choose the format that works best for you and the position you are applying for.

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More from ResumeHead

Making the Most of Electronic Resumes (Pro Tips and Tricks)

Updated: July 23, 2024

Published: November 24, 2023

I’ve submitted hundreds of electronic resumes throughout my career. These digital job applications hold so much weight in the job search process. It’s always nerve-wracking to make sure I’m doing everything right.

I always ask myself: Does this meet the submission requirements? Did I use the right font ? Will my resume surpass the employer’s applicant tracking system (ATS)?

If you’ve also wanted to ensure you have the highest chance of standing out and securing an interview, here’s how to make the most of electronic resumes.

Table of Contents

What is an electronic resume?

The benefits of electronic resumes, how to make an electronic resume, electronic resume tips.

An electronic resume is any resume that’s submitted online. Employers will request electronic resumes in plain text (ASCII), HTML, or PDF.

This helps applicant tracking systems (ATSs) easily scan and decipher the hundreds of resumes they receive. To meet these standards, electronic resumes are typically created with limited design or formatting.

In my experience, electronic resumes helped me refine my approach to better position myself for a job. I found that I was more likely to land an interview when

I tailored my resume to the job posting, used simple fonts, and included keywords.

Here are a few benefits of using electronic resumes.

You’ll match the ATS.

Only 30% of resumes are accepted by applicant tracking systems (ATS). But when they’re done right, ATS-approved resumes yield successful results.

When I spoke to Rodolphe Dutel , the founder of remote job board Remotive , about his experience with electronic resumes, he shared with me an incredible story.

Early in his career, he was part of a batch of new hires at Google. Dutel later learned that his electronic resume was the sole reason he landed the role.

“It just so happened that I was one of two people that were not peer-recommended,” he recalls, “meaning that my resume actually got picked up by the ATS, and they decided to contact me.”

Dutel went on to work at Buffer, where he helped grow the team from 20 to 80 people as the director of operations before founding Remotive.

If you want to match a company’s ATS and ensure your resume gets scanned, use your electronic resume to make sure you’re presenting the right information for the job.

You can focus on content.

One of the very first resumes I created was, admittedly, over the top.

I used a chunky, bright-colored font for my name, followed by weirdly formatted experience and skills sections separated by vertical and horizontal lines.

I would show you what it looked like, but I’m pretty sure I deleted it out of sheer embarrassment.

I did all of this to hide the fact that I didn’t have much work experience yet.

Looking back, it probably would’ve been better to keep it simple and focus on writing a resume that showcased my strengths. Instead, I tried to hide my lack of experience.

This is where a simple electronic resume would help. When you’re required to submit a plain text, no-frills version of your resume, you’re forced to focus on the actual skills. Write about the results you’ve achieved and can bring to a new role.

Demonstrates your ability to follow instructions.

If a job application asks you to submit a plain text version of your resume, you can guarantee that Microsoft Word Doc resumes will immediately be discarded.

Don't forget to share this post!

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• 6 Must-Do Tips for Online...

6 Must-Do Tips for Online Resume Submissions

4 min read · Updated on October 15, 2021

What could go wrong when submitting a resume online? With these tips, hopefully nothing.

Everyone knows the process for submitting a resume online. Right?

Well, we hope most people do. But that's not to say these tips and tricks can't help make the process easier, eliminate some risk of error, and set you up for more success in landing an interview.

Read the job description thoroughly and follow all directions

This is a no-brainer, right? You'd be surprised how many people simply skim the job description and conduct an online resume submission that doesn't match the description's application requirements. The easiest way to decrease your chances of landing an interview is to incorrectly submit the job application online.

Are they asking for salary requirements in addition to your resume? Do they want a cover letter? What about a salary history? Carefully read the instructions to ensure your online resume submission covers the correct bases.

Use a professionally written resume

Once submitted, your resume has multiple checkpoints to get through. For one, it needs to have the right keywords and formatting to make it past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). From there, it needs to give the hiring manager applicable information (like what's in it for them) about your skills, experience, and successes. It takes action verbs, clear examples of accomplishments, etc. Sometimes it takes a professional resume writer to nail down these aspects on a resume.

Proofread, proofread, proofread 

One of the fastest ways to send your job application into the trash is to submit one riddled with errors, spelling mistakes, or grammar problems. Even if it's written by a professional resume writer, you should proofread your entire job application before submitting.

Follow online resume submission file directions closely 

Most job boards allow you to paste your ASCII (plain text) resume into an online form. Some major job boards will give you the option of uploading a Microsoft Word document. Each individual employer will have their own procedures for submission, which may include email, company Website, etc.

The file format is important since different operating systems (e.g., Windows, Mac OS, UNIX, etc.) encode and decode attachments differently, and sometimes files may not display correctly or open at all. Therefore, when submitting via email, we recommend turning off HTML or Rich formatting to ensure your ASCII text is not converted, as various systems and email clients handle display non-ASCII text differently. Then paste the ASCII version of your resume in the body of the email. Additionally, by attaching the presentation version (Word document),  employers who receive attachments will have the option to view your resume in a more visually-appealing format.

Unless instructed otherwise, use a cover letter with your resume

When submitting your resume via email — unless instructed otherwise — precede the plain-text version of your resume with a brief cover letter. When emailing a resume, paste the cover letter in the body of the email message area.

Consider confidentiality with job board online resume submissions

Many major job boards allow you to block access to specific companies. If confidentiality is a concern, or to help minimize exposure on job boards that don't block access, you might substitute the name of your present employer or other identifying factors with a generic descriptor (e.g., "Major Peripherals Manufacturer"). If you are very concerned about confidentiality, it would be best to skip sites that don't provide control over who has access to your resume. Also, if you are uneasy about publicly displaying your home address, you can remove the address from your resume and use only your email address and telephone number. Another option is to rent a mailbox during your job search.

Each job site or job description should give instructions on how to submit your resume. If you follow those instructions closely and you submit a well-written, updated resume, you should set yourself up for success with online resume submissions.

Is your resume ready to submit to your next job application? Double-check with a free, objective resume critique today! 

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See how your resume stacks up.

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The Best Resume Format Guide

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

By now, as a seasoned job hunter and student of The Interview Guys , you should know there are a few essentials you should have in your arsenal: business cards , a solid cover letter , your elevator pitch , and your well-formatted resume .

Hang on, haven’t we already gone over all this in that other article, How to Make a Resume 101 ?

Yes…and no.

In that article we did go over how to write a resume, but in this article, we’re going to take you to the next step and focus specifically on one seemingly small but massively huge part of resume building: resume format and how to select which one is right for you.

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Why Is Resume Format So Important?

As any good “Interview Guys student” will tell you, a resume is a document used by job seekers (you) to quickly and easily let a hiring manager know what skills they have, what their work history is, and any accomplishments they might have.

Seems simple, right?

Well, it is, but only if you know what you’re doing. The tricky part of writing your own resume is it’s a deceptive document .

No, not deceptive as in you use it to lie to an employer about what you can do (don’t EVER do that!), but deceptive in that it seems like it should be really easy to write.

Trust me, it’s much easier to write a bad resume than a good one…and there are a LOT of bad ones out there, which, believe it or not, is a good thing.

Wait. It’s good that there are bad resumes out there? That doesn’t make any sense!

Yes, and the reason is, when a recruiter or hiring manager has to slog through a mountain of bad resumes, seeing a good resume is like a breath of fresh air. It stands out!

And if you follow our guide, that breath of fresh air resume is going to be yours!

But first, we need to figure out what type of resume format you need .

Types of Resume Formats

Once upon a time, many moons ago, there was just one way to write a resume, reverse-chronologically.

Chronological Resume Format

The reverse-chronological resume (simply called the “chronological”) was just that, a chronological listing of everything you’d done up to that point, starting with your most recent and working backwards.

According to the resume experts over at ResumeGenius.com , a chronological resume “…shows recruiters that your most recent work experience is relevant to their needs, presents yourself in terms of promotions and upward career mobility and demonstrates that you’ve had a normal career without work gaps or terminations.”

We agree that these are some of the benefits of this style of resume, which is why, during the heyday of the chronological resume, everyone used it. It wasn’t just industry standard, it was global standard.

Brain surgeons and tax accountants used the same chronological format as plumbers and babysitters – and for the time, it was fine.

Then someone said, “Hmm. These jobs aren’t all exactly the same..so why are the resumes being used exactly the same? Shouldn’t they be specific to the job you’re seeking? Shouldn’t it be more…functional?”

And in that moment, the functional resume was born.

Functional Resume Format

Rather than just simply listing what you’ve done (chronological), a functional resume specifically targets the job you’re going after and makes sure that it highlight the skills and abilities you have that relate to that position.

Rather than listing a ton of stuff that might not relate to what you’ve done, it highlights what is most relevant for the position you’re going after.

Whereas a chronological resume can seem cold and impersonal, almost a ‘shopping list’ of skills, promotions and upward mobility, a functional resume allows you to interject a little of “who” you are into the conversation, not just “what you do.”

And then someone said “I can’t decide…what works better for me? Chronological or functional? Ugh, why do I have to decide? Why can’t I use both?!”

And thus the combination resume was born.

Combination Resume Format

The combination resume takes all the best parts of a functional resume (relevant skills, qualifications and specifically targeted information) and combines it with the chronological resume (everything you’ve done in the past that’s gotten you to where you are right now.)

But which of the three resume formats is right for me?

How To Choose the Best Resume Format For You

The first thing you have to do when settling on what type of resume you plan to write ( chronological , functional or combination ), is figure out which resume format or resume layout matches your needs and who you are. While it’s true you tend to see less chronological resumes out there, the fact is your resume format choice should depend more on your experience and situation more than anything.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMES are great for people who have had a steady career path in the same field for a long period of time or are applying for jobs in similar fields and has few, if any, gaps in their employment history.

Employers like chronological resumes because it’s easy to see, at a glance, what an employee has done in the past. For people who have stayed within the same industry their whole career and haven’t moved around much, it’s a great option as it shows a potential employer quickly and easily your progression.

For example, executives who have had a steady progression to the top would benefit from a chronological resume.

Chronological resumes are also great for people who are just starting out or find themselves in the mid-level of their careers.

When organizing your chronological resume, you want to make sure you keep the following categories in this order (see, I told you we’d come back to categories in resume formats!)

• Objective Statement or Summary Statement

Experience/Qualifications

FUNCTIONAL RESUMES are great for people who have started and stopped their careers and are facing gaps in their work history or are making a significant career change. Functional resumes are also great for people who are targeting a particular position and need a resume that highlight specific skills and abilities that directly relate.

People just entering the job market can also benefit from a functional resume as it focuses more on skills than past work history.

When organizing your functional resume, you want to make sure you keep the following categories in this order:

• Achievements/Accomplishments

COMBINATION RESUMES are great for people who are looking to make a career change and move from one industry to another. It’s also a great format for highlighting well-developed skills and talents that are relevant to a specific position. This is the best resume format for someone considered a master within their field.

When organizing your combination resume, you want to make sure you keep the following categories in this order:

Best Practices For Formatting Your Resume

Now that we’ve gone over different resume formats, it’s time to go over formatting the resume format (?) you have selected. Tongue twisters and confusing sentences aside, let’s start with the basics!

How Long Should A Resume Be?

No matter which of the three formats you decide to go with, it should fit neatly onto one single sided page without crowding .

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and in some (rare) cases (career changes, highly advanced technical fields, or individuals at the senior/executive level), a slightly longer resume is acceptable.

Anything longer than that and you’ve moved out of the world of resumes and into the world of CV’s (hey, we have an article for those! Check out our CV article here! ) which are acceptable, but ONLY in VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. (If you’ve been asked for your resume, make sure that’s what you give them or you run the risk of it being tossed.)

Keep in mind this isn’t your autobiography! 

This is meant to give a hiring manager just enough information about you that they feel compelled to call you in and meet you face to face!

To put it bluntly, the average hiring manager spends initially between 10-20 seconds on each resume which means you have 10-20 seconds to catch their eye. The last thing you want to do is give them something that’s messy, confusing, or unorganized.

Rather than spend an additional 10 seconds trying to figure out your resume, most hiring manager will just throw it away…and we don’t want that!

Ok, so what about fonts, margins, paper, etc?

Let’s start with fonts.

Best Resume Fonts To Use

Choosing the right resume font can seem like an impossible task, especially as there are hundreds of choices available. Making sure your resume is readable is step number one.

You want to make sure that a potential employer can easily read it regardless of if it’s printed out or on a computer screen. Speaking of computer screens, not everyone is on the same operating system which means a unique or quirky font on your screen might show up as code or nonsense on someone else’s.

And nobody’s hiring nonsense.

Your resume is a professional representation of who you are, and as such, should look professional.

Many companies these days use an automated applicant tracking software to first pre-qualify candidates and the last thing you want to do is get sorted to the bottom of the pile, or worse, rejected, because the computer program didn’t recognize your font or had difficulty reading it.

Sans Serifs fonts are fonts which are clean, crisp, sleek, and most importantly, scanner-friendly! They’re also “eyeball-friendly” which means a hiring manager reading it won’t have any issues trying to figure out what they’re looking at or run into eye-strain.

Stick to fonts like Arial , Verdana , Trebuchet MS , Century Gothic , Gill Sans MT (but NEVER Comic Sans), Lucida Sans and Tahoma .

Of course, over here at The Interview Guys, we’ll confess that we’re partial to Helvetica . It’s a flawless blend of style and clarity.

Another thing to keep in mind with fonts is the size you’re using. Shrinking everything down to the size of an ant just so you can fit it all onto a single page won’t win you any points. Again, you want to ensure that your resume is readable.

Try to stay between 10.5 and 12 points. Any smaller and it’s hard to read.

Formatting Your Margins and Spacing

When you format your resume you want to make sure that your leave enough margin space to allow for printing . If you try to adjust your margins and make them too narrow in order to fit more into your page, you run the risk of critical information being cut off if an employer prints it out.

Inversely, making your margins too large will leave your resume looking boxed in and squished. The general rule is to set your margins at one inch on all sides .

Think of your resume as a piece of fine artwork. Your margins should create a beautiful frame around it. If you’re truly desperate for space, you can slightly adjust your top and bottom margins but try to avoid adjusting your side margins.

In terms of the spacing, keep your resume to single-spaced with a blank line between each section of your content.

When you turn a resume into a potential employer, you want to make sure you’re using paper that helps convey the message that you’re a professional.

Of course, if you’re using an online submission system, you don’t get to choose what sort of paper an employer might potentially print your resume out on, but in the instances when you’re physically turning something in, it’s a good idea to put some extra time and thought into the paper you’re using.

Try to always print your resumes out using a laser printer or inkjet printer that produces crisp, high-quality results. You want to print on paper heavier than what you traditionally find in photocopiers.

Generally copier paper is considered 20 lb. weight. This is a lighter, flimsier paper which is perfect for running through a Xerox in high quantity at high speeds, but for a resume comes across as unprofessional and sloppy.

Aim for paper that’s slightly heavier. Most resume paper is rated at 24 lb. If you’re using paper with a watermark, make sure it’s facing the correct way relative to your resume.

When selecting the color of paper you’re using, it’s always a safe bet to stick to white or neutrals. Off-white, cream, ivory and light gray are acceptable for most professional jobs.

Finally, make sure you’re always using 8 ½ x 11 paper.

Which Resume Categories Do I Include?

Organizing your resume is just as important as formatting it. Many resumes are put together by job seekers who aren’t sure of how to organize their information, resulting in a resume that lacks focus.

You always want to make sure that your categories are well defined and organized appropriately for not only who you are, but the type of resume that you’re using (don’t worry, we’ll go into that further in just a bit!).

Here are the categories that you need to include on your resume:

The first thing you need to do is make sure that a potential employer knows whose resume they’re looking at!

Make sure you include your personal information at the TOP of your resume. Include your full name, phone number, email and personal branding website (if you have one, which as an Interview Guys student you should!) You can also include your mailing address, but this is purely optional.

Resume Objective Statement

An objective statement is a quick outline of your employment goals with the company you’re applying to and should take up no more than a sentence or two.

For our in-depth article on how to write a  resume objective statement, click here .

Resume Summary Statement

A resume summary is a quick recap of your skills and experiences and, like an objective statement, should be no more than a sentence or two.

For our in-depth article on how to write a  resume summary statement, click here .

This section is where you talk about your work history and highlight not only who you worked for but what you did as well as how long you did it. Be sure to include your job title as well as a bulleted list of your duties and/or responsibilities.

***This is listed in reverse chronological order with your most recent job first.

Skills & Abilities

This is where you want to highlight your relevant skills that relate directly to the position or job you’re applying to. Make sure you list things here that set you apart and help show a potential employer that you’re the perfect candidate for the job!

These can include things like technical skills, language skills, computer skills, anything and everything that sets you apart and fits exactly what the employer is looking for.

Check out our skills to put on a resume article for more information .

For recent graduates and people just entering the job market, this would mean where you went to school. For people in technical fields or fields where outside training is either required or encouraged, you would include this information here.

Once upon a time references were always included. These days, however, references are no longer a must have on resumes. That doesn’t mean you don’t need them… instead, have them as a separate list, and if requested, you can provide it.

Check out our articles on professional reference letters and character reference letter 101 if you need more info.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Spelling and grammar mistakes (and typos).

Always proofread your resume before you send it out! This includes double checking your contact information. It won’t do you any good if you have the perfect resume and employers who want to hire you if they keep calling the wrong number or emailing the wrong email. Double check! Then…check again!

Similarly, don’t forget about punctuation! According to the Cawley Career Education Center at Georgetown University , “… be consistent in your use of punctuation throughout the document. For instance, either use periods at the end of all your bullets or not.” Great advice!

Not Targeting Your Resume

Blanketing the job market with a one-resume-fits-all approach not only makes you look lazy, but it shows an employer that you’re comfortable doing the bare minimum rather than going the extra step to make sure your resume is targeted to the job you’re specifically seeking.

Remember, you’re one candidate out of hundreds, if not thousands. Submitting a resume that’s long, rambling, confusing or poorly organized isn’t going to get you anything except dumped. This includes padding your resume with unnecessary information. Keep your resume targeted, clear, concise, and clean.

Personal Information

Religious affiliations, social security numbers, personal social media contact, birthday (or age), marital status, or anything else that’s personal has no place on your resume. This also includes photos or headshots. All a potential employer needs to know is what your name is, how to contact you, and why you’re the perfect candidate based off of your skills, experience, and qualifications.

Salary Information

Save that for a personal discussion with the hiring manager a little further down the road. Putting your salary requirements on your resume is never a good idea. Check out the article we wrote on “When and How to Negotiate Your Salary” here .

Top 5 Resume Formatting Tips

1. Keep your format simple : Remember, you have 10-20 seconds to snag a hiring managers attention. Presenting them with a resume that’s overly crowded, hard to read, confusing or just plain messy isn’t going to get you the job…it’s going to get you thrown out. Watch your spacing, font size and margins. Keep it legible!

2. Keep it professional : Avoid cute fonts, gimmicks, scented paper, glitter, odd shapes, or anything that could potentially make an employer look at your resume and question your sanity. Don’t print on cheap paper. Show an employer you’re serious about the job.

3. Focus on what you did for past employers, not just the job you held . Anyone can push a button. Why were you the best button pusher there was? What set you apart from every other button pusher who came before you and will come after you? Don’t just outline the job description. What were your accomplishments while doing that job?

4. Make sure you’re selecting the resume format that best reflects who you are, your work history, and the job you’re applying for . Keep in mind employment gaps, career trajectory, where you are in your industry, and where you plan on going. Make sure you’re selecting the right format resume (chronological, functional or combination).

5. Be honest : I know we’ve said this again and again in multiple articles on this site, but it’s a sentiment that bears repeating. Be honest. Don’t pad your resume with jobs or duties you’ve never held or exaggerate ones you have just to impress an employer. The last thing you want to do is get a job you can’t do. Not only will you look bad, but it’ll haunt you down the line with other future potential employers. Be honest!

Finding the Best Resume Format Examples

Of course, reading about it is one thing, but seeing how these resumes look is another. If you’re interested in seeing examples of how these resumes look in person, head on over to our How to Make a Resume 101 article. Just make sure, no matter which format you choose, that you’re targeting it for the job you’re applying to.

We also have to give some credit where credit is due. Our pals over at NovoResume have put together some really great content about resume format over on their site, along with a few great examples. This will be a great companion to the information we have already taught you here!

Putting It All Together

Whew! Did you get all that?!?

We promised you a much deeper look into resume formats and I think we’ve managed to deliver just that!

Making sure you have the right resume for the right job means more than just filling in your qualifications, it means selecting the right format and ensuring that you’re organizing it properly…and now, thanks to this article, you shouldn’t have any problems!

And as always…good luck! (One final thought. How is your cover letter looking? Are you confident that it is formatted properly? Because we have created a companion guide just like this one called “Best Cover Letter Format Guide Click the link to read it now!)

FREE : "Perfect Resume" PDF Checklist

Ok the next thing you should do is download our handy "Perfect Resume" Checklist PDF ".

In it you'll get a 38 point checklist that will let you overhaul your resume and make sure you aren't missing any critical components.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE "PERFECT RESUME" CHECKLIST

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands

Does job searching sometimes feel like you’re flinging resumes and cover letters into a black hole? You may be wondering if your applications are being read at all.

Perhaps you’ve heard that computerized resume scanners reject applications before they even make it into human hands. And yes—at many companies that receive a high volume of applications, that’s true.

SEARCH OPEN JOBS ON THE MUSE! See who’s hiring here , and you can even filter your search by benefits, company size, remote opportunities, and more. Then, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll deliver advice on landing the job right to you.

The internet has completely transformed the job searching landscape. Long gone are the days when you’d “pound the pavement” or “go in and ask to speak to a manager” for all but the smallest local businesses. Instead, you apply online—which is a double-edged sword for everyone involved. Because you don’t have to physically fill out and deliver an application or send out resumes and cover letters via snail mail anymore, you can apply to a lot more jobs. But so can everybody . This means that an open position can easily get far more applications than companies have the resources to read.

Just ask Muse Career Coach Yolanda M. Owens, Founder of CareerSensei Consulting , who has more than 20 years of recruiting experience in a range of industries, including healthcare, tech, and financial services. When she was a corporate recruiter, she would post a job opening and get back, she says, “over 300 applications for an entry-level position within a week.” She was generally recruiting for between 15 and 20 roles at a time, meaning that she might have 6,000 applicants to track at once!

So hiring managers and recruiters like Owens frequently use an applicant tracking system (ATS)—software that helps them organize job applications and ensure none fall through the cracks. If you’ve applied to a job any time since 2008, your application has probably passed through an ATS. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS of some kind, according to research conducted by Jobscan. Any time you apply for a job through an online form or portal, your application is almost certainly going into an ATS.

But an ATS does more than just track applications—it can also act as a filter, parsing every resume submitted and forwarding only the most relevant, qualified job seekers to a hiring manager or recruiter. That’s the resume-scanning technology you’ve probably heard about.

Luckily, getting past the ATS is a lot easier than you might think. Follow these dos and don’ts to create an ATS-friendly resume that’ll sail right through—and impress the hiring manager, too.

1. Do Apply Only to Roles You’re Qualified For

ATSs get a bad rap as the “robots” standing between you and your new job, and when you hear that Owens read only 25% of the applications she received for most postings, it might reinforce that impression.

But the reason she looked at such a small percentage of applications? Most candidates were not qualified for the job she was filling. And some were completely irrelevant. “If I’m looking at an entry-level [accounting] position and seeing someone who is a dentist or a VP,” Owens says, it’s totally fair for the ATS to discard those.

So first and foremost, make sure you’re truly qualified for the roles you’re applying to. This doesn’t mean you have to hit every single job qualification or apply to a job only if you have the traditional background for it. Owens says she was always “trying to cast a wide net and not exclude too many factors to pass up a candidate who might not be traditional”— career changers looking for an entry point into a new field, for example, or folks who had impressive transferable skills. But if you don’t have the core skills needed to perform a job, you’re better off not wasting your time or a recruiter’s.

2. Don’t Apply to Tons of Jobs at the Same Company

An applicant tracking system also allows recruiters to see all the roles you’ve applied to at their company. Owens often noticed the same person applying to every single opening the company or one of its departments had. When you do this, a recruiter can’t tell what you’re actually interested in or if you’re self-aware about your abilities.

If a company has two very similar roles open, absolutely apply to both. Or if you have a wide range of skills and interests and would be equally happy in two very different roles, then you can apply to both, though you should definitely tailor or target each resume you submit to the specific job.

But you generally shouldn’t be applying to both an entry-level position and a director-level position, or a sales position and a video-editing position. And you definitely shouldn’t be applying to every opening a company has. That just shows you haven’t taken the time to consider what the right role for you is—and a recruiter isn’t likely to take the time to do it for you.

3. Do Include the Right Keywords

At its core, what any applicant tracking system is programmed to do when it “reads” a resume is the same as what a person would do: It’s scanning for key pieces of information to find out whether or not you’re a match for a job opening. “ATS algorithms aren’t that different from the human algorithms, we’re all kind of skimming for the same things,” says Jon Shields, Marketing Manager at Jobscan. So when it comes to writing a resume that can make it past an ATS, you want to make sure that key information is there and that it’s easy to find.

One of the ways the ATS narrows an applicant pool is by searching for specific keywords. It’s like a Google search on a much smaller scale.

The recruiter or hiring manager can decide which keywords to search for—usually whatever skills, qualifications, experience, or qualities are most important for performing the job. For entry-level roles, that might mean certain majors, whereas for a tech position, it might be certain coding languages.

So if you want to make it past the ATS, you’ll need to include those important keywords on your resume. Hint: Look for the hard skills that come up more than once in a posting and are mentioned near the top of the requirements and job duties. Hard skills include types of software, methodologies, spoken languages, and other abilities that are easier to quantify. (The most important keyword could even be the job title itself!)

Depending on your industry, certain degrees and certifications might also be important keywords. Particularly in fields like nursing and teaching where state licenses are necessary, employers are going to want to know at a glance that you’re legally allowed to do the job you’re applying for.

If you’re having trouble identifying the important keywords in a job description as you craft an ATS-friendly resume, there are tools online (like Jobscan , Resume Worded’s Targeted Resume or SkillSyncer ) that can help you.

Note: In some cases, an ATS scanning for keywords will only recognize and count exact matches. So if you have the correct experience, but you wrote it using language that’s different than what the system is looking for, you might not come up as one of the most qualified applicants. For example, if you write that you’re an “LSW” but the ATS is checking for “Licensed Social Worker,” it might drop your resume. (To be safe, write out the full name, then put the abbreviation in parentheses.) Or if you wrote that you’re “an Excel expert,” but the ATS is searching for someone who has “experience with spreadsheets,” your resume might never get to the hiring manager. When in doubt, match your phrasing to what’s in the job description, as that’s likely to be what the ATS is looking for.

4. Do Put Your Keywords in Context

Applicant tracking systems can recognize that a key skill or experience is present. But interpreting the strength and value of that experience is still for people to do. And humans want to see how you used your skills.

It’s obvious to a recruiter when you’ve just worked in a keyword because it was in the posting, without tying it to a specific personal achievement—and it doesn’t win you any points. “Instead of focusing on regurgitating a job description, focus on your accomplishments,” Owens says.

Plus, remember that you won’t be the only one adding those important keywords to your resume. “If [you’re] all using the same job descriptions and the same buzzwords, what’s going to make you stand out from the crowd?” Owens asks. Answer: your accomplishments, which are unique to you .

When describing your current and past positions, “ensure your bullet points are actually achievements, and use numbers and metrics to highlight them,” says Rohan Mahtani, Founder of Resume Worded . Instead of just telling recruiters and hiring managers that you have a skill, this will show them how you’ve used it and what the results were.

5. Don’t Try to Trick the ATS

ATSs have brought up a whole new host of problems with applicants “trying to cheat the system,” Owens says. You might have come across advice about how to tweak your resume to fool an applicant tracking system—by pasting keywords in white, pasting the entire job description in white, repeating the keywords as many times as possible, or adding a section labeled “keywords” where you stick various words from the job description.

Don’t do any of this!

Any tricks that have to do with pasting keywords in white will immediately be discovered because the ATS will display all text in the same color on the other end. So even if this gets your application flagged to a human recruiter, they’ll see that you added the full text of the job description or just wrote “sales sales sales sales” somewhere and move onto the next candidate as quickly as they can. Not only are you failing to prove you’re qualified for the job, but you’re also showing that you’ll cheat to get ahead!

If you were considering adding a “keyword” section, remember that it lacks any context. If you can’t also speak to your experience with the skill, it probably doesn’t belong on your resume, and if this is true of one of the main keywords, this isn’t the job for you. What you can do, however, is include a keyword-rich resume summary — not an objective statement —that concisely puts your skills in context at the top of your document.

You also want to be careful you’re not just stuffing your resume full of keywords. “You can use a keyword as much as you like so long as it’s used in [the] correct context that makes it relevant to the job description,” says Nick Francioso, an Army veteran who mentors other veterans during career transitions and the founder of resume optimization tool SkillSyncer . But if you just cram in random keywords all over the place, you might make it past a resume scanner only to irritate a recruiter or hiring manager with a resume full of nonsense.

6. Do Choose the Right File Type

In the great resume file-type debate, there are only two real contenders: docx vs .pdf . While PDFs are best at keeping your format intact overall, the .docx format is the most accurately parsed by ATSs. So if you want to get past the ATS, use a .docx file. But also follow directions (if the listing asks for a certain file type, give it to them!) and take the posting’s word for it (if a posting says a PDF is OK, then it’s OK).

And if you’re considering using an online resume builder, first check what file type it spits out—Mahtani cautions that some online resume builders will generate your resume as an image (.jpg or .png, for example).

Pro tip: If you don’t have Microsoft Word or another program that can convert your resume to .docx or .pdf, you can use Google Docs to create your resume , then download it in either format for free.

7. Do Make Your Resume Easy to Scan (by Robots and Humans)

In addition to making sure that your resume has the right content for an applicant tracking system, you also need to make sure the ATS can make sense of that information and deliver it to the person on the other end in a readable form.

Fortunately, ATS-friendly resume formatting is very similar to recruiter-friendly resume formatting. Like a human, the ATS will read from left to right and top to bottom, so keep that in mind as you format. For example, your name and contact information should all be at the top, and your work history should start with your most recent or current position. There should be “no surprises about where info is supposed to be,” Shields says.

Among the three common resume formats you can choose from— chronological , combination , and functional —ATSs are programmed to prefer the first two. Recruiters also prefer chronological and combination formats (starting to notice a theme?). “For me, it's more about storytelling to demonstrate a person's professional progression,” Owens says. That story is harder to see with a functional resume, which can confuse applicant tracking systems, too. Without a clear work history to draw from, the software doesn’t know how to sort different sections of text.

“Ultimately recruiters just want to find the info they’re looking for as quickly as possible,” Shields says. So making a resume ATS friendly will actually help your resume be more readable to recruiters as well.

8. Don’t Include Too Much Fancy Formatting

It may pain you to hear this, but you likely need to get rid of that expensive resume template or heavily designed custom resume. “If you speak to experienced hiring managers [and] recruiters, they’ll tell you that creative [or] fancy resumes are not only harder for [an] ATS to read, but also harder for them to read!” says Mahtani.

In order to scan your resume for relevant keywords most ATSs will convert the document to a text-only file. So at best, any fancy formatting will be lost. At worst, the ATS won’t be able to pull out the important information and so a person may never lay eyes on your nice designs—or read about the experience and skills that actually qualify you for the job.

When designing a resume to go through an ATS, avoid:

• Images: In the U.S., your resume should never include your photo.
• Graphics, graphs, or other visuals
• Columns: Since ATSs are programmed to read left to right, some will read columns straight across rather than reading column one top to bottom and then starting column two at the top.
• Headers and footers: Information in the header and footer sometimes gets dropped by the ATS completely. Make sure all text is within the document body.
• Uncommon section headings: Stick to conventional labels like “Education,” “Work Experience,” and “Technical Skills,” so the ATS knows how to sort your information. This is not the place to get creative with something like “Where I’ve Made an Impact.”
• Hyperlinks on important words: Some systems will display only the URL and drop the words you linked from, so don’t link from anything important (like your job title or an accomplishment). Instead, paste in the URL itself or link out from a word like “website” or “portfolio.”
• Less common fonts: Stick to a universal font like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Garamond, Georgia, or Cambria. Avoid fonts you need to download, which the ATS may have trouble parsing.

Here are some elements you can use without tripping up an ATS:

• Underline: But stick to using underlines in headings and for URLs, Shields says. In general, people have been trained to see any underline within sentences as links.
• Colors: Just know that the ATS will return all text in the same color, so make sure your color choices aren’t vital to understanding the text of your resume.
• Bullets: Bullets are an important component of any resume, but stick to the standard circle- or square-shaped ones. Anything else could get messy.

Still not convinced that you should ditch your fancy resume? To show how formatting can trip up an ATS, we created a resume with many of the “forbidden” design elements—including columns, separate text boxes for the job seeker’s name and contact information, a table, icons, and text in the header—and used it to apply to a job at The Muse. The resume contains all the keywords found in the job posting , and since Victoria Harris is a fictional person, she hits every single requirement, making her an ideal candidate for the job.

Here’s what the resume looks like after it’s been run through an ATS:

You’ll immediately notice that the columns have been smashed together. Victoria’s current position is still first, which is good, but what comes next is an indecipherable jumble: “Education Sales Cloud Apollo.io.” Then, the ATS has combined the start date of her current job with her graduation date and interpreted that she’s been in her current position for just one month instead of over a year.

When you finally get to her bullet points, they’ve also been destroyed. Her fourth bullet, for example, now ends with: “Salesforce Analytics Cloud and Salesforce Sales Cloud Salesforce Salesforce.” Victoria wasn’t keyword stuffing, but it sure looks like she was.

Yes, this feels like a lot. But the main thing to take away when it comes to creating an ATS-friendly resume is that “it will help even if you’re not going through an ATS,” Shields says. At the end of the day, what an ATS is looking for in a resume is not that different from what a person is scanning for—so if you make a resume that beats the ATS, chances are it’ll impress a whole lot of humans, too.

3 Best Resume Formats for 2024 [W/ 5+ Professional Templates]

How you format your resume matters . 

When reviewing your resume, the first thing hiring managers notice is how your resume looks , not what it contains .

And if the first thing they see is a messy, cluttered, crowded resume, chances are you won’t make a great first impression.

So, this begs the question: what are the best resume formats, and which one should YOU use? 

That’s exactly what we’re here to explain! In this article, we’re going to cover:

• Resume Formatting Guidelines
• 5+ Resume Templates (You Can Steal)
• 3 Main Resume Formats (With Examples)
• Resume Format Pros and Cons
• How to Choose a Resume Format
• 7 Other Resume Resources 

Let’s dive right in! 

Resume Formatting Guidelines 

If you’re formatting your resume from scratch, you’ll first want to pay attention to the layout.  

That involves setting the margins, picking the font size, and determining your resume’s length. 

To create a professional-looking resume, follow these general formatting guidelines: 

• Don’t make your resume longer than one page . Unless you have 5+ years of relevant work experience, there’s no reason for your resume to be two or three pages long. 
• Pick an 11 or 12-pt font size and stick with it throughout your resume.
• Pick an attention-grabbing (but professional) font . We recommend Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass.  
• Use standard and legible resume sections . For example, your work experience should be called just that “Work Experience” and not “work history” or something else. 
• Leverage bullet points to list information such as work achievements and responsibilities, academic details , etc. They help make the resume much more reader-friendly. 
• Be consistent with resume formatting (e.g. use the same date format everywhere, instead of using 11.2018 in one place and November 2018 in another). 
• Have good line spacing. You don’t want the information on your resume to look all cramped up. 
• Always save your resume as a PDF file . It’s the safest choice, as it guarantees your resume layout will stay intact no matter what device opens it. Only save your resume as MS Word if the job you’re applying for specifically requires you to and never, ever, submit a JPEG or PNG of your resume.

New to resume-making? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!

6 Free Resume Templates (You Can Start Usign Now!) 

Formatting a resume from start to finish can be a time and energy-consuming process.

 If you’re building your resume with Word, for example, you’ll have to spend at least an hour tweaking the margins, making the headers and body text uniform, picking a font, and so on. You’ll spend an hour or two before you can even start filling in the resume contents!

And if all of that wasn’t enough, one misplaced sentence here or a wrong click there, and your resume layout starts spilling over to page 2!

Want to skip all the hassle of resume formatting? Check out some of our free, tried-and-tested resume templates , pick out your favorite, and fill it in as you go: 

#1. Basic Resume Template

Good for conservative, traditional industries. 

If you want to focus on your resume’s contents rather than its design, then the Basic template is for you. With a concise and well-organized layout, this resume format highlights everything the hiring manager wants to see. 

#2. College Resume Template

Good for university students, recent graduates, and entry-level professionals.

If you’re applying for internships or entry-level jobs, you’ll want to show off your skills, academic achievements, and whatever work experience you have. Well, that’s exactly what this template does! 

Not to mention, its contemporary style is perfect for younger candidates who want their resume to be as visually appealing as it is professional. 

#3. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior executives who may be applying in creative or green industries . While very professionally formatted, it also shows off a tinge of personality with its blue color scheme. 

#4. Modern Resume Template

Good for professionals in the business world or IT industries. 

Square brackets, bullet lists, infographics, and icons work together in this template to attract the hiring manager’s attention and get them to go over your work experience and achievements in depth. 

#5. Creative Resume Template

Good for anyone applying to creative industries such as marketing , design, publishing, and entry-level professionals. 

If you’re looking to stand out visually as much as through your skills and achievements, this is the template for you. Creative is designed to be a stylish resume that makes a stunning first impression while remaining professional. 

#6. Simple Resume Template

Good for senior professionals with a lot of work experience who are in conservative industries such as law or banking. 

The well-organized and professional formatting in this resume template is visually modest, allowing your achievements to do the talking. 

What Are the 3 Main Resume Formats? 

Now that we covered all the basics, let’s talk about resume formats in detail . 

The first thing you want to know is that there are three main resume formats out there, namely:

• The reverse-chronological resume format. This is the most common and practical resume format in 2024.
• The functional resume format is also known as the skills-based resume format.
• The combination resume format , or hybrid resume format, is a combination of the other two formats.

At this point, you’re probably asking yourself how these 3 formats are different from each other. 

Well, the main difference is that they focus on different parts of an applicant’s experience by listing sections in different orders.

Here is what we mean by that: 

So, in a nutshell: 

• The reverse-chronological resume format focuses on your work experience , listing them from most to least recent.
• The functional resume format focuses on your skills that are relevant to the job.
• The combination resume format focuses on your experience and skills by aiming to prove that you possess the skills you list through your work achievements.

What’s the Best Resume Format For Me? 

So far so good - you now know all about the three main resume formats and how they’re different from each other. 

Now, you probably want to know what the optimal format is for YOUR resume. 

Well, mainly, that depends on what point you’re at in your career. Meaning: 

• If you’re a seasoned professional or if you’re looking to get hired in an industry where you have tons of experience, you should pick the reverse-chronological format.
• If you’re applying in a creative industry or for a position that prioritizes your skillset instead of your work history, then you can go for the functional resume format.
• If you’re looking to get hired in a position that requires both experienced and skilled applicants, then the combination format is your best bet.

And now, let’s go over each resume format to see how you can use them to your advantage, based on some real-life examples: 

#1. Reverse Chronological Resume Format

As we mentioned before, the reverse-chronological resume format is the most popular format in 2024.

It usually looks like this:

The main thing about this resume format is that it’s useful for practically every job-seeker.

The reverse-chronological format has a very simple structure, it’s easy to skim, and overall, it’s the most popular format around the globe.

For this reason alone, we typically recommend using this format to most people  - even if using one of the other formats also makes sense. 

Here’s what you’d include in a reverse-chronological resume:

• Contact Information - Your name, phone number, location, and email address. In some cases, you can include useful links such as a LinkedIn or GitHub profile. 
• Resume Summary or Objective - A brief 2-4 sentence summary of your work experience, or your objective for applying for a given position.
• Professional Title - Your title. This should mirror the exact position you’re applying for.
• Work Experience - Your work experience in reverse-chronological order. When possible, talk about achievements over responsibilities.
• Skills Section - Skills relevant to the position you’re applying for.
• Education - Your educational history. Pro tip - if you have a B.A., feel free to skip your high school education.
• Optional Sections - Sections like volunteering, projects, portfolio, hobbies , etc. While they’re not a game-changer, they can help fill up some space on your resume.

As we already mentioned, this resume format primarily focuses on the one part that’s relevant to most hiring managers - your work history . 

As such, the key to making the most out of this resume format is nailing the work experience section. To do that, here’s how you should structure it: 

• Start with your most recent job and go backward from there. 
• Tailor the section to the job description. This means that you shouldn’t list every job you ever worked - only the ones that are relevant for this one. 
• For each job that you list, include your job title , the name of the company, the location, and the time period you worked there. 
• Below, add four to five bullet points for recent jobs and two to three bullet points for earlier jobs. 
• Focus on your achievements instead of your responsibilities. Hiring managers already know the basic responsibilities of the jobs they’re hiring for. So, rather than your responsibilities, they want to learn about your achievements. 
• Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. Facts and numbers are more convincing than words. 
• Use action verbs and power words . (E.g. “created” instead of “was responsible for creating” ). 

Reverse-Chronological Format Example

As we already mentioned, the best thing about the reverse-chronological format is that it’s a great choice whether you’re an entry-level worker or a seasoned professional. 

Any relevant experience you’ve got, the chronological experience will highlight effectively. 

For example, here’s a digital marketer’s resume work experience section created using the reverse-chronological format:

Digital Marketing Manager

Wonderfull Agency Inc. 

06/2017 - Present 

• Created a new format for reporting and presenting the sales, customer engagement and Google Ads reports that decreased the number of meetings by 24% in the last three quarters.
• Updated and monitored the Bid Strategy in Google Ads and Bing Ads which resulted in a CTR increase of 3.2% in the first month.
• Redesigned the webpage UX, decreasing customer turnover by 25% within a period of two months. 
• Conducted keyword research for updating the product pages on the online shop, increasing the organic keywords in the Top 100 by 5.600 and in the Top 10 by 315 for high-volume searches. 

Digital Marketing Specialist 

Company X  

02/2015 - 05/2017 

• Collaborated with a copywriter and designer to update landing pages based on search intent, increasing conversion rates by 20% on average for select clients. 
• Worked directly with company clients, handling their Google Ads accounts. 
• Managed a total of $40,000 in ad spend per month. 
• Achieved an average of 200% ROAS overall ad accounts. 

Reverse Chronological Resume Format Pros & Cons

Still not sure if the reverse-chronological resume format is the right choice for you? See our pros and cons below!

• Recruiters and HR managers prefer this format.
• It will definitely “beat” Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software.
• Provides a reader-friendly chronological history of your work experience.
• The most popular resume format in 2024.
• You need to make your work achievements stand out to catch the recruiter’s attention. 
• Hard to fill in for a recent graduate with no work experience. 
• Makes career gaps very obvious. If you’re a career changer, you need to explain those employment gaps on your resume.

#2. Functional Resume Format 

As we already mentioned, the functional resume format is also known as the skills-based resume format. Here’s an example of what it looks like: 

As the name suggests, the functional resume format focuses on your skills and your key strengths. 

In a nutshell, this resume format takes the spotlight away from your work experience by highlighting what you’re good at instead. 

As such, this resume format is perfect for recent graduates or career changers who have little-to-no experience in a particular field. 

Here’s what to include in a functional resume:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary or Objective
• Professional Title
• Skills Summary
• Additional Skills
• Work Experience

As you can see, the main difference from the reverse-chronological format is that the focus of the functional resume is the skills summary and the resume objective that’s placed right at the top of the resume. 

Here is exactly how you should write them to impress the hiring manager: 

• Use your resume objective to state your career intent and explain what makes you the ideal candidate for the job. 
• Start off your resume objective by mentioning a skill, education, or certification relevant to the job, mention the responsibilities you could handle, and include your motivation for working that particular job. 
• In the skills summary, include four or five skills that are most relevant to the position. 
• Instead of just listing your skills, be descriptive. In bullet points or in plain paragraphs, give examples of how you applied these skills in practice and try to make them as quantifiable as possible. 

Functional Format Example

Let’s assume that you’re an entry-level journalist. 

Since you graduated, you’ve worked as a part-time intern at a magazine and published a dozen articles online and in print. You also run a blog that has a modest but loyal readership. 

Now, you want to apply for an actual journalism position at a recently founded newspaper. So, you’re using the functional resume format. 

Here’s why it’s the right choice: 

• It highlights your skills. In this case, you don’t have the experience to apply for the job, but you may have all the right skills. 
• It allows you to prove your skills. There’s ample space to show exactly how you can put your skills to use for the upcoming job. 

Now let’s see what your resume objective and skills summary (or areas of strength) would look like in this case: 

Resume Objective

Driven and hardworking journalism graduate looking to get hired as a reporter in The Daily Prophet. I interned at Who Magazine for six months, where I gained hands-on experience in research, fact-checking, and interviewing. Passionate blogger at Fake Blog Website, which is currently followed by over two thousand readers. 

Skills Summary 

Research & Fact checking

• Able to systematically look for information, resources, data, etc. through a variety of sources, such as books, online directories, or social media. 
• Careful to always ensure that every claim and data that gets published is accurate and legitimate. 

Interviewing

• Full knowledge of journalism ethics and standards that are required to conduct successful and dignified interviews. 
• Skilled at connecting with interviewees on a deeper level to ensure comprehensive and detailed interviews. 
• Excel at several types of journalistic writing, including news, feature writing, columns, and reviews.
• Have published over 15 articles in different newspapers and magazines since graduating. 

Considering that the functional resume focuses solely on a candidate’s skills, the only groups of candidates who should consider using it are: 

• Freelancers with impressive portfolios 
• Professionals in creative industries
• Career changers 
• Recent graduates, and entry-level professionals
• Military veterans passing into civilian roles

So, to sum it all up: 

Functional Resume Format Pros & Cons

• Good for highlighting specific skills.
• Useful if you’re switching careers since you can explain how your skills transfer to the new job.
• Useful if you’re a recent graduate with practical skills but not much work experience.
• The functional resume format is not very popular in 2024, and most recruiters and hiring managers aren’t familiar with it, so using this format carries a bit of a risk.
• Since the functional resume has less focus on work experience, recruiters might think you’re trying to hide something.
• Applicant tracking systems (ATS) have difficulties reading functional resumes.

#3. Combination Resume Format

The combination resume format , also known as the “hybrid,” is a mixture of the functional and the reverse-chronological format.

This resume format gives equal attention to an applicant’s skills section and work experience. As such, you end up including both the Skill Summary and the Work Experience sections:

• Skill Summary

The focal point here is the skills summary. Placed right after the contact information section, this is where you list the skills that are required for the job and then prove that you have them through your professional experience and achievements. 

Here is exactly how you should write it: 

• List the skills that are required for the position you’re applying for and that you actually possess. 
• Add up to 4 professional achievements underneath each skill to prove that you possess it. 
• Make your achievements as descriptive and quantifiable as possible. 

Combination Format Example

Say you’re a senior program manager with over a decade of experience in your field. 

You can plan, execute, evaluate programs and projects across diverse industries, and inspire your team to do great work. 

Recently, someone told you about an opening for a program director in an international company. To apply, you’re putting together a hybrid resume format. 

Here’s what makes it the best choice: 

• Saves space. For highly competitive positions, you want your resume to be able to cut through the noise. The hybrid format allows you to do that by bringing into focus your most relevant achievements right from the start.
• Combines the best parts of the other two resume formats, which is perfect for senior professionals or executives that have plenty to show for both experience and skills. 

For example, some of the skills required for the program director gig mentioned above may include interpersonal skills , budget management, and project management. 

Here’s what the skills summary in your hybrid resume would look like in practice: 

Interpersonal Skills

• Initiated formal and informal coaching and mentorship to 50+ team members regarding project charter development, resource planning, best practices of project management, and appropriate delivery of project outcomes. 
• Coordinated all project inputs with several functional/technical directors, managers, and project core teams, to formulate appropriate project tools and methodologies. 

Budget Management 

• Oversaw the implementation of the enterprise’s multi-year, multi-million dollar research system software that benefited employees company-wide. 
• Analysis of financial and statistical data reduced operational costs by 12%.
• Strategically supervised the project execution teams to ensure the timely and cost-effective completion of projects, saving the company $250K in project costs. 

Project Management

• Provided strategic direction, leadership, and project governance for a multimillion-dollar application project portfolio, which successfully supported a population of 60K+ end-users across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• Streamlined project management methodologies and communication in the IT division, which increased efficiency by 90%. 
• Accurately report on project status throughout its life cycle to 20+ project teams, stakeholders, and sponsors, encompassing budget estimation, scheduling, and resource planning.

Combination Resume Format Pros and Cons 

• Allows you to show off more of your experience and skills using less space.
• Useful for very senior professionals or executives who need to highlight more than just their work experience.
• Good for applicants who may have a noticeable employment gap but plenty of work experience nonetheless.
• As with the functional resume format, applicant tracking systems have difficulties reading combination resumes.
• If you’re a recent graduate or don’t have much work experience, this resume format is not very useful.
• As is the case with the functional resume, most hiring managers aren’t very familiar with this format, which might cause some confusion in the process.

The Verdict: What Is the Best Resume Format?  

Now that we’ve covered all 3 of the common resume formats, you’re probably wondering which one's best resume format out there .

Here’s our verdict:

In 90%+ of the cases, we’d recommend going with a reverse-chronological resume format.

In 2024, it’s the most common and useful format:

• Applicant tracking systems can read it without any problems.
• All recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with this format.
• Whether you’re a recent graduate or a senior professional, it’s the easiest format to work with.

So, even if you’re a career changer, a highly-qualified professional, or a college student, it’s risky to choose one of the other two formats over the reverse-chronological one.

There’s a good chance that the applicant tracking system won’t be able to read your resume and automatically discard it - after all the time you put into creating the resume!

At the same time, recruiters might just not be familiar with these resume formats, or think that you’re just trying to hide the fact that you’re not experienced, and disqualify you based on that.

So, the rule of thumb - when in doubt, go for the reverse-chronological resume.

Looking for CV writing tips instead? Here's our full guide on how to write a CV !

How to Beat the ATS Software

Did you know that 75% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ? 

Instead, they get scanned by ATS software, which evaluates your resume and decides whether it’s relevant enough for the hiring manager to give it a look.

At first, ATS software was used by larger companies that receive thousands of applications daily as a way to filter out irrelevant applicants. Today, though, studies show that most companies use ATS to evaluate applicants. 

As worrying as this thought may be, you’ll be glad to know there is a way to beat ATS and get your resume on top of the hiring manager’s desk:

Creating an ATS-friendly resume ! 

Here is a handy list of our top tips for making a resume that beats applicant tracking systems: 

• Place your contact information at the top of your resume. 
• Sprinkle specific keywords from the job description throughout your resume. 
• Avoid using graphics or charts as part of your resume. 
• Save your resume in PDF format. 

7 Other Resume Resources

Picking the right resume format is just the first step in creating a convincing resume.

Want to learn how to make a resume that lands you the job?

Check out some of our best career resources!

• Job Search Masterclass - This one’s our flagship e-book. It covers literally everything you need to know about job-search: how to make a resume, how to write a cover letter, how to apply for jobs effectively, what are the most common job interview questions, and a LOT more. The book is jam-packed with value, and illustrated, making it an extremely easy read.
• How to Make a Resume - Our comprehensive guide on how to make a resume from A to Z.
• Interview Questions And Answers - Have a hard time with job interviews? This guide features ALL the most common job interview questions that you might encounter.
• How to Write a Cover Letter - Our ultimate guide on writing a cover letter (free templates included!)
• 50+ Resume Examples - Need some inspiration with your resume? Check out our resume examples for 50+ different positions and fields.
• 43+ Resume Tips - A complete list of all our resume tips, ordered by importance.
• 26+ Interview Mistakes - Whatever you do, avoid making these common interview mistakes.

And of course, for more industry-leading job-search advice, make sure to follow our career blog !

FAQ on Resume Formats

Do you still have some questions about resume formatting? We’ll get them answered here!

1. What’s the best resume format in 2024?  

For the majority of job-seekers, the best resume format in 2024 is the reverse-chronological resume format. This resume format involves listing your resume information (e.g. your work experience and your education) starting with the most recent one and going backward through relevant jobs, degrees, or qualifications. 

Here’s why the reverse chronological resume format is the best choice: 

• It’s easy to read and skim through
• Hiring managers are familiar with it because it’s the most commonly used one
• It’s ATS-friendly, which means Applicant Tracking Systems can scan it with ease
• It brings your career progression and professional achievements into the spotlight

2. What is the correct format for a college student resume? 

The best resume format for a college student resume is the reverse-chronological format .

While it is true that a functional resume can help you emphasize your skills more than work experience, it comes with two serious problems:

• Recruiters aren’t familiar with it, and they might think you’re trying to hide the fact that you don’t have work experience.
• Applicant tracking systems have trouble reading this resume format. 

So, unless you have absolutely no experience to show for it (meaning, not even unpaid internships, or even college projects with relevant responsibilities for the job you’re applying for), then you should still choose the reverse-chronological resume format over the skills-based one. 

If you’re worried about your lack of work experience , don’t. For most entry-level positions and internships, you’re not required to have work experience. 

3. What is the best resume format for a job seeker with experience? 

The best resume format for a job-seeker with plenty of experience in the industry they’re applying for is the reverse-chronological format. 

Here’s what makes the reverse-chronological format the best choice: 

• It puts emphasis on your strengths as an applicant, namely your professional experience. 
• It shows recruiters exactly what they’re looking for (your achievements and qualifications) from the get-go. 

4. Is resume format important? 

Yes, the resume format you choose is important. Basically, the resume format involves the type of information listed on the resume and the way this information is organized and presented. 

When they’re evaluating your resume, hiring managers expect to see information that will help them assess whether you’re the right person for the job (i.e. your experience, skills, and qualifications, among others). If, for example, you have five years of work experience but your resume format focuses on your education, the hiring manager may have trouble realizing that you’re the right person for the job. 

At the same time, hiring managers want to spend as little time as possible reading your resume. This means that a disorganized, chaotic resume may get them to throw your resume in the “rejected” pile without giving it a second thought. 

That’s why it’s super important to choose the right resume format that highlights your strengths and that recruiters know and like. 

5. What is an ATS-friendly resume format?

Applicant Tracking System software is software that companies use to sort through the countless applications they receive daily. 

What ATS does is scan resumes for specific keywords mentioned in the job description (e.g. necessary skills for the job), and filter out those applications it deems irrelevant. 

As such, an ATS-friendly resume format is the kind of format that lists information in plain text and organizes it in clear sections, making it easier to be read by applicant tracking systems.

This is important because ATS software is typically unable to read text within images or scan infographics.  

6. What resume format is most ATS-friendly?

The most ATS-friendly resume format is the reverse-chronological format. 

That’s because it allows you to use ATS-specific keywords in your skills section and doesn’t use too many visuals such as graphs, infographics, etc.

7. Are hand-written resumes still used?

No, hand-written resumes are barely used in 2024. As such, you should not submit a handwritten resume when you’re applying for jobs. 

Here are some of the most important reasons why: 

• ATS software is unable to scan hand-written resumes. This means that if the company to which you’re applying uses an ATS, your resume will get disqualified.
• Your handwriting might be difficult to understand. Not just that, but you’ll have trouble differentiating one section from the other and keeping everything uniform, which means your resume will be the opposite of reader-friendly.
• We’re technically living online now. Gone are the days when you’d look up job openings in a newspaper or apply by mail. Everything has moved online, so it only makes sense for your resume to do the same.

8. Is the resume format the same as the resume template?

No, a resume format is not the same thing as a resume template. 

Resume format refers to the layout of the resume, namely, the kind of information, its order, and the way it's organized on the resume. Basic document settings, such as line spacing, fonts, and margins, are also part of resume formatting. 

A resume template, on the other hand, is a pre-designed, blank document that you can fill in as you go. Using a resume template to create your resume is a much easier and less time-consuming process than formatting your resume from scratch. 

9. What is the easiest way to build my resume?

The easiest, most efficient way to create a resume is through a resume builder .

If you use a text editor, you could spend hours trying to format your resume, but the moment you make a tiny design change, the whole resume layout gets completely messed up!

Using a resume builder, on the other hand, comes with a ton of benefits:

• Recruiter-friendly layout. All of our resume templates are created with recruiters in mind - they’re extremely easy to read and skim.
• Easy to build. Our resume builder is extremely easy to use. All YOU have to do is fill in the content - we take care of all the resume formatting.
• ATS-friendly . Applicant tracking systems can read our resumes perfectly fine, ensuring that you don’t get automatically disqualified when applying for positions.
• Free (with premium features). Our base builder is completely free without any hidden paywalls! If you’re looking to upgrade the resume design, though, or get access to several awesome features, you can always upgrade to Premium.

10. What are the 7 resume types?

The 7 types of resume formats include the reverse-chronological resume, the combination resume, the resume with profile, the non-traditional resume, the infographic resume, the functional resume, and the targeted resume.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap on resume formats! 

By now, you should know everything there is to know about the most popular resume formats and regarding what the best resume format is for YOU. 

Before you go, let’s do a recap of the most important points covered in this article: 

• There are 3 common resume formats - reverse-chronological, functional, and combination (also known as the hybrid).
• The reverse-chronological format is the most popular one in 2024, and we always recommend you go with that one.
• A functional resume focuses more on skills rather than work experience and is usually used by career changers or students.
• A combination resume is a mix of functional and reverse-chronological formats and puts equal emphasis on work experience and skill set.
• Both functional and combination resumes are not too popular, and applicant tracking systems have trouble reading them.

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Part 1 - Resumes, e-Resumes, and CVs

• How to Write a Job-Winning Resume
• The Most Effective Resume Formats
• Resume Strategies for New Graduates
• Resume Strategies for Changing Careers
• Improving Resume Response
• Handling Requests for Salary Histories or Salary Requirements
• 5 Common Resume Screen-out Factors
• Including Graphics in a Resume
• Resume Length — Myths and Facts
• When to Include an Objective in a Resume
• The Difference between a Resume and Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• What Everyone Should Know about Electronic Resumes (e-Resumes)
• The Keyword Resume Explained
• The ASCII Text Resume Explained

Submitting Resumes Electronically

• Part 2 - Cover Letters and Letters of Application

Part 3 - Federal Resumes, KSA, SES, ECQ, and Government Jobs

Each job site or posting provides instructions on how to submit your resume; however, there are a few general guidelines to consider.

• Submission: Most job boards allow you to paste your ASCII (plain text) resume into an online form. Some major job boards such as Monster will give you the option of uploading a Microsoft Word document. Each individual employer will have their own procedures for submission; this may include e-mail, company Website, etc. The file format is important since different operating systems (e.g., Windows, Mac OS, UNIX, etc.) encode and decode attachments differently and sometimes files may not display correctly or open at all; therefore, when submitting via e-mail, we recommend turning off HTML or Rich formatting to ensure your ASCII text is not converted as various systems and e-mail clients handle and display non-ASCII text differently; then paste the ASCII version of your resume in the body of the e-mail. Additionally, by attaching the Presentation version (Word document) as well, employers who receive attachments will have the option to view your resume in a more visually appealing format.
• Cover Letters: When submitting your resume via e-mail — unless instructed otherwise — precede the text of your ASCII resume with a brief cover letter. When e-mailing a resume, paste the cover letter in the body of the e-mail message area above the resume text.
• Confidentiality: Many major job boards allow you to block access to specific companies. If confidentiality is a concern, or to help minimize exposure on job boards that don't block access, you might substitute the name of your present employer or other identifying factors with a generic descriptor (e.g., "Major Peripherals Manufacturer"). If you are very concerned about confidentiality, it would be best to skip sites that don't provide control over who has access to your resume. Also, if you are uneasy about publicly displaying your home address, you can remove the address from your resume and use only your e-mail address and telephone number. Another option is to rent a mailbox during your job search.
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The Different Ways of Submitting a Resume

In This Guide:

Submitting a resume via email, submitting a resume in person, submitting a resume when networking at conferences, when to use a paper resume, other electronic resume formats, key takeaways for submitting a resume.

You’ve put in the work. You wrote an incredible resume that will impress recruiters and hiring managers alike. Congratulations!

Now it’s time for the scary part. Submitting that resume and landing a job.

There is a plethora of ways to submit a resume, especially in today’s technological world. Factors like your industry and access can help determine which avenue is right for you.

It’s good practice to be prepared for all of them. You never know when an opportunity to submit your resume might come up.

In this article, we’ll cover how to submit a resume in the following ways:

• Networking at conferences
• Paper resume
• Online forms and job boards

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Applying for a job by emailing your resume to companies can be intimidating.

You read and re-read the email a dozen times. You check and double-check that the files have been attached successfully. Then you hit send and hope for the best.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure best practices and boost your confidence.

How to do submit your resume

The first step is to follow directions. That may sound obvious, but a startling number of people don’t do it.

Carefully read the job listing for which you’re applying. There will typically be instructions toward the bottom on the next steps. Most likely a link to an online form or information on where to send an email.

Follow the directions closely. Address the email, name the subject, and format your files exactly as they say. Not being able to follow simple directions doesn’t give a great first impression.

Attach the file in PDF format unless specifically directed otherwise.

If the job listing doesn’t state the name of a person, address it to the hiring manager. This might take a bit of research. If you can’t find a name, address your email to the department manager using the following format:

“[Company name] [Department name] Manager”

Example: Comcast Marketing Manager

What to say when you submit your resume

The body of your email should be brief and professional. Simply introduce yourself, explain the purpose of your email, and write a brief career summary.

Refer back to the job listing. Some companies will request that you use the body of your email as your cover letter. If there is no specific ask, keep it simple.

We’ve made it easy for you and created a template you can use when submitting your resume.

Subject: [ Job position ] - job application - [ Your name ]

Body: Dear, [ Hiring manager’s name ],

Please find attached a copy of my resume for the [ Job position ] with [ Company name].

With [ X ] years of experience in [ areas of expertise and skills ] and a proven record of [ list a few key achievements ], my goal is to leverage my expertise to help [ Company name ] succeed in achieving [ company vision/team goals ].

Can we schedule a meeting next week to discuss my ideas for your company’s growth?

[ Your Name ]

[ LinkedIn ] - optional

[ Portfolio ] - optional

[ Personal or professional website ] - optional

Fill in the template above with your own information and feel confident submitting your resume. For more detail on the subject, check out our article on emailing your resume to employers.

For those just entering the workforce in today’s climate, submitting a resume in person may seem fairly archaic.

It’s true, much of the job search and application process has shifted to the virtual world in recent years.

However, there are some situations that are better suited for an in-person approach.

There are many variables that determine whether or not submitting an in-person resume is the right thing to do, but here are a few possibilities:

• Small businesses
• Service jobs
• Entry-level positions
• Specialized services (Example: asking a local business if they’re interested in hiring outside vendors to sell products in their store)

Before you go marching into an establishment with your resume, it’s important to take a few things into consideration and plan ahead.

What to do when you submit a resume in person

Once you’ve got your sights set on a particular business, see if they already have a job listing.

Is there a ‘hiring’ sign in the window? Are they listed on an online job board? Have they posted about job openings on their website or social media?

If there is a listing for an open position, read it carefully. As mentioned earlier in the post, make sure you are following directions. A larger number of people will be filtered out by ignoring application instructions.

Some businesses may explicitly state that they do not accept in-person applications. Others may require one. Don’t try to be the exception. Just follow the rules.

If they do accept in-person resume submissions, plan your visit. It’s important to be mindful of when to go, who to talk to, and what to say.

If you can’t find a job listing, visit the business and ask if they are hiring. Ask if there is a manager available to speak with you so you can give them your resume.

The right time to go varies by industry. You want to deliver your resume when the staff isn’t overwhelmed and the manager is available to speak with you.

For a quiet mom-and-pop boutique, day and time might not be a huge factor. For a restaurant, avoid busy times like weekends and the dinner rush.

Always ask to speak with the manager directly. It’s best to go straight to the source. It shows initiative and the manager will be able to get a first impression of you before they read your resume.

If the manager is unavailable, ask the staff for a better time to return. They might instead offer to take your resume and pass it along. This is fine, just be sure to follow up with the manager later.

Regardless of who you speak with, keep it brief, polite, and professional. You are potentially interrupting their work day. You want to respect their time and willingness to meet with you.

Introduce yourself, state the position you’re applying for, and provide a very short synopsis of your qualifications.

One of the major differences between in-person and virtual resume posting is that face-to-face interactions include body language.

Stand tall with a straight posture. Look everyone in the eye and smile politely. Dress appropriately for the industry and setting.

Be prepared to answer questions. Don’t come this far just to choke on a basic question.

They probably won’t put you through a whole interview , but do some general preparation just in case.

Rehearse your responses to some common interview questions like why do you want to work here? Why are you the right fit for this role? What strengths would you bring to this company?

Before you leave, end with the next steps. Ask for the manager’s contact info and find out their timeline for filling the position. Be sure to thank them for their time and follow up later.

Benefits of applying in person

There are a few advantages to submitting your resume in person as opposed to online.

Going to a company’s physical location and interacting with the staff allows for first impressions in both directions. It allows them to see how you fit into their environment and allows you to see if it is really the right fit for you.

Even if it’s a business you’ve been to countless times before, you might get a different impression after talking to staff and management about working there.

You might discover that it’s not what you expected and decide you don’t actually want to work there. This is an opportunity you don’t get by sending your resume electronically.

Another benefit of submitting your resume in person is that it shows initiative and eagerness to work.

Anyone can click a button and send a file from the safety of the other side of a computer screen. Going in person shows that you’re serious about the role and willing to put yourself out there.

This is a good quality for fast-paced roles with a high turnover like the restaurant industry. If the hiring manager sees that you can show up on time and are capable of the physical demands of the job, then you’re one step closer to getting hired.

Submitting your resume in person can also help to expedite the hiring process for small businesses. Busy floor managers may not have the time to sit down and sift through resumes at a computer. Going straight to the in-person meeting speeds things up.

For some, networking at conferences is where they thrive. For those more comfortable behind a desk, it can be scary.

Knowing when and how to submit a resume while networking is one of the more tricky aspects. The process starts before you even arrive at the conference or career fair .

The first thing you want to do is research the conference ahead of time. Find out the format, opportunities to network, other companies you want to network with, etc.

The other crucial step to take ahead of the conference is to make sure that your online resume is in order.

Odds are that the majority of your resume distribution at networking events will be by way of directing others to your LinkedIn profile or another online resume.

Make sure that all your information is up-to-date and accurate. You don’t know when recruiters are going to look at it and you don’t want to be updating it in the middle of the conference.

Looking to give your resume an update but not sure where to start? Browse our collection of resume examples for inspiration.

When to submit your resume at a conference

Depending on the format of the event, there may be situations that are set up specifically to collect resumes. At other times, a recruiter or company representative may ask for it while networking.

Do not hand someone a physical resume unsolicited!

It’s generally a bad idea to just hand someone your resume if they didn’t ask for it. Hiring managers have a system for how they collect and review resumes. Now you’ve interrupted it and are making them do extra work.

They have to keep track of your paper resume among all their other responsibilities at the conference. It’s far better to submit it to them in the manner requested.

Not to mention, forcing your resume on anyone who will take it shows desperation and a lack of business acumen. The whole point of networking is to make a good impression.

Do print out multiple copies of your resume so that you’re prepared if someone does ask, but keep them in a folder for yourself unless it comes up.

A more likely scenario is that you will find yourself speaking with an interested recruiter and they will ask for your contact information. This is when you hand them your business card which contains a link to your online resume.

Don’t forget to follow up after the conference.

This article has already covered some of the most common situations that call for a paper resume.

To recap, having a paper resume is useful for

• Submitting a resume in person to local businesses
• Distributing your resume at networking events when asked
• If job listing directions require one

Additionally, bringing a printed resume to an interview is good practice.

Having a paper resume on-hand during an interview is wise for a few reasons. First and foremost, it shows preparedness and professionalism.

Hiring managers might be interviewing several candidates a day and don’t have your resume in front of them for your interview. Providing another copy for their reference makes it easier for them.

It’s also useful for your own reference. The interviewer might ask a specific question you can’t recall on the spot, like how many years you were at a previous job. It’s much better to look at your resume and give the correct answer than guess and get it wrong.

There are other ways of submitting your resume online than simply attaching it to an email. Electronic resume posting comes in a number of ways and it’s good to be prepared for all of them.

LinkedIn profile

This article briefly touched on distributing your LinkedIn URL above.

A great deal of networking happens right on LinkedIn. Your profile itself presents as a resume that recruiters can browse at any time.

Be sure it is accurate, up-to-date, and professional. You could be missing out on countless opportunities if hiring managers follow your URL and wind up on a dead page.

Link to an online resume or portfolio

LinkedIn isn’t the only place to post your resume. Depending on your position and industry, it might be more suitable to have an online portfolio of work.

Providing hiring managers with a link to your portfolio lets them explore your body of work and past projects.

With a portfolio or online resume on a different platform, always be sure to keep everything accurate and up-to-date.

Uploading your resume to an online job board can be an efficient way to quickly browse and apply to multiple jobs.

Do your research and be sure the job board you’re using is legitimate. You don’t want your personal information floating around cyberspace on unsafe platforms.

Be mindful that your best chance at standing out to hiring managers is by using a targeted resume. Creating a blanket resume and mass applying to job openings is less effective.

Online form

You may click to apply to a job listing and find that it leads to an online form prompting you to type in your resume information directly.

This is the bane of many job searchers. You spent all this time creating the perfect resume, now you have to re-type it for every submission?

This is often the choice of larger companies that receive a massive number of applicants for each role. Online forms allow for easy use of ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that filter out resumes using specific keywords.

This instantly cuts down on the number of resumes an actual person has to review. Research your target company and create an ATS-friendly resume that reaches recruiters.

Be sure to follow directions closely and include a brief, professional message when emailing your resume to hiring managers.

If you’re applying to a small business, do some research and decide if delivering your resume in person is more suitable.

Be prepared to distribute both paper and digital versions of your resume at networking conferences, but only when appropriate.

Know when a paper resume is necessary and bring a printed copy to job interviews.

Explore the multiple avenues of electronic resumes and be sure that yours is always professional, accurate, and up-to-date.

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Breaking news, 10 expert-recommended online resume writing services to use in 2024.

In the mix of college assignments and perhaps your 9-to-5, piecing together an attractive resume for employers can be a difficult feat.

Not only is this one-pager the bread and butter of what will lead to a first-round interview (fingers crossed!), but it’s an excellent portrayal of your skillset, employment history and unique skills that help a company’s HR department gauge if you’re the right fit.

Let’s cut to the chase — more specifically, let’s answer the question, “ How can I make my application stand out? ” One of the most influential steps is, without a doubt, rendering your resume to tip-top shape. And fortunately, there are some of the best online resume services like TopResume and Resumble out there to help.

Best Overall: TopResume

Best budget: resume companion, best optimization for applicant tracking systems: resumeble.

• Best Customizable : Brand Resumes
• Best with Career Consulting: Top Stack Resumes
• Best for Quick Hiring : ZipJob
• Best One-on-One Collaboration : Upwork
• Best for Cover Letters : ResumeSpice
• Best Budget : Craft Resumes

Whether you’re a senior in college applying for your first full-time job or you’ve been in the biz for years and are looking to segue into a different role, we rounded up the top online resume writing services you can use to help get your application in tip-top shape. Plus, we’ve enlisted Shannon Conklin, director of career and leadership development at The College of New Jersey to help!

Hop to her picks below or check out our FAQ for more details on things to look for when picking the right resume builder for you.

• Packages with unlimited resume revisions
• Free resume review
• 60-day interview guarantee
• Several customers who wrote reviews on Trustpilot mention having poor communication with their resume writers

TopResume is a beloved favorite — and for a good reason. It has four different packages depending on your career goals, some of which include unlimited revisions, a LinkedIn makeover, a cover letter and two interview prep sessions.

“TopResume continues to be a solid option,” Conklin shared. “It has strong descriptions, where the website and interface are easy to navigate to understand its process, its three packages, as well as testimonials.”

She also loves TopResume’s FAQ section, coupled with the various packages, that make its process clear and timeline. “There is also plenty of mention about AI and ATS technology,” she added. “If you need a resume quickly, one that accounts for technology, and a budget of only about $150, it looks like this service would be one to strongly consider.”

With TopResume, you’ll also get a 60-day interview guarantee. If you don’t get twice as many interviews, the platform will rewrite your resume for free. It’s pretty top tier, to say the least, and is a minimal investment for those hoping to find free resume-writing services.

• Self-directed service
• Template-based
• Must renew a subscription to edit resume in the future

“Resume Companion is a clean website with a clear message — build a resume quickly!” Conklin highlighted. “It offers templates, examples and advice on how to craft a resume, as well as a cover letter, as a self-directed service within about 15-minutes.”

What’s more, the service also makes it clear it offers a variety of templates based on industries and functions. “This can really help if you are trying to transition to a new field or your resume needs to be updated to reflect the latest in your industry,” she added.

With Resume Companion, you’ll be able to build your resume step by step, from selecting a professional template to answering a few simple questions to have your experience and skills added directly to your digital file. Namely, if you’re not much of a writer, you’ll appreciate its pre-written work experience bullet points to craft your resume in minutes and then apply away.

Not to mention, it’s only $8 a month, so if you want a one-and-done service, this one’s your best bet. Keep in mind that you will have to renew your subscription to edit in the future, but it’s a great budget-friendly option to pursue if you don’t want to be completely in the dark.

• 4-day turnover on resume drafts
• Three free revisions with standard resume package
• Only the premium resume package includes a job guarantee

Resumeble is not only has a fun name, but it includes a resume and cover letter in its baseline package. If you’d like to upgrade, you can receive a LinkedIn write-up, a second resume version, thank you and follow-up notes and cold emails to recruiters.

“Have you applied to dozens of jobs, only to never get through?” Conklin questioned. “If this resonates because your resume is not optimized for ATS platforms, Resumeble might be the choice for you. Mention of ‘ATS,’ as well as their outcomes and ROI, are weaved throughout its site.”

Conklin told The Post that she’s seen many clients apply to dozens and dozens of companies, only to be vetted out due to ATS. “When that happens, I often advise networking to complement a revised, ATS-optimized resume.” she tipped off. “This brings me to one other noteworthy element to their various packages, they support your full professional profile; resume to LinkedIn to recruiter communication support.”

For those who want to spend less than $200 for online resume writing services, this all-in-one option is fairly priced, making it one of the best affordable resume writing services. If you’re only looking to refresh your LinkedIn, you’ll just pay a one-time $99 fee. For just your resume, it’s a one-time purchase of $129 for the service.

Best Customizable: BrandResumes

• Has a self pace job search course
• Helpful step by step resume building guide
• Some customers who reviewed the service on Trustpilot report time delays in receiving their resume

BrandResumes made the cut as one of our top choices for online resume services for a few reasons: it’s one of the platforms best for ATS keyword optimization and formatting for interviews, LinkedIn branding and a customizable interface. If you buy the deluxe package, you’ll have your resume distributed across the 60 top job boards (including industry-specific ones), so you’ll spend less time applying.

“Learning the fundamentals of resume writing is a skill that will carry you throughout your career, and BrandResumes offers courses and resources to accomplish just that,” Conklin highlighted. “Once you understand how to format a strong bullet point, or the style you find reflects your story and values, you can start crafting various resumes to appeal to different audiences and fields.”

BrandResumes also offers resources to launch your own resume writing business — a tool that can be valuable for career experts seeking professional resume writing services. “If you’re seeking to dig into how to revamp your resume, or you find yourself (like many in HR or career services) consistently asked to help a friend or family member with their materials, this service will align with your goals,” she added.

Best with Career Consulting: TopStack Resume

• Pay only after you’re satisfied with the resume
• According to TopStack Resume’s site, resume complete takes up to 2 weeks

TopStack Resume is a force to be reckoned with in the career development sphere. Notably, it’s one of the only services that provides career consulting. So, in addition to resume and cover letter formatting, you have the option to partake in one-on-one sessions with a career advisor.

“Five steps is all you need to follow for your resume review by TopStack,” Conklin put it simply. “The simplicity of this service and the range of offerings (from a resume for $139 to career consulting for its Premium Package ) can be valuable for any job seeker or career explorer.”

Moreover, if you find yourself in need of more career support, maybe you’re changing fields or returning to work after time off, this is a strong contender. “Be mindful of your budget and timeline, so you take full advantage of a career consultant; a solid service should focus on the process, as much as a strong career outcome,” she added.

Plus, TopStack Resume is unique in that it has a team of well-qualified writers to ensure your one-pager is the best it can be. At a fair price point, you can always upgrade to add on more benefits in the future.

Best for Quick Hiring: ZipJob

• Fairly priced for the quality and swiftness of deliverables
• Optimizes for ATS so you’ll have better odds of visibility before your resume lands in human hands
• May be more difficult to ask for revisions if need be, due to the service’s robust turnaround time and automation

While no resume writing service can guarantee you landing your dream job, ZipJob has a unique offering in one of its packages that makes it a standout from the rest.

Ideal for candidates who are rapidly seeking their next role in a flash, ZipJob combines expert resume writers with the exact same tech employers to optimize your one-pager. The kicker? Its most popular plan, Fast Track, includes a professionally written resume, ATS optimization and direct writer messaging — but that’s not all.

Impressively, the Fast Track package for $189 also includes a cover letter and a 60-day interview guarantee. That’s how confident ZipJob is that you’ll get hired, and get hired quickly.

For $299, its Premium package includes a LinkedIn profile update to help maximize your chances and expedited delivery for super speed. If you want swiftness but don’t wish to compromise the quality of your application, you won’t have to worry with ZipJob.

Best One-on-One Collaboration: Upwork

• Several projects to choose from with unique writing strengths you may desire
• Typically budget-friendly
• Some options will have your resume written in only one business day
• Price points vary and quality of work varies depending on which project provider you select, so take caution and read reviews before working with a given person

Individual-driven platforms like Upwork allow you to shop around for a resume writing service that matches your specific needs and budget. Similar to platforms like Skillshare where talented, qualified creators host a course offering or a service, Upwork allows you to select from a variety of different projects where you’ll have one-on-one attention. Consider it akin to being matched with an online counselor.

Generally budget-friendly, most of Upwork’s providers only take one business day to deliver. The majority of providers also have thousands of positive, near-five-star reviews, so it’s surely a service to consider.

The one downside to Upwork is that quality of work may differ slightly, though that’s a given with its platform structure. This differs from some other services like TopResume where the company at large has its own writing structure, so it’s just something to take note of. However, for its affordability and speed, it’s a great dip into the pool of resume writing and related services, without spending more on a professional-grade platform.

Best for Cover Letters: ResumeSpice

• The baseline package offers a lot more than competitors, including phone consult, optimized draft and two edits
• Cover and thank-you letters are added to packages at an additional charge

ResumeSpice is ready to add that much-needed spice to your resume. It doesn’t just provide three different package options, but it specifically tells you which one would work best for you. For example, if you have no more than two years in the workforce, you should select its baseline package ($449). This package includes a phone consultation, an eye-catching resume format, keyword optimization, a personalized draft, two rounds of revisions based on your feedback and finalized versions in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

“Solid service is evident across ResumeSpice, and its focus on Executive Resume stands out from others,” Conklin pinpointed. “If you find yourself wanting to get to that next level in your career, you really do need to consider an executive coach with an eye towards that goal for your materials.”

You might, for example, realize you have decades of experience and are unsure where to start to consolidate — Conklin offered. “This is one of the most frequent concerns when making this transition, and a third party like ResumeSpice can be an invaluable resource and sounding board,” she added. “Finally, its site is clear in terms of turnaround, which shows they value your time and manage expectations — a positive sign on what you can expect service-wise.”

ResumeSpice offers other à la carte services, too, including cover letter help, LinkedIn profile revamping, interview preparation and career coaching.

Best Budget: Craft Resumes

• Unlimited revisions
• 5 day delivery
• Some reviewers mention time delays

Craft Resumes has an engaging, user-friendly interface that makes resume-building a fun, less stressful process. With ATS keyword optimization and a dedicated writer on your resume, rest assured that it will be in a healthy state to pass along to recruiters and job posters.

“Craft Resumes cleary focus on the ‘craft’ and design of writing resumes, where a distinguishing factor that caught my eye is their unlimited evaluation ‘at any reason’ for four days,” Conklin said, recommending the service. “This is valuable for job or graduate school seekers and career explorers, as you’ll likely have questions once you find an opportunity of interest.”

Similar to other services here, there is a one-on-one aspect that can be quite valuable, especially if you have the time. “There are also a variety of services and prices, not just resume writing,” she noted. “This is helpful for you budget, and evolving needs. Often times once you get a resume underway you start to realize that you’ll want other materials to be updated and aligned with your personal brand.”

For its most popular package, The Basic, you’ll have access to a single writer and unlimited revisions (which is a score compared to some other services on this list), strong and optimized words, unique formatting and a cover letter to increase your chances of landing an interview. However, Craft Resumes has other great packages worth exploring.

Best Resume Writing: Let’s Eat, Grandma Resume Service

• Consultation included with every package
• Executive Concierge Service that includes 10 days of unlimited revisions
• Quality writers and customer service, based off reviews
• No academic CVs or federal resumes

Humorous name aside, resume service Let’s Eat, Grandma has a laser focus on punctuation (as you can tell because nobody intends to write that they’d like to eat their grandmother on a professional document) — as well as resume formatting. What’s great about this platform, specifically, is its vast packages, ranging from drafting your resume to offering cover letters and networking services to help boost your career trajectory.

“Let’s Eat, Grandma hones in immediately on its ‘custom-tailored’ approach,” Conklin said. “While every resume review should be tailored to account for your story (as mentioned above), it’s clear this is a value of this service. Client outcomes are also front and center, where a mix of employers and schools are listed; this is notable if continuing education is a goal of yours.”

With four packages available, and FAQs on the homepage highlighting its range (i.e. academic, federal government and more), Conklin appreciates how it’s clear that this service is distinguishing itself from others, especially given the range of specialty materials they can help you create. 

What’s more, you’ll be assisted by a team of highly skilled writers who create targeted documents to help boost your chances of getting an interview. They’ll also speak to your unique strengths — and, therefore, amplify them on your resume — to tie your entire professional portfolio of experience together. They also have a package tailored for executives, making the platform a solid option for those needing executive resume writing services.

Which resume service is best?

The golden question, right? This depends mostly on your career goals. A range of services are available, and many are now even offered through LinkedIn. 

“When considering a resume service, it is important to consider the extent of guidance you are seeking,” Conklin, who has 15 years of experience in higher education — told The Post.

“Are you overhauling your resume? Are you transitioning industries and need to consider a different format or approach? What are your financial resources to pay for one, or should you explore services offered from your alma mater or current institution if you are a current or graduate of higher education?,” she questioned.

You’ll also want to consider the resume services’ reputation, Conklin suggested: Are there reviews or endorsements of a service, especially if you are paying for one? What is the background, and is the resume service aligned with your industry of interest? 

Is it worth paying for a resume service?

“It depends on the service and one’s circumstances as to whether it is ‘worth’ paying for the service,” Conklin said. “There are very reputable services out there, especially for more experienced career seekers. If you’re transitioning to a new field, or you are seeking to move to a senior or executive level, it could definitely be worth the cost.”

As a preliminary step, Conklin advised to really make sure you are an informed consumer when considering a resume service, and if you should pay or if you have a network or connections you can leverage for advice first. 

How much does it cost to have someone write your resume?

“When an individual pays for a resume service, there may be a flat rate, or it is calculated on an hourly rate and requires at least two sessions,” Conklin explained. “For example, it could cost $150 for a single session.”

However, there are resume services that can significantly exceed that rate and are part of a package that might include a quick return and other support, from LinkedIn to interview coaching, that is over $600, she highlights.

What to include on your resume, according to an expert

“Your story is the focus of your resume, and it is critical to be honest and reflect on how you want to tell that, ultimately,” Conklin noted. “The order also depends on the stage of your career (early, mid, senior, executive) and the industry you are seeking.”

In academia, for example, you’ll see a curriculum vitae (CV) that is pages long to reflect one’s research, publications, and roles held. In financial services, you would have a one-page resume until you have significant work experience. Or, in the creative fields, you may have a one-page resume and then an online portfolio or website that exhibits your work to complement your resume, she explains.

“No matter the field you are pursuing, you always want to make sure you list your experiences in reverse chronological order, you include your education/training, think of the keywords and skills (and make sure those are prominently displayed and included), and also think of what is most relevant,” she listed. “The most relevant should be at the top.”

It is also key to consider Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), automated review systems that scan resumes as part of an organization’s vetting process. “The format could align or cause issues with an ATS system,” Conklin added. “This is why it’s important to do your research, leverage any connections you have to gain insights into a field and their preferred format and get advice on keywords, skills and experiences to include.”

“If you do your homework, you should find clues to answer the questions above and guide your resume writing approach,” Conklin shared.

How we chose resume services

At Post Wanted, here’s what we keep in mind when researching and hand-selecting resume services:

• Customization : The best online resume services offer tailored resumes with personalized resume writing, in contrast to generic templates you can find for free.
• Consultation : Some services offer a one-on-one consultation with your writer so they can scope out your specific attributes, career highlights and other aspects to your curriculum vitae you want to spotlight.
• Comprehensive Packages : In addition to resumes, some services offer cover letters, LinkedIn profile optimization and career coaching. To some, this is worth the investment, though it may come with a higher price tag.
• ATS Optimization : A great benefit to online resume services is the focus on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), as human recruiters typically use this software use these screening systems before it lands in their hands.
• Turnaround Time : For some, there’s no time to be wasted when it comes to hunting for a new job. Looking at flexibility and speed is important; some services offer rush options for individuals who need a complete and optimized resume quickly.

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Top 10 resume trends in 2024: what you need to know to stand out.

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For most people, resume writing is a daunting task.

Job hunters wonder about how to improve their resume. Mary, a director at a large company, called for help with resume writing because she was losing her job. She said, “I’m sure my resume doesn’t represent me very well. I want it to be impressive, but I’m stumbling on how to create it. I hear people say they send out dozens of resumes with no response, which makes me very anxious. How must I differentiate myself to get an employer’s attention?”

For most people, resume writing is a daunting task. The stakes are high. Yet, you may be unaware of the current resume trends you need to consider. Here are the ten resume trends to understand to help you showcase your uniqueness and capabilities and stand out to an employer.

Self-Marketing. Self-analysis is essential to do before you start writing. Think of your resume as an advertisement trying to get an employer to buy the product, and that product is you. Outline what you are best at doing. Note your top strengths. What are relevant credentials and experience to emphasize? Identify your best accomplishments.

RESULTS. Employers hire you based on your previous achievements and the belief that you can repeat those if they hire you. Each work description must focus on sharing measurable results and outcomes. Be specific. Employers value concrete accomplishments. Emphasize if you made the company money, saved money, started something, made an innovation, or created a new tool, process, system, or program. Incorporate numbers and percentages into your bullet descriptions. Have your most impressive accomplishments and best experience near the top of the description.

Prioritize. Target what is most important to employers. Determine the key elements they seek and tailor your resume to their needs. To identify the key points to highlight, review several relevant job openings. Focus on the top three to five qualifications and duties they advertise for. Incorporate that information into your resume to demonstrate that you have what a potential employer values.

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Highlight. Showcase your success. Under your work history, you should use bullet points to create each statement. The most effective way to develop these is to use the formula: Actions = Results, noting what you did and its impact. For example, “Developed and executed a new email fundraising campaign, and the results increased donations by 21%.” Or state the dollar amount if that is impressive.

Keywords. Research the job description, paying close attention to the required skills and qualifications, and align your relevant skills accordingly. Identify the more critical tasks, such as project management or process improvement, and sprinkle these sparingly throughout the resume, especially in the work descriptions and in the summary section. Include any relevant industry terms, too. Don’t try to “keyword stuff” throughout the resume, as the ATS may reject your resume, and a recruiter may disregard it, viewing it as being too generic or lacking.

Action verbs. Under your work descriptions, start each sentence with an action verb. Use words highlighting the skill or accomplishments, such as Led, Drove, Analyzed, Designed, Originated, Implemented, Established, etc. Avoid repetition, and don’t use that same action verb to start a statement within a particular work description. Write the sentence in the past tense, even for your current position.

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). ATS is a human resources software that works as an online database or a digital filing cabinet when you submit a job application. It’s not very sophisticated and requires search engine optimization. Avoid any creative resume style. Simple formatting is the key to getting through the system’s filters. Eliminate columns, tables, text boxes, headers, footers, graphics, color ink, or PDFs (unless specifically requested).

Qualifications. Employers hire someone with the skillset necessary to succeed in that advertised job. They want a person who is not underqualified or overqualified. Carefully evaluate the role before you hit “apply.” Assess your skills, education, and experience to ensure the job closely fits your background. Refrain from applying for a job if you don’t have 80% of the qualifications required.

Soft skills. These traits help show how you fit into the job role and match the company’s culture. Include appropriate ones to supplement your hard skills. The top soft skills employers value beyond excellent oral and written communication are collaboration, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.

Competencies. Employers find no value when you list a lot of competencies, such as project management, team leadership, results-driven, etc., in one section since you aren’t demonstrating exactly where you used these abilities. Avoid creating this section. Instead, inserting these competencies into the work history and summary of qualifications is much more effective. That way, you illustrate how you have that skill and apply it on the job.

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How to make a resume in Microsoft Word

Whether you’re just entering the workforce or need a resume refresh, you’re probably considering Microsoft Word for the task. We’ll walk you through options for making a resume in Word, from using helpful templates to creating a resume from scratch.

Use a built-in Word resume template

Use a word resume template on the web, use a third-party word resume template, create a word resume from scratch.

The quickest and easiest way to make a resume in Word is using one of Microsoft’s templates . You can look for one directly in Word and choose from a large collection of options.

Open Word, select File > New , and pop “resume” into the Search box. You can then browse the templates with resumes for specific jobs and industries along with those for any type of position.

Choose a template to see a description and pick Create to use the resume.

The Microsoft resume templates come with placeholders that you can simply swap out for your own details. This is handy if you like the appearance of all elements in the template. Of course, if you’re not fond of the color scheme or font styles, you can change those types of items.

Remember to go to File > Save As to save a copy of your resume.

Maybe you don’t have Microsoft Word on your computer yet but need your resume in that format. You can use Word on the web for free with a Microsoft account and take advantage of resume templates.

Visit the Microsoft Create website and explore the resume templates . If you see one you like, select it to open it directly in Word for the web.

Alternatively, select Create from scratch and choose Resumes, flyers, brochures . When Word opens, use the Designer sidebar on the right to browse through and choose a resume template.

Then, swap out the placeholders for your own details and customize the resume as you like.

If you like the template idea but don’t care for any of the Microsoft options, you can check out third-party templates for your resume. Here are just a few of the top options and samples of resume templates they offer for free.

Resume Genius

With Resume Genius , you can pick from over a dozen custom Word templates to download. From simple to professional to aesthetically pleasing to visually appealing, you’re sure to find at least one resume template you like.

Hloom offers over 15 resume and CV templates for free and even more if you don’t mind paying. Be sure to select Free on the left below License if you want to narrow down the no-charge options. As a bonus, you’ll also see a tab for cover letters if you’re in the market for one of those too.

Template.net

One more place to check out for Word resume templates is Template.net . You’ll find a large variety of attractive options specific to position or resume style. Like with Hloom, select Free beneath License on the left, and be sure to take a look at the cover letter collection too.

After you download a resume template from one of the above sites, simply customize it with your own details.

Maybe you’d prefer to simply create your resume from scratch; this is always an option if you have the time. Consider reviewing the above templates and samples for the information you should include and ideas for formatting.

To get started, add the following details to your resume:

Full name and current position : Place your name and position at the top. If you don’t have a current position, you can certainly omit it.

Objective (optional) : Provide a brief description of your goal to potential employers beneath your name and position. This is an optional inclusion — if you add one, try to keep it short and sweet with one to two meaningful sentences.

Contact details : Include at least your email address and phone number. If you have an up-to-date website or LinkedIn profile, you can add these as well. Make sure these details are kept together in a specific location so they’re simple to find.

Work experience : List your work experience in chronological order with the most recent first. Start with your position, then move onto the employer, month, and year you worked there, and your duties. You should include your duties and responsibilities in a list format making them easy to review.

Education : List your educational history in chronological order with the most recent first. Start with the degree, then add the school with the month and year you attended.

Skills, awards, and more : Use a list format to add your skills, awards, certifications, volunteer work, and any other details you feel important to the position or company.

Here are several tips when formatting your resume in Word:

• Use a heading or larger font for your full name at the top.
• Add headings for the Experience, Educations, and Skills sections.
• If you decide to use color, keep it to just one or two complementary colors.
• Try to use the same font style throughout, taking advantage of font sizes, headings, or bold formatting for more prominent details.
• Use a font that’s easy to read like a 12-point Arial, Calibri, Georgia, or Times New Roman for the main body text. You might also consider which font style works better for reading on the web versus on a printed piece.
• If you include a headshot, make sure it’s a professional one.
• Consider using a table to structure your resume, as shown above.

Finally, be sure to keep the appearance and content of your resume consistent.

Is it OK to make a resume in Word?

Absolutely! This is exactly the type of document you should create in a word processing application like Microsoft Word. If you prefer, you can also use a web application like Google Docs to make a resume or downloadable software like LibreOffice Writer.

Once your resume is complete, you can save it as a PDF or other requested format in most word processing applications for submission to the potential employer or hiring manager.

How far back should a resume go?

Most experts recommend 10 to 15 years is appropriate for a resume. Keep in mind that you should include relevant work experience for that time period . For example, if you’re a nurse who worked at a fast-food chain for two months 12 years ago, you can likely exclude that job.

How many pages should a resume be?

The standard for a resume is one to two pages. However, this can depend on the length of your experience and education in relation to the position for which you’re applying. For instance, someone who’s been in the workforce for 20 years might require two pages, but a recent college graduate would probably only need one page.

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Microsoft will soon eliminate OneDrive Business accounts that have remained unlicensed for over 90 days because, as mentioned in a Microsoft Learn blog post, the tech giant feels they pose a significant security threat by leading to confusion and duplication in enterprise environments.

The archiving process will begin in January 2025, and users will not have access to their accounts once they are archived. Those affected accounts will have a $0.60/GB activation fee and a monthly fee of $0.05 per GB for storage in the Microsoft 365 Archive. Once the user pays, the activation process can take as long as 24 hours, but only after following the necessary steps in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Microsoft is the home of one of the better laptop deals at the moment, with up to $600 off select models of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2. The discount varies depending on the specification you go for, so essentially the more you spend, the bigger the saving. Models start from $1,900 instead of $2,000 and the highest end option costs $3,100 instead of $3,700. We’re on hand to take you through all the different options available so you can find what works best for you and your budget. These deals will end on August 25. To check out all the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 options, click the link below or keep reading while we take you through it.

Why you should buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of Microsoft being one of the best laptop brands felt unimaginable. Since then though, its Surface series has easily earned that place. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, for instance, is designed for creative professionals so it’s powerful and stylish.

Need to create a mass mailing or bulk email message? In Microsoft Word, you can set up a mail merge that inserts your recipients and their details automatically.

You have two ways to create a mail merge in Microsoft Word. You can use the Mail Merge Wizard, which is great if you’ve never set one up before, or the Mailings tab, which might take a bit more time but allows for additional options.