How to Improve Your Resume

Co-authored by Melody Godfred, JD and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: January 25, 2022 References

Creating an effective resume can be tricky, but it’s crucial for getting noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to make your resume more professional and marketable. Consider the perspective of recruiters and hiring managers as you're making your resume. They like resumes that are skim-able, easy-to-understand, and tailored to the job they're looking to fill. By keeping those things in mind, you can make a resume that improves your chances of finding a job.

Sample Resumes

Sample Chronological Resume

Sample Functional Resume

Sample Combination Resume

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Tailoring Your Resume to the Job

1
Read the job description carefully. Look for specific skills, kinds of experience, and keywords listed in the job ad and write them down. If there are any educational requirements, make sure you note those too. Then, when you're making your resume, focus on including those things to show the recruiter you're the right candidate for the job.^{[1]
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- Try copying and pasting the job description into a word cloud generator. Word cloud generators take all the words in a body of text and show you which words are the most common. If the generator tells you that the term "self-starter" appears a lot in the job ad, you'll know to incorporate that skill into your resume.
2
Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Don’t use the same resume for every job you apply to. Recruiters want to see that you’re the right fit for the specific job they’re trying to fill. When you find a job you're interested in, take the time to update your resume so it reflects the skills and experience the job ad is calling for.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Melody Godfred, JD
Career Coach

Expert Interview. 29 April 2020.}
- To save yourself time, have a "base" resume saved on your computer. Then, whenever you find a job you're interested in, you can just tweak the base resume so it's tailored to the job. Save your updated resume as a different file so you don't lose your base resume.
- For example, if you're applying for a job that calls for excellent customer service skills, you could take your base resume and move "customer service" to the top of your list of skills. You could also add more details to your descriptions for your previous jobs about how you excelled at customer service in those roles.
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3
Include keywords relevant to the job in your resume. Many companies use electronic tracking systems that look for specific keywords in applicant resumes. If you don’t use those keywords, your resume could be overlooked. To find out which keywords to use, search online for a list of keywords commonly used in the industry you're applying to. Just search something like "resume keywords for financial advisor."^{[3]
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- For example, recruiters looking to fill a financial position could be looking for keywords like "profit," "accounting," "budgeting," and "compliance."
4
Choose the right kind of resume for the job you're applying to. If you're responding to a job ad that emphasizes work experience, use a chronological resume. If you're applying for a job that requires a lot of specific skills, a functional resume may be a good choice. If the job description focuses on both experience and practical skills, use a combination resume to demonstrate that you have both.^{[4]
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- For example, if you're applying to a job that requires 3 years of landscaping experience, make a chronological resume by listing your work history at the top of your resume, starting with your most recent job in landscaping.
- If you're applying for an entry-level computer programming job where you need to know how to use a variety of computer programs, make a functional resume. At the top of your resume, list your experience working with the different computer programs, as opposed to your work history.
- If you're applying for a graphic design job that requires 1 year of experience and experience using different design programs, make a combination resume. Start the resume with a list of your skills and experience working in graphic design programs, and follow that section with your employment history.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Improving the Content

1
Add a 3-sentence summary to the top of your resume under your name. Describe who you are in the first sentence. Then, mention your goal or objective in the second sentence. Finish the summary with a sentence about why you’re a valuable candidate for the position. A 3-sentence summary will help recruiters quickly understand who you are and what you have to offer.^{[5]
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- For example, your 3-sentence summary could go something like “Writer with over 5 years experience at major publications. Looking to research and write about digital marketing trends. Brings solid understanding of editorial standards and a track record of meeting deadlines."
- If you don't have a lot of job experience or skills, leave the 3-sentence summary off of your resume.
2
Include your most impressive achievements for each job. Instead of focusing on the responsibilities you had at your old jobs, focus on the things you accomplished at them instead. Ask yourself what your 2-3 best achievements were at each of your previous jobs and write them down. Then, include 1 or 2 of them after each job you have listed on your resume.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Melody Godfred, JD
Career Coach

Expert Interview. 29 April 2020.}
- For example, instead of writing “Was responsible for reorganizing shelves in company stockroom,” you could write “Implemented successful new organization system in company stockroom.”
3
Quantify the achievements on your resume. That way they’ll be easier for recruiters to understand. Whenever you’re listing an achievement, try to attach a number or percentage to it. Don’t make it complicated and use too many numbers. Stick with one number or percentage per achievement.^{[7]
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- For example, instead of writing “Helped increase traffic to company website,” you could write “Increased traffic to company website by 45 percent.”
4
Start your bullet points with action verbs. Action verbs imply that you took initiative and accomplished something, which will look good to recruiters. If any of the bullet points on your resume start with a phrase like “Responsible for” or “In charge of,” rephrase them so they start with an action verb.^{[8]
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- Some action verbs you could use on your resume are: arranged, delivered, assisted, created, formed, organized, produced, eliminated, lead, transformed, and developed.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tweaking the Formatting

Paragraphs are harder to skim through than bullet points, so recruiters may not be seeing all the information you want them to see. If any of your job descriptions are written in paragraph form, break them up into several bullet points. Keep each bullet point between 1-2 sentences long.^{[9]
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To shorten your resume, make your writing more concise. Delete any unnecessary information, like dates and descriptions for jobs you had over 15 years ago. If you’re using a large font, make it smaller (but not so small that it’s hard to read). Recruiters like to skim resumes, and they’ll be more likely to look yours over if it’s only 1 page.^{[10]
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Put it in bold font so it’s easy for recruiters to find. Make sure it includes your phone number, email address, city and zip code (you can leave out your full mailing address).^{[11]
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4
Use a simple, black, size-12 font. Avoid colorful, crazy fonts that will distract from the content of your resume. Try to use the same font throughout your whole resume so it looks neat and polished.^{[12]
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- Make your headlines bold and slightly larger to help them stand out.
- Some simple fonts you can use for your resume are: Times New Roman, Georgie, Garamond, Arial, Century Gothic, Tahoma, and Bell MT.
5
Use a resume-building software or app. Search online for "free resume builder." There are also resume builders you can pay for to get access to more premium features. Once you find a software or app you like, input the information from your resume into the builder so it can help you organize it all in an effective way. Then, save the resume you made and use it to apply for jobs.
- Some resume builders you can try are https://www.resume-now.com, https://www.myperfectresume.com, or https://www.canva.com/create/resumes.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I make my resume strong?

Melody Godfred, JD
Career Coach
Melody Godfred is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Write In Color, a full-service resume and career development company that specializes in developing compelling personal narratives and brands. With over ten years of experience, Melody has worked with clients at entertainment and media companies including Apple, Disney, Fox, Netflix, Riot Games, Viacom, and Warner Bros, among others. The Muse invited Melody and Write In Color to serve as one of its 30 trusted career counselors (out of 3,000) to provide one-on-one coaching and resume services to the platform's more than four million active users. Melody earned a JD from Loyola Marymount University and BS from the University of Southern California.

Melody Godfred, JD

Career Coach

Expert Answer

Use impact statements instead of listing your responsibilities. So instead of listing what you've done at each job, describe how you've improved or contributed to the company.

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Question

Why do I need to describe what I did at my old job if it's obvious?

Melody Godfred, JD
Career Coach
Melody Godfred is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Write In Color, a full-service resume and career development company that specializes in developing compelling personal narratives and brands. With over ten years of experience, Melody has worked with clients at entertainment and media companies including Apple, Disney, Fox, Netflix, Riot Games, Viacom, and Warner Bros, among others. The Muse invited Melody and Write In Color to serve as one of its 30 trusted career counselors (out of 3,000) to provide one-on-one coaching and resume services to the platform's more than four million active users. Melody earned a JD from Loyola Marymount University and BS from the University of Southern California.

Melody Godfred, JD

Career Coach

Expert Answer

How you present your contributions gives potential employers some insight into what you value and care about. How you organize that information also speaks to your mindset and diligence.

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Question

Should I repeat information from my resume on a job application?

Melody Godfred, JD
Career Coach
Melody Godfred is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Write In Color, a full-service resume and career development company that specializes in developing compelling personal narratives and brands. With over ten years of experience, Melody has worked with clients at entertainment and media companies including Apple, Disney, Fox, Netflix, Riot Games, Viacom, and Warner Bros, among others. The Muse invited Melody and Write In Color to serve as one of its 30 trusted career counselors (out of 3,000) to provide one-on-one coaching and resume services to the platform's more than four million active users. Melody earned a JD from Loyola Marymount University and BS from the University of Southern California.

Melody Godfred, JD

Career Coach

Expert Answer

Yes. Oftentimes, these things are going to be very closely aligned, so don't worry about being redundant. It's actually good to have some consistency since it will reinforce your personal brand.

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