How to Write a Resume: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Learning how to write a resume is the first step toward landing your dream job. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step—from choosing the right format to writing compelling bullet points—so you can create a professional resume that gets interviews, even if you’ve never written one before.
📊 Resume Writing Facts
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Choose the Right Resume Format
Pick chronological (most common), functional (skills-focused), or combination format based on your experience level and career situation.
Add Your Contact Information
Include your name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn URL, and city/state. No full address needed.
Write a Compelling Summary or Objective
Create a 2-3 sentence overview highlighting your experience, top skills, and what you bring to the role.
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Start Building Free ✨List Your Work Experience
Add jobs in reverse chronological order with company, title, dates, and 3-6 bullet points focusing on achievements, not duties.
Add Your Education
Include degree, school name, graduation year, and relevant honors. Recent grads can add GPA if above 3.5.
Include Relevant Skills
List 6-10 skills that match the job description. Mix technical (hard) skills with interpersonal (soft) skills.
Proofread and Format
Check for errors, ensure consistent formatting, and save as PDF. One typo can cost you the job.
Step 1: Choose the Right Resume Format
The first step in how to write a resume is selecting the right format. Your choice depends on your experience level and career situation:
Step 2: Add Contact Information
✅ What to Include:
As it appears on official documents
With professional voicemail
firstname.lastname@email.com
Customized profile link
No full address needed
For creative/tech roles
❌ What NOT to Include:
Photo, age, marital status, social security number, full address, personal social media
Step 3: Write a Professional Summary
Your professional summary is a 2-4 sentence elevator pitch at the top of your resume. It should instantly communicate your value.
❌ Weak Summary
“Hardworking professional seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and grow with the company.”
Generic, says nothing specific about qualifications
✅ Strong Summary
“Results-driven Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience driving 40% revenue growth through data-driven campaigns. Expert in SEO, paid advertising, and marketing automation. Seeking to leverage analytical skills to lead growth initiatives at [Company].”
Specific, quantified, targeted
📝 Professional Summary Formula:
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Create My Resume Now →Step 4: List Your Work Experience
The work experience section is the heart of your resume. Here’s how to write resume bullets that get attention:
📋 Work Experience Format:
- Action verb + what you did + result with numbers
- Led team of 8 to deliver $2M project 2 weeks ahead of schedule
- Increased customer retention by 35% through implementing feedback program
🎯 The STAR Method for Resume Bullets:
Context of the challenge
Your responsibility
What you did
Quantified outcome
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Start Building – It’s FreeStep 5: Add Your Education
Step 6: Include Relevant Skills
💼 Hard Skills
Technical abilities that can be measured:
- Programming languages
- Software proficiency
- Data analysis tools
- Certifications
- Foreign languages
🤝 Soft Skills
Interpersonal and transferable abilities:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Teamwork
🎨 Professional Design Matters
Select from ATS-friendly templates that look great and get results.
View Template LibraryStep 7: Format and Proofread
Margins
0.5″ – 1″ all sides
Font
Arial, Calibri 10-12pt
Length
1 page (2 max)
Format
Save as PDF
File Name
FirstName_LastName_Resume
Proofread
Zero typos allowed
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Create My Resume Now →Resume Writing Tips from Hiring Managers
✅ Do: Tailor Each Resume
63% of recruiters want resumes customized to the job. Mirror keywords from the job description.
✅ Do: Quantify Achievements
Numbers grab attention. “Increased sales 40%” beats “improved sales performance.”
✅ Do: Use Action Verbs
Start bullets with powerful verbs: Led, Developed, Achieved, Increased, Created.
❌ Don’t: Use Generic Objectives
“Seeking a challenging position” says nothing. Use a specific, achievement-focused summary.
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Get Started Free →❌ Don’t: Include Irrelevant Info
Leave out hobbies, photos, age, and jobs from 20+ years ago unless directly relevant.
❌ Don’t: Lie or Exaggerate
75% of hiring managers have caught lies. Background checks will reveal the truth.
Resume Examples by Experience Level
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📌 How to Write a Resume: Key Takeaways
- Choose the right format – Chronological for most, functional for career changers
- Lead with a strong summary – 2-3 sentences highlighting your value
- Focus on achievements – Results with numbers, not job duties
- Tailor every resume – Customize for each job application
- Keep it clean – One page, professional font, consistent formatting
- Proofread everything – One typo can cost you the interview
Related guides: Resume Tips | Resume Format Guide | Resume Examples | AI Resume Builder
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Guides:
The reverse-chronological format is the most widely accepted in 2026. It lists your most recent experience first and is preferred by both hiring managers and ATS systems. Use a clean, single-column layout with clear section headings.
How long should it take to write a resume?A well-crafted resume typically takes 2-4 hours to write from scratch. Using a resume builder like StylingCV can reduce this to 30-60 minutes while ensuring professional formatting and ATS optimization.
Should I include a photo on my resume?In the US, UK, and Canada, do not include a photo unless specifically requested. In some European and Middle Eastern countries, photos are standard. Always research the norms for your target job market.
What are the must-have sections on a resume?Every resume should include: contact information, professional summary or objective, work experience, education, and relevant skills. Optional sections include certifications, volunteer work, and projects.
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