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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA good resume makes it easy for an employer to see how your experience fits the job. It uses clear, truthful evidence of relevant skills and accomplishments, with simple formatting that follows the employer’s instructions. There is no single best resume format—and no format or formula guarantees an interview.
Start with the job you want
Shape the resume around the role rather than trying to include everything you have done. Put the most relevant qualifications where they are easy to find, and use wording from the job posting only when it accurately describes your experience.
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CareerOneStop, a career resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, puts the aim this way: “Your resume should let an employer quickly see how you can contribute to their workplace.” (CareerOneStop’s Resume overview.)
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Choose the opening sections deliberately
Place your name and contact details at the top. Include a professional email address and, if you maintain them, relevant LinkedIn or portfolio links. A short headline can identify the target role or a distinctive qualification.
A summary is optional. Use one when it adds relevant skills or accomplishments; do not use it to repeat your work history or make inflated claims. CareerOneStop suggests that people with three years or less of experience, or a clear and consistent career progression, may omit a summary. A skills section can help when you have specific job-related skills the posting calls for.
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Choose a format that fits your work history
The format changes what an employer sees first. Use the employer’s instructions and your actual career story to choose; none is universally best.
| Format | What it emphasizes | When it may fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronological | Work history | You have a solid work history and are continuing in the same field. | Transferable skills may be less apparent unless your bullets make them clear. |
| Functional | Skills and experience, with limited work-history detail | Your skills are the main story you want to foreground. | CareerOneStop warns that employers may misinterpret this format or applicant tracking systems (ATS) may reject it. |
| Combination | A summary or skills section alongside detailed work history | You are changing careers, emphasizing transferable skills, or addressing gaps. | It needs enough space and careful organization to keep the work timeline clear. |
These are general recommendations from CareerOneStop’s resume formatting guide, not guarantees about how a particular employer or ATS will handle a resume.
Describe work with evidence
For each role, give the job title, organization, location, and dates. Select responsibilities and accomplishments that support the job you are applying for, then describe them in concise bullets. CareerOneStop suggests about five to eight bullets per job as guidance, not as a fixed rule.
A useful bullet explains what you did, the context or people involved, and the result. Add a count, dollar amount, percentage, or recognition only when it is accurate and you can substantiate it. Do not invent metrics to make a bullet seem more impressive.
- Choose details that show relevant responsibilities or accomplishments.
- Use job-posting language only when it truthfully matches your experience.
- Keep bullets concise and specific enough to show what changed or what you delivered.
- Leave out claims you cannot support.
For more detail, see CareerOneStop’s guidance on work experience.
Put education and optional sections in context
List education in reverse chronological order, with the credential or program, institution, and relevant completion year. Put it near the top if you are a recent graduate or your recent training is especially relevant. If your work history is stronger evidence for the role, place education later.
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Make the page easy to scan and submit
CareerOneStop recommends a clean, single-column layout, standard headings such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills,” consistent spacing, and commonly available professional fonts. Its guide recommends one to two pages, using a second page when your experience warrants it.
- Avoid tables, text boxes, columns, logos, images, and graphics. Some ATS may scramble or miss information in these elements.
- Do not put important information in headers or footers, and do not use hidden white text to try to influence an ATS.
- Use ordinary bullets consistently and check that the document is readable.
- Follow the employer’s requested file type. If no type is specified, CareerOneStop recommends PDF to preserve formatting.
These precautions can reduce formatting problems, but they cannot guarantee that a resume will pass every ATS. Systems and employer instructions vary. For print copies, CareerOneStop recommends high-quality white, off-white, or pale-gray paper; most applicants submitting online do not need printed resume paper.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Adapt the resume to your circumstances
If you are a recent graduate
Bring relevant projects, coursework, training, transferable skills, and education forward when they make a stronger case for the role than a short work history. Keep the details focused on what the employer is seeking.
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If you have a work-history gap
Keep dates truthful and make relevant skills easy to find. Some application systems may ask for month- or day-level dates, so follow the application instructions and do not omit dates in a way that misleads. You do not need to explain a gap on the resume itself; a cover letter or interview may be a more appropriate place to give context if it is useful.
These suggestions for different career circumstances come from CareerOneStop’s special resume situations guide.
Quick Recap
A final check before you send it
- Does the top section make your fit for this specific role clear?
- Are your skills, dates, job details, and accomplishments accurate?
- Can a reader quickly scan the headings and relevant evidence?
- Is the layout simple, and have you followed the employer’s file instructions?
- Does every optional section help support your application?
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