How to Write a Resume (2026 Guide)

A resume is a one-to-two-page document that summarises your work history, education, and skills for a specific job. A well-written resume matches the job description's language, uses a clean layout, and leads with your strongest qualifications. Most companies now scan resumes through automated systems before a human reads them.

What sections does a resume need?

Every resume needs five core sections: a contact header (name, phone, email, LinkedIn), a professional summary (2–3 sentences), work experience (reverse-chronological), education, and skills. Add certifications, projects, or languages only when they are relevant to the role you are applying for.

How do you write a professional summary?

Write two or three sentences that describe your title, years of experience, and top achievement. Example: "Marketing analyst with four years of experience in e-commerce growth. Increased organic traffic by 40% at a Series B startup using SEO and content strategy." Tailor the summary to each job.

How do you list work experience?

Use reverse-chronological order — most recent job first. For each role, include the company name, your title, dates (month and year), and three to five bullet points. Start each bullet with an action verb and include a measurable result where possible, such as "Reduced customer onboarding time by 30%."

What skills should you list?

List hard skills (tools, programming languages, certifications) relevant to the job. Soft skills add little value unless the job description specifically requests them. Mirror the exact terminology from the job posting to pass keyword filters.

How do you format a resume?

Choose a single, readable font (Calibri, Inter, or Garamond at 10–12 pt). Use consistent heading sizes, 1-inch margins, and no background colours. Save as PDF unless the job posting asks for .docx. Avoid tables, columns, and text boxes in sections the ATS must read.

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