📥8+ Excellent Resume Templates Download

Writing a resume is not exactly at the top of most people’s list of fun things to do. It’s daunting, time-consuming, and, let’s face it, a bit intimidating—especially if it’s been a while since you last updated yours. But your resume is key to landing that job, so it has to be done right.

Here’s a step-by-step guide with simple, actionable tips to create a resume that not only gets noticed but also gets results.

Think About the Person Reading Your Resume

Before you start typing, take a moment to picture who will read your resume. It’ll likely be a hiring manager, an HR person, or a recruiter. These people go through hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications. They’re skimming, not savouring—so your resume needs to make an instant impact.

To stand out, make their job easier. Use clear, concise language and format your resume for easy reading. Think of it as your opportunity to tell them, “I’m the perfect fit for this role.”

Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

One size does not fit all when it comes to resumes. Take the time to customise yours for every job you apply for. Start by closely reading the job posting. Pull out specific keywords and phrases, then work them naturally into your resume, especially in the skills and accomplishments sections.

This step isn’t just about catching the hiring manager’s attention—it’s also crucial for getting past applicant tracking systems (software that scans resumes for keywords). If you’re not using the right words, your resume could get filtered out before anyone even sees it.

Focus on Your Professional Profile

The first thing most hiring managers look at is your professional profile, so make it count. This section should sit at the top of your resume and serve as a quick overview of why you’re the perfect candidate.

Avoid outdated “objective” statements that talk about what you want. Instead, write a professional profile that highlights what you offer. Include your job title, years of experience, core skills, and relevant accomplishments. For example:

“Experienced Accountant with 10+ years in financial analysis and budgeting. Increased annual forecast accuracy by 25%, saving £150K for my organisation.”

This approach is punchy, relevant, and focuses on what you bring to the table.

Highlight Accomplishments, Not Just Responsibilities

Hiring managers want to see what you’ve achieved, not just what your job duties were. Instead of saying, “Managed a sales team,” show the results of your work, like, “Managed a 20-person sales team, increasing quarterly sales by 25% through a new training programme.”

Specific numbers and measurable results make your achievements more concrete. If possible, use percentages, revenue figures, or other metrics to illustrate your impact.

Here’s another example:

• Before: “Responsible for customer satisfaction initiatives.”
• After: “Launched a customer feedback system that boosted satisfaction scores by 15% within six months.”

The second version has much more impact because it explains the what and the why.

Use Bullet Points for Readability

Don’t cram all your experience into large blocks of text. Use bullet points to list key responsibilities and achievements under each job. This makes your resume easier to skim, which, as we’ve already discussed, is how most recruiters will read it.

For example:

• Increased team productivity by 20% through improved workflow processes.
• Designed and implemented a mentorship programme adopted company-wide.
• Coordinated projects with budgets exceeding £500,000.

Bullets provide clarity and focus, helping hiring managers quickly spot your strengths.

Trim Outdated Experience

Typically, you should only include experience from the last 10 years on your resume. Older roles might not reflect your current skills or the needs of the job you’re applying for. Plus, including too much can make your resume unnecessarily long and harder to read.

The exception? If an older role is directly relevant to the job you’re applying for, by all means, include it. Otherwise, let it go.

Avoid Overdesigned Formatting

While it might be tempting to make your resume “stand out” with flashy graphics, complex fonts, or multi-column layouts, resist the urge. These bells and whistles often backfire. For starters, applicant tracking systems struggle to read anything overly complicated, and busy designs can frustrate human readers.

Stick to a clean, single-column layout. Use simple, professional fonts like Arial or Times New Roman in a readable size. Your goal is to get your message across clearly, not compete for “most creative resume of the year.”

Don’t Use Tables or Fancy Fonts

Tables and funky fonts are another common trap. While they may look stylish, they often make resumes harder to read—both for hiring managers and their software systems. The same goes for columns. Resumes with multiple columns can confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of your information.

If you’re in a creative field, you might think these rules don’t apply. But even graphic designers should use design sparingly. A small creative touch, like a subtle graphic element or a professional illustration in the corner, can work. Just don’t overdo it.

Keep Personal Details Professional

There’s no need to include personal details like your age, marital status, or hobbies (unless they’re relevant to the job). Stick to professional, job-related information.

For example:

• Your full name
• A professional email address
• A phone number
• A LinkedIn profile (if it’s polished and adds value)

Make sure your contact information is up to date before sending off your resume.

Proofread and Polish

Nothing ruins a great resume faster than a typo. Take the time to go over your resume carefully to ensure there are no errors. Better yet, ask someone you trust to review it for you. A fresh set of eyes can spot mistakes you might have missed, and they may even catch areas where you could clarify or improve your phrasing.

Save and Submit Professionally

When your resume is polished and ready, save it as a PDF to preserve the formatting. You don’t want your carefully crafted document getting skewed when it’s opened on a different computer. A neat, professional PDF ensures your hard work looks just as good in the recruiter’s inbox as it did on your screen.

Creating the perfect resume might not be the most exciting task, but it’s one of the most important steps in your job search. By focusing on accomplishments, using clear formatting, and tailoring your resume for each job, you’re setting yourself up for success.

Remember, your resume isn’t just a list of past jobs—it’s your chance to tell employers why you’re the best person for the job. Now, go write a resume that makes them want to pick up the phone and call you!