Resume Builder — Create a Professional Resume Online
Our free resume builder gives you everything you need to create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from four templates, fill in your experience and skills with guided forms, check your ATS score, and download a polished PDF. Your data is saved automatically in your browser — no account required.
Resume Sections — What to Include
| Section | Required? | Best Practices |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Information | Required | Include email, phone, city/state, LinkedIn. Omit full address. |
| Professional Summary | Highly recommended | 3-5 sentences, tailored to target role. Include years of experience and key skills. |
| Work Experience | Required | Reverse chronological. Use bullet points with action verbs. Quantify achievements where possible. |
| Education | Required | Include degree, school, graduation year. Omit GPA below 3.5. |
| Skills | Required | List relevant technical and soft skills. Match keywords from job descriptions. |
| Projects | Recommended for tech roles | Include if experience is limited or projects showcase relevant skills. |
| Certifications | If relevant | Include issuing body and date. |
| Languages | If relevant | Include proficiency level. |
Resume Writing Best Practices
Use Quantified Achievements
Numbers make your accomplishments concrete and memorable. Transform weak bullets into strong ones:
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for sales | Increased quarterly sales by 34% ($420K) by implementing consultative selling approach |
| Managed a team | Led cross-functional team of 8 engineers delivering 3 products to 50,000+ users |
| Improved website | Reduced page load time by 62% resulting in 18% decrease in bounce rate |
| Helped with customer service | Resolved 95% of customer inquiries within 4 hours, achieving 4.8/5 rating |
Action Verbs by Category
| Category | Strong Action Verbs |
|---|---|
| Leadership | Led, Directed, Spearheaded, Championed, Mentored, Coached, Orchestrated |
| Achievement | Achieved, Exceeded, Surpassed, Delivered, Attained, Accomplished |
| Technical | Developed, Engineered, Built, Implemented, Designed, Architected, Programmed |
| Analysis | Analyzed, Evaluated, Assessed, Researched, Identified, Investigated, Diagnosed |
| Communication | Presented, Negotiated, Persuaded, Collaborated, Facilitated, Coordinated |
| Improvement | Streamlined, Optimized, Reduced, Increased, Enhanced, Transformed, Modernized |
| Creation | Created, Launched, Founded, Established, Initiated, Pioneered, Developed |
ATS Optimization Guide
Over 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before human review. Here is how to optimize your resume for ATS:
| ATS Tip | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| File format | PDF or Word (.docx) | JPG, PNG, Google Docs link |
| Section headings | Standard: "Work Experience", "Education" | Creative: "Where I've Been", "My Journey" |
| Fonts | Standard: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman | Decorative or custom fonts |
| Keywords | Mirror language from job description | Assuming synonyms are equivalent |
| Contact info | Plain text in body of resume | Headers or footers (ATS may miss these) |
| Layout | Single column or simple two-column | Text boxes, tables, graphics, charts |
| Dates | Consistent format: "Jan 2022 – Present" | Inconsistent or missing dates |
| Photos | Omit (in US/UK) | Embedded photos confuse ATS parsing |
Resume Length Guidelines
| Experience Level | Recommended Length | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years (entry level) | 1 page | Limited experience; conciseness shows communication skills |
| 2-10 years | 1 page, maximum 2 | Target 1 page; 2 only if truly necessary |
| 10+ years | 1-2 pages | Include only last 10-15 years of experience |
| Academic/Research | CV — no page limit | Publications, presentations, grants all included |
| Federal government | As long as needed | Federal resumes often 3-5+ pages |
Tailoring Your Resume for Each Job
Sending the same resume to every job reduces your chances significantly. Customizing your resume for each application is the single most impactful thing you can do:
- Mirror keywords from the job description— If the job says "cross-functional collaboration" and your resume says "worked with teams," update it. ATS systems match exact phrases.
- Reorder bullet points — Put the most relevant experience first within each role. If the job emphasizes leadership, lead with your leadership bullet.
- Customize your summary — Your professional summary is the easiest section to tailor. Reference the specific role or industry in your opening sentence.
- Adjust your skills list — Remove skills irrelevant to the target role and add skills mentioned in the job description that you genuinely have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best resume format in 2024?
The reverse-chronological format remains the most widely accepted and ATS-friendly format for most job seekers. It lists your most recent experience first and is familiar to all recruiters. The functional format (skills-based) is generally discouraged as many ATS systems struggle to parse it. A hybrid/combination format works well for career changers.
Should I include a photo on my resume?
In the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, resume photos are strongly discouraged — they can introduce unconscious bias and hurt ATS parsing. In Germany, France, and many Asian countries, professional headshots are standard. Always follow the conventions of the country and industry you are targeting.
How far back should work experience go?
For most professionals, include the last 10-15 years of experience. Earlier experience can be summarized as "Additional experience available upon request" or omitted entirely. Exceptions: if early experience is directly relevant to the target role, or if you have a gap that older experience would explain.
What font size should I use on a resume?
Your name should be 18-24pt. Section headings: 12-14pt. Body text: 10-12pt. The minimum readable size for body text is 10pt. Do not reduce font size below 10pt to fit more content — edit the content instead. Stick to standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, or Times New Roman are all safe and professional.
Should I include references on my resume?
No. The phrase "References available upon request" is outdated and wastes valuable space. Recruiters know references are available. Prepare a separate references document that you can provide when specifically requested during the interview process. Use the space for more impactful content.
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