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10 Best Free Resume Builders

By Biron Clark

Published: February 15, 2024

Resume/CV | Reviews

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

There are quite a few free online resume sites, but some are MUCH better than others.

Some also appear to be free but will make you pay at the very end or you won’t be able to download your newly-created resume.

So in this article, I’m going to review the 10 best resume sites that offer completely free resume builders.

These are the websites that offer the best resume templates, best building software and user experience, and don’t charge you to download a printable resume.

Top 10 Free Online Resume Builders

1. cultivated culture.

Cultivated Culture provides free tools and information to job seekers. It’s run by Austin Belcak, who’s spent his recent career developing formulas for crafting effective resumes, writing engaging cover letters, and landing high-paying jobs at some of the world’s top companies.

His free resume builder includes eight resume templates that are ATS friendly , full design customization, and expert advice throughout the process to help you craft the perfect resume.

The tool is user-friendly and makes writing a resume simple. Here’s how it works:

• Choose your resume template.
• Select a color scheme.
• Create your resume. You’ll be able to add information to the various sections of your resume , including personal information, experience, education, and skills . You can remove and add sections as needed.
• Once you’re happy with your resume click “Finalize.” Here you’ll be able to adjust the font size, line spacing, and margins.
• Download your resume as a PDF or Word file, or save it to your Google Drive.

You can use this tool to build an unlimited number of resumes.

Cultivated Culture also offers two other free tools that will help you develop a more professional resume. They have a scanner that offers suggestions and keywords based on your desired role and also provides a feature to help you write more effective bullet points.

2. NovoResume

NovoResume is an online resume builder that offers eight free templates to choose from, a content optimizer, pre-written resume samples, a cover letter builder, and templates for your cover letter.

After you choose one of their resume template options you’re taken straight into their resume builder. You have to sign up for a free account before continuing, but this just takes a moment.

The free version of NovoResume allows you to build one single-page resume. Click on any of the resume sections to edit and customize it however you like. You can also change the font, template, design, or layout throughout the process if you’re not happy with the way it’s looking. 

If you want a little more flexibility you can upgrade to the premium resume builder, which lets you create unlimited resumes and gives you access to additional fonts, templates, and various customization options.

3. LiveCareer

LiveCareer offers a free resume builder designed by certified resume writers. They also offer example resumes, templates, a cover letter builder, cover letter templates, and everything else you need to build an eye-catching resume.

The first thing you’ll notice about their resume builder is the number of templates they offer. There are over 30 templates to choose from, which gives you the freedom to create a resume that suits you. They’ll also recommend templates for you, based on your level of experience and the job title you’re applying for.

Once you choose one of their templates you have the choice of starting from scratch or uploading your current resume for LiveCareer to reformat. 

When creating a new resume, the resume builder will walk you through each section one at a time and ask you to provide the required information. During the resume-building process, LiveCareer will suggest bullet points that are related to the job titles you list in your work experience.

They’ll even provide a pre-written summary for you based on all the information you provide (although you also have the option to write your own summary if you like).

After you’re done you can download your resume to your computer in a PDF, Word document, or plain text. 

With LiveCareer’s free resume builder, you can make multiple resumes and download them in plain text format. However, if you want unlimited downloads in Word or PDF you’ll need to upgrade to one of their premium options. While there isn’t a free 30-day trial, for just $2.95 you can try it for 14 days. However, after 14 days, the plan auto-renews at $23.95, billed every 4 weeks, unless you cancel it .

Zety offers all the tools you need to build a resume that will catch an employer’s attention. In addition to their online resume builder, they give you access to over 20 resume templates, writing tips, pre-written examples, a cover letter builder, templates for your cover letters, and more. 

Once you select one of their resume templates, you can choose to start a resume from scratch or build off of an existing document (Zety will reformat it for you).

You’ll find Zety and LiveCareer’s resume builders are virtually identical (they seem to be built on the same platform), and they have all the same features and download options. Zety also has the same payment structure, where to download multiple resumes or gain access to their more advanced tool options, you’ll need to purchase a premium subscription.

5. USA Jobs

USA Jobs provides the best resume builder software when applying for government jobs.

Their online resume builder is geared toward the exact application process and requirements of the typical government role.

(And those requirements are quite overwhelming if you haven’t applied to many government jobs in the past, so it’s fantastic that their software helps.)

You’ll need to set up an account with USA Jobs to get started, but it’s well worth it.

After joining, follow these steps to start creating a resume for government jobs:

• Sign into your account.
• Go to your Documents.
• Click “Upload” if you want to edit an existing resume or “Build Resume” if you want to create a new one.

From here, you can add text to the various sections of your resume (work experience, previous job title, education, references, etc.). There’s also a section where you can add additional information, like job training, languages, and affiliations. Once you finish your resume you’ll be able to access it in your documents list and can use it to apply to various government positions.

The big difference between USA Jobs’s resume builder and other similar tools is the amount of information it asks you to include. For example, federal government recruiters review, audit, and score a wide variety of information, and this builder ensures you don’t omit anything that the recruiters require for you to be considered.

I found out about this tool through a colleague on LinkedIn, and here’s how they explained it:

So, if you’re applying to any government jobs, this is THE resume builder to use .

6. My Perfect Resume

My Perfect Resume offers free resume builder software and over 30 proven resume templates to help you get started. They also provide a resume optimizer, cover letter builder, cover letter templates, and several different customization options to help you land your dream job.

This resume builder uses the same platform as LiveCareer and Zety. You start by indicating how long you’ve been working and based on that My Perfect Resume will recommend a few templates for you. Then they’ll walk you through each section so you can fill in the correct information. They’ll offer suggestions along the way and will even write your bullets for you if you wish.

Once you’ve completed the process you can download your resume as a PDF, Word document, or plain text file. To enjoy unlimited downloads in Word or PDF, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid account. There is no free trial, but a 14-day full access for $2.95. After two weeks, the subscription auto-renews at $23.95 billed every 4 weeks, unless you cancel it.

7. Resume.com

Resume.com is a completely free resume builder. They also offer information on how to write an effective cover letter, career advice for job seekers, and more.

Their resume builder is simple to use:

• Enter the type of job you want to apply for.
• Choose a resume template. Resume.com offers 15 different templates.
• Click on each section of the template to edit it. Tips are provided for each section to help you craft the perfect resume.
• When you’re finished, you can choose to print or download your resume as a PDF or text file.

In addition to resume building, Resume.com partnered with Indeed. You’ll use a single account for both platforms. By creating a resume, you agree to create a public resume on Indeed and to receive job opportunities from employers. However, you can change this at any point.

JobScan is known mainly for its flagship software that allows you to match your resume up to the job description before applying (also known as tailoring a resume ).

However, they recently launched a free resume builder that’s among one of the best we’ve seen. It features great resume templates and design options, and it also offers writing guides, cover letter templates, and more.

I’d certainly put this among the free best resume-making sites available right now.

Once you begin, their resume builder gives you the option of building a resume from scratch or editing an existing file. You can even download your LinkedIn profile as a PDF and parse it as an “existing resume.”

If you choose to create a new resume you’ll start by picking one of the three resume templates they have to offer. Then you’ll simply fill in the required information for each section of the resume. Additionally, unlike other resume builders, Jobscan offers 15 Google Docs resume templates, designed by their team.

JobScan provides labeled fields for all the details you need to provide for every section, and a number of these fields are required to ensure you don’t miss anything.

If you already have a resume you’re reasonably happy with you can upload it to the resume builder and JobScan will reformat it and fill in your information based on what’s provided in your resume.

Once you’re done building your professional resume you’ll have the option to scan it based on the job you’re applying for.

JobScan will give your resume a grade ( match rate score) that’s judged on several factors, including skills match, education match, ATS tips, keywords, word count, and more. Based on these results, you’ll be able to build a resume that’s perfectly suited to the job you’re applying for.

9. Kickresume

Kickresume is one of the best resume builders I was able to find while researching. You’ll have to create an account before using it, however, this process only takes a moment.

Once you’re inside the resume builder you have the option of starting a resume from scratch, importing your resume from your LinkedIn profile, using one of their example resumes, or creating a new resume with AI.

Click on the different sections and fill in the fields to make your resume. You can also add and remove sections to personalize the document.

Click “Customization” along the left-hand side to change the colors, format, font, and template. There’s also an option to have it proofread by a professional, although there is a charge for this service.

When you’re happy with your resume, click “Download” to export it as a PDF file or Word doc, email it to yourself, or save it to Dropbox.

Kickresume also has a premium option. The free option should be good enough for most, as it allows you to build unlimited resumes and gives you access to plenty of resume examples and pre-written phrases for you to use.

But if you want access to all the resume templates and tools you might want to consider the premium option. You can choose a monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan. While they don’t have a free trial they do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Indeed is known mostly as a job search tool to find employment opportunities in your local area. However, the company also offers a free resume builder to help job seekers perfect their resume before applying for postings.

Once you choose one of their eight different templates you’re taken to the resume builder where you can edit the document. You can switch templates at any time, adjust the color scheme, and add or remove sections. Once you’re satisfied with what you created about can download your resume as a PDF file.

While there are better resume builders out there, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to create a resume, this one is a good choice.

Caution: Before Using ANY Online Resume Builder

There’s one more piece of information you should know before acting on ANY of the online resume builder reviews above.

In my experience, too many job seekers focus on an eye-catching resume design when applying for jobs or emailing recruiters , but they don’t put enough focus on writing great content and information that will appeal to the reader. So no matter which of these top 10 resume builders you choose, focus mostly on the text and information you add, not the design.

In fact, I still recommend a single-column layout.

And the truth is, if I were creating my own resume today, I’d use a regular Word template, not any online software or tool.

I discussed this with a colleague on LinkedIn here:

Microsoft Office has good templates available , and Hloom is another good site for templates.

I can understand if you don’t want to tinker with resume formatting , spacing, etc., and everything that comes with creating it in a Word doc, but that’s what I’d personally do.

Just keep this in mind when choosing any drag-and-drop software above; you should always pick a design that lets you focus on the content and info because that’s what employers want to see. Don’t choose a format that doesn’t give much space to describe your recent work, accomplishments, etc.

Because the FIRST place I look as a recruiter is your work history, under your one or two most recent roles.

I’d also never recommend a resume layout that doesn’t begin with your employment history on the top half of page 1.

Employment experience is often the first thing hiring managers look for (unless you’re an entry-level job seeker), and you should never make them scroll far down the page (or look on page 2) to find it.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Online Resume Site for You

There isn’t one single best resume builder for all people in all industries, but the 10 choices above provide good, basic options that are user-friendly and will impress hiring managers.

I recommend visiting a few of the sites above and seeing which builder and templates look best to you. Each site offers different features/options, so you’ll want to get a sense of which one feels best to you before creating and downloading a resume.

And if you read my “Caution” statement above and decide to build your own resume in a document rather than in an online app, I have many free resources to help you here.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), are resume writers worth it, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, chronological resume: the best format (and how to write it), the 3 best colors for a resume, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, how long should a resume be, walk me through your resume: answer examples.

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Best Resume Format to Use in 2023 (Tips and Examples)

So you want to write a resume for yourself, but you’re not sure how to format it. What is the most popular resume format in 2023? Which resume format do recruiters like to see? You feel like making one wrong step can cost you that interview.

Maybe you came here to double-check which of the three standard resume formats you should pick. Maybe you want to learn about the basics of resume styling, layout, and typography. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to pick the best resume format (reverse chronological, functional, combination)
• How to format a resume in terms of design and layout: which fonts to pair, what font size to use, how to set margins, and so on
• How to format a resume in terms of the structure: which sections to include, the order of sections, and how much information to provide
• Which file format to use when saving a resume (PDF, DOC, DOCX, etc.)

You’ll end up with an eye-catching, professionally formatted resume that will make you look good in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers.

The Three Main Resume Formats

There are three standard resume formats, each highlighting a different set of your biggest achievements.

You can choose between them based on several factors: the type of job you’re applying for, the industry, and your work experience. The three resume formats are:

Reverse chronological resume format

• Functional (or skills-based) resume format

Combination resume format

Let’s take a look at some resume examples.

Reverse chronological resume sample

Functional resume sample

Combination (hybrid) resume sample

You’ve seen pitch-perfect examples of resumes written in each of the standard formats. Now, see which one suits your current career situation best.

The key area of focus in this resume format is your work history section. You list your work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position, followed by the one before it, then another one, and so on.

This format is the safest (and usually the best) pick for virtually any candidate. You’ll find out why in a moment.

Here’s an example of the reverse chronological resume format:

Why the reverse chronological resume format is the best

This is, by far, the most common resume format. In addition, in 95% of cases, it’ll be the best format for you. This is because:

1. Recruiters are familiar with it. 

And they really like it! The reverse chronological resume highlights what matters the most for recruiters. It makes their job easier because it takes them less time to spot your key skills and accomplishments. Plus, from a purely psychological point of view, humans love familiarity because it means comfort. Therefore, using a familiar resume format might increase your chances with recruiters.

2. It highlights your best achievements.

Your work experience and achievements are often key things that recruiters search for in a resume. This resume format makes them readily available in the top third of your resume, showcasing just how successful you are.

3. It’s ATS-friendly.

A lot of companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) — a software that scans your resume and looks for key information before any human lays eyes on it. Consider it a pre-step in recruiting. If you don’t pass it, a recruiter will never get the chance to check out your resume and you’ll never land an interview. That’s why it’s best practice to use a reverse chronological resume, as ATS is “used to it” and it’ll increase your chances of getting noticed.

Sections to include in a reverse chronological resume

Here’s what you need to include in your reverse chronological resume format, in this exact order:

1. Contact information

Here’s where your name goes, along with your email address, phone number, location, LinkedIn URL, and optionally other information such as a blog, portfolio, or relevant social media. You can also include your job title below your name, but it’s optional.

Don’t add your photo and date of birth (in most countries it’s frowned upon, in the US it’s plain illegal).

Additionally, use a professional email address containing only your name and surname, and make sure there are no typos in your email address and phone number.

2. Resume summary or resume objective

Summarize the most important information about yourself in 2–4 sentences. Include your role and years of experience, key accomplishments and skills, and what you can bring to the table. If you don’t have a lot of experience, focus on your transferable skills, education, certifications, and the desired goal (again, with a focus on what you bring to the table). If you’re a student, learn how to acquire skills for your resume .

3. Work experience

Without a doubt, this is the key section.

Here, try to focus on achievements rather than duties. List your positions in reverse chronological order and format it like this:

• Company name and location
• Employment dates
• Main responsibilities (list them in bullet points and make sure you list key achievements, both qualitative and quantitative)
• For your current or most recent position, include up to 7 bullet points
• As you go back in time, limit the number of bullets per entry

For more details and a ton of examples, see our article: Work Experience on a Resume .

4. Education

Start with your highest degree. If you have a bachelor’s degree, there’s no need to list high school. If you have an MA or an MSc, list it alongside your bachelor’s.

If you have little experience, feel free to place the education section at the top, before the work history section. Here is how to format this section:

• Include your degree, field of study, and major
• University name and location
• Years attended
• GPA (only if 3.5 or higher)
• Awards and honors (if any)

For a super-detailed guide on how to list education on a resume (and a ton of examples and templates to copy), check out this article: Education Section on a Resume: How to Structure It for Greatest Impact .

Don’t disregard this section just because you think that work experience and education are more important. Listing your hard and soft skills on a resume can make you stand out, as they are a testament to why you’d be a great fit for a certain position.

Figure out what skills are needed for the position you are applying for and then include them in case you have them. You’ll want to list them in bullet points, as single items.

Obviously, don’t list skills you know you don’t have. Recruiters are trained to spot resume liars. They will find out.

For more info on why resume skills matter and what the best hard and soft skill combos are, check out Which Skills to Put on a Resume , no matter your job and industry.

6. Additional sections (optional)

This is a place for you to list all the things that can prove your worth and set you apart from the competition. Think awards, certificates, conferences, projects, publications, volunteer work (especially if you’re a recent grad!), languages, and hobbies. Spice it up!

Listing these is great because they show your personality and values, how you spend your free time , if you’re a lifelong learner, what skills you develop through your hobbies, and much more.

For more details on what to include in these sections, take a look at our How to Write a Resume article — it’s full of useful tips and examples.

Reverse chronological resume format: pros and cons

• ATS-friendly
• Recruiters are familiar with it
• It highlights the biggest successes in your career so far
• It’s easy to skim and pick up the key points quickly
• Employment gaps are noticeable immediately
• Not ideal for career changers
• If you don’t have a lot of experience, it might be hard to fill out
• It’s very common so it might be harder to stand out

Functional resume format

This type of resume format focuses on your skills rather than your experience. If you’re applying for a highly creative position and your portfolio is more important than your resume, you could pull the functional resume format off.

In all other cases, this is usually the worst option you can choose, as it’s not particularly liked by recruiters, it’s not ATS-friendly, it can conceal the most important information about you and your experience, and it might make you look like you’re trying to hide something.

However, we don’t do discrimination here at Big Interview, and that’s why we’re going to lay out all the functional resume format details for you. 😉

Here’s a functional resume example.

Sections to include using the functional resume format

The main principles remain the same as for the reverse chronological resume format, but there are slight twists.

Here’s what to include in a functional resume format:

Include the basics here: first and last name, phone number, location, email address, LinkedIn URL. You can also add (although it’s optional) the following: portfolio, blog, social media with content relevant to the position… (Remember that you shouldn’t add your headshot and date of birth.)

2. Resume summary or resume objective

In 2–4 sentences, include your role and years of experience, key accomplishments and skills, and how you can contribute to the company you’re applying to. In case you’re inexperienced, focus on your education, desired goal (how you can contribute), certifications, or (transferable) skills.

3. Skills summary

This is the most important section in the functional resume format! Think of this as the main things you’re bringing to the table, the key skills that are guaranteed to make you successful in the position and “sell you” to the recruiter.

Make sure to carefully pick out key hard and soft skills relevant to the position.

Above, you can see a bad example of the skills summary section in the functional resume format for the position of Product Designer. The candidate listed the skills without elaborating on each; in addition, the skills listed here are not specific enough and don’t provide the full picture of this person’s abilities.

Below, you’ll see a good example of the same section for the same position. The candidate picked out key hard and soft skills, elaborating on each. This way, a recruiter will be able to see that the candidate is experienced and suitable for the position.

4. Work experience

List your positions in reverse chronological order and format them in this order:

• Job title, company name, and location
• Main responsibilities (in bullet points; list crucial achievements, both qualitative and quantitative). If you don’t have relevant work experience, include volunteer work here, as well as internships.

5. Education

List your highest degree first. Then, go back in reverse chronological order. If you have a BA or a BSc, don’t list high school. If you have an MA or an MSc, list both your master’s and bachelor’s.

Here is how to format this section. Include your:

• Degree, field of study, and major

Functional resume format: pros and cons

• Good for highly creative candidates and positions, as well as freelancers
• Good for highlighting transferable skills
• Difficult to quickly scan
• Disliked by recruiters

As the name suggests, the combination resume format is a combination of reverse chronological and functional resume formats.

In theory, it’s awesome and tempting, because it highlights your experience and skills and validates them immediately.

But in practice, it’s really hard to pull off because it’s suitable only for highly experienced candidates.

Still, if you have a lot of experience and you’re fairly sure the company you’re applying to is not using an old-school ATS (this resume format is somewhat ATS-friendly but older types of software might not parse it properly), it might be a decent choice.

Take a look at the combination resume example below.

Sections to include with a combination resume format

This resume format includes 2 different skill-related sections. Here’s what to include and in which order:

Your name, email address, phone number, location, LinkedIn URL, and optionally other information such as a blog, portfolio, relevant social media, and similar. (Don’t add your photo and date of birth!)

2. Skills summary

Again, this is the key section using the combination resume format. List the crucial skills that have shaped you into the professional that you are today and that will help you nail your new job on a day-to-day basis. Don’t forget to include quantitative/qualitative proof of the great work you did with those skills, don’t just theorize about them without evidence to support it.

3. Additional skill sets

Here, you’re adding complementary skills. These can be additional, but less relevant hard skills important for the position, or complementary soft skills that will seal the deal and make you the perfect candidate.

You don’t need to be as detailed here as in the Skills summary section.

Keep it short and sweet, list your positions in reverse chronological order and format it like this:

• Main responsibilities (in bullet points and make sure you list key achievements, both qualitative and quantitative). If you don’t have relevant work experience, don’t opt for this resume format.

Same as with any other resume format. The highest degree of education you’ve completed at the top, followed by previous ones. If you have a bachelor’s, skip high school.

When formatting this section, include:

• Your degree, field of study, and major

Combination resume format: pros and cons

• Focuses on both experience and skills
• Good for highly experienced candidates
• Not convenient for the majority of candidates
• Difficult to write

How to choose the best resume format for you

Wondering which resume format might be the best for you? It’s simple.

Use the reverse chronological resume format if you’re:

• An experienced candidate with linear career progression and without employment gaps
• Mid-level professional
• Entry-level job seeker (in this case, rearrange Work Experience and Education sections)

Use the functional resume format if you’re:

• A creative worker (copywriter, designer, musician) or in any role where a portfolio matters more than a resume
• An ex-military professional transitioning to a civilian job

However, use the functional resume format at your own risk.

Finally, use the combination resume format if you’re:

• A highly experienced professional or a specialized candidate
• A career changer (with many years of experience nonetheless)

And now… let’s break down the remaining ambiguities of the phrase “resume format!”

The Basics of Resume Formatting

The resume layout, that is, your resume’s formatting, affects its appearance the most. You need to format your resume so that it’s easily scannable, clean, organized, and clutter-free. Here’s how.

For an elegant look that’s neither too empty nor too cluttered, set the margins to one inch on all sides . In case you need some extra space, there’s an option to reduce them slightly, but don’t go below ½ of an inch, otherwise your resume will look stuffy.

Fonts and font sizes

You’ll want modern and easily readable fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, Times New Roman, Verdana, Calibri, or Roboto . Avoid Comic Sans, Courier New, and Lucinda Console.

Pair two different fonts (one for normal text, one for headers) to stand out: for example, one Serif font and one Sans Serif font to make your resume interesting and balanced.

Use bold and italics to highlight certain parts of your resume; you can bold the headings and italicize subheadings or previous job titles and dates in a company.

As for the font size, use 11–12pt for normal text and 14–16pt for headers and section titles.

Whatever option you choose, make sure to use it consistently throughout your resume.

Line spacing

Things are fairly simple here: use a single-spaced format up to 1.5-point spacing.

Header with contact information

This is the very first section at the top of your resume.

It contains your name, email address (make sure it’s a professional one, not the one you’ve been using since high school!), phone number, location, LinkedIn URL, and other relevant information such as a blog, portfolio, relevant social media, and similar.

What’s important to remember here is that, if you’re applying for a job at an American company, you should not add your date of birth and your photo to the header with contact information. There’s really no need for recruiters and hiring managers to know what you look like, as your experience and achievements will speak for themselves. The same goes for the UK and Ireland.

However, in South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, adding a photo is desirable. In Western Europe, resume photos are acceptable but gradually going out of fashion.

Visually highlighted headers

The headers are the main pointers towards key things in your resume. You need to use them carefully to direct recruiters to the stuff you want to highlight.

Make them stand out by using a different font (one font for all the headings, one font for normal text) and font size ( 14–16pt ).

Many resume builders will let you choose between several different looks which style headers in various ways, so you can pick the one you like best.

The proper order of sections

A rule of thumb is to use the reverse chronological order format, which calls for this order of sections:

• Contact information
• Resume summary or resume objective
• Work experience
• Additional sections (optional): certifications, volunteer work, publications, etc.

If you don’t have relevant work experience, or you’re still a student or a recent graduate, you can put education information before work experience:

If you opt for a functional resume format , this is your order of sections:

• Skills summary

Finally, if you chose a combination resume format , it goes like this:

• Additional skills set

Bullet points

Use bullet points to list work experience and education. Don’t go above 7 bullet points per entry. Remember to focus on key achievements rather than day-to-day duties when listing work experience in bullet points.

How to format dates

When listing work experience, you can list only years when you were employed at a certain company. Alternatively, you can use months and years, but there’s no need to add days too.

When listing education, you can list years attended or only graduation year. If you wish to, you can add a month.

You can also add dates when you obtained certain certificates, completed projects, gave a lecture, and similar.

When adding months, make sure to spell them out and not use numbers (03 for March, for example). Using a number is not incorrect per se, but it might make it more difficult for ATS and recruiters to extract information.

Proper File Formats to Use for Saving Resumes

Here’s the final disambiguation of the phrase “resume format.”

Which file format should you use when saving your resume?

In short, it’s recommended to use a PDF file. It’s a safe bet, as your resume will look the same across all devices. Alternatively, you can use .docx , or another file format, if a recruiter requests it.

When saving your file, avoid random names such as “Resume_01.pdf” or “Resume_download_Mike”. Instead, list your name like this: “Mike-Davidson-Resume” or “Mike-Davidson-Operations-Manager-Resume.”

For bonus points, add the name of the company you’re applying to: “Mike-Davidson-Resume-Acme” will surely make the hiring manager feel that tiny bit more special.

FAQ: Additional Tips for a Flawlessly Formatted Resume

How long should my resume be.

Ideally, it should be a single page, especially if you have fewer than 5 years of experience and if you’re a recent graduate (or still a student).

If you’re experienced (5+ years), you can make it two pages long, but only if you feel it’s the only way to include what really matters.

The key thing to remember is that you can be detailed around positions that are relevant to the one you’re applying for; all others should not take up too much space and you can list only key things.

What’s the best file format to send my resume in?

As already mentioned, PDF. In rare cases when a recruiter asks you otherwise, you can use a .docx or .txt format, depending on what they want.

What about those super creative resume formats that go viral from time to time?

Yeah, we all remember that guy who styled his resume as a Google’s results page (he was applying to Google, you guessed it).

If you’re a highly creative person, like a graphic designer or a creative director, or similar, you might be tempted to showcase your design skills in your resume.

Still, it would be better to keep it simple. This is because you have ATS rounds to go through before a human eye looks at your resume. And even if you pass the ATS test, if your resume is too colorful it might be distracting or draw attention away from useful information.

So the best approach would be to keep it fairly simple and straightforward, and then include a link to your portfolio and showcase your genius there. 😉

What’s the best resume format in 2023?

The reverse chronological resume format is the best resume format to use in 2023. It’s the most ATS-friendly one, recruiters are familiar with it, and it’s candidate-friendly, as it lets you easily highlight your best achievements.

As a student, which resume format should I use?

Your best bet is the reverse chronological resume format with a slight twist: you can rearrange the work experience and education sections, placing education at the top, therefore highlighting your strongest points.

Maja Stojanovic

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40+ Resume Tips to Help You Land a Job in 2024

When you haven’t updated your resume in a while, it can be hard to know where to start. What experiences and accomplishments are relevant for the jobs you’ve got your eye on? What new resume rules and trends should you be following? And seriously, one page or two ?

Well, search no more: We’ve compiled all the resume tips you need into one place. Read on for advice and tricks that’ll help you craft a winning resume—and land your next job.

Maximize your chances by looking for more open jobs on The Muse »

Basic resume tips

Let's start with the basic do's and don'ts when putting your resume together. Listing your skills is not the only thing that matters—choosing the right format and sections is equally crucial. Here are some tips for writing a resume from scratch:

1. Don’t try to cram every skill and work experience onto your resume

Think of your resume not as a comprehensive list of your career history, but as a marketing document selling you as the perfect person for the role you’re applying to. For each resume you send out, you’ll want to highlight only the accomplishments and skills that are most relevant to the job at hand (even if that means you don’t include all of your experience ).

This is called tailoring your resume and it helps anyone who reads it see exactly why you’re a match for a specific position.

2. But keep a resume outline with a full list of your qualifications

Since you’ll be swapping different information in and out depending on the job you’re applying to, save a resume outline —or maybe our resume worksheet —on your computer with old positions, bullet points tailored for different applications, and special projects that only sometimes make sense to include. Think of this as your brag file. Then, when you’re crafting each resume, it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting relevant information together.

3. Ditch the objective statement

The only time an objective section makes sense is when you’re making a huge career change and need to explain from the get-go why your experience doesn’t match up with the position you’re applying to. In every other case, resume objectives just make you look old-fashioned or out of touch.

Read More: 3 Reasons You Should Ditch That Resume Objective—and 3 Things You Can Do Instead

4. Put the best, most relevant information first

In journalism speak, “above the fold” refers to what you see on the front half of a folded newspaper (or, in the digital age, before you scroll down on a website)—basically it’s your first impression of a document. In resume speak, it means you should make sure your most relevant qualifications are visible on the top third of your resume.

This top section is what the hiring manager is going to see first—and what will serve as a hook for someone to keep on reading. If your most recent position isn’t the most relevant piece of your candidacy, consider leading with a skills section (such as in a combination resume format ) or writing a resume summary .

5. Choose the right resume format for you

There are lots of different ways to organize the information on your resume—like the functional resume or combination resume. But the good old reverse chronological —where your most recent experience is listed first—is usually your best bet. Unless it’s absolutely necessary in your situation, skip the functional or skills-based resume—hiring managers might wonder what you’re hiding.

6. Keep it concise

The two-page resume is a hotly debated topic, but the bottom line is this—you want the information here to be as short as possible, and keeping it to one page forces you to prioritize what really matters. If you truly have enough relevant and important experience, training, and credentials to showcase on more than one page of your resume, then go for two. But if you can tell the same story in less space? Do it.

Read More: 6 Pro Tips for Cutting Your Resume Down to One Page

7. Include relevant links

Can’t figure out how to tell your whole story on one page, or want to be able to include some visual examples of your work? Instead of trying to have your resume cover everything, cover the most important details on that document. Then, include a link to your personal website , your online portfolio , examples of your work, or a relevant, professional social media profile , where you can dive more into what makes you the ideal candidate.

Just avoid hyperlinking over words that are key to understanding your resume, since it can throw off the tools employers use to store and parse resumes.

8. Be aware of the ATS

You may have heard that employers are using computers to “read” your resume and decide who to hire and reject. That’s not exactly true. But most employers do use software called an applicant tracking system—or ATS—to parse resumes and organize them so that recruiters and hiring managers can search for the most relevant applications.

You should assume your resume will pass through an ATS at some point during your job search, so understanding how it works will help make your hunt more efficient. (All of the tips for resume writing in this list keep ATSs in mind as well!)

Read More: Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands

Resume formatting tips

Your resume's format matters as much as the content it holds. Aim for a simple and minimalist layout, without overwhelming columns, colors, or graphic elements. Here are some key resume formatting tips to help you stand out:

9. Keep your resume format simple

We’ll talk about getting creative in order to stand out in a minute. But the most basic principle of good resume formatting and design? Keep it simple. Make your resume easy on hiring managers’ eyes by using a reasonably sized default font like Helvetica or Arial and leaving a healthy amount of white space on the page. Your main focus here should be on readability for the hiring manager (and that pesky ATS).

Read more: The Best Resume Font and Size (No More Agonizing!)

10. Stand out with ATS-friendly design elements

Really want your resume to stand out from the sea of Times New Roman? Yes, creative resumes —like infographics, videos, or presentations can set you apart, but you have to make sure they actually get read. If you’re uploading your resume to a job application site or online portal, use ATS-friendly formatting elements like:

• Bold and italic text
• Underlining (in headings or over hyperlinks)
• Different text alignments
• Columns that can be read straight across

11. Avoid design elements that can’t be “read” by computers

On the flip side, it’s best to avoid design elements that ATSs are known to have trouble with such as:

• Logos and icons
• Images and photos
• Graphics, graphs, or other visuals
• Headers and footers
• Less common fonts
• Columns that can only be read from top to bottom

12. Make your contact info prominent

You don’t need to include your address on your resume anymore (really!), but you do need to make sure to include a phone number and professional-sounding email address (but not one affiliated with another job!) as well as other places the hiring manager can find you on the web, like your LinkedIn profile, plus your pronouns if you’d like to.

Read More: Here's Exactly What Should Be Included in Your Resume's Header

13. Design your resume for skimmability

You’ve probably heard before that hiring managers don’t spend a lot of time on each individual resume. So help them get as much information as possible in as little time as possible, by making your resume easy to skim .

Work experience resume tips

Recruiters nowadays want to know more than a simple description of your responsibilities. They're looking for the results and impacts of your work, as well as the connection between your experience and the position you're applying for now.

That said, let's take a look at some resume writing tips for describing your work experience:

14. Keep your work experience recent and relevant

As a rule, you should only show the most recent 10-15 years of your career and only include the experiences that are relevant to the positions you’re applying to. Remember to allocate real estate on your resume according to importance. If there’s a choice between including one more college internship or going into more detail about your current role, always choose the latter (unless the internship was more relevant to the role you’re applying for).

15. Don’t forget your transferable skills and experiences

Don’t panic if you don’t have any professional experience that fits the bill. Focus your resume on your relevant and transferable skills along with any related side or academic projects , and then make sure to pair it with a strong cover letter telling the narrative of why you’re ideal for the job.

Read more: What to Put on Your Resume When You Have No Relevant Work Experience

16. Write strong, achievement-focused bullet points

The bullet points under each job entry are arguably the most important part of your resume. They tell whoever’s reading it what skills you have, how you’ve used them, and how you’ve helped your employers in the past.

So start with a strong action verb , include relevant skills from the job description , and frame your bullets around your achievements—don’t just list your job duties . Tell them how your work benefitted your boss or company so they know what they stand to gain by hiring you.

Here’s a simple formula to follow:

• Compelling verb + job duty + key skills used = tangible result

So you might say: “ Developed an upgrade to the employee database, ensuring the smooth flow of critical operations, which led to a 35% increase in efficiency. ”

17. Curate your bullet points and experiences

No matter how long you’ve been in a job, or how much you’ve accomplished there, you shouldn’t have more than eight bullet points under it—and that’s only for your most recent and relevant job. Jobs further back should generally be limited to four to six bullets.

Read More: How Many Bullet Points Should Each Job on Your Resume Have?

18. Use as many numbers as you can

Use facts, figures, and numbers whenever possible in your bullet points. How many people were impacted by your work? By what percentage did you exceed your goals? Quantifying your accomplishments allows the hiring manager to picture the level of work or responsibility you needed to achieve them.

19. Don’t neglect non-traditional work

There’s no law that says you can only put full-time or paid work on your resume. So, if you’ve volunteered , worked part-time or as a temporary or contract worker , freelanced, or interned? Absolutely list these things as their own “jobs” within your career chronology—as long as they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. The same goes for career breaks . Yes, really.

Read More: 4 Things You Didn't Know You Could Put on Your Resume

20. Use important keywords from the job description

Scan the job description, see what words are used most often, and make sure you’ve included them in your bullet points. For example, does the job description list “CRM” or “Salesforce”? Make sure your resume matches. Not only is this a self-check that you’re targeting your resume to the job, but it’ll also make it easier to search for your resume in an ATS.

Read More: How to Pick Resume Keywords That'll Get Your Job Application Past the ATS

Resume tips for including your education

Most hiring managers will want to know your education level, even if it's not necessarily relevant to the position you're going for. This section is especially important for those changing careers or applying for entry-level jobs—as your education can be an indicator of the skills you have.

Here's some resume tips and tricks for this section:

21. Put experience first, education later

Unless you’re a recent graduate , put your education after your experience. Chances are, your last couple of jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job than where you went to college.

22. Also keep it in reverse chronological order

Generally, you should list your educational background with the most recent or advanced degree first, working in reverse chronological order. But if older coursework is more specific to the job, list that first to grab the reviewer’s attention.

23. Remove the dates from your education section once you’re a few years into your career

Unless you’re early in your career, don’t list your graduation dates. The reviewer cares more about whether or not you have the degree than when you earned it. And you don’t want to inadvertently open yourself up to age discrimination , which is an unfortunate reality in some job markets.

24. Highlight honors and achievements, not GPA

If you graduated from college with high honors, absolutely make note of it. Showcase that summa cum laude status, the fact that you were in the honors college at your university, a relevant project you completed, or an award you won. You don’t need to list your GPA —employers don’t care as much about GPA as they do what skills you gained in school.

Read More: How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume

25. Include continuing or online education

Feel free to include continuing education, professional development coursework, or online courses in your education section, especially if your resume feels a little light on relevant experience.

Best resume tips for showing off your skills

You shouldn't wait until you get an interview to showcase your skills—your resume can and should have a specific section for them. You can also leverage other sections of the document to incorporate what's relevant for the position.

Here are our tips for making a resume that effectively highlights your skills:

26. Don’t forget your skills section

Be sure to add a section that lists all the relevant skills you have for a position—especially those mentioned in the job description. Include technical skills like software and project management tools or specific knowledge of how to perform relevant tasks. Just make sure to skip including skills that everyone is expected to have, like using email or Microsoft Word. Doing so will make you seem less technologically savvy.

27. But don’t only put your skills in your skills section

Your skills section is an easy way for anyone reading your resume to confirm that you have required qualifications, but that shouldn’t be the only place that your important skills appear. Any skill that’s vital to you being hired should also be in your bullet points—where you can show how you’ve used it in the past.

28. Divvy up your skills for readability

If you have lots of skills that would help you with a job but aren’t necessarily in the same category—say, foreign language, software, and leadership skills—try breaking up your skills sections. Below your “Skills” section, add a subsection titled “Language Skills” or “Software Skills,” for example. Again, we’re going for skimmability here!

29. Show—don’t tell—your soft skills

Describing soft skills on a resume often starts to sound like a list of meaningless buzzwords. But being a “strong leader” or an “effective communicator” are important characteristics you want to get across. Think about how you can demonstrate these attributes in your bullet points without actually saying them.

Read more: The Non-Boring Way to Show Off Your Soft Skills in Your Job Search

Other resume section tips

Resume sections are not fixed like stone-written texts; they can change according to the job position you're applying for or the requirements listed by the company. Here are some examples of sections you can add—and more tips on writing a resume that stand out:

30. Include relevant certifications and licenses

If you have a certification or license that proves you can do some aspect of the job you’re applying for, include it on your resume. This is especially important if that certification or license is legally required to do the job—for example, in nursing, teaching, or driving jobs.

31. Show some (relevant) personality

Feel free to include an “Interests” section on your resume, but only add those that are relevant to the job. Are you a guitar player with your eye on a music company? Definitely include it. But if you’re considering including your scrapbooking hobby for a software developer job at a healthcare company? Best to leave it out.

32. Beware of interests and activities that could be controversial

Maybe you help raise money for your church on the reg. Or perhaps you’re dedicated to canvassing during political campaigns. Yes, these experiences show a good amount of work ethic or possibly other relevant skills—but they could also open you up to be discriminated against by someone who disagrees with the cause. So weigh your decision to include them carefully.

33. Add awards and achievements—when they’re relevant

Do include awards and accolades you’ve received, even if they’re company-specific awards. Just state what you earned them for, e.g., “Earned Golden Salesperson Award for having the company’s top sales record four quarters in a row.” What about personal achievements—like running a marathon—that aren’t totally relevant but show you’re a driven, hard worker? Consider the best way to include them (and if you should).

Resume tips for navigating employment gaps and other sticky situations

If you're an experienced professional, you might have some tricky information to explain. Job hopping, career gap, and short term jobs are examples of things that can make an applicant feel insecure when drafting resumes.

Is that your situation? Check on these good resume tips to explain sticky situations without jeopardizing your chances to get an interview:

34. Cut the short-term jobs

If you stayed at a (non-temporary) job for only a matter of months, consider eliminating it from your resume to avoid looking like a job hopper. Leaving a particularly short-lived job or two off your resume shouldn’t hurt, as long as you’re honest about your experience if asked in an interview. But if the short-term job is super relevant to this job, consider including it anyway.

35. If you have shorter gaps, be strategic about how you list dates

If you have gaps of a few months in your work history, don’t list the usual start and end dates with months and years for each position. Use years only (2018–2020), or just the number of years or months you worked at each position. Just keep it consistent throughout your resume and don’t lie if asked about gaps during an interview.

Read more: How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease

36. Explain serial job hopping

If you’ve job-hopped frequently, you can include a succinct reason for leaving next to each position like “company closed,” “layoff due to downsizing,” or “relocated to a new city.” By addressing the gaps, you’ll proactively illustrate the reason for your frequent job movement and make it less of an issue.

37. Explain a long break in jobs

Re-entering the workforce after a long hiatus? This is the perfect opportunity for a summary statement at the top, outlining your best skills and accomplishments. Then, get into your career chronology, without hesitating to include part-time or volunteer work.

38. Be intentional about career gaps

While career gaps are becoming increasingly common, you should still frame them in a way that’s relevant to a future employer, by talking about skills you gained or any professional endeavors you took on. If you didn’t focus on professional development, that’s fine too! But not every employer will appreciate it if you get too cutesy about that section of your resume.

For example, if you took time out of the workforce to raise kids, you might not want to creatively describe this parenting experience on your resume, à la “adeptly managed the growing pile of laundry.” Instead state what you did plainly and include any professional skills you may have grown or activities you may have done.

Read More: Stay-at-Home Parent? How to Kill it on Your Comeback Resume

Tips on resume finishing touches

Writing a good resume alone isn't the only thing that matters. How you save and send it can also determine whether the recruiter will even take a look at it. To wrap things up, here are our resume formatting tips and other suggestions to boost your chances of getting noticed:

39. Ditch “References available upon request”

If a hiring manager is interested in you, they’ll ask you for references—and will assume that you have them. There’s no need to address the obvious (and doing so might even make you look a little out of touch!).

40. Proofread, proofread, proofread

It should go without saying, but fully edit your resume and make sure it’s free and clear of typos. And don’t rely on spell check and grammar check alone—step away for a few hours, then read your resume closely again, and ask family or friends to take a look at it for you.

41. Save it as a PDF or Word document

Unless a job posting specifically requests that you do otherwise, your resume should always be submitted as either a PDF or Word document (.docx not .doc). These are the formats that can be most easily opened and most easily parsed by an ATS.

The choice between the two is up to you (again, unless the company you’re applying to requests one format over the other). If you’re emailing your resume, however, PDFs are a bit more likely to maintain your formatting across different computers and programs.

42. Name your file clearly

Ready to save your resume and send it off? Save it as “Jane Smith Resume” instead of “Resume.” The hiring manager is going to have plenty of “Resumes” on their computer, so make it super easy for them to find what they’re looking for. You can even go a bit further and put the position title in your file name (e.g., “Jane Smith Marketing Analyst Resume).

Read More: The (Simple) Guidelines You Should Follow When Naming Your Resume and Cover Letter Files

43. Keep your resume outline fresh

Carve out some time every quarter or so to pull up your resume outline and make some updates. Have you taken on new responsibilities? Learned new skills? Add them. When your resume is updated on a regular basis, you’re always ready to pounce when opportunity presents itself. And even if you’re not job searching, there are plenty of good reasons to keep this document in tip-top shape.

How to Make a Resume Stand Out in 2022

Posted on 04 feb 2022.

2022 is now well underway. Are you ready to bring your ‘A’ game to your job hunt? The first thing you must do is ensure that your resume is in order and on point. When you have a well-written and well-developed resume, a call for a job interview is practically a given. If you want to know how to make your resume stand out this 2022, here are seven essential tips for you to follow.

1. Keywords, keywords, keywords

Before your resume can reach the eyes of a recruiter or a hiring manager, it will need to pass a screening by an applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS is a tool used by many companies today to eliminate resumes that fail to meet specific criteria, and most often than not, these criteria relate to the use of keywords.

Want to know how to make your resume stand out to ATS this 2022? It’s vital for you to include the right keywords for your target role. Many of these keywords can be found in the job posting, so it is important to review the posting carefully. For example, if you’re looking for work as a car technician, some of the prominent keywords you should include in your resume are:

• Car inspection

• Automotive training

• Service tech

• Vehicle diagnosis

In addition to passing a heavily discriminating ATS , adding a healthy helping of keywords to your resume also boosts your chances of getting found by a potential employer. This is especially important if you plan to post your resume on job portals and other online job boards.

2. Develop a strong summary statement

Your summary statement serves as your introduction, and as they often say, first impressions last. That’s why it’s imperative that you have a strong summary statement to begin your resume.

Regarding how to make your resume stand out with an effective summary, begin with a brief description of yourself, then follow this up with a statement showcasing your key skills and experiences that most relate to the position. And don’t forget to mention at least one significant achievement at your previous job. Here’s an example of a smart summary for your inspiration this 2022.

Detail-oriented Sales Associate with 3 years of sales and marketing experience combined with a knack for solving complex problems. Highly organized and self-motivated, I managed to help drive my company’s profits by initiating a next-level strategy to pricing and inventory. I seek to apply my proven sales management skills to improve quality, cost and time metrics for your good company.

3. Use action verbs to start your bullet points

Using passive voice in your resume makes your sentences appear wordy and harder to understand. On the contrary, action verbs make them snappier, sharper, and more polished. Ultimately, action verbs—otherwise known as power words—make your resume sound confident and self-assured. Below are examples of sentences that begin with action verbs:

• Evaluated mortgage applications for residential homes

• Facilitated training sessions for technical teams

• Developed computer software for warehouse operations

As to how to make a resume stand out, action words make your descriptions come alive, as opposed to being bland and boring to read. They help your resume deliver the biggest impact, and in the process, persuade the reader that you are an ideal candidate for the job.

4. Use measurable metrics

Express your accomplishments in quantifiable terms to show recruiters that you performed well at your previous position. Here are some examples of resume bullet points with measurable metrics.

• Achieved 50% year-over-year profit improvement with implementation of personally developed marketing strategies

• Furthered initiative that resulted in 39% increase in productivity and 56% reduction in downtime

• Managed a 10-person sales team that brought a 67% increase in profits to the company

Numbers give your resume credibility, and make you a more valuable candidate in the eyes of recruiters. So how to make a resume stand out? Introduce your achievements with percentages, ratios and dollars to give them more informative detail and weight.

5. Tailor your resume to the job

Not all of your skills, experiences, and trainings will be relevant to the position, and with limited space, you can’t afford to include them all, because you could end up losing the recruiter’s interest. To list stand out skills for resume, you need to identify your most applicable qualifications, as these are the only ones that a recruiter will care about.

To ensure you are listing your relevant duties and responsibilities, it helps to put yourself in the employer’s shoes, and given what you know about the company and the position, think about what they may be looking for in a candidate. Come up with a list of your skills and strengths, then use that insight to show how you are the most qualified applicant for the job.

6. Target a formal yet attractive look

Your resume should appear professional. This means that the font, color, and formatting must be uniform. If your resume reads like the comics filled with various colors and font sizes, it will have a slim chance of being considered seriously by a recruiter. However, a professional look doesn’t mean it should be boring. It needs to be clean and tidy, strike the right balance between white and text space, and appear cohesive and coherent all throughout.

7. Work with a trusted resume writing service

Even the best writers in the world still entrust the evaluation of their work to someone else. By having someone else assess your resume, you will have a pair of objective eyes who can see your resume’s strengths and weaknesses. When making resume stand out, you can have a friend or family member with a writing background assess your resume for you, or you can have a professional resume writing service like Resumeble provide you with a free, no-obligation resume evaluation.

How to make your resume stand out this 2022? Choose Resumeble

Make your resume stand out this 2022 by having one of our expert resume writers craft your resume for you. Discover why we are the first choice for so many job seekers out there. Choose one of resume writing packages today and let’s get started on your new career trajectory this 2022!

• 7 seconds: this is how long your resume has either to impress or be ignored by the recruiter
• 300+: average number of applications one corporate job opening posted online receives
• 3%: number of sent resumes that result in interviews

Transform your career and beat the odds!

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7 Executive Secretary Resume Examples for 2024

An executive secretary resume should show strong organization, multitasking, and communication skills. This article will provide proven resume examples specifically for this role. You’ll learn how to highlight your experience with scheduling, office management, and executive support. Additionally, we'll share strategic tips to make your resume clear and professional. Use these insights to help your resume stand out in a competitive job market.

• 07 Sep 2024 - 5 new sections, including 'Where to place education', added
• 07 Sep 2024 - 5 new resume templates, including Senior Executive Secretary, added
• 05 Sep 2024 - Article published

  Next update scheduled for 15 Sep 2024

Here's what we see in excellent executive secretary resumes:

Show Impact By Using Numbers : The best resumes show clear impact through numbers. Mention time savings of 20% , reducing customer support issues by 15% , managed administrative budget of $50K , and handled 250+ scheduling tasks . This shows you can make a real difference in the role.

Include Relevant Skills From The Job Description : Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are Microsoft Office Suite , calendar management , data entry , document preparation , travel coordination . But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

Highlight Relevant Administrative Experience : Focus on your experience with administrative tasks. Use specific phrases like managed executive calendars , coordinated travel plans , or prepared financial reports to show you are skilled in these areas.

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Executive Secretary Resume Sample

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Want to know how your executive secretary resume measures up? Our resume scoring tool gives you a clear picture of where you stand. It evaluates your resume based on key criteria that recruiters in administrative roles look for.

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Where to place education

When you update your resume as an executive secretary, put your education after your experience. This shows that you have been working and have practical skills. If you are new to the workforce or have a recent degree that is key for the role, then list your education first. This helps hiring managers understand your current knowledge base.

For most executive secretaries, your experience is what matters most. Highlight any training or certifications related to office management or technologies used in the role. This can include courses in business communication or specialized software training. These are good to place prominently if they are the latest addition to your skill set.

Showcase your tech skills

Mention your knowledge of office software like MS Office Suite and scheduling tools. These are crucial in administrative roles.

Also, include any experience with project management software. Many executive secretaries need to organize and track multiple tasks and deadlines.

Executive Assistant Resume Sample

Ideal resume length.

For an executive secretary position, keep your resume concise and to the point. A one-page resume is optimal if you have less than 10 years of experience. Your ability to present information compactly showcases your organizational skills, which are vital in this role. Always make sure that the key elements of your experience and skills are easy to find and read.

If you have more than 10 years of experience or if you are at a senior level, a two-page resume is acceptable. However, remember that most hiring managers will focus on the first page. Make sure that your most relevant skills, such as scheduling abilities or document management, are highlighted at the beginning. Use a clean layout and readable font to ensure that all information is accessible. Avoid filling space with less important details, such as outdated education or unrelated experiences.

Administrative Manager Resume Sample

Highlight communication skills.

Employers look for strong written and verbal communication skills. Mention specific examples like drafting emails or conducting meetings.

You should also showcase your ability to handle confidential information. Highlight how you’ve managed sensitive documents or communications in previous roles.

Junior Executive Secretary Resume Sample

Senior executive secretary resume sample.

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Best Practices for Efficient Resume Screening

Table of Contents

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The average resume contains 800-1,200 words . If your team has a queue of 250 or more resumes, reading and reviewing so many words on resumes becomes time-consuming and tedious for your team. “Resume fatigue” is a real thing. At the same time, unconscious bias and evaluation errors cloud the hiring process and negatively impact your selection decisions, which can have legal and ethical ramifications for your company. 

But fear not! Digitized resume screening allows HR pros and hiring managers to quickly review top talent without reading hundreds of documents with hundreds of words. You can smooth your resume screening process, reduce time-to-hire, and improve the quality of your hires, all with automation. 

Below, learn the challenges of manually reviewing resumes, how technology can help, the best resume screening tools, and more. 

Why is resume screening so important?

In simplest terms, resume screening is quickly reviewing resumes to determine whether someone is qualified for one of your job roles. It involves scanning specific keywords, abilities, skills, and qualities, almost always with specialized software, so you don’t have to read hundreds or thousands of docs.

As you already know, talent acquisition (TA) teams spend way too many hours on administrative tasks, such as reviewing heaps of resumes. According to our 2024 Hiring Insights Report , 37% of recruiters across multiple industries want to improve their overall efficiency. On top of that, 20% of TA leaders say their teams struggle with unmanageable workloads, while 45% anticipate more challenges this year because of recruitment team turnover.

Digitizing resume screening won’t free up all the time your HR pros spend on interview management. However, it will dramatically reduce the hours they dedicate to resume reviewing and its many tasks, including identifying keywords, assessing skills, and shortlisting candidates. 

Think about the last time you advertised a job and the number of resumes you received. Now imagine you didn’t have to painstakingly review every one of these documents and almost instantaneously found the best talent to interview for that role. Wouldn’t life for your team have been so much easier? The best thing about screening resumes is it optimizes your time and resources, meaning HR experts can spend their time on far more valuable tasks.

Resume screening has other benefits. By automating the earliest stage of recruitment, you can ensure candidate quality and that the most qualified and talented applicants move on to the interview stage. You’ll also reduce some bad things that naturally happen when reviewing resumes, such as unconscious bias. We’ll explain why this is so important in the next section.

Challenges of reviewing resumes

Looking through resumes and selecting candidates for an interview used to be a simple process. Not anymore. HR teams need to deal with high volumes of applications while trying to identify niche skills. And they need to do all this while eliminating bias and adhering to ever-complicated hiring laws.

High volume of applications and longer-than-ever resumes

Gone are the days when employers received a handful of short, simple resumes and had the time and resources to review them. Over the last five years, the average resume has doubled in length from one page to two. Plus, with the increase in the American population, more candidates are in the job market in many industries than ever before . That means your HR team could receive hundreds or even thousands of resumes, many containing more information than necessary.

The sheer number of resumes you might receive can be daunting, especially if you have a small HR team. With limited resources, it’s easy to overlook candidates that would be perfect for a job, while time constraints may lead to inconsistent selection processes and costly hiring mistakes.

Say you get 500 resumes for a job position, but you only have a few people on your team to review them. A short hiring time means you may move faster than you should through the stack of resumes. Making a decision too quickly could mean you forward the wrong people to the interview stage.

Interview management tools, such as GoodTime Hire, trusted by big-name companies like HubSpot and Spotify, can help with high-volume hiring. By automating low-level tasks such as interview scheduling , you can focus on human decision-making and finding top talent that adds value to your company. Your HR team will thank you for making their lives so much easier!

Identifying key skills

It’s harder than ever to know whether candidates have the skills required for a job role.

Say you’re looking for someone with extensive customer service experience. Applicants might use different terminology for “customer service” that essentially mean the same thing, such as “customer support,” “customer success,” and “customer care.”

When time is of the essence, your brain might overlook these terms, meaning you’re passing on qualified candidates without realizing it. It can also be difficult to accurately pinpoint critical skills when resumes are so long.

Candidates might also use vague descriptions when writing about their skills and experience. For example, “strong communication skills” could mean anything , from simply talking on the phone to giving international TED talks. That makes it tricky to identify someone’s true abilities for a job role, and, again, you might pass on qualified candidates.

Resume-screening tools come to the rescue here, too. They automatically scan resumes for keywords—and all their variations—so you don’t have to, helping you find the most competent candidates for your company.

Unconscious bias

Now, here’s where things get serious. All HR professionals and hiring managers, even you, have deep-rooted unconscious biases. It’s just human nature. While you can’t help it, biases can seriously impact job candidates and overall recruitment processes and outcomes, especially when they lead to accidental discrimination.

“Unconscious bias in recruitment is not a new phenomenon,” says HR leader Mo Al-Tamimi . “It has been an undercurrent in the hiring landscape since the inception of organized employment. These biases, hidden beneath the surface of conscious thought, are shaped by our background, cultural environment, and personal experiences.”

There are various theories as to why humans have biases. Perhaps we organize “social worlds” by placing people into different categories. Our brains may also automatically make quick judgments because of our experiences and societal stereotypes. Whatever the reason, we should become aware of our biases so we don’t discriminate against people during the hiring process.

Resume-screening tools can help here, too. Of course, software might still discriminate because, ultimately, humanscreated it. However, well-designed computer algorithms frequently determine outcomes that are equally or more equitable than human decision-making processes . Ultimately, that may reduce biases.

You can reduce biases further post-screening by implementing advanced interview training . When HR teams receive proper training, they can interview candidates more fairly and make more equitable hiring decisions.

Complicated hiring laws

HR teams struggle to find eligible candidates when reviewing resumes and must comply with an ever-growing body of laws, rules, and regulations that often overlap each other. These include the:

• Americans With Disabilities Act
• Civil Rights Act (and subsequent laws)
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• State and local employment laws
• Industry-specific guidelines and regulations
• Internal fair employment practices

That’s a lot of stuff to comply with!

If you’re trying to fill a job position and receive resumes from a few hundred people, you’ll need to ensure you don’t discriminate against these candidates based on:

• Race, religion, gender, or other factors (as per the Civil Rights Act and other federal and state legislation)
• Age (Age Discrimination in Employment Act)
• Disability status (Americans With Disabilities Act)

So, how can you do this? Well, the best resume screening platforms remove all kinds of human biases and help you evaluate applicants based on objective criteria. As a result, you’ll improve compliance with equal employment opportunity (EEO) legislation, industry regulations, and other rules. You can also avoid an anti-discrimination lawsuit, such as reputational damage and expensive penalties.

Best practices for resume screening

Right now, you have two options for reviewing resumes:

• Continue manually screening them, which can be challenging with high volumes.
• Invest in an automated tool that screens resumes for your team, helping you identify critical skills, remove biases, and comply with EEO laws and regulations.

Opting for the latter improves collaboration between team members by providing a centralized platform where users can access and review resumes in one place. However, it won’t magically solve all the challenges they face when reviewing these documents, and you’ll still need to fine-tune your recruitment workflows to guarantee a fair screening process.

AI for more human hiring

Interview scheduling is just the start. Use human-centric AI to elevate your hiring experience while automating 90% of interview scheduling tasks — for any role, in any place, at any scale.

Standardize screening

Structured resume screening is an assessment method that lets you measure job candidates’ competencies according to a standardized set of criteria. For example, you can evaluate all applicants based on their academic qualifications and work experience rather than their appearance, age, industry connections, or non-job-related activities. The best screening tools let you customize assessment criteria, allowing for fairer hiring outcomes.

Implement “blind” screening

Removing all personally identifiable information (PII) from resumes before you manually or digitally screen them further removes biases, ensuring a more equitable and impartial hiring process. For example, you can eliminate personal identifiers such as names, addresses, and photos so all candidates enter your screening process on an equal footing.

Use AI-based screening tools

Advanced screening tools use the latest AI algorithms and logic to automate resume reviewing and reduce human biases, ensuring fairness recruitment workflows that you can be proud of!

Although not a resume-screening tool, AI-powered GoodTime Hire lets you pre-screen candidates in later recruitment stages. You can set questions on experience, education, and abilities before the system determines whether someone is a good fit for a role. The platform also streamlines interview scheduling. 

“AI-based resume tools offer a compelling alternative, potentially revolutionizing the way HR representatives view applications,” says Aspen HR , which offers white glove HR, payroll, and benefits for the world’s leading alternative investment funds. “They offer a faster, more accurate, and significantly more efficient way to identify top talent and ensure your company doesn’t miss out on the perfect fit for your team.”

Best resume-screening tools

With so many resume screening platforms on the market, where do you start? Here are some of the most popular that you need to know about.

Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit is a tool that automatically scans multiple resumes and transfers candidate information to your database, helping you find the best applicants quickly. You can also standardize resume details so data displays correctly in your ATS. 

Other features include saving resumes received through job board websites and tracking candidates at different stages of the hiring process. 

SmartAssistant

This AI-powered software reviews new and existing resumes at “lightning speed,” according to its creators. It then finds and scores talent based on custom criteria so you can forward the most successful candidates to the interview stage.

One of the best things about SmartAssistant is that it scrubs PII from resumes before assessing them. It also doesn’t factor your previous hiring decisions into its algorithm, further reducing human bias.

Freshteam manages various aspects of recruitment, including resume screening. It also integrates with skills testing applications, streamlines candidate reporting, and lets you create job ads directly from a simple dashboard.

Many popular ATSs now have resume-screening features. Workable , for example, enables anonymized screening to reduce bias when reviewing candidates’ documents.

How to choose the right tool

We’ve barely scratched the surface of the options available to you for automation and resume screening. So, how do you choose just the right software or tool for your business?

• Start by evaluating your specific requirements and why you want to digitize resume screening in the first place. 
• Consider investing in one of these technologies to improve candidate quality or free up time for your HR team. 
• Compare and contrast features that optimize resume reviewing, such as AI-powered candidate matching, customizable filters, data security, and integration with your applicant tracking system (ATS). 
• Read online reviews and customer testimonials to help you choose the best software.

Measure resume screening effectiveness

You’ve signed up for a resume screening tool and want to know whether it was worth the investment. Measuring different key performance indicators (KPIs) helps you do that. Here are some of the best ones to track:

• Cost per hire: Tells you how much money you spend hiring a new employee by considering all your recruitment costs, including marketing.
• Quality of hire: Reveals the overall value new hires bring to your company after onboarding by analyzing job performance, cultural fit, and other factors.
• Time to hire: Also known as time to fill, this KPI measures the time between when someone enters your recruitment funnel, typically just after they submit their resume, and when they accept a job offer.
• Offer acceptance rate: Measures the percentage of applicants who accept a job offer from your company.

Rather than calculating metrics like these manually, you can use an interview management tool to do it for you. GoodTime unlocks your hiring data by presenting it on dashboards, letting you access more insightful recruiting analytics .

Make resume screening less of a chore

Manually reading and reviewing resumes is hard work. Invest in a tool that:

• Handles high volumes of applications
• Identifies key skills
• Reduces unconscious bias
• Complies with EEO legislation, industry guidelines, and internal practices
• Lets you communicate with candidates via text recruiting software other technologies

[Graphic suggestion using the 4 bullet points above: “What to Look For in a Resume Screening Tool”]

Digitizing resume screening, which is far easier than you think, leads to more successful recruitment outcomes. It’s as simple as that.

However, you’ll still need to adopt best practices , such as standardizing your screening processes, to ensure fair hiring practices. We also recommend adopting AI recruitment tools , or preferably human-centric AI ones, when reviewing resumes so you can continue to automate and reduce biases.

Human-centric AI strives to augment human capabilities rather than replace them, which we passionately believe in. We know some HR professionals are worrying about the future of their jobs right now as AI takes over more industries. But no technology can substitute your talented team!

Ready to learn more about weaving human-centric AI into your workflows? See how GoodTime’s must-have-now software improves interview scheduling, reduces time to hire, enhances candidate quality, and frees up time for HR professionals in multiple industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services.

Additional resources to continue learning:

• Human-centric AI is the future of hiring
• The 7 Talent Acquisition Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2024
• Mastering Full Cycle Recruiting: A Comprehensive Guide

About the Author

Kirk is a freelance content writer with over 10 years of experience. He has worked for clients such as Travelocity, StubHub, and Ziff Davis. His talents include SEO-optimized blog posts and website pages, press releases, email newsletters, product descriptions, social media posts, and long-form content.

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IR-2022-203, November 22, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to take simple steps before the end of the year to make filing their 2022 federal tax return easier. With a little advance preparation, a preview of tax changes and convenient online tools, taxpayers can approach the upcoming tax season with confidence.

Filers can visit the Get Ready webpage to find guidance on what’s new and what to consider when filing a 2022 tax return. They can also find helpful information on organizing tax records and a list of online tools and resources.

Get Ready by gathering tax records

When filers have all their tax documentation gathered and organized, they’re in the best position to file an accurate return and avoid processing or refund delays or receiving IRS letters. Now’s a good time for taxpayers to consider financial transactions that occurred in 2022, if they’re taxable and how they should be reported.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to develop an electronic or paper recordkeeping system to store tax-related information in one place for easy access. Taxpayers should keep copies of filed tax returns and their supporting documents for at least three years.

Before January, taxpayers should confirm that their employer, bank and other payers have their current mailing address and email address to ensure they receive their year-end financial statements. Typically, year-end forms start arriving by mail or are available online in mid-to-late January. Taxpayers should carefully review each income statement for accuracy and contact the issuer to correct information that needs to be updated.

Get Ready for what’s new for Tax Year 2022

With the end of the year approaching, time is running out to take advantage of the Tax Withholding Estimator . This online tool is designed to help taxpayers determine the right amount of tax to have withheld from their paycheck. Some people may have life changes like getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or taking on a second job. Other taxpayers may need to consider estimated tax payments due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, annuity income or even digital assets. The last quarterly payment for 2022 is due on January 17, 2023. The Tax Withholding Estimator can help wage earners determine if there is a need to adjust their withholding, consider additional tax payments, or submit a new W-4 form to their employer to avoid an unexpected tax bill when they file.

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The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 federal tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer. For example, the IRS and its partners in the tax industry, continue to strengthen security reviews to protect against identity theft. Additionally, refunds for people claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) can’t be issued before mid-February. The law requires the IRS to hold the entire refund – not just the portion associated with EITC or ACTC. This law helps ensure taxpayers receive the refund they're due by giving the IRS time to detect and prevent fraud.

For taxpayers who are still waiting for confirmation that last year’s tax return processed, or for a tax year 2021 refund or stimulus payment to process, their patience is appreciated. As of November 11, 2022, the IRS had 3.7 million unprocessed individual returns received this year. These include tax year 2021 returns and late filed prior year returns. Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special handling, and 2 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and processed. They also had 900,000 unprocessed Forms 1040-X for amended tax returns. The IRS is processing these amended returns in the order received and the current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks. Taxpayers should continue to check  Where's My Amended Return?  for the most up-to-date processing status available.

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Taxpayers should ensure their Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)  hasn’t expired before filing a 2022 tax return. Those who need to file a tax return, should submit a Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number  now, to renew their ITIN. Taxpayers who fail to renew an ITIN before filing a tax return next year could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible for certain tax credits. Applying now will help avoid the rush as well as refund and processing delays in 2023.

Bookmark the following tools on IRS.gov

Online tools are easy to use and available to taxpayers 24 hours a day. They provide key information about tax accounts and a convenient way to pay taxes. IRS.gov provides information in many languages and enhanced services for people with disabilities, including the Accessibility Helpline. Taxpayers who need accessibility assistance may call 833-690-0598. Taxpayers should use IRS.gov as their first and primary resource for accurate tax information.

Let Us Help You page . The Let Us Help You page on IRS.gov has links to information and resources on a wide range of topics.

Online Account . An IRS online account lets taxpayers securely access their personal tax information, including tax return transcripts, payment history, certain notices, prior year adjusted gross income and power of attorney information. Filers can log in to verify if their name and address is correct. They should notify IRS if their address has changed . They must notify the Social Security Administration of a legal name change to avoid a delay in processing their tax return.

IRS Free File . Almost everyone can file electronically for free on IRS.gov/freefile or with the IRS2Go app . The IRS Free File program, available only through IRS.gov, offers brand-name tax preparation software packages at no cost. The software does all the work of finding deductions, credits and exemptions for filers. It‘s free for those who qualify. Some Free File packages offer free state tax return preparation. Those who are comfortable preparing their own taxes can use Free File Fillable Forms , regardless of their income, to file their tax return either online or by mail.

Find a tax professional . The Choosing a Tax Professional page on IRS.gov has a wealth of information to help filers choose a tax professional. In addition, the Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can help taxpayers find preparers in their area who hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS, or who hold an Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion.

Interactive Tax Assistant . The Interactive Tax Assistant is a tool that provides answers to many tax questions. It can determine if a type of income is taxable and eligibility to claim certain credits or deductions. It also provides answers for general questions, such as determining filing requirement, filing status or eligibility to claim a dependent.

Where's My Refund ? Taxpayers can use the Where’s My Refund? tool to check the status of their refund. Current year refund information is typically available online within 24 hours after the IRS receives an e-filed tax return. A paper return status can take up to four weeks to appear after it is mailed. The Where’s My Refund? tool updates once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so filers only need to check once a day.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance . The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

Get refunds fast with Direct Deposit

Taxpayers should prepare to file electronically and choose Direct Deposit for their tax refund – it’s the fastest and safest way to file and get a refund. Even when filing a paper return, choosing a direct deposit refund can save time. For those who do not have a bank account, the FDIC website offers information to help people open an account online.

Taxpayers can download Publication 5349, Tax Preparation is for Everyone PDF , for more information to help them get ready to file.

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