An eye-tracking study by TheLadders found that recruiters spend about six seconds on the first scan of a resume. That means the top of the page does most of the work. Put your name, current title, and strongest facts where they cannot be missed.
Open with a short summary. Three lines are enough. Say what you do, how long you have done it, and one result you delivered. Follow with work experience in reverse order, with dates for each role.
Use numbers where you can. Hires, sales, deadlines met, and projects completed all read better with figures attached. Use the words employers search for. Many companies filter applications with software that looks for keywords from the job post.
Keep the design simple. One page is enough early in your career. Two pages is fine once you have real experience. Fancy templates and graphics distract from the content.
Proofread twice. Read it aloud once and read it backward once to catch errors. A typo suggests carelessness, and carelessness loses interviews.
For more detail, see how to format a resume and resume and cover letter tips. If you are finishing a degree, read the guide to the master’s degree candidate resume, and check whether to keep or remove a master’s degree from a resume.
