5 Tips to Write a Top Notch Resume

Your resume is one of the most important tools in your job search. It provides a snapshot of your skills, experience, and qualifications, helping recruiters and hiring managers determine if you are the right fit for a job. Since many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes, it is crucial to optimize your resume for both human readers and software.

Follow these five expert-backed strategies to create a resume that stands out in 2025.

1. Keep It Simple and Professional

Why It Matters

A clean, well-structured resume improves readability and ensures that recruiters can quickly scan your details. A cluttered design with excessive colors, fonts, or graphics can be distracting and may not be ATS-friendly.

Best Practices

• Use a professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (size 10–12).
• Keep margins between 0.5 to 1 inch for a balanced layout.
• Stick to black and white unless applying for creative roles (e.g., graphic design, UI/UX).
• Avoid fancy borders, tables, and images.

2. Optimize with Keywords for ATS

Why It Matters

Many large companies scan resumes using ATS software to shortlist candidates based on job-specific keywords. If your resume lacks the right keywords, it may never reach a human recruiter.

Best Practices

• Extract keywords from the job description and incorporate them naturally in your resume.
• Focus on industry-relevant skills, certifications, and job titles.
• Use variations of keywords (e.g., “Project Management” vs. “Project Manager”).
• Include both hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills (communication, teamwork, etc.).

3. Use Powerful Action Verbs

Why It Matters

Strong action verbs make your resume more dynamic and impactful. Instead of saying “Responsible for managing a team,” use “Led a team of 10 professionals to achieve a 20% increase in productivity.”

Best Practices

Replace generic phrases with compelling action words:

• Managed projects → Spearheaded projects
• Worked on reports → Analyzed and optimized reports
• Helped improve sales → Boosted sales by 30% through targeted strategies

4. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

Why It Matters

A one-size-fits-all resume does not impress employers. Recruiters look for candidates who align closely with their specific job requirements.

Best Practices

• Modify your summary, skills, and experience for each application.
• Highlight the most relevant achievements based on the job description.
• Prioritize recent and impactful work experience.
• If you have multiple skill sets, create different versions of your resume for different job types.

5. Get Feedback from a Career Mentor or Expert

Why It Matters

A third-party review can help identify gaps, errors, or areas for improvement that you may overlook. A mentor or industry expert can provide insights on what recruiters are looking for.

Best Practices

• Ask a senior professional or mentor to review your resume.
• Use free online resume checkers (such as Zety, Resume.io, or Jobscan) to evaluate formatting and ATS-friendliness.
• If possible, consult a recruiter or hiring manager in your field.

Final Takeaway

A well-crafted resume increases your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and ATS systems. Follow these strategies to ensure your resume is clear, optimized, and impactful.

• Keep it simple and professional
• Use ATS-friendly keywords
• Include strong action verbs
• Tailor your resume for each job
• Get feedback from experts

Want more resume-writing tips or a professional resume template? Let us know!