How to Write a Resume in 2025

Updated January 2025 · 8 min read

A resume is your first impression with a hiring manager. In 2025, it also needs to pass an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a human ever sees it. This guide walks you through every section, in order, so you can write a resume that gets interviews.

1. Choose the right format

Most professionals should use a reverse-chronological format — your most recent job first. It is the most familiar format for recruiters and the easiest for ATS to parse.

• Reverse-chronological — best for most people with work experience
• Functional — skills-first, used for career changers (ATS often struggles with this)
• Combination — hybrid of both, good for senior professionals

2. Write a strong summary

A 2–3 sentence professional summary at the top tells recruiters who you are and what you bring. Include your job title, years of experience, and one key achievement. Avoid generic phrases like "hard-working team player."

3. List your work experience

For each role, include:

• Job title, company name, location, and dates (month + year)
• 3–5 bullet points per role using action verbs
• Quantified achievements where possible — "increased sales by 30%" beats "responsible for sales"

4. Education section

List your highest degree first. Include institution name, degree, field of study, and graduation year. If you graduated within the last 3 years, you can include your GPA if it is above 3.5.

5. Skills section

List hard skills relevant to the job — programming languages, tools, certifications. Mirror the exact keywords from the job description to pass ATS filters. Avoid listing soft skills like "communication" — demonstrate them through your bullet points instead.

6. Keep it to one page

For most professionals with under 10 years of experience, one page is the standard. Senior professionals with 15+ years may use two pages. Never pad your resume to fill space.

7. Proofread carefully

A single typo can cost you an interview. Read your resume backwards (last word to first) to catch spelling errors. Ask a friend to review it. Use consistent formatting — same font, same bullet style, same date format throughout.