Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on
Learn how to identify important resume keywords, format your resume, and write each section in this comprehensive guide.
Your resume is a document that encompasses your entire professional journey, showing where you currently are in your career, how you got there, and where you hope to go next. Since it’s meant to be a concise brief—often condensed to just one page—that can feel like a lot of storytelling for a small space.
To make a resume that fully demonstrates your experiences and goals, it’s important to be strategic with the language, format, and sections you include. In general, there are three broad steps to making your resume:
Identifying keywords and important skills
Choosing a format
Writing each section
In this resume guide, we’ll offer tips and resources to ease you through the process.
Free resume templates
If you’re starting with a blank page, use these free customizable templates for a chronological resume or functional resume to make your resume in a Google Doc. Simply log into your Google account and select the ‘Make a copy’ prompt.
How to write a resume
The key to making an effective resume is keeping your audience in mind. First, consider who the people (and technologies) are that will be reading your resume.
When you’re applying for jobs online, often your first audience member will be an applicant tracking system (ATS), which is a screening program that uses an algorithm to “read” incoming resumes and sort qualified candidates. After the ATS deems you qualified for a role, a human recruiter—your second audience member—will review your application materials and decide whether to invite you to interview.
Now that we’ve established your likely audience, let’s take a closer look at how to determine the information the ATS and human recruiters may be looking for and how they will best receive that information.
1. Identify keywords and important skills.
You can find a lot of information about a role directly from the job description. Within the listed responsibilities and qualifications, you can get a strong sense of the language and experience that a successful candidate will have on their resume.
As you read a job description, highlight the action words, keywords, and specific workplace and technical skills mentioned. It’s likely that the ATS is programmed to look for the same or similar language as that which appears in the job description, so this analysis can help shape the way you approach writing your resume.
Here are some resources that may help as you research your desired job:
Choosing action words and keywords
84 Powerful Action Words to Enhance Your Resume
Resume Keywords: How to Find the Right Words to Beat the ATS
Identifying key job skills
What Are Job Skills and Why Do They Matter?
What Skills Should I Include on my Resume?
Transferable Skills: How to Use Them to Land Your Next Job
What Are Technical Skills?
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference?
7 High-Income Skills Worth Learning
Industry-specific job skills
13 Key Marketing Skills to Boost Your Resume
15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts
7 In-Demand Data Analyst Skills to Get Hired
7 In-Demand IT Skills to Boost Your Resume
9 Essential Skills for UX Designers
11 Key Project Management Skills
2. Select a resume format.
When it comes to formatting, there are three common types of resumes—chronological, functional, and combination—along with several more specialized options. With your audience in mind, choose the format that best demonstrates how your experience aligns with your desired role’s job description.
If you’re applying for jobs online, ATS software is generally programmed to interpret chronological resumes. The software may still identify important keywords in alternative formats, but potentially less accurately.
If you’re unsure of the resume format you should choose, a chronological resume with standard 1-inch margins, black text, and a common font like Times New Roman or Arial is typically a safe choice.
For more on resume formats, check out these additional articles:
Types of resumes
Types of Resumes: Choosing the Right Format for Your Needs
Chronological Resume Guide: Template and Tips
Functional Resume Guide: Template and Tips
What Is a CV?
CV vs. Resume: What’s the Difference?
3. Write your resume sections.
Guided by your keyword list and format, you’re ready to start filling out your resume sections. You’ll typically want to include sections for your header, work experience, education, and skills, but there are optional sections you can add to amplify the story you want to tell.
Take a look through the below resources for more specific information about shaping each section:
Resume sections
How to Use Resume Sections to Shape Your Professional Story
How to Write a Resume Objective [+ Templates]
How to Write a Resume Summary [+ Examples]
How to Show Promotions on Your Resume: Guide + Examples
How to List Education on a Resume
When Should You Include Your GPA on Your Resume?
How to List Certifications on Your Resume: Guide + Examples
How to Feature and Format Key Skills on Your Resume
Resume checklist
At this point, you are almost ready to submit your resume. Before you do, let’s do one final check. Ask yourself:
Did I write my resume with my audience in mind?
Did I strategically select action words and keywords?
Have I clearly demonstrated my relevant skills and experience?
Are my margins set to 1-inch on all sides?
Is my font easy to read?
Did I include all of the key resume sections?
Did I edit for proper spelling and grammar?
If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, save your resume as a PDF file with a title that includes your name and “resume.” Check that the file saved correctly, then prepare to submit your resume!
For any lingering questions, check out these additional tips and specific resume guides:
Additional tips and resources
How to Get Your First Job: A Guide
Job Search Guide: Resources for Your Next Career Move
16 Resume Tips to Help You Apply with Confidence
10 Ways to Enhance Your Resume
How to Add Your Resume to LinkedIn
Specific resume guides
How to Make a Resume for Your First Job (+ Template)
How to Write a Resume with No Experience: 5 Tips
How to Write a Standout Resume When You’re a Stay-at-Home Parent
7 Real UX Designer Resumes and a Template
Next steps
Add a new credential to your resume with a Professional Certificate from industry leaders like Google, Meta, and IBM on Coursera. Learn key skills to prepare for entry-level roles in digital marketing, web development, data analytics, and more. Sign up for a free 7-day trial and start learning today.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Most people aim to fit their resume on one page. However, it’s becoming increasingly common for people with 10 to 15 years of experience to extend their resume to two pages. For professionals with more than 15 years of experience, a three-page resume may be acceptable.
Learn more: How Many Pages Should a Resume Be? Guide + Tips
Typically, the amount of time you include on your resume depends on your relevant job experience. You should include the experience you have that is relevant to the role you’re applying for. However, if you have 10 or more years of work experience, you may be able to shed some of those earlier experiences from your resume so that you can better highlight your advanced skill set.
Learn more: How Far Back Should Your Resume Go?
It’s generally not recommended to list your references directly on your resume. Instead, use that space to highlight what makes you a great candidate. As you progress through the hiring process, the hiring manager or recruiter will request your references when they’re ready to contact them.
Learn more: How to List Resume References: Guide and Sample
Updated on
Written by:
C
Coursera Staff
Editorial Team
Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
