How to Write a Resume in 2025
[With Pro Tips and Real Examples]
- Learn how to write your resume step-by-step
- See example resume sections
- Enhance yours with AI-generated phrases
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If you are looking for a new job or just stepping out into the working world, one of the first things you’ll do is think about how to write a professional resume that will get you hired.
We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about resume writing so you can land an interview with your dream employer.
We’ll look at the basics by laying out 10 steps you can follow when writing a resume, providing you with examples you can use as inspiration.
Are you ready to write your own resume? Crafting a standout resume for 2025 has never been easier with our AI resume builder, so why not check out that useful tool too?
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1. Mindmap Your Professional Information
Before you start building your resume, take a moment to organize your thoughts by creating a mind map of your professional information.
Think of this as brainstorming everything that makes you stand out as a strong candidate. You’ll need to try your best to remember key details that can help strengthen each part of your resume as you write it.
These details include:
- Job history: Hopefully, you can remember all the jobs you’ve had. You’ll need to include employer names, your role, employment dates, and locations.
- Achievements: Think about moments when you went above and beyond. Did you solve a tough problem, lead a project, or receive recognition? Highlight these accomplishments, as they’ll make your resume stand out.
- Skills: List both technical skills like software proficiency or specific tools and transferable skills like communication or teamwork. These can come from work, school, or personal projects.
- Education: Include details of your academic background, such as degrees earned, schools attended, and graduation dates. If relevant, add coursework or projects that align with the roles you’re targeting.
- Certifications: Note any certifications or training programs you’ve completed. This might include industry-specific qualifications or online courses.
- Extras: What else have you done that could demonstrate your suitability for the job you want? Add any volunteer work, internships, languages you speak, personal projects, work you’ve had published, professional organizations you have a membership to, etc. You never know; these might be the things that give you an advantage over another candidate.
This mind map is going to help you when building your resume as it summarizes all the information you need as you follow the subsequent steps in this guide.
It will also save you time wracking your brains when tailoring your resume for specific opportunities.
2. Choose a Resume Format
Before you go into the details of writing about your work experience, education, etc., you need to choose a layout or format to follow when writing your resume.
Here are 3 resume formats that you can pick from.
- Reverse chronological: Recruiters and HR teams generally prefer this format, and it’s the one you have probably seen in examples. You list your work experience, starting from the most recent and working backward. It’s our recommended format for most job seekers because hiring managers are used to seeing it.
- Functional: This format flips the focus to your skills instead of your job history. It’s great if you want to highlight your skills and are an entry-level candidate.
- Combination (hybrid): Can’t decide which of the above is right for you? The combination format can be suited to job seekers with a lot of experience but a diverse set of skills they want to highlight. It’s perfect if you’re switching fields or have a mix of experiences.
Now we are going to have a look at the pros and cons of each to help you find the proper way to set up a resume for your precise circumstances:
Advantages and disadvantages of a reverse chronological resume
Advantages
- Focuses on recent experience
- Most employers expect this format
Disadvantages
- Extremely common in the job market
- Not as creative as other options
Advantages and disadvantages of a functional resume
Advantages
- Centers on skills. Important in the 2025 skills-based hiring job market
- Can cover up gaps in experience
Disadvantages
- Work history might seem less important
- Does not show your career progression
Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid resume
Advantages
- Promotes diverse skills and experience
- Good for career changers
Disadvantages
- Not well adapted for entry-level candidates
- Employers might not immediately see valuable career progression
As we mentioned earlier, the reverse chronological format is our favorite, and it’s the one you will use for most job applications. So, we’ll teach you how to write a resume in reverse chronological format in this guide.
3. Add Your Contact Information
When learning how to write a good resume, starting with the right contact details is key.
This section should be simple, clear, and professional.
Here’s an example of what it should look like:
Bob Jenkins
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Telephone: 415 684 2902
Email: bob_jenkins@examplemail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/xxxxxxxx/
That’s it! Include your full name, city and state (you don’t need to disclose your full address), your phone number, and a professional email. You can also add your relevant social profiles like LinkedIn if you wish.
Make sure everything is up-to-date and double-check for typos—it’s the first thing employers will see.
Contact and personal information to leave off your resume
You shouldn’t include any of the following identifying details on your resume:
- Headshot photo: In the US, photos can make it easier for discrimination to occur, so HR recruiters in most professions prefer this to be left off.
- Date of birth: Including this information can also lead to discrimination and should be avoided.
- Additional phone numbers or email addresses: More than one of these could confuse the recruiter and might lead you to miss communications from them
4. Write a Strong Resume Summary
Your resume summary is like your elevator pitch—it’s the first thing recruiters will read, so make it count! A strong summary highlights what you bring to the table in just a few sentences, giving employers a reason to keep reading.
Since our experts say that recruiters prefer summaries over resume objectives, this is your chance to shine by focusing on your skills and results.
💡top tip
You should write the rest of your resume first, and then pick out your strongest assets for your summary.
Look at the following steps to learn how to write one:
- Start with results: Lead with an accomplishment or impact you’ve made in previous roles or projects.
- State your professional title: Let them know who you are, whether it’s “Graphic Designer” or “Data Analyst.”
- Highlight key skills: Include abilities that match the job description, such as technical expertise or soft skills.
- Keep it short and tailored: Stick to 2 to 3 sentences that are customized for the role you’re applying for.
If you’re still unsure how to summarize your experience, our AI-powered resume builder can help you write a polished summary while saving time on building a perfect resume.
5. Add Your Skills
Your skills section is one of the most important parts of writing the perfect resume. It gives employers a quick look at what you bring to the table, so it’s important to include both technical and soft skills that are relevant to the role.
💡top tip
Don’t overload your skills section. 8 to10 bullet points should be more than enough to communicate your capabilities. The rest can be woven throughout your resume.
Organize your skills section as shown below.
Technical skills
Tailor your IT and technical skills to match the demands of the job and industry. These can vary widely but should focus on tools and expertise that are in demand for your field. For example:
- AI and data analysis: Proficiency in Python, SQL, TensorFlow, or Tableau for data-driven decision-making.
- Cloud computing and cybersecurity: Skills in platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or ethical hacking techniques.
- Digital marketing: Expertise in SEO, social media management, and analytics tools like Google Ads or HubSpot.
- Sustainability: Knowledge of ESG strategies and green technologies for environmentally conscious roles.
These skills show you’re ready to work with cutting-edge tools and adapt to emerging trends.
Soft skills
Soft skills are just as important. In fact, most of the in-demand skills reported by LinkedIn in 2024 were soft skills.
These skills should be demonstrated through your experience rather than simply listed. Employers want to see how you’ve applied these abilities in real situations.
Some top soft skills include:
- Adaptability: Thrived under changing priorities by successfully meeting tight deadlines during a project shift.
- Problem-solving: Developed a new workflow that reduced errors by 20%.
- Collaboration: Partnered with cross-functional teams to launch a product, increasing sales by 15%.
- Emotional intelligence: Mediated team conflicts to improve morale and productivity.
Skills for 2025
To stay ahead in the evolving job market, focus on skills that will be highly sought after in 2025. Here’s a breakdown of both hard and soft skills that employers value most:
Soft Skills
- Resilience and adaptability under pressure
- Cross-cultural communication, including in hybrid and remote work environments
- Creative thinking for problem-solving
- Leadership in office-based, remote, or hybrid teams
- Critical thinking
Hard Skills
- Generative AI expertise (e.g., ChatGPT, CoPilot)
- Cloud-based collaboration apps such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
- Data analysis (e.g., predictive modeling)
- Cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud)
- Cybersecurity strategies
Include these future-focused abilities in your resume to demonstrate that you’re prepared for the challenges of tomorrow’s workplace.
By focusing on what’s relevant and demonstrating your abilities, you’ll master how to make a good resume for a job that catches an employer’s attention.
6. Tailor Your Work Experience & Key Achievements for Each Role
When writing a professional resume, your work experience section is where you show employers how you’ve progressed in your career and made an impact in previous roles.
To stand out, tailor this section to each job by focusing on responsibilities and achievements that match the role you’re applying for.
💡top tip
Make sure your key achievements are unique for each experience entry. If you have boosted sales in every one of your roles, highlight the time when you made the highest impact. Then, try to choose other types of achievements for the other roles you list. This paints a broader picture of your capabilities.
Free Resume Templates
Using resume templates that are proven to work will help you to move your career search forward. Start and customize as many resumes as you need with our free resume builder.
How to tailor your work experience
You should tailor your resume to each job for which you submit it. You can do this by considering the following points when creating each tailored version.
- Start with the basics: Include your job title, company name, location, and employment dates.
- Focus on relevant achievements: Highlight accomplishments that align with the job description. Use numbers or measurable results whenever possible to show your impact. Focus on results rather than responsibilities.
- Use action verbs: Begin each bullet point with strong verbs like “led,” “managed,” or “implemented” to convey your contributions clearly.
- Keep it concise: Aim for 4 to 6 bullet points per role, focusing only on what matters most for the position you’re targeting rather than general achievements.
💡top tip
Less is often more in your work experience section. Make sure everything you include is relevant and adds to your employability.
Example of an Experience section
Take a look at the following example of the experience section for a Healthcare Administrator resume.
Experience
Healthcare Administrator
Yangtree Health Center | Seattle, WA | 2022–2024
- Reduced patient wait times by 15% through process improvements in scheduling and intake procedures.
- Managed a team of 10 administrative staff, providing training that increased productivity by 20%.
- Implemented a new electronic health record (EHR) system, improving data accuracy and compliance with regulations.
- Prepared detailed monthly reports on operational performance for senior leadership review.
This example is effective because it highlights measurable achievements and demonstrates leadership, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills—all tailored to the role of a Healthcare Administrator.
It’s also concise, uses strong action verbs, and focuses on results that matter to employers.
💡top tip
Quantify your contributions whenever possible. Incorporate specific examples of how your work had a direct impact on the company’s efficiency or success.
7. Make Your Education Section Stand Out
Your education section is an important part of writing a professional resume, especially if your qualifications are directly relevant to the job.
Focus on including degrees, institutions, dates, and any notable achievements or coursework relevant to the role.
💡 Pro tips
- List your degrees in reverse chronological order: Start with your most recent degree or diploma and work backward.
- Include relevant coursework or projects: Highlight academic work that ties directly to the job requirements.
- Mention honors or awards: If you graduated with distinction or earned scholarships, include those details if you’re a recent college graduate.
- You don’t need to list your high school diploma: Unless it’s your highest level of education, you can leave it off your resume.
Example of an Education section
Look at the following example of an Education section for a Machine Learning Engineer resume:
Education
PhD in Machine Learning
Carnegie Mellon University | 2019–2023
- Published research on deep learning algorithms in the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research.
- Completed a project on predictive modeling that improved data accuracy by 30%.
- Top 1% of students in advanced data mining and regression analysis courses.
When you write your own resume, this approach guarantees your education section is both relevant and impactful.
If you’re wondering how to create a new resume for 2025, focusing on recent achievements, relevant coursework, and tailoring details to the job will make your qualifications stand out!
8. Boost Your Resume With Additional Sections
Adding extra sections to your resume can help you stand out, but only if they’re relevant to the job.
Think of these as bonus details that give employers a fuller picture of your skills, interests, and accomplishments. Use them sparingly and strategically to avoid cluttering your resume.
💡top tip
Don’t overdo it. Add 1 or 2 extra sections only if they genuinely add value and are relevant to the job you’re targeting.
Volunteer work
Volunteer work is a great way to present transferable skills and demonstrate your proactive attitude.
It’s especially impactful in fields like healthcare, education, or non-profits, where adding your volunteer roles shows passion for the role.
Volunteering
Volunteer Coordinator
Habitat for Humanity | 2022–2023
- Organized and led a team of 20 volunteers to complete 4 housing projects ahead of schedule.
- Coordinated fundraising efforts, raising $15,000 to support community initiatives.
Internship experience
Internships highlight practical experience early in your career.
If you’ve completed a relevant internship, include it as its own section or integrate it into your work experience.
Work Experience
Data Science Intern
Tech Solutions Inc. | Summer 2023
- Analyzed large datasets using Python to identify trends, improving client reporting accuracy by 25%.
- Collaborated with senior analysts to develop predictive models for customer retention strategies.
Certifications and awards
Adding certifications or awards can demonstrate your qualifications and dedication to professional growth.
Certifications
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, 2024
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, 2023
Languages
If you’re fluent in multiple languages, this section can set you apart—especially for roles requiring international communication.
Languages
- English: Native proficiency
- Spanish: Professional working proficiency
- French: Conversational
Personal projects
Personal projects show initiative and passion for your field. They’re especially valuable if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. Take a look at this programming project, for example.
Projects
- Developed a machine learning model to predict stock prices with 85% accuracy using Python and TensorFlow (2024).
Papers and publications
If you’ve published work relevant to your industry, include it in this section to highlight your expertise.
Papers and Publications
- “Optimizing Neural Networks for Image Recognition,” Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, 2023.
Hobbies and interests
Some experts suggest leaving hobbies and interests off resumes in 2025, especially if you have strong work-related extras to include.
The example below demonstrates leadership and collaboration skills as well as communication and subject-matter expertise.
Hobbies and Interests
- Team Sports: Played as captain of a local soccer team. (Demonstrates leadership and collaboration skills.)
- Blogging: Write a tech-focused blog with 5,000 monthly readers. (Showcases communication and subject-matter expertise.)
Remember, use hobbies sparingly and only when they strengthen your application!
9. Proofread Your Resume
AI tools such as Grammarly can significantly improve the resume-checking process by quickly identifying and correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, offering real-time suggestions to make your writing clear and professional.
Our AI-powered resume builder can also help you refine your bullet points to better “sell” your skills and experience by suggesting powerful verbs and keywords.
10. Save Your Resume as a PDF
To increase compatibility, our experts advise saving your resume as a PDF unless a specific file type is requested. PDFs can be opened on any device regardless of the operating system and cannot be tampered with.
Avoid using complex formatting that may make it difficult for an ATS to parse.
Always double-check job postings for file format requirements!
Key Takeaways
Writing a professional resume doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you focus on the essentials and tailor it to the job.
This is what we covered:
- Start with a strong, results-driven resume summary to grab attention.
- Tailor your work experience and key achievements to match the job description.
- Highlight your education, including relevant coursework or projects.
- List hard and soft skills, demonstrating soft skills through real examples.
- Consider adding additional sections, such as certifications, volunteer work, or personal projects, but only if they add value.
- Proofread and check for common mistakes.
- Save your resume as a PDF to ensure compatibility with ATS and secure formatting across devices.
Not too tricky, right?
Just don’t forget to try our AI-powered resume builder!
It provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to write a compelling resume that looks good and sells your strengths to potential employers.
Try it now!
Free Resume Templates
Using resume templates that are proven to work will help you to move your career search forward. Start and customize as many resumes as you need with our free resume builder