How to Write a Resume in 2026

The three main resume formats are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. For most job seekers, the reverse-chronological format is the best choice it is the format recruiters expect, ATS systems parse most reliably, and it clearly shows your career progression.

Use a functional format only if you are making a major career change and want to emphasise transferable skills over job titles. The combination format works well for senior professionals who want to lead with a skills summary but still include a full work history.

For a detailed comparison, see our resume formats guide.

Your header should include your full name, email address, phone number, and location (city and country are sufficient a full street address is no longer expected). Add a LinkedIn URL if your profile is up to date, and a portfolio or personal website if relevant to the role.

Use a professional email address ideally your name at a reputable provider. Avoid nicknames, numbers, or outdated email services that may signal a lack of attention to detail.

A professional summary is a 2–3 sentence paragraph at the top of your resume that frames who you are, what you bring, and what you are looking for. It should be tailored to the specific role this is the first thing a recruiter reads, so make every word count.

Strong example:"Senior product designer with 6 years of experience leading cross-functional teams at fintech companies. Specialising in design systems, user research, and accessible interfaces. Looking to bring end-to-end product design leadership to a growth-stage startup."

Weak example:"Hardworking team player with a passion for design seeking a challenging role." This could describe anyone and gives the recruiter no reason to read further.

For each role, include the job title, company name, location, and dates of employment. Below that, write 3–5 bullet points describing your key responsibilities and achievements.

The most important rule for bullet points: lead with impact, not duties. Hiring managers want to know what you accomplished, not just what you were responsible for. Use the Action → Result → Context formula:

• Good:"Reduced API response time by 40% by implementing Redis caching, improving user experience for 50K daily active users."
• Weak:"Responsible for maintaining backend services."

Quantify wherever possible numbers, percentages, time saved, revenue generated, team size, and scale of impact all make your achievements concrete and credible.

Include your degree, institution, field of study, and graduation year. For recent graduates, include GPA if it is strong (above 3.5), relevant coursework, and academic achievements. For experienced professionals, education should be brief one or two lines per degree.

If you have professional certifications (PMP, AWS, CPA, etc.), list them in a separate Certifications section or under Education. Certifications that are relevant to your target role can significantly strengthen your application.

A well-organised skills section helps ATS systems match your resume to job requirements and gives recruiters a quick overview of your technical capabilities. Group skills by category where possible:

• Programming: Python, TypeScript, Go, SQL
• Tools: AWS, Docker, Terraform, GitHub Actions
• Methodologies: Agile, CI/CD, Test-Driven Development

Only include skills you can confidently discuss in an interview. Listing a technology you used once three years ago will backfire if the interviewer asks you about it.

Most companies use applicant tracking systems to filter resumes before a human reviewer sees them. To pass these systems, your resume needs to follow specific formatting rules:

• Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)
• Avoid tables, columns, and text boxes
• Include keywords from the job description naturally in your content
• Use a clean, single-column layout
• Export as PDF with selectable text (not a scanned image)

For a deep dive into ATS optimisation, see our ATS resume tips guide. Resuvia's ATS-friendly templates handle the formatting requirements automatically, and the built-in ATS scorer shows you exactly where your resume stands.

Typos and grammatical errors are the fastest way to get your resume rejected. After writing, review your resume with these checks:

• Read every bullet point out loud awkward phrasing becomes obvious
• Check that dates, company names, and job titles are accurate
• Ensure consistent formatting (same date format, same bullet style)
• Verify that contact information is current and correct
• Ask a trusted colleague to review for clarity and impact

Resuvia's AI quality score catches many common issues automatically from weak bullet points to missing quantifiable achievements so you can fix problems before submitting.

Sending the same resume to every job is the most common mistake job seekers make. Each application should be tailored to the specific role: adjust your professional summary, reorder sections to highlight the most relevant experience, and incorporate keywords from the job description.

This is where AI tools like Resuvia's Tailoring Studio save hours of work. Paste a job description, and the AI tailors your resume in seconds rewording bullet points, adding relevant keywords, and generating a matching cover letter.