How To Write A Resume That Gets You Hired

A resume isn't just a summary of your work—it's a sales pitch. Employers often spend less than 10 seconds scanning each one, which means your resume has to prove you're worth a closer look immediately.

If you want interviews that lead to real offers, you need a resume that shows results, highlights the right skills, and gets past applicant tracking systems (ATS).

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: structure, formatting, tools, and examples of what works.

Step 1: Choose The Right Resume Format

Not all resumes are built the same. The format you choose depends on your experience and goals:

Reverse Chronological: Best for professionals with consistent work history. List your experience, starting with your most recent job.

Functional/Skills-Based: Useful for career changers or those with employment gaps. Focuses on skills over dates.

Hybrid (Combination): Mixes both. Ideal for mid-career professionals seeking to showcase technical or leadership skills alongside steady experience.

Commercial Tip: Tools like Zety Resume Builder and Kickresume let you test different formats instantly, helping you see which one fits your profile best.

Step 2: Use An ATS-Friendly Template

Most large employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever sees them. If your resume isn’t ATS-friendly, it may never make it to the hiring manager.

Key Tips For ATS Optimisation:

•                  Stick to simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica).
•                  Avoid images, logos, or unusual symbols.
•                  Use standard section headings, such as Experience, Skills, and Education.
•                  Upload as a Word doc or PDF (check job posting instructions).

Commercial Tip: Platforms like Jobscan let you upload your resume and compare it against job descriptions, showing exactly which keywords to add.

Step 3: Write A Strong Professional Summary

The top third of your resume is prime real estate. Instead of an outdated "Objective," write a short professional summary (3–4 lines) that sells your skills.

Example: Results-driven Digital Marketing Specialist with 5+ years of experience increasing organic traffic by 120% for e-commerce brands. Skilled in SEO, paid ads, and conversion optimization. Certified in Google Analytics and HubSpot Inbound Marketing.

This instantly tells employers you can deliver measurable results.

Step 4: Highlight Results, Not Duties

Hiring managers don’t want to see what you were supposed to do—they want to know what you achieved. Use bullet points with measurable outcomes.

Bad Example: Managed company social media accounts.

Good Example: Grew Instagram following from 5,000 to 45,000 in 12 months, driving a 35% increase in online sales.

Tip: Start bullet points with action verbs: increased, launched, reduced, built, generated, led, optimized.

Step 5: Tailor Your Resume To Each Job

A one-size-fits-all resume won’t get results. Employers want to see alignment with their specific role.

How To Tailor?

•                  Scan the job posting for keywords (skills, tools, certifications).
•                  Mirror those terms naturally in your resume.
•                  Move the most relevant experience to the top.

Commercial Tip: Subscription services like TopResume offer expert resume rewrites tailored to specific industries, such as tech, healthcare, or finance.

Step 6: Showcase High-Value Skills

Hiring managers (and ATS software) scan for key technical and soft skills. Here are some of the highest-demand resume skills in 2025:

Tech Skills: SQL, Python, Salesforce, AWS, Tableau, Excel (advanced).

Marketing Skills: SEO, Google Ads, HubSpot, social media strategy.

Business Skills: Project management, Lean Six Sigma, and financial modelling.

Soft Skills: Leadership, communication, adaptability, problem-solving.

Commercial Tip: Sites like Coursera and Udemy offer affordable certifications you can add to your resume within weeks. For project management, the PMP or Scrum Master certification can increase salaries by 20–30%.

Step 7: Include Salary-Boosting Certifications

Recruiters often filter candidates by certifications. Adding the right ones can push your resume to the top.

Examples Of High-Value Certifications (With Salary Boosts):

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) – Average salary: $130,000+.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Average salary: $125,000+.

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate – Entry-level analysts earn $60,000–$75,000.

Project Management Professional (PMP) – Average salary: $115,000+.

Step 8: Keep It to One Page (Usually)

If you have under 10 years of experience, keep your resume to one page. Senior professionals with decades of work may go to two pages, but never more. Employers skim. Make their job easier.

Step 9: Add A "Tech Tools" Section

Employers like to see which tools you’re comfortable with at a glance. A short section works well:

Example

Tools: Google Analytics, Asana, Salesforce, Figma, Slack, SQL, Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP).

This makes your resume scannable and keyword-rich.

Step 10: Proofread Like A Recruiter

One typo can sink your chances. Recruiters see mistakes as a sign of carelessness.

Quick Fixes:

•                  Run your resume through Grammarly.
•                  Please print it out and read aloud.
•                  Ask a friend or mentor in your field to review it.

Commercial Tip: Services like Grammarly Premium not only fix spelling but also adjust tone and clarity—perfect for professional resumes.

Step 11: Include Links That Prove Your Work

In digital job applications, links are powerful. Add hyperlinks to:

•                  LinkedIn profile (customized URL, filled out).
•                  Online portfolio (for designers, writers, developers).
•                  GitHub (for tech roles).

Commercial Tip: Website builders like Squarespace and Wix make it easy to create a professional portfolio for under $20/month.

Step 12: Use Resume Checkers Before Applying

Don’t send out 50 resumes that get ignored. Test and refine first.

Best Tools To Try:

Jobscan – Matches your resume with job postings.

ResumeWorded – Gives instant feedback on wording and structure.

Zety – Offers customizable templates that are ATS-friendly.

Conclusion: Build A Resume That Gets Interviews

A resume that gets you hired isn’t just about looking good—it’s about showing results, matching the job description, and proving you’re worth the interview. If you’re serious about landing a higher-paying job, invest in a professional resume builder or review service.

By combining targeted certifications, strong keywords, and clear achievements, you'll stand out from the stack. Pick a resume builder like Zety or Kickresume, create an ATS-friendly draft, and start applying to roles today. The sooner you update your resume, the sooner you'll be in line for better interviews—and better salaries.