What Does a Professional Resume Look Like?

With more and more employers using mobile devices to review resumes, it’s important to design your resume with mobile in mind. Here are some tips for creating a mobile-friendly resume:

• Use a simple design: Avoid using complex designs, graphics, or fonts that may not display properly on a mobile device. Stick to a simple, easy-to-read format with clear headings and bullet points.
• Use a legible font: Use a legible font that is easy to read on a small screen, such as Arial, Calibri or Verdana. Avoid using small or complex fonts that may be difficult to read.
• Use bullet points: Use bullet points to break up long blocks of text and make your resume easier to scan. Use clear, concise language to describe your skills and experience.
• Save your resume in a compatible format: Make sure it is saved in a compatible format, such as PDF or Word so that it can be easily viewed on a mobile device.

Overall, a mobile-friendly resume should be simple and easy to navigate on a small screen. Use a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes, and avoid using large files or complex layouts that may not load quickly on mobile devices.

A great resume should be well-organized, easy to read and visually appealing. Here are some key elements of a great resume:

• Clear and concise summary: A great resume should start with a clear and concise summary statement at the top that highlights your key skills, experience and qualifications.
• Skills and qualifications: Include a section highlighting your key skills and qualifications, such as technical skills, language proficiency or leadership abilities.
• White space and formatting: Use plenty of white space and formatting elements like bullet points, bold text, and headings to make your resume easy to read and visually appealing.
• Tailored to the job: Customize your resume for each job you apply for, highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position.

Overall, a great resume should be well-designed, easy to read and tailored to the job you’re applying for. See our resume About Me examples for tips on incorporating an introductory paragraph into your resume. 

If you’re creating a resume for your first job, you may not have a lot of work experience to showcase. However, there are still several elements you can include to make your resume stand out:

• Start with a strong objective statement: Begin your resume with a clear and concise objective statement that outlines your career goals and highlights your skills and qualifications.
• Keep it simple and easy to read: Use a clean and simple design for your resume, with plenty of white space and a legible font. 
• Focus on education and extracurriculars: If you don’t have much work experience, focus on your education and any extracurricular activities or volunteer work that you’ve done. 
• Use action-oriented language: Even if you don’t have much work experience, you can still use action-oriented language to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Use strong action verbs like “organized,” “volunteered” or “led” to showcase your skills and experience.

Overall, a resume for a first job should focus on your skills and qualifications, highlighting any relevant experience or accomplishments you’ve had. See how to make a resume without experience for additional guidance. 

An ATS-friendly resume is designed to be easily read and parsed by automated systems many employers use to screen resumes. Here are some tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume design:

• Use simple, straightforward formatting: Avoid using complex designs, graphics or fonts that can confuse an ATS. Stick to a simple, easy-to-read format with clear headings and bullet points.
• Use keywords from the job listing: Many ATS systems are programmed to search for specific keywords or phrases from the job listing. Be sure to include relevant keywords throughout your resume to increase your chances of getting past the initial screening.
• Include relevant job titles and skills: Use specific job titles and skills throughout your resume to help the ATS understand your experience and qualifications.
• Use standard section headings: Stick to standard section headings like “work experience,” “education” and “skills” to make it easier for the ATS to parse your resume.
• Avoid using images or tables: Images, tables and other graphics can confuse an ATS and cause it to reject your resume. Stick to simple text and bullet points.
• Save your resume in a compatible format: Most ATS systems can read resumes in a simple, text-based format like .doc or .pdf. Avoid using complex formats or templates that may not be compatible with the system.

You can increase your chances of getting past the initial screening and landing an interview by using relevant keywords, clear section headings and a simple format.

The ideal length for a resume is typically one to two pages, depending on your experience level and industry norms. 

For most professionals, condensing your key qualifications and experiences into a concise, one-page resume is crucial to keep the reader engaged and highlight your most relevant skills. 

If you have extensive experience, you may extend it to a second page but always prioritize quality over quantity. If you create a two-page resume, ensure the entire second page is filled.

Hiring managers are generally understanding of gaps in employment, especially if they are explained honestly and accompanied by relevant experiences or skills gained during that time. Here are some effective ways to manage them:

• Be honest: Always be truthful about any gaps in your employment history. Fabricating information can be easily discovered and may harm your credibility.
• Provide a brief explanation: Offer a concise and honest explanation for the gap, if possible. Mention reasons such as personal health issues, family responsibilities, further education or career exploration. Keep it simple and professional.
• Consider functional or combination formats: If your chronological work history accentuates the gaps, consider using a functional resume or combination resume format. These formats allow you to focus on your skills, accomplishments and qualifications, rather than the timeline of your employment history.
• Focus on results: Regardless of the gap, prioritize showcasing your achievements and results in previous roles. Highlighting your contributions and successes can overshadow any concerns about employment gaps.

Focus on presenting yourself as a qualified and motivated candidate, and address any concerns about employment gaps proactively and professionally. See how to explain employment gaps on a resume for additional guidance from career advice experts.

Including personal interests or hobbies on a resume is a matter of personal preference and depends on the specific circumstances. 

If they are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for or demonstrate skills that are applicable to the role, it may be beneficial to include them. For example, if you’re applying for a graphic design position and you enjoy photography as a hobby, it could showcase your creativity and visual skills.

Consider the norms and expectations within your industry. In some fields, such as creative industries or roles that require strong interpersonal skills, including personal interests or hobbies may be more common and even encouraged. However, in more traditional or conservative industries, it may be less common or necessary.

Showcasing freelance and contract work on a resume requires a strategic approach to highlight your experiences and accomplishments effectively. Here are some best practices:

• Create a separate section: Dedicate a distinct section of your resume specifically for freelance or contract work. You can title this section “Freelance Experience” or “Contract Projects” to differentiate it from your full-time employment history clearly.
• Provide clear details: For each position, provide clear and concise details, including the client or company name, your role or title, the duration of the engagement and a brief description of your quantifiable accomplishments and responsibilities. 
• Include testimonials or recommendations: If you received positive feedback or testimonials from clients or employers during your freelance or contract work, consider including them on your resume. 
• Showcase diversity of projects: If you’ve worked on a variety of projects across different industries or sectors, highlight this diversity to demonstrate your adaptability and versatility as a freelancer or contractor.
• Update regularly: Keep your freelance and contract work section up-to-date with your most recent projects and experiences. As you complete new projects or gain additional experience, update your resume accordingly to reflect your evolving skills and expertise.

By following these strategies, you can effectively showcase your freelance and contract work on your resume and position yourself as a skilled and experienced professional in your field.

It’s a good idea to update your resume regularly, even if you’re not actively job searching. Set aside time at least once a year to review and update your resume. Use this opportunity to add any new skills, experiences, accomplishments or certifications you’ve gained over the past year.

If you’re actively job searching or considering a career change, update your resume before you start applying for positions. Tailor it to each specific job opportunity to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences.

Whenever you experience a significant change in your career path, such as switching industries, roles or job functions, update your resume to reflect these changes. Make sure your resume accurately represents your current career trajectory and goals.

In addition to these specific occasions, it’s a good habit to review your resume periodically for any outdated information, formatting issues or typos. Keeping your resume up-to-date ensures that you’re always prepared for new opportunities that may arise.