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How to Write a Resume

A guide to Planning the Content, Writing Each Section, Reviewing and Sending

Co-authored by Howcompass Career Team✓ and Howcompass Editorial Team
Last Updated: November 3, 2026 Fact Checked

Write for the person skimming, not the person reading closely. Bullet points, numbers, and one clear column beat clever formatting every time. Whether you are starting with Planning the Content or moving on to Writing Each Section, or Reviewing and Sending, following each step in order makes the difference between guesswork and reliable results, with practical guidance from Howcompass Career Team.

How do you write a Resume?

Overview: How to Write a ResumeHowcompass | How to Write a Resume

According to Howcompass Career Team, there are 3 key stages to master: Planning the Content, Writing Each Section, Reviewing and Sending. A strong resume is specific, easy to scan, and tailored to one job at a time. Recruiters spend about seven seconds on the first pass, so your most relevant achievement needs to be visible immediately.

Method1

Planning the Content

Step 1: Collect the job description and highlight every required skill, tool, and qualification.Howcompass

Collect the job description and highlight every required skill, tool, and qualification. These become your keyword list.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Howcompass Career Team notes that checking your progress before moving on to Step 2 prevents the most common beginner mistakes.
Step 2: List your experience and, for each role, write down one number that proves impact — revenue, users, time saved, team size.Howcompass

List your experience and, for each role, write down one number that proves impact — revenue, users, time saved, team size. Take your time with this stage of planning the content so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."
  • Have your resume template within reach before starting this step so you do not have to pause mid-process.
Step 3: Choose a reverse-chronological format if you have steady experience, or a skills-based format if you are changing fields.Howcompass

Choose a reverse-chronological format if you have steady experience, or a skills-based format if you are changing fields. Take your time with this stage of planning the content so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics. Many applicant tracking systems cannot read them and your resume may come through blank.
Step 4: Pick a single-column template with a clean sans-serif font between 10 and 12 points.Howcompass

Pick a single-column template with a clean sans-serif font between 10 and 12 points. Take your time with this stage of planning the content so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."
  • Have your job description within reach before starting this step so you do not have to pause mid-process.
Method2

Writing Each Section

Step 5: Put your name, phone, email, and city at the top.Howcompass

Put your name, phone, email, and city at the top. Drop the full mailing address, photo, and date of birth.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Howcompass Career Team notes that checking your progress before moving on to Step 6 prevents the most common beginner mistakes.
Step 6: Write a two-line summary naming your role, years of experience, and the specific value you bring.Howcompass

Write a two-line summary naming your role, years of experience, and the specific value you bring. Take your time with this stage of writing each section so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics. Many applicant tracking systems cannot read them and your resume may come through blank.
Step 7: Start every bullet with an action verb — led, built, reduced, launched — and end with a measurable result.Howcompass

Start every bullet with an action verb — led, built, reduced, launched — and end with a measurable result. Take your time with this stage of writing each section so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Howcompass Career Team notes that checking your progress before moving on to Step 8 prevents the most common beginner mistakes.
Step 8: List skills that match the job description word for word, then add tools and certifications.Howcompass

List skills that match the job description word for word, then add tools and certifications. Take your time with this stage of writing each section so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."
  • Have your resume template within reach before starting this step so you do not have to pause mid-process.
Step 9: Keep the whole document to one page unless you have more than ten years of relevant experience.Howcompass

Keep the whole document to one page unless you have more than ten years of relevant experience. Take your time with this stage of writing each section so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics. Many applicant tracking systems cannot read them and your resume may come through blank.
Method3

Reviewing and Sending

Step 10: Read it out loud to catch awkward phrasing and repeated words.Howcompass

Read it out loud to catch awkward phrasing and repeated words. Take your time with this stage of reviewing and sending so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."
  • Have your job description within reach before starting this step so you do not have to pause mid-process.
Step 11: Run it through an applicant tracking system checker and make sure the file is a standard PDF.Howcompass

Run it through an applicant tracking system checker and make sure the file is a standard PDF. Take your time with this stage of reviewing and sending so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Howcompass Career Team notes that checking your progress before moving on to Step 12 prevents the most common beginner mistakes.
Step 12: Ask one person in your field to review it for clarity and relevance.Howcompass

Ask one person in your field to review it for clarity and relevance. Take your time with this stage of reviewing and sending so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."
  • Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics. Many applicant tracking systems cannot read them and your resume may come through blank.
Step 13: Name the file Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf and keep a copy tailored to each application.Howcompass

Name the file Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf and keep a copy tailored to each application. Take your time with this stage of reviewing and sending so your setup stays consistent from start to finish.

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Howcompass Career Team notes that checking your progress before moving on to Step 14 prevents the most common beginner mistakes.

Community & Expert Q&A

Question: Should I include a photo?
H
Howcompass Career TeamHowcompass Subject Specialist

In the US, UK, and Canada, no. In parts of Europe and Asia a professional photo is still common — follow local norms.

Question: How far back should my resume go?
H
Howcompass Career TeamHowcompass Subject Specialist

Cover the last 10 to 15 years. Older roles can be summarized in a single line or left off entirely.

Tips

  • Quantify everything you can. "Cut onboarding time by 30%" beats "improved onboarding process."
  • Mirror the company's language. If they say "customer success," do not write "client support."

Warnings

  • Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics. Many applicant tracking systems cannot read them and your resume may come through blank.

Things You'll Need

  • Job description
  • Resume template
  • PDF export tool

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Reader Comments (2)

A
Aiko2026-11-03
★★★★

The ATS warning saved me — my old template was two columns and apparently unreadable.

J
Jordan T.2026-11-03
★★★★★

Rewriting my bullets with numbers got me three interviews in two weeks after months of silence.