How To Make a Resume in 2025 - One Step at a Time

Making a resume from scratch can feel overwhelming. But honestly? It doesn’t have to be.

This guide is built on insights from Teal’s career experts, shaped by thousands of resumes reviewed and feedback shared directly by recruiters. It walks you through every step of how to make a resume in 2025, from choosing the right format and resume builder to saving a polished PDF, so you can confidently create a document that’s clear, modern, and ready to send.

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Step 1: Choose how to make your resume

Before you start adding your experience and skills, you’ll need to choose how you want to create your resume. Whether you build it yourself, use a template or tool, starting with the right method can make the process much smoother.

Decide on a tool

You can make a resume using word processors, design programs, or online resume builders. Whether your starting from scratch or updating an existing resume, each has its pros and cons:

Creating a resume with a template

If you’re staring at a blank page, starting with a resume template is one of the easiest ways to move forward. A good template provides a clean, structured layout, so you can focus on what to say, not how to format it.

When choosing a template, make sure it sticks to a clean structure: avoid heavy graphics, multiple columns, or designs that might confuse applicant tracking systems.

Look for layouts that prioritize readability (professional fonts, clear headings, and intuitive section order).

Using a resume builder for resume creation

While templates give you a clean starting point, a resume builder takes it further by helping with every part of the process, not just formatting.

Tools like Teal’s free AI Resume Builder make creating a resume easier by guiding you step-by-step through each section and automatically applying professional formatting. With most builders, you don’t just get a template for resume writing, you get built-in advice on what to write, where to put it, and how to adjust it for different jobs.

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Using a resume builder also means you can quickly create multiple versions, track which resume you used for which application, and optimize each one for keywords and ATS scanning—all without starting over.

If you want a faster, less stressful way to make a resume online that’s ready to send, a builder like Teal’s is the simplest path.

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Step 2: Pick the right resume format

Once you’ve decided how to make your resume, the next step is figuring out how to organize your information. Choosing the right resume format matters because it shapes how recruiters and hiring managers see your experience at a glance.

There are three main resume formats to know:

Chronological

The chronological resume is the most common and widely recommended format because it's familiar to recruiters and easy to scan. It lists your work experience from most recent to oldest and is best for professionals with a steady work history.

Functional

The functional resume focuses more on skills than job titles or dates. It’s sometimes used by people with little formal work experience or those making a major career change. However, many recruiters find functional resumes harder to follow, and they can raise questions about missing work history.

TL;DR: Use this format carefully, and only when it truly highlights your strengths better than a traditional format.

Combination

The combination resume blends elements of both chronological and functional formats. It highlights key skills at the top but still includes a reverse-chronological work history underneath.

It’s a good choice for career changers or candidates who want to emphasize skills but still show a clear employment timeline.

Which resume format should you choose?

For most professionals, a chronological resume is the simplest and most effective starting point. In 2025, the reverse-chronological format is still considered the go-to because it's clear, familiar to recruiters, and easy for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan.

Career experts almost always recommend starting with a chronological format unless you have very a specific reason to highlight skills differently, (like switching industries or filling major gaps).

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Step 3: Gather your content

Now, take a few minutes to gather all the information you’ll need. Having your details ready makes it much easier to stay focused when you start writing, and it helps you create a resume that's both clear and complete.

The core resume sections you’ll want to prepare for include:

• Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL or portfolio link.
• Target Title: Title of the job you're targeting (or placeholder with current position)
• Summary or Objective: A short statement about your career focus and what you bring to the table.
• Work Experience: A list of past jobs, including titles, companies, dates, and a few notes about key responsibilities and achievements.
• Education: Schools attended, degrees earned, and graduation dates.
• Certifications: All relevant and current certifications, certifying body, and dates of completion
• Skills: A list of relevant hard and technical skills (and a few transferable or soft skills if they directly apply).

These are the basic building blocks found on almost every resume and they’ll serve as the structure for what you’ll create.

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📝 Free resume planner

If you’re not sure where to start, using a resume planner or checklist can help you organize your information before you begin formatting.

You can use your own notes or download Teal’s free Resume Planning Sheet to stay organized.

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Making a resume stand out becomes much faster when you’re not guessing what to put next.

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Step 4: Complete your resume sections

It’s time to start filling in each section of your resume. We won’t go deep into how to write a resume line by line line here. Instead, think of this step as putting the right pieces in place so you have a strong, complete draft to build on.

Whether you’re using a template or a resume builder, these are the core sections to focus on.

Add your contact information

Start by updating the header of your resume with your contact details. Most templates will already have a placeholder, just be sure to replace it with your actual info:

• Full name
• Professional email address
• Phone number
• City and state if you want to share location (you can leave off your full address)
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio link, if relevant

If the template uses a bold header design, make sure it’s still clean and easy to read—your name should stand out, but not take up too much space.

For U.S.-based resumes, there’s no need to include personal details like your photo, birthday, or marital status. Different countries have different norms, but if you're applying in the U.S., less is more here.

💡Pro Tip: Double-check this section carefully. A simple typo in your phone number or email when making your resume can cost you your dream job.

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Fill out your target title

In a Teal analysis of 1,000 job descriptions, 100% included a specific job title, and only 7% listed alternate titles. While recruiters can search ATS platforms using variations, an exact title match is often the first filter. Including a target job title at the top of your resume helps show immediate alignment with the role and increases your chances of being seen.

If you're using a builder like Teal, you can enter multiple target titles, like “Marketing Manager” and “Content Strategist” and then choose them for different applications without rewriting the entire resume.

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Add your summary section

Now it's time to start making your resume from the top down starting with the summary section. (Most resume templates and builders include space for this right under your name and contact information.)

The summary is a short paragraph that gives hiring managers a quick snapshot of your background. It’s meant to show what you bring to the table (not what you want from the job or your career goals).  

We typically don’t recommend using a resume objective. Employers already know you're job searching. What they need is a sense of your experience, relevant skills, and how you’d contribute in the role.

If you’re using an AI resume builder this section often includes built-in prompts or AI generation to help you write a summary based on your background and the job you’re targeting quickly.

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Two simple examples:

Experienced Professional
Delivering SaaS projects on time when stakeholders have competing priorities. Six years guiding cross-functional teams through complex development cycles using Agile methodologies and Jira tracking. Consistently improved delivery timelines by creating clear communication channels between product visionaries and engineering implementers. Known for turning technical requirements into realistic roadmaps that keep teams aligned and motivated throughout project lifecycles.

First-Time or Early Career
Fresh marketing perspective combined with hands-on internship experience. Created engaging content that increased brand engagement across Instagram and TikTok platforms. Developed communication skills through collaborative projects that required translating creative concepts into actionable marketing deliverables. Passionate about helping brands find their authentic voice in crowded digital spaces through strategic storytelling and audience analysis.

This section feel hard to write right now? Skip it. Come back to it after you’ve filled out your experience, skills, and education.

💡Pro Tip: Want more inspiration? See more examples of resume summaries in these 2000+ resume examples.

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Fill in your work experience

Now that you’ve gathered your work history details, it’s time to start building the Work Experience section of your resume.

Start with the basics. For each job, enter:

• Job title
• Company name
• Location (city and state)
• Dates of employment (month/year format)

If you’re using a resume template or builder, there’s usually a structured field for each of these. Just fill them in, starting with your most recent job first and working backward (that’s the standard for chronological order).

Use bullet points to describe your work

Under each job, add 2–5 bullet points that describe what you did and what you achieved. Bullet points should focus on outcomes and responsibilities, not just daily tasks.

Here’s a structure to follow:

Action verb → what you did → result or impact → how you did it → how long it took

Example bullet point:
Led social media strategy for company rebrand, increasing Instagram engagement by 45% through targeted content pillars and weekly interactive campaigns over six months.

When in doubt, start by listing what you worked on and any achievements or praise you received.

What if I have no experience?

If you don’t have formal work experience yet, that’s completely okay. You can still build a strong Work Experience section by including:

• Internships (paid or unpaid)
• Volunteer work
• Significant school projects
• Leadership roles in clubs or organizations

Format these entries similarly to a job:

Position title (e.g., Volunteer Tutor)
Organization name
Dates you participated
2–4 bullet points describing what you did and what skills you used or developed

No formal jobs yet? Highlight internships, volunteer work, or major projects that show responsibility and skills. You can also learn how to write a resume for a first job.

You may have fewer entries than someone with years of professional experience, and that's okay. You’ll lean more heavily on your Education and Skills sections to round out your resume.

💡Pro Tip: Keep your formatting consistent across every job entry.

• Use the same font and text size throughout.
• Format dates the same way (like "Jan 2022 – Dec 2023").
• Make sure bullet points are aligned properly.

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Complete your Education section

Next, move down to the Education section of your resume. This part is usually simple to fill out, but it’s still important to make sure the information is clear, accurate, and presented in the right order.

Start by adding:

• Your degree(s) earned (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Science)
• Your major or field of study
• The name of the school
• Your graduation year (or expected graduation date if you're still in school)

List your most recent degree first and work backward if you have more than one.

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If you haven’t attended college, you can list your high school diploma or GED instead. Once you have some college coursework or a degree, you usually don't need to include high school unless it feels relevant to your background.

Additional academic info (optional)

Depending on your space and experience level, you might want to include a few extra details to strengthen your education section:

• GPA (only if it's 3.5 or higher and you’re a recent grad)
• Honors (like Cum Laude, Dean’s List)
• Relevant coursework (if it’s directly related to the job you’re applying for)
• Academic projects (especially if you’re a student or early in your career)

Pick one or two highlights that add to your qualifications but don't overload this section with every class you’ve taken.

Education for non-traditional paths

If you didn’t complete a college degree, you can still list the school you attended, your area of study, and the years you were enrolled. For example:

Some College Coursework — Business Administration, University of Michigan, 2021–2023

If your education includes certifications or professional training instead of a traditional degree, you can create a separate section for Certifications or Training (we'll cover that next). These credentials still strengthen your resume and show your ongoing development.

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Detail certifications

If you’ve earned any professional certifications, this is the time to list them. Certifications can strengthen your resume, especially in industries like tech, finance, education, healthcare, or project management, where certain credentials are often required or preferred.

You can create a separate Certifications section, or include it alongside Education if your resume layout is tight. Just make sure it’s easy to spot.

Format your entries like this:

Certified Scrum Master, Scrum Alliance, 2023
Google Data Analytics Certificate, Coursera, 2022

Be consistent: list the certification name, the issuing organization, and the year earned. If the certification is still in progress, you can note that instead of a date.

Awards or honors like “Top Performer” or “Dean’s List” should go in a separate Awards section, which we’ll cover later in the guide.

List out skills

Most resume templates have a sidebar or dedicated section labeled Skills. This is where you’ll include a short list (usually 5–10 items) of your most relevant abilities, especially technical or role-specific skills that match the job.

Focus on skills that show up in the job description. These are often keywords recruiters search ATS systems for.

Here are a few quick tips to guide making this section:

• Prioritize job-related hard skills (e.g., Excel, SQL, Figma)
• Include soft skills only if they’re tied to measurable outcomes in your bullet points
• Don’t overdo it—listing too many skills can water down the most important ones
• Be honest—only list skills you’re confident using

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If you’re not sure where to start, scan the job listing for repeated tools, platforms, or terminology. That’s usually a strong indicator of what matters most. If you’re using Teal’s Resume Builder, you can use Job Matching to pull the top skills directly from any job posting without having to manually review every job description in detail.

💡Pro Tip: Modern templates may have a sidebar for skills or extra info. Make sure to fill those in or delete any placeholder entries.

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Complete additional sections

Now that you’ve filled in the primary sections, you can choose to add a few optional sections to round out making a resume.

These sections are helpful if they add context or show relevant experience, but they’re not required. If your resume already feels strong and complete—the perfect resume for the job you're applying for—it’s fine to stop here. A clean, focused resume is better than one that’s cluttered with unrelated extras.

Look at your resume now. Is there a lot of white space left on page one or important info not yet included? If yes, consider one of the following:

Projects

If you’ve worked on any projects that showcase job-relevant skills (especially in school, freelancing, or on your own)you can include a Projects section. This is especially useful for students, career changers, or those in tech or creative fields.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer experience is a great way to show transferable skills, leadership, and initiative—especially if you’re early in your career or shifting to a new field.

Treat these entries like work experience: include your role, the organization, the dates, and a short bullet or two about what you contributed.

Example:
Volunteer Coordinator – Local Food Bank (2022–2023)
Managed a weekly volunteer schedule and helped distribute food to over 300 households per month.

Awards and Scholarships

If you’ve received formal recognition—like a scholarship, competition win, or “Employee of the Month”—you can create an Awards section. Keep it short and relevant.

Format like this:

Dean’s List – University of Michigan (2020–2022)
Top Sales Performer – Q4 2023, Acme Corp

Publications

If you’ve published work—whether academic papers, articles, or contributions to industry blogs—you can include a Publications section.

Only list items that add credibility to your qualifications. Include the title, outlet, and year.

Example:
“Designing for Accessibility” – UX Journal (2022)

💡 Pro Tip: Only include hobbies if they reinforce your qualifications. For example, coding side projects like robotics can show technical depth for engineering roles, or writing a blog around a specific topic can support a content or marketing-focused resume. Always tie personal interests back to skills the job values.

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Step 5: Review your resume’s format and style

Once your content is in place, polish the layout and structure. This step is about the visual clarity of your resume, not editing for typos or grammar.

Formatting checklist

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Final checks before you send your resume

You’ve built your resume and polished the layout, now do a few quick checks to make sure everything’s ready to go.

• Proofread for typos or small errors. A clean format means nothing if there’s a misspelled job title or inconsistent dates. Read it out loud or from the bottom up to catch anything you’ve missed.
  Hiring managers say typos are one of the top reasons they reject resumes.
• Ask for feedback. A second opinion (whether from a friend, mentor, or someone in your network) can help you spot areas that need clarity or impact.
• Do a quick ATS check. If you’re not using a builder like Teal, open your PDF in a text viewer to make sure all text is selectable (and not stuck in a graphic). That’s a quick way to check for ATS compatibility.
• Save a master version. Store a clean, complete version of your resume that you can duplicate and tailor for different roles. (Teal makes it easy to manage and update multiple versions without starting over.)
• Add a cover letter. While not every job requires a cover letter, if one is requested, include it.

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Examples of resumes

Looking for inspiration? These resume examples show how to turn the steps in this guide into a polished, real-world resume. Each one highlights the right structure, clean formatting, and relevant content for different roles and experience levels.

Example of how to make a resume for entry-level experience

This example highlights essential hard skills and showcases relevant work experience for entry-level candidates.

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Making a resume for a mid-level professional

This mid-level professional resume stays within a one-page format while emphasizing relevant experience.

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Example of how to make a resume for a senior-level professional

This example of how to make a resume for a senior-level professional remains concise at one page—even for a senior-level professional—demonstrating advanced experience and qualifications.

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Ready to make or update your resume quickly? Try it in Teal’s AI Resume Builder.