Everything you need to write, edit, and polish your resume in one place. Whether you’re starting from scratch or are looking for updated best practices, we’ve got you covered with tools, tips, and examples to help you land more interviews and take the next step in your career.
Everyone starts somewhere. Whether this is your very first resume or just a long-overdue refresh, this section walks you through the essentials, explains what matters most, and helps you build a strong foundation with confidence.
From must-haves to optional extras, we’ll break down every resume section step by step. We know it can feel confusing, but we’ll walk you through exactly what to include and how to write it so your resume works for you.
Your contact section is one of the most important parts of your resume. Always include your full name, professional email address, phone number, and city and state so employers can easily reach you.
You can also add optional details like your LinkedIn URL, professional website, or job title if they strengthen your application. Skip personal addresses, multiple phone numbers, or unprofessional emails to keep your resume polished and professional.
Why resume summaries matter: Your resume summary is the first thing recruiters read, and in just a few lines it can determine whether they keep going or move on. A strong summary highlights your most relevant skills, experience, and measurable achievements—making it easy for hiring managers to see your fit at a glance.How to write one: Keep it short, focused, and tailored to the job.
Start with your title and key strengths, add 2–3 skills or experiences that stand out, and back them up with real impact (like metrics or results). If you need inspiration, explore 80+ examples across industries and use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to generate a personalized summary in seconds.
A resume objective is a short statement at the top of your resume that highlights your career goals and how you plan to add value in the role. Unlike a summary, which emphasizes past achievements, an objective is forward-looking—showing employers where you’re headed.
Use one if you’re changing careers, just entering the workforce, or returning after a break. Keep it to 2–3 sentences that connect your skills to the role, avoid vague phrases, and tailor it to each job description. A strong objective can give hiring managers quick context and show your motivation right away.
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It shows employers what you have done, how you have grown, and the results you have achieved. Always list jobs in reverse chronological order and include the company name, job title, dates, and location.
Under each role, add 3 to 5 bullet points that highlight measurable achievements, not just responsibilities. Use action verbs, metrics, and keywords from the job description to show impact and relevance. Tailor this section for every application so hiring managers can see why you are the right fit at a glance.
Your skills section gives employers a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table. Focus on 5–8 skills that are directly relevant to the job, mixing both hard skills (like Python, project management, or SEO) and soft skills (like leadership or communication). Group them in categories when possible to make them easy to scan.
Be selective rather than listing everything you know. Tailor your skills to match the job description, and use keywords that hiring managers and applicant tracking systems look for. This section should complement your work experience by highlighting the tools, abilities, and strengths that make you stand out.
Your education section shows employers the academic foundation behind your qualifications. Always include your degree, school name, location, and graduation date (or expected date if you’re still studying). If relevant, you can also add majors, minors, coursework, research, or honors to highlight expertise that supports your career goals.
Where you place this section depends on your experience level. Students and recent graduates should position it near the top of the resume, while professionals with more work history can move it below their experience. Keep the format consistent, emphasize the most relevant details for each role, and include continuing education or certifications when they strengthen your application.
Projects can highlight your skills and achievements in ways traditional job titles don’t always capture. They’re especially useful if you’re a student, freelancer, career changer, or someone with limited work experience.
You can add projects as their own section, list them under Work Experience, or include them in your Education or Professional Summary. Focus on projects that are relevant to the job you’re applying for and describe them with specific details, action verbs, and measurable results so employers see the impact you’ve made.
Certifications validate your expertise and show employers you meet recognized industry standards. Always list them clearly with the certification name, issuing organization, and completion (or anticipated) date.
You can place certifications in their own section, add them to Education, highlight them in your summary, or even next to your name if they are essential to the role. Only include certifications that are current and relevant to the job you are applying for. Quality and alignment matter more than volume.
Adding hobbies and interests to your resume helps show who you are beyond your work history. Thoughtfully chosen details can highlight soft skills like teamwork and communication, or technical strengths like creativity and problem-solving.
Keep this section short and relevant. Focus on hobbies or interests that connect to the role, align with the company’s culture, or reveal transferable skills. Limit your list to three to five items so they add depth without distracting from your qualifications.
If you have limited work experience, extracurricular activities can help show employers what you bring to the table. They highlight transferable skills like leadership, teamwork, organization, and initiative, giving hiring managers a sense of your character and potential.
Only include activities that are relevant to the role or demonstrate valuable skills. Keep this section concise by listing your most recent or impactful extracurriculars, such as volunteer work, sports, mentorship, or professional clubs. A focused list adds depth to your resume without distracting from your core qualifications.
Your experience already matters, you just need the right words to showcase it. This guide is your step-by-step playbook for writing a resume, with examples, breakdowns, and insider tips so you always know what to do next.
Writing a resume that gets noticed starts with structure and clarity. Begin by choosing the right format, preparing your work history, and setting up a clean template that is easy to read and ATS-friendly. From there, focus on the essentials: contact information, a strong summary, relevant work experience, education, skills, and certifications. Your bullet points should lead with action verbs and highlight measurable results so that each line shows impact rather than just responsibilities.
Once you’ve covered the basics, make your resume stand out by tailoring it to each job. This means adjusting keywords, reordering bullets to highlight what matters most, and removing anything irrelevant. Optional sections like projects, volunteer work, or awards can add depth if they support your story. Finally, proofread for clarity, formatting, and consistency. A polished, customized resume not only shows what you’ve done but why you’re the right fit for the role.
Landing your first job can feel intimidating, but a strong resume helps you stand out even without formal work experience. Focus on what you do have: education, internships, projects, volunteer work, extracurriculars, certifications, and skills. Keep the format clean and easy to read, limit it to one page, and use bullet points that highlight accomplishments rather than just responsibilities. Experiences from school or unpaid work can still show initiative, leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration.
To maximize impact, write a short resume summary, tailor your skills to match the job description, and choose action verbs that emphasize results. Add optional sections like projects or community work if they demonstrate your strengths. A personalized cover letter can also connect your background to the role and show your motivation. With the right structure and framing, your first resume proves you are ready to contribute and grow from day one.
A master resume is your complete career database, capturing every job, project, certification, and skill you’ve built over time. Unlike an application resume that only highlights what’s relevant for a role, this living document keeps all of your achievements in one place. It makes tailoring easy, ensures you never lose important details, and serves as proof of your growth for reviews, negotiations, or sudden opportunities.
To create one, gather your entire career history—work experience, education, certifications, projects, volunteer work, and achievements with measurable results. Record details with metrics and context, and update it regularly so nothing gets lost. Then, when it’s time to apply, you can quickly pull the right skills and bullets to create a polished, tailored resume in minutes. With a master resume, customizing applications stops being overwhelming and becomes a clear competitive advantage.
Resume length depends on your experience, career stage, and industry. Students and early-career professionals should stick to one page. Mid-career candidates typically use one to two pages to highlight growth and results, while executives or specialists may need up to three pages when credentials or technical detail matter most. The goal is always to show the most relevant achievements, not every job you’ve ever had.
Keep your layout clean and easy to scan with short bullet points, clear headings, and simple fonts. Avoid padding short histories, adding irrelevant roles, or using long text blocks. A focused, tailored resume that highlights the right experience will always stand out more than one that is simply longer.
Action verbs turn your resume from a list of tasks into a record of impact. Instead of saying you were “responsible for” something, action verbs like developed, led, or streamlined highlight your direct role and the results you achieved. They make your resume more engaging, help you show measurable outcomes, and differentiate you from other candidates by emphasizing your contributions.
You can use action verbs throughout your resume: in bullet points, summaries, education projects, and even volunteer work. The key is to choose strong, specific verbs, match them to the job description, and tie them to clear results. Done right, they create a resume that shows you are results-oriented and ready to make an impact.
Buzzwords and clichés like “team player,” “detail-oriented,” or “hard worker” might sound impressive, but they make resumes feel generic and unoriginal. Instead of telling employers you’re motivated, passionate, or creative, show it through specific achievements, metrics, and examples. Concrete details demonstrate your skills more effectively than overused phrases ever could.
To make your resume stand out, replace vague buzzwords with strong action verbs, quantifiable results, and industry-specific language that reflects the role you’re applying for. Tailor your wording to the job description and focus on results that highlight your unique value. This approach creates a resume that feels authentic, credible, and impactful.
Resume strengths are the qualities, experiences, and accomplishments that set you apart and show why you’re the right fit for a role. They go beyond basic skills to highlight how you’ve applied your abilities to drive results. Strong resumes don’t just list strengths; they show them through specific achievements, metrics, and examples that make your value clear to employers.
To showcase your strengths effectively, tailor them to the job description, use action verbs, and quantify results wherever possible. Include them across your summary, work experience, and skills sections so they feel integrated into your career story. A strength-based resume helps you stand out by proving not just what you can do, but the measurable impact you’ve already made.
A standout resume combines clean design with targeted content. Use simple fonts, clear headings, and concise bullets that highlight your most relevant experience. Visual polish matters, but it should never distract from your achievements.
To grab attention, focus on measurable results and tailor your summary, skills, and job bullets to the description. Keep it concise, add a personalized cover letter, and proof carefully. These small steps make your resume memorable and increase your chances of landing an interview.
Choose fonts that are professional, clean, and industry-appropriate (serif for traditional fields, sans serif for modern or creative roles).
Stick to a 10–12 pt size for body text and slightly larger for headings to keep everything clear and scannable.
Avoid fonts that are too decorative, thin, or overused since they can make your resume harder to read or less memorable.
Use color strategically to guide attention and emphasize important information without overwhelming the page.
Match your palette to your industry — neutrals and blues for traditional roles, brighter tones for creative fields.
Keep it organized and consistent by assigning specific colors to headings, highlights, or sections so your resume feels structured and professional.
Stick to ATS-safe icons like text-based or vector options, and avoid image-based icons that can scramble parsing.
Use them strategically in non-ATS scenarios such as printed resumes, networking handouts, or portfolio decks.
Keep them minimal and consistent, pairing every icon with text so your resume stays professional, readable, and accessible.
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Once your resume is written, the real magic happens in the fine-tuning. In this section, we’ll walk you through how to edit and polish your resume so it’s clear, concise, and professional. You’ll find tips on tailoring it to each job description, examples of what works today, and advice on the latest resume trends. By the end, you’ll feel confident that your resume is ready to make the strongest impression possible.
Editing your resume is just as important as writing it because it ensures your content is error-free, tailored to the job, and presented in a clear, professional format.
Start by reviewing each section closely, align your bullet points with the job description using strong action verbs and measurable results, and polish the layout so it’s easy to scan. Whether you edit in Word, Google Docs, or PDF, keeping your resume current and ATS-friendly helps you stand out and make the strongest impression possible.
Proofreading your resume is the final step that ensures it’s polished, professional, and free of errors that could cost you an interview. Go beyond catching typos by removing clichés, checking tone, and making sure every section—contact info, summary, work experience, skills, and education—includes the right details in a clear, concise way.
To get the best results, slow down, read your resume aloud, ask for outside feedback, and use tools or techniques that help you spot mistakes and improve clarity.
Punctuation on your resume may seem small, but mistakes with periods, hyphens, capitalization, or bullet formatting can make you look careless and unprofessional. The key is consistency—use periods only on full-sentence bullets, capitalize headers and job titles, apply commas and semicolons correctly, and make sure your hyphens and en dashes are used in the right places.
Strong, uniform punctuation not only improves readability but also ensures your resume communicates clarity and attention to detail, which helps you make the best impression on hiring managers.
Adjectives are powerful tools for bringing your resume to life, helping you describe your skills, work style, and achievements in a way that grabs attention. The best resume adjectives are tailored to your industry and role—for example, “strategic” and “decisive” for leaders, “creative” and “original” for designers, or “accurate” and “methodical” for detail-oriented jobs.
Use them sparingly and combine them with strong action verbs to create impact, while avoiding overused clichés or excessive repetition so your resume feels fresh and authentic.
Tailoring your resume to every job description is the single most effective way to land more interviews. A tailored resume shows hiring managers that you’re a direct fit for the role and ensures your application passes through ATS systems by matching the language and skills in the posting.
Data from millions of resumes proves this works: candidates who tailor their resume land six times more interviews and get hired nearly 60% faster than those who send the same generic version.
Everyone has resume advice—friends, coworkers, even strangers online. Some say keep it to one page, others insist on two. You’ll hear “always quantify achievements” or “never use a template.” Here’s a quick breakdown.
Choose fonts that are professional, clean, and industry-appropriate (serif for traditional fields, sans serif for modern or creative roles).
Stick to a 10–12 pt size for body text and slightly larger for headings to keep everything clear and scannable.
Avoid fonts that are too decorative, thin, or overused since they can make your resume harder to read or less memorable.
Use color strategically to guide attention and emphasize important information without overwhelming the page.
Match your palette to your industry — neutrals and blues for traditional roles, brighter tones for creative fields.
Keep it organized and consistent by assigning specific colors to headings, highlights, or sections so your resume feels structured and professional.
Stick to ATS-safe icons like text-based or vector options, and avoid image-based icons that can scramble parsing.
Use them strategically in non-ATS scenarios such as printed resumes, networking handouts, or portfolio decks.
Keep them minimal and consistent, pairing every icon with text so your resume stays professional, readable, and accessible.
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Learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to write a professional resume, with expert prompts, detailed guides, and real examples that show you what works.
Yes, the AI Resume Builder is designed to accelerate the process of creating new resume content from scratch. The AI writing features allow you to generate full, impactful content for all important sections of your resume, from your summary, resume bullets, skills, to your cover letter and on.
This means you can start using AI to create a resume right away, without needing an existing resume or having to provide much detail.
To make best use of AI, we recommend providing your desired job title, previous positions, and key details about your accomplishments in those roles. The more information that you share about your career history, the more personalized and targeted your AI-generated resume will be.
The AI resume features use advanced GPT technology to analyze, generate, and revise resume content on a section-by-section basis. The AI features work in two main ways:
For new resumes:
For existing resumes:
The AI also assists in comparing resumes to job descriptions, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring ATS compatibility.
AI significantly enhances your resume writing process in several ways:
The AI resume writer is trained to optimize sentence structure, use strong action verbs, and emphasize accomplishments over mere responsibilities, allowing you to focus on substance while ensuring consistency and quality.
Our AI Resume Builder stands out from other resume platforms in a few key areas:
To get the best results from our AI Resume Builder:
Our AI Resume Builder excels at keyword optimization, particularly when using the Job Matching feature.
Here's how it works:
This process will help ensure that your resume aligns with what employers and ATS systems are looking for.
Absolutely.
There are, of course, free resume builder options available with a tool like Teal. Starting with the base product is an excellent way to get used to the process and create a free professional resume. However, with Teal+, you can get even deeper with the AI-powered resume builder functionality, unlimited advanced resume analysis, resume keyword matching, and more. Job seekers who leverage Teal are getting out applications faster and landing more interviews.
Crafting an effective resume is no small feat - much thought and creativity are required to get it right.
We developed thousands of resume examples to help you tailor your resume to the individual job and industry you are pursuing. A tailored resume can be the difference between a generic, forgettable submission and a standout application that lands you an interview. All of our professionally developed resume samples provide structural tips, formatting advice, and position-specific examples of summaries, work experiences, and skills sections that you can use as a guide when building your own resume.
Yes. Teal offers a selection/library of resume templates within Design Mode of the builder. You will have access to some resume templates for free, as well as more advanced premium templates with a Teal+ subscription.
Absolutely! While our AI excels at resume creation, it's also a powerful tool for other aspects of your job application process. It can help you:
No. Employers can’t “detect” whether a resume was created with an AI resume builder. What they look for is accuracy, relevance, and whether your resume meets the requirements of the role. Teal’s AI resume builder helps you create tailored, truthful resumes that are both ATS-friendly and compelling to human readers.
Yes — ChatGPT can help you write resume content, but it isn’t designed specifically for resume building. Teal’s AI resume builder is built for job seekers, with ATS-friendly templates, keyword matching, and formatting tools that make your resume ready to send immediately.
Yes. Millions of job seekers use AI resume builders to save time and improve the quality of their resumes. Teal’s AI resume builder combines professional templates, ATS-friendly formatting, and AI-powered suggestions so you can create resumes that work in real hiring processes.
