How to write a resume that stands out to recruiters

Recruiters spend only a few seconds on each resume before deciding whether to keep reading. In that time, they scan for three things:

Many companies, particularly large ones, also use software called an applicant tracking system (ATS), a tool that scans resumes for keywords from the job posting before a human ever sees them. A resume that is both ATS-friendly and easy to read covers both bases.

A resume format is the structure you use to organize your experience. The right one typically depends on your work history. There are three common options:

A chronological resume is the most widely used format. This works well if you have consistent experience in the same field and no significant gaps between roles.

A functional resume de-emphasizes dates and employers and leads with your skills instead. It's typically best for individuals returning to work after a break or switching to a new industry.

A hybrid resume combines a focused skills section at the top with a reverse-chronological job history below. It works well for early-career job seekers who want to highlight what they can do directly alongside where they've worked.

Use the table above as a guide. If you have steady experience in one field, list it chronologically. If you are switching careers or have gaps, functional or hybrid formats let your skills lead.

Place your contact information at the top of the page in a slightly larger or bolder font than the rest of the document. Keep it simple and scannable:

A resume summary is a two- to three-sentence introduction at the top of your resume. It replaces the older "objective statement" and tells the recruiter who you are, what you bring to the table, and what kind of role you're looking for, using language from the job posting where possible.

A strong summary might read: "Customer service associate with three years in retail and food service. Experienced in POS systems, conflict resolution, and team training. Looking for a supervisory role in a fast-paced environment."

Not everyone uses a resume summary, but if you do, make sure it's clear and succinct and uses keywords the recruiters are looking for.

This is the core of your resume. For each job, include:

Each bullet works best when it starts with an action verb and ends with a result. For example: "Trained five new team members on the POS system, cutting onboarding time from two weeks to one."

A skills section is a short, bulleted list of your abilities. Hard skills are technical, such as software tools, programming languages, and certifications. Soft skills are interpersonal skills, such as communication, time management, and problem-solving. The more specific you can be, the better. Pull relevant keywords directly from the job description to help with ATS keyword matching.

List your degree or diploma, the school name, and your graduation year. Recent graduates can add GPA if it is above 3.5, and relevant coursework or academic projects if they relate to the role. Certifications and licenses belong here too, with the granting organization and year.

Read your resume backward, from the last word to the first, to catch typos your eye might skip over. Ask someone else to review it as well. Save the file as a PDF to preserve formatting unless the application has specifically requested a different file type.

A tailored resume is one that reflects the specific language and priorities of each job posting. Generic resumes are easier to write but harder to gain recruiters' notice.

Start by reading the job description carefully and noting the exact skills, tools, and qualifications listed. Then adjust the following three parts of your resume to match:

A helpful approach is to keep a master resume with all of your experience, then create a tailored version for each application. This keeps the process more manageable and efficient while improving the quality of matching for each individual role.

Vague bullets like "helped with customer service" or "worked on social media" don't give a recruiter much information. Strong bullets start with an action verb and include a number or outcome.

Here's a simple formula to help: action verb + what you did + result or metric

And some examples of converting weak bullets to strong ones:

Useful categories for quantifying your experience include:

An ATS converts your resume into plain text and scans it for keywords. Formatting that looks polished in a PDF can confuse the parser if it uses tables, text boxes, graphics, or unusual fonts. Career advisers at MIT recommend that you keep the formatting plain so an ATS can read every line correctly.

To keep your resume readable by both software and humans:

Even well-written resumes lose points for avoidable errors. The most common ones include:

A thin work history doesn't automatically mean a weak resume. Experience from school projects, volunteer work, internships, caregiving, and part-time jobs all demonstrate real skills.

Transferable skills, which are abilities that apply across jobs, include communication, organization, customer service, digital tools, and problem-solving. A class project that required planning, research, and a final presentation demonstrates several of these at once.

For early-career resumes, a functional or hybrid format lets your skills lead. A short skills section up top can be followed by projects, activities, and any paid or unpaid work, each with brief bullet points focusing on what was done and the results.

Examples of early-career bullets include:

Resumes have a trust problem. Inflated titles, overstated results, and invented credentials are a challenge for recruiters. In Checkr's 2025 Hiring Hoax Survey of 3,000 hiring managers, 60 percent said they had encountered misrepresentation on a resume, and another 13% had suspected it. Credibility comes from being specific, consistent, and verifiable.

One way to strengthen credibility is to attach verified proof to your claims. Checkr lets you build a free Checkr Profile, confirming your identity once and using it to back your resume. A verified resume is linked to a Profile that can include verified identity, education, professional licenses, and references. Checkr adds a tamper-proof Verified badge, signaling to recruiters that the resume's details have been checked.

You can also run a background check on yourself through Checkr to preview what an employer might see and correct any inaccuracies before you apply. If you are an employer rather than a job seeker, you can run background checks on your candidates instead.

Checkr keeps adding tools to the Profile, so it grows more useful across job searches, platforms, and anywhere trust matters.

A strong resume comes down to a few repeatable habits. Choose a format that fits your history, tailor each version to the job, and lead each bullet with a real result rather than just a duty. Keep the layout clean enough for both an applicant tracking system and a person to read, and proofread carefully before you send. Grade your resume with Checkr today.

You can strengthen your resume by being specific and verifiable, and by creating a free Checkr Profile that attaches verified proof to your work experience. When you’re ready, start a personal background check to see what employers might see, then apply with confidence.

For job candidates with under ten years of experience, one page is standard. Senior professionals with extensive work history commonly use two pages.

The 3 C's are clear, concise, and consistent. They describe how information should be presented so that recruiters can quickly find and trust it.

In the United States, photos are generally left off resumes due to potential bias concerns in the hiring process. However, norms differ across countries and within some creative industries. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission prohibits employers from requesting a photo from a candidate until a job offer has been made and accepted.

A brief, factual note works well: mention freelance work, caregiving, education, or skill-building in the summary or next to dates, then let your current qualifications carry the rest.

Yes. The functional format leads with transferable skills rather than job titles and dates, which helps career changers highlight what they bring to a new field before listing their work history.

About the author

Checkr is the data platform that powers safe and fair decisions. We’re a technology company that helps our customers assess risk, modernize hiring, and cultivate trusted relationships in their workplaces and communities.