What Makes a Good Resume?
Evidence-based tips to help your resume get past ATS systems and land more interviews
Validate Your Resume (Free)Do
- Use numbers and metrics
"Increased sales by 37% ($2.1M)" beats "Improved sales performance"
- Match job title word-for-word
If posting says "Project Coordinator," write "Project Coordinator" — ATS scans for exact matches
- Start bullets with strong action verbs
Led, Spearheaded, Optimized, Delivered — not "Responsible for" or "Worked on"
- Keep it simple and clean
Single-column, black text, standard fonts (Arial, Calibri) — ATS systems choke on fancy designs
- Tailor for each job
Tweak summary and key bullets to match the posting — can double your response rate
- Focus on outcomes, not tasks
"What changed because you were there?" — not just what you did
- Use white space strategically
Dense text kills attention — aim for 30%+ white space for easy scanning
Don't
- Use fancy templates or graphics
Two-column layouts, images, charts — ATS can't read them (86% vs 93% parse rate)
- Stuff with filler words
"Hardworking," "team player," "go-getter" — recruiters aren't searching for adjectives
- Write more than two pages
One page if under 10 years experience — no one's reading a novel
- Include personal details
Date of birth, marital status, photo — not relevant and can introduce bias
- Use headers/footers for important info
ATS often can't parse headers — put contact info in main body text
- Leave unexplained gaps
Address employment gaps briefly and positively (freelance, upskilling, caregiving)
- Sound like a job description
If it reads like copy-paste from your job posting, rewrite it — show impact, not duties
Check Your Resume
Key Principles (Research-Backed)
1. ATS Compatibility is Non-Negotiable
97.8% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems. If your resume can't be parsed, you're auto-rejected.
✓ Use standard section headers: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills"
✓ Stick to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (10-12pt)
✓ Single-column layout only
2. Quantify Everything You Can
Resumes with quantified achievements get 40% more interview callbacks. Numbers = instant credibility.
✓ Financial impact: "Increased revenue by $500K"
✓ Efficiency: "Reduced processing time by 30%"
✓ Scale: "Managed team of 12 across 3 locations"
3. Optimize for the 7.4-Second Scan
Recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds on initial screening. Your most impressive achievements must jump out immediately.
✓ Lead with your strongest bullet points
✓ Use white space strategically (30%+ of page)
✓ Keep bullets to 1-2 lines maximum
4. Tailor for Every Application
Generic resumes get generic results. Tailoring can double your response rate.
✓ Mirror keywords from job description (80-90% match rate)
✓ Adjust professional summary to match role requirements
✓ Reorder bullets to emphasize most relevant experience
Not Sure If Your Resume Meets These Standards?
Get instant, AI-powered feedback on your resume quality