Resume Help

When you are making your case for a new job, it is your blend of resume skills that will show a hiring manager whether you are qualified for the role.

These resume skills might be listed in a specific section, described within your work experience , or even subtly implied in the summary, and they are an essential ingredient in your job search story. They are the foundation of your achievements.

The thing is, once you have listed a skill in your resume you have to be able to back it up with the career story that lies behind it. Resume skills are the strengths , talents, traits and wisdom that you have acquired throughout your education and career. The skills are your badges of honour, but it is the achievements that those skills support that are the hero content of any job search. This guide will cover how to go about showcasing your resume skills to the best effect, including:

• Why skills are your job search currency
• The difference between hard skills and soft skills
• How do you list special skills on a resume?
• Tips to match your skills to the job requirements
• How to convey your level of proficiency
• Top ten skills for ten common job functions
• Top ten skills for ten common professions

The difference between hard and soft skills

Hard (or technical) resume skills are all the practical, industry-specific tools and know-how needed for a job. Hard skills are quantifiable and usually learned in school, on the job, or training. Hard resume skills can usually be tested and are sometimes verified during the hiring process. 

A modern trend we see across the millions of resumes created with Resume.io is that more job seekers use hard skills to optimize the keywords on their resume. This strategy is an especially important step for candidates applying to larger companies who are likely to use Applicant Tracking Software (an ATS) to automatically filter and score resumes based on a list of keywords in the job description. 

Soft resume skills are usually aspects of your personality, work style, or effectiveness that are harder to measure or quantify. Soft skills are especially important for positions of leadership or positions where you are interacting with customers. When you have two candidates of similar backgrounds and professional qualities, it is often the soft skills that can be the deciding factor in who is hired.

Once hiring managers assess your hard skills to know you can get the job done, they look to your soft skills to know if you can get the job done well. For many modern offices and creative start-ups, a company culture fit could be the edge over someone with the same hard skills. Soft skills speak louder in some situations.

Key rules for including resume skills

How do you describe skills on a resume? There is much more to describing your skills on your resume than a few afterthoughts in the skills section. Rare skills may need some explanation, certain skills may crop up over and over again and how do you ensure that your very top skills are most visible?

1. Demonstrate an impressively rare skill set

One of the best ways to send a hiring manager to sleep is to include the same resume skills as every other candidate. When they read the words communication skills for the tenth time, they will mentally pigeon-hole you with all the rest of the average candidates.

If they think that you are average because you have included the same average skills as everyone else, it will be incredibly hard to shift that perception if you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview.

2. Avoid excessive resume skill repetition

When you have multiple places to share your skills, it is easy to think that repetition is a powerful way of getting your message across. Believe me, it isn’t. Even if you use different words to describe the same resume skill, you need to realize that your resume real estate is far too valuable to be doing this.

In order to come across as a rounded professional, you should seek to highlight as many different skills as possible in the skills section, employment history and summary. By all means, repeat a couple of the really core resume skills, but variety is definitely your friend. 

The more skills that a hiring manager can read on a resume, the more interesting the potential interview with you might prove.

3. Ensure your top resume skills are the most visible

In the table below you can find the three places to list your resume skills. There are different ways to describe your skill set to a potential employer, but if there are skills that you want to shout about from the rooftops, you should absolutely put them (or describe them) in your summary or skills section.

You might think that a potential employer might read every detail of your work experience, but that may not be the case for many reasons. You can’t afford for critical skills to be lost in your general work experience, so put them at the top of your resume in the summary or in the specific skills section (where they are most visible but have the least context).

Tips to match your skills to job requirements

When adding resume skills, it helps to know your audience. As you apply to jobs, consider three sources to understand how your audience might react to the resume skills: the job description, the company, and the industry. 

Read the job description to understand the important keywords and tone of voice. How does the job description talk about skills? Are there any required skills? Be sure to list and talk about skills on your resume in a similar way the job description uses. 

Research the company to figure out the company culture. Does the company put an emphasis on innovation and learning? Does the company seem like it would have an appreciation for creative skills or like they might put a stronger emphasis on soft skills? Know what type of skills the company values overall and be sure to include those skills on your resume. 

Understand the industry to align the skills on your resume with the expectations of your industry. Demonstrate your experience and industry knowledge by talking about the skills on your resume exactly the way an industry insider would expect. 

How to convey your level of skill proficiency

How do you list a skill level on a resume? Well, how long is a piece of string, and how can you compare it to all the other bits of string?

The difficult thing with a resume is that it is difficult to indicate that level of proficiency you have in a certain skill. If your ability with Excel is basic, you might think twice about including it in your skills section, but not including it might mean that the ATS rejects you before a hiring manager has even read a word.

One easy solution for this is including a skills section that has a graphical representation for the level of skill (with bars, stars or some other visual effect). This is quite basic, but it is effective and will allow you to include those must-have skills without having to overplay your experience.

It is true to say that your experiences will give an indication of your proficiency in certain skills, so don’t waste too much resume space in detailing exactly what level of skill you possess in a certain area. That will come at a later stage in the interview.

Top ten skills for 10 common job functions

Scroll to the right to view more job functions.

education	administrative	medical	accounting & finance	business & management	hospitality & catering	sales	real estate	retail	engineering
Ability to Work in a Team	Customer Service	Ability to Work in a Team	Customer Service	Adaptability	Excellent Customer Service Skills	Customer Service	Communication Skills	Customer Service	Analytical Thinking Skills
Communication Skills	Multitasking Skills	Strong Communication Skills	Leadership	Microsoft Office	Communication Skills	Ability to Work in a Team	Project Management Skills	Fast Learner	Design Skills
Fast Learner	Excellent Communication Skills	Communication Skills	Communication Skills	Communication Skills	Ability to Work in a Team	Communication Skills	Microsoft Office	Ability to Work in a Team	Mechanical Engineering
Strong Organizational Skills	Microsoft Office	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Adaptability	Customer Service	Customer Service	Fast Learner	AutoCAD	Communication Skills	Project Management
Excellent Customer Service Skills	Fast Learner	Excellent Communication Skills	Ability to Multitask	Leadership	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Adobe Photoshop	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Microsoft Office
Customer Service	Communication Skills	Customer Service	Interpersonal Skills	Interpersonal Communication Skills	Fast Learner	Adaptability	Ability to Work in a Team	Adaptability	Creative Mindset
Adaptability	Ability to Work in a Team	Fast Learner	Microsoft Office	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Multitasking Skills	Ability to Multitask	Multitasking Skills	Ability to Multitask	Complex Problem Solving
Advanced Computer System Skills	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Adaptability	Ability to Work in a Team	Multitasking Skills	Adaptability	Effective Time Management	Customer Service	Effective Time Management	Creative Problem Solving
Ability to Work Under Pressure	Computer Skills	Leadership Skills	Management	Ability to Work in a Team	Ability to Multitask	Communication	Excellent Communication Skills	Communication	Ability to Work in a Team
Effective Time Management	Adaptability	Ability to Multitask	Time Management	Problem Solving Skills	Advanced Communication Skills	Computer Skills	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Computer Skills	Decision Making Skills

Top ten skills for 10 common professions

Scroll to the right to see more job functions.

teacher	customer service	registered nurse	accountant	internship	student	cna	college student	high school student	administrative assistant
Ability to Work in a Team	Customer Service	Patient Advocacy	Leadership	Teamwork Skills	Strong Organizational Skills	Communication Skills	Ability to Work in a Team	Strong Organizational Skills	Administrative Support Skills
Communication Skills	Ability to Work in a Team	Teamwork Skills	Interpersonal Skills	Motivated Attitude	Excellent Customer Service Skills	Ability to Work in a Team	Customer Service	Excellent Customer Service Skills	Scheduling Skills
Excellent Communication Skills	Communication Skills	Strong Interpersonal Communication Skills	Management	Ability to Work in a Team	Communication Skills	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Communication Skills	Advanced Computer System Skills	Microsoft Office
Adaptability	Fast Learner	Knowledgable in Medical Terminology and Procedures	Recruiting	Honesty and Integrity	Ability to Work in a Team	Customer Service	Fast Learner	Communication Skills	Customer Service
Classroom Management	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Trauma and ER Experience	Communication Skills	Fast Learner	Advanced Computer System Skills	Adaptability	Adaptability	Ability to Work in a Team	Editing and Proofreading Skills
Effective Time Management	Computer Skills	Effective Time Management	Microsoft Office	Communication Skills	Fast Learner	Fast Learner	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Fast Learner	Inventory Control Skills
Fast Learner	Ability to Multitask	Ability to Work in a Team	Microsoft Excel	Interpersonal Communication Skills	Customer Service	Ability to Multitask	Communication	Leadership Skills	Event Planning
Ability to Work Under Pressure	Adaptability	Ability to Work in a Team	Effective Time Management	Adaptability	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Communication	Microsoft Office	Adaptability	Dictation Skills
Computer Skills	Effective Time Management	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Ability to Work in a Team	Microsoft Office	Adaptability	Effective Time Management	Leadership	Friendly and Outgoing Attitude	Communication Skills
Curriculum and Instruction	Microsoft Office	Communication Skills	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Ability to Work Under Pressure	Effective Time Management	Leadership Skills	Computer Skills	Multitasking Skills	Effective Time Management

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about strengths to put on a resume, including:

• What exactly are personal strengths in resumes
• Specific examples of the best strengths to use
• How to find your strengths if you’re early on in your career
• Weaknesses that can disqualify your resume

What are strengths in resumes?

The strengths are the strong points of your resume. They can come in the form of knowledge or skills you’ve mastered, or they might be the qualities of the resume itself that make the hiring manager stop and take notice of you. In this blog, we’ll talk about all of these different types of strengths to put on a resume.

First, let’s take a look at some of the strengths that can make your resume stand out no matter what field you work in:

• An attractive header: As the topmost part of the resume, a great header helps sell you from the moment the hiring manager lays eyes on the page. A header that emphasizes your name and contact information while adding a bit of color or good design is one of the biggest strengths to have on your resume.
• Clean formatting: The same goes for the rest of the page. Your formatting should have a good balance of white space to text and be easy to read. Make sure to use the same font and color selections throughout to show consistency and a refined style.
• Error-free writing: One of the biggest strengths that will put you ahead of other candidates is writing that’s free of any spelling or grammar mistakes. Make sure to use spell-check, or ask a friend to proofread your resume.
• A job-specific resume: One of the most critical strengths to include in any resume is job-specific information. The job description is a big help here since it tells you the exact skills and knowledge the company is looking for. Make sure to use these references throughout your resume.
• A confident yet respectful tone: The right tone can be one of the best personal strengths in a resume. You’ll want to advocate for yourself and your abilities without coming across as arrogant or presumptuous.
• Properly labeled sections: While it might seem fun or creative to give your resume sections slightly unusual names, this will likely frustrate a hiring manager who has limited time to find the information they care about most. Instead, stick to traditional labels like “Education” or “Employment History.”
• Concrete numbers and details: After you’ve found your strengths to list on resume, you’ll need to back them up with factual information that proves your effectiveness. Statistics, numbers and details can help add weight to your accomplishments .

Examples of personal strengths to list on a resume

Now let’s take a look at the other type of resume strengths: your core abilities that make you an excellent hire for the role. What are your greatest strengths? What are the strengths of a good employee? While the best personal strengths for your resume will depend somewhat on your field and experience level, here are some global examples of good resume strengths to write on any resume:

Strategic planning: The ability to think critically about the company’s objectives and your role within them will show a hiring manager that you’re a candidate who will pay back dividends. Strategic planning is a strength closely related to critical thinking, innovation and analytics – all some of the top strengths companies are looking for.

Communication: Great communication skills are a strength that never goes out of style. You can showcase your ability to express yourself clearly and effectively not only through your work-related examples but also with the right tone and error-free writing of your resume itself.

Resourcefulness: There’s a reason why “problem-solving” and “solutions-oriented” are job description buzzwords – hiring managers are looking for candidates who can look at a problem from multiple angles and tackle it with a positive attitude. Resourcefulness is a core resume strength for any great application.

Teamwork: Like communication, teamwork is a strength as old as time, yet just as in demand today as ever when talking about strengths in resumes. Often rebranded as “collaboration,” teamworks means you are nimble enough to lead or follow as needed and can bring the best out of your colleagues to achieve results.

Finding strengths in resumes for freshers

Finding strengths to write on a resume as a fresher (that's “freshman” in the U.S.) or a new graduate can be daunting. However, it’s important to remember that some of the best strengths for your resume are the ones you already possess. By focusing on your personality traits or innate talents you can show a hiring manager that your strengths are ones they’d have a hard time teaching in someone who doesn’t naturally possess them. 

Here are some examples of resume strengths for those will little experience:

• Willingness to learn
• Creativity
• Positive attitude
• Motivated
• Self-directed
• Patient

How to add key strengths to your resume

One you’ve identified the core resume strengths to list on your CV, you’ll need to make a plan for incorporating them. There are three main areas where you’ll want to focus on adding strengths to your resume:

1. Summary : Your summary section is the one place where you’ll be able to speak directly to the hiring manager on your resume. That’s why it’s such a great place to include resume strength examples. With a professional yet sincere tone, you can quickly draw a hiring manager’s attention to your top abilities and encourage them to keep reading for more detail.
2. Employment History: This section gives you the most space to expand on your strengths with those all-important numbers and details to quantify your accomplishments. The employment history section is the best place to include strengths that take more than a word or two to describe.
3. Skills: The skills section is the place to emphasize your most important personal strengths in your resume. The bullet-point format of this section lends itself well to strengths that can be summed up in just a single word or short phrase. Make sure you include both hard skills and soft skills. 

How NOT to list strengths on a resume

One of the worst ways to highlight your strengths is to fall back on common resume cliches. The following terms are used in resumes so often that they’ve become somewhat meaningless:

• Self-starter
• Team player
• Thinks outside the box
• Detail-oriented
• Hard-working
• Go-getter
• Results-oriented
• Communication skills

Communication skills, for example, are very important, but when everyone claims to have communication skills, this phrase won’t set you apart. Be more specific. Are you a “dynamic public speaker”? “Excellent listener”? “Able to communicate policies effectively to staff”? “Skilled at customer interaction”? Say so.

Weaknesses on resumes

Some of the biggest examples of weaknesses on your resume come in the form of what you don’t do. For example, forgetting to proofread before submitting can mean a hiring manager is turned off by a resume full of spelling errors. Likewise, a generic resume that fails to mention specific responsibilities or skills from the job description can quickly end up at the bottom of the pile. Luckily, by following the recommendations for strengths in resumes found in the first chapter of this blog, you can easily avoid many of the biggest weaknesses that would disqualify your resume . 

Yet here you have the golden opportunity to summarize your greatest professional qualities in your own words — as if creating a self-portrait in writing. If done well, your resume summary can start off your CV with a bang, catching hiring managers’ attention immediately. But if done poorly, it can be an instant turnoff.

In this guide we’ll explore the answers to the following questions, with actual resume summary examples:

• What is a resume summary?
• What is the objective of the professional summary?
• Should you have a summary on your CV?
• How do you write a profile summary?

What is a resume summary?

The resume summary is also known as a resume profile, and sometimes as a personal statement or job objective. The resume summary serves to summarize your experience, skills and other qualifications for any job you’re seeking. 

Unlike the rest of the resume, the summary is not in the form of a list, but is written in your own words in the order you choose. This means the summary is a unique opportunity to highlight your most impressive qualifications right up front, and also to showcase your personality, passion and drive. 

Every resume should have at least five elements : 

• Header with contact info
• Resume summary
• Employment history
• Education
• Skills

Notice that other than the resume summary, all of these are lists: lists of the ways to contact you, of your past jobs, of your past schools and of your skills . There’s not a lot of freedom for creative expression in these sections — you’re mostly just putting facts on the page.

But the professional resume summary is a blank canvas for you to introduce yourself and boast a little about what makes you a great candidate for the job you want. So you need to choose your words very carefully.

A resume summary should generally be about four or five lines across the top of your resume, a total of three or four sentences. But note that you don’t even need complete sentences, as the word “I” is not really necessary. Below is a professional summary example.

What is the objective of a profile / summary on your resume?

The objective of a resume summary is to provide a “quick read” synopsis that allows a job recruiter to rapidly scan what you consider your top qualifications for employment. 

Hiring managers may or may not have time to read every word of your resume, ponder all your bullet points and process all your self-described skills. But the resume summary at the top of the page should showcase the most relevant and impressive points to consider from the entire resume.

If the resume summary doesn’t make a positive impression, the rest of the resume probably won’t either. But if the professional summary makes recruiters say, “Wow, this sounds great,” then they’re likely to scrutinize the rest of your resume closely — which, in turn, increases the chances of a positive response to your job application.

Should you have a summary on your CV?

The answer to “should you include a summary / profile on your CV?” is a resounding “yes!”. Note that outside the U.S. and Canada, resumes are generally called CVs (curriculum vitae). But whether you call it a resume summary or a CV summary, it’s basically the same element, governed by the same goals.

IIs a summary necessary on a resume? Without a doubt, it is absolutely essential. 

No. 1, any job recruiter would find it odd if you left this out, since it’s one of the basic elements of every resume. And No. 2, without a summary you’d be forfeiting a unique opportunity to describe in your own words all the reasons you’re a great job candidate. 

If you’re tempted to skip the CV summary, perhaps to save space, don’t even think about it. It’s arguably the most important section of the entire resume.

 

How do you write a resume summary?

Resume summary writing is probably the most challenging aspect of your job application. Don’t rush it. When you sit down to write your resume summary, take some time to think about your greatest strengths , along with the life experiences that best demonstrate your competence for the job you’re seeking. Consider these tips to guide your resume summary writing:

• Brainstorm a master list of what you might include.

Brainstorming is a process in which you write down ALL ideas, as if no idea is a bad one — even if the list ends up being way too long . This kind of uncensored thinking will inevitably result in a lot of stuff you’ll have to throw out. But it can also produce some unexpected gems that you wouldn’t have considered if you were trying to edit the list in your mind before writing anything down.

• Consider all your qualifications, not just the obvious.

If you have years of experience in your field, an advanced degree and every certification under the sun, these are all clearly points to consider in writing your resume summary.

But try to look beyond your experience, education and skills toward less obvious aspects of your candidacy. These might include your innate drive, passion, creativity and resourcefulness. 

• Use powerful, provocative language.

Avoid flabby, weak, vague language. Search your vocabulary for strong action verbs , descriptive adjectives and compelling, original ways of expressing yourself. Your writing needs to be free of clichés and “fluff,” which is language that sounds fancy but says nothing.

• Don’t repeat yourself.

Try to avoid repeating any major word in your professional summary. For example, don’t describe yourself as “an experienced educator” and then say you have 10 years of “experience teaching in public schools.” Don’t say you are “a passionate graphic designer” and then say you have a “passion for effective design.” This kind of repetitive writing is indicative of lazy and unimaginative thinking. 

• Strive for a variety of sentence constructions with an ear-pleasing “flow.”

“Flow” is a writing skill in which sentences are structured so that one transitions naturally to the next. It involves changing up the way you write each sentence, providing variety in your approach, and making sure the end result is not choppy or jarring. One way to check for good flow is to reread your resume summary out loud to make sure it just “sounds right” when you read the whole thing from beginning to end.

• Customize your resume summary for ATS software.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software programs that employers use to filter resumes according to whether they contain critical keywords . For example, if a top law firm is specifically seeking an attorney with experience in mergers and acquisitions, it’s likely to program its ATS to search resumes for that precise term — “mergers and acquisitions.” If the law firm receives 500 resumes and 100 of them don’t have that crucial phrase, the ATS is likely to route those to a reject pile. Then the human being responsible for this hire can focus on the 400 resumes that do. 

The best way to pass the ATS test is to scrutinize each job listing for the precise qualifications the employer is seeking, and to include those words in your resume. The professional summary can be an excellent place to do this.

A related issue: Resumes should be adaptable documents that are customized for each job application . Resumes can be presented in various formats, but stone is not one of them. Be prepared to revise your resume to target each potential employer.

• Proofread carefully.

Reread your resume relentlessly, and your resume summary in particular, to make sure it contains no typos, misspellings, bad grammar or strange punctuation. In a one-page document, even one writing error can sink your ship.

To sum up:

Resume summary examples

There’s nothing like practical material for inspiration. Below are some resume summary examples that hit the right notes in various professions. Review these resume summary samples to plan how to better write your own:

Use these resume summary examples for inspiration, and follow our tips to craft a summary of your own that will impress recruiters. 

Resume.io is a leading provider of resume templates and occupation-specific writing guides , and our builder tool makes it easy to prepare your own. Best of luck, and happy job hunting!

But what exactly are soft skills and how do you incorporate them in your resume? In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know including:

• The difference between hard and soft skills
• The best places to include soft skills for resume
• The most important soft skills employers are seeking
• List of soft skills examples for resume

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are personal traits that affect how you behave and perform in the workplace. The most common examples of soft skills are communication skills , time management , attention to detail , leadership and work ethic. Soft skills are usually qualities candidates already possess, as opposed to ones that are learned on the job. Employers pay particular attention to soft skills because they can make all the difference when two applicants have similar educational backgrounds or experience levels.

Hard skills	Soft skills
Requires specialized knowledge	Quality that you’ve always had or developed through social experience
May take years of practice or training to master	Hard to train in people who don’t have it already
Often involves a physical object or computer software	Often the “ strengths part” of your answer to “What are my strengths and weaknesses?”

In technical industries, soft skills can’t replace the need for hard skills. For example, a graphic designer who doesn’t know Photoshop likely won’t get hired on their positive attitude alone. However, against several candidates with the same technical abilities, a resume with the right soft skills can quickly push one applicant to the top of the list.

Soft skills examples for resumes can include:

• Leadership
• Team management
• Emotional intellect
• Empathy
• Bedside manner (for medical professionals)
• Building customer relationships
• Timely communication
• Dedication

What soft skills should I put on my resume?

The two most important rules for placing soft skills on your resume are: accuracy and relevancy. This means the soft skills you describe should reflect your work experience and/or achievements, as well as be relevant to the job you’re targeting.

The soft skills you should put on your resume largely comes down to two factors: your actual qualities and the job description. Sure, you can Google lists of top soft skills for resumes, but if they’re not true to your experience or not what the company values, then they might not do you any favors.

Your qualities: Start by creating a master list of all the soft skills you possess and would feel comfortable demonstrating in your next position. Above all, your soft skills should be accurate, with examples to back them up.

The job description: Once you’re comfortable with your own abilities, take another look at the job description to hone in on what your prospective employer values most. Look for similarities between your own list and the soft skills mentioned in the job description. Do some background research on the company to get more information about the workplace culture. Consider the industry as a whole and where your employer fits in the picture. These insights will help you narrow down your master list to the top 5 soft skills you should include on your resume.

Where do soft skills go on a CV?

Your first instinct might be to jump straight to the CV’s skills section, but soft skills will actually need to be placed throughout your resume, integrated in nearly every resume section in various ways. This includes placing your skills in the Summary , Employment History and (obviously) your Skills list. 

Here is a breakdown of how to include soft skills in three different resume sections:

Summary

In the summary section, also known as a profile or personal statement, your soft skills will likely take the form of personal adjectives. Since the summary is all about grabbing the hiring manager’s attention, make sure to include only the most relevant soft skills, ones that you know the company is looking for.

CV skills example for the summary: Highly organized and outgoing personal assistant with more than 7 years of experience scheduling some of the biggest names in reality television.

Employment History

The most important element of the employment history section is that it gives you the space to back up your soft skills with numbers and details. Just about anyone can write that they have great communication skills, but how can they prove it? Your employment history section is the place to show a hiring manager that your soft skills equal gains for the company.

CV skills example for the employment history: Routinely communicated with more than 30 patients a day in a busy private practice, following up to relay test results in an accurate and timely manner.

Skills Section

While the bullet point nature of the skills section lends itself well to more technical abilities , it would be a mistake to leave off the soft skills entirely. The skills section is a great place for more specific soft skills that you weren’t able to expand upon in the employment history section i.e. public speaking, negotiation or mentoring. These abilities can stand on their own, whereas ideas like creativity or communication often benefit from some explanation.

Resume soft skills list example: storytelling, willingness to learn, grant writing, dispute resolution, team management, decision making

The top 7 soft skills for resumes with examples

Still a little stuck on which soft skills are the best for your resume? Here’s a list of our top 7 soft skills examples for resumes which you can modify for your own needs and experience: collaboration, adaptability, resourcefulness, positive attitude, work ethic, willingness to learn, critical thinking.

Let’s analyze them in detail below and provide some related soft skills for each one.

1. Collaboration

Collaboration is a great catch-all term for several abilities related to working with others. This soft skill implies that you actively listen to your teammates and work with them towards a common goal. It also means that sometimes you might step up to lead, but you also know how to follow instructions when that’s what’s called for. Here are some other soft skills for resume related to collaboration:

• Interpersonal skills
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Empathy
• Conflict resolution
• Public speaking
• Tolerance
• Communication

2. Adaptability

If 2020 and 2021 taught us anything, it’s that situations can change almost in an instant. Knowing how to adapt and be flexible when new challenges arise is one of the most important traits employers are looking for. This is even more true when it comes to applying for entry-level service jobs like barista or sales associate, where scheduling can change weekly. Here is a list of soft skills related to adaptability:

• Flexibility
• Follows instructions
• Improves based on feedback
• Stress management
• Can adapt to working independently

3. Resourcefulness

Related to adaptability, resourcefulness is your ability to make the most of what you have and find creative solutions when new problems arise. Many innovative companies are looking for candidates who aren’t just rote machines but who can bring new approaches to difficult situations. Here are some soft skills examples for resume related to resourcefulness:

• Works well under pressure
• Creative thinking
• Troubleshooting
• Problem-solving
• Innovative solutions
• Organization

4. Positive attitude

It’s a soft skill as old as time, yet having a positive attitude is just as important as ever. Showing off the ways in which you are pleasant to work with can go a long way in creating a great first impression of yourself. Here is a list of soft skills related to positive attitude:

• Charismatic
• Outgoing
• Friendly
• Welcoming
• Patient
• Motivating
• Inspires others

5. Work ethic

In certain sectors, the ability to come in early and stay late is practically a requirement. Work ethic is all about your commitment to the job and the effort you put in to bring the company results. If you need to prove your interest, soft skills examples for resume relating to work ethic might be your best bet:

• Motivated
• Physical or mental stamina
• Perform effectively in a deadline environment
• Positive work ethic
• Determined
• Focused
• Concentration

6. Willingness to learn

For students , interns and entry-level applicants, a desire to learn new things is one of the most important soft skills to convey on your resume. You’ll likely be facing other candidates with the same education background or hard skills, so being able to prove your commitment to growing in the field is key. Here is a list of soft skills related to willingness to learn:

• Active listener
• Ability to follow instructions
• Accepts feedback well
• Self-awareness
• Professionalism
• Willingness to try new things

7. Critical thinking

Competition is fierce, so companies are on the lookout for candidates with bright ideas on how to do things better and differently. If your employer values a smart approach, soft skills related to critical thinking are a must. Check out these soft skills examples for resume:

• Efficiency
• Strategic planning
• Artistic ability
• Scheduling
• Negotiation
• Critical observation
• Workflow management
• Self-directed
• Implementing change

Key Takeaways

Possessing the technical skills to do the job means nothing if you are terrible at the softer "people" skills. Soft skills are not something that you can learn in a classroom. They take practice, observation and refining - usually over a period of years - until you can be confident that your impact on others is as good is it could be.

Conveying your soft skills on your resume is a crucial way of whetting a hiring manager's appetite for a deeper conversation at interview. Your hard skills are easy to understand (and often at the same level of many other candidates), so it is your soft skills that will help you to stand out.

Follow the advice in this blog and your interview invites will come rolling in.

Having a perfectly honed and well-written resume is like having a superpower during your job search. 

While most people walk up the hiring ladder, you put on your crimson cape and soar upwards at supersonic speed. This how to write a resume guide outlines the most important building blocks for creating exactly this type of amazing resume.

There are the 10 important resume writing steps we will cover in this blog:

 

Imagine two great professionals with awesome credentials, talents and expertise. Except that one gets ignored by potential employers and stumped by automated application systems. While the other gets several interview calls each week from industry leaders.

What’s the difference between the two people? It could be connections or circumstance. But often, the difference is a great resume that “hacks” hiring situations. Marketing is just as important for professionals as it is for businesses. 

It’s often the little things in life that matter the most.

The vital starting point: where to write your resume?

We’ll go straight to the golden rule, no beating around the bush. 

Do not use basic text editors to write the final version of your resume. MS Word, Excel and similar programs have a host of potential problems that may hinder you before you even start.

These may include:

• A difficult and time-consuming formatting process
• Header/footer information not readable by other systems
• Poor and bland visual designs that get lost among other resumes
• Formatting that looks different in other programs
• Lost or corrupted files and so on.

 

So, what’s the solution? 

The accepted standard for submitting most resumes is the PDF file format. The benefits are clear in most cases: universal formatting that doesn’t change regardless of where you view it and readability by most software systems. 

The ideal tools to produce clean, concise and beautiful resumes in PDF format are online builders. These web and/or software solutions are specifically made to be the perfect instrument for visually striking, technically functional and content-optimized resumes. By using a service/platform that is designed specifically for resumes, you save lots of time and avoid hidden problems. 

Visual character, templates and first impressions

We’re all visual creatures. Our first impressions are always based on aesthetics, symmetry and images.

We choose our clothes for an interview with care, why shouldn’t we put the same effort into the appearance of our resume? It’s our primary ambassador before any sort of physical meeting.

According to a study done by TheLadders, recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds glancing at a resume before moving on to another one (as we mentioned in our profession-specific guides and examples ). During this short time, a subconscious decision is often made based on the “looks” of your resume. If it’s clean and beautiful, the hiring manager is likely to admire it for a while. 

You can create your own templates, but unless you’re a professional designer, it may be best to rely on field-tested visuals. Templates project a certain character and mood with their design: they can emphasize creativity, dependability, discipline and other qualities.

ResumesMadeHere templates are divided and developed based on these identities, which can be better aligned with certain professions, industries or simply the circumstances of the job opening.

Resume formats: defining structure

Now that we’re done with the visuals, let’s move on to the magic of text. The most fundamental division of text in resumes is based on content format: 

• Reverse Chronological
• Functional
• Combined (Combination resume).

The Reverse Chronological format is not only the most common one, but also the most widely accepted among various employers and industries. The biggest benefit of a reverse chronological resume is its straightforward, easy to understand and linear structure. 

It displays your professional experience and past work experience from most recent to oldest.  This is great when you have a continuous history of work, and you can showcase some important recent positions. But what should you do if you’re a fresh graduate or have a sizable gap in your employment history? This is where the Functional and Combination formats come in.

The Functional resume format leans on soft and hard skills as its main focus-point. If you lack experience as an entry level job seeker due to recently graduating college, or are in the process of moving to a new industry, the Functional format is one you should consider. You can also make the resume more robust by mentioning past projects, social initiatives, experience in other fields and so on.

A Combination format places equal emphasis on skills and relevant work experience, and is therefore appropriate for many technical and technological professions (though not exclusive to them). 

For visual emphasis, check out a strong example of how resumes can be structured:

Resume sections: your professional feature list

There’s often a lot of confusion as to what sections to include in your resume. 

This isn’t surprising, since their importance can vary depending on your profession, industry and nature of your experience. We can divide section types into necessary and optional ones. Let’s assume for the time being that you’re using the Reverse Chronological format (as it’s used in more than 90% of resumes nowadays).

Necessary sections often include:

• Contact information and basic personal information
• Summary (Personal statement, Objective )
• Employment history
• Skills
• Education

Optional sections can include:

• Achievements and milestones (often this is included in the Summary and Social projects and volunteer work)
• Awards, certificates and organizations
• Hobbies and interests

These are not iron-clad rules, however. Sometimes certain sections change their importance depending on the job itself. For example, in our Nurse resume guide, we highlight the fact that belonging to professional organizations is much more important than usual. Some questions to ask yourself when deciding to include or resize sections are: 

• Will this increase my chances of getting hired?
• Will this provide a positive impression on the employer?
• Is it appropriate for the job description?

Your resume may be Chronological, but your decisions should be functional and pragmatic!

The professional summary: your highlight, your story

The vital necessity of keeping your resume concise often leads some resumes feeling bland or emotionless. The Professional Summary is your biggest chance to add some color, life and personality to your resume.  It demonstrates your determination, positive outlook and brings some emotion to dry facts.

 

The Summary should be energetically written to capture attention. Use action verbs and strong descriptive terms. Avoid lengthy, grammatically complicated sentences. This lets the achievements and facts stand out. 

There are some resume action verbs you may want to use in your resume:

Some guides favor the Resume Objective, yet we believe that the Summary is a more robust and universal tool. The Objective can have its role in certain circumstances (for example, when you lack work experience). For a look at the specifics, check out our dedicated article on Personal Statements in the resume (Summaries and Objectives alike).

Work experience: professional experience

If you’ve chosen the Reverse Chronological format (and in 9 out of 10 professions - you probably should), then this section is the backbone of your effective resume.

This is not only the place where you list your most impressive past employment, but you may also elaborate on each position by giving important facts, achievements and figures that describe you as a great professional. It’s not necessary to include your entire employment history . Tailor your job mentions so that you impress your future employer with the most relevant work experiences for this specific job ad. This also keeps your resume short, clean and concise.

Each position should be outlined in the following approximate format:

• Job title , company name, location of employment
• Month and year started and left the position
• Between three and six bullet points briefly outlining your results and role at the company

It’s a great idea to keep a separate file or list with you can consider to be your milestones, achievements, projects and numbers. That way, you always have an arsenal of illustrative facts ready to go. Take a deeper dive and learn more about this important section in our dedicated Work Experience guide.

The skills section: competencies and superpowers

The skills section is your professional feature list, your superpowers, your abilities. 

This is where you pass your first “competence test”. This part is more pragmatic than the Summary, because recruiters and automated systems will be appraising your skills based on a certain checklist. 

Moreover, there are certain hard skills (and sometimes - even soft skills, once again, check out our Nurse or teacher guides as an example) that are absolutely necessary for a position. So here’s two important pieces of advice: prioritize what you include and analyze the job description!

Space is finite and you may have many skills. Make sure the ones you describe (especially at the top) are the ones that fit the job listing.

Need more input on how to write an amazing skills section? Here’s our specific guide on describing Skills !

Education: a story of growth and intelligence

The education section varies in importance depending on your profession and industry. 

For example, in our Web Developer guide , we emphasize the fact that formal education isn’t a make-it-or-break-it factor. Many developers are self-taught to a certain extent. However, no good resume is complete without some sort of education section, and many employers DO strongly value a formal degree.

Like in many other situations, there is no “one size fits all” approach to education sections. Professions like lawyers, doctors and hard-sciences positions (chemist, biologist etc.) will have a very strong emphasis on formal education. You may even want to include scientific or similar publications in your resume for some of these (in your Education section or in a separate category).

It’s important to note that in our era of accessible information and technology, your education listing can include things like online certificates, bootcamps, specialized seminars or courses and so on. To understand how high to prioritize this section, check out or dedicated Education guide or take a deeper look at our Profession Guides and Examples.

Technology and psychology: ATS checks and recruiters

We’ve covered a large portion of the important fundamentals you need to understand when composing a job-winning, attention-grabbing resume.

But there’s still two vitally important aspects to making your resume that perfect professional key: interacting with Applicant Tracking Systems and understanding how a recruiter views your resume.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have become ubiquitous for large and medium-size employers in most developed countries around the globe. With the amount of applications and potential employees coming in each month, human specialists can’t always keep up.

So, instead of expanding recruiting departments to ludicrous sizes, employers are using automated systems to help with hiring. The task of an ATS is to analyze, filter (and sometimes score) your resume based on keywords.

One of the big reasons for using online tools instead of text editors is that ATSs are often inflexible. They process your resume based on a specific algorithm. A huge percentage of resumes get filtered out regardless of their professional content due to formatting errors, images, margins , graphs, bugged out header information etc. This is why using tested tools that produce a clean resume without hidden formatting pitfalls is so critically important.

But how does an ATS filter and score your resume? The answer is simple: based on keywords defined by the potential employer, hiring manager or job-specific system parameters.

There are three methods to picking out keywords: industry knowledge, manually analyzing the job description and using word clouds.

Industry knowledge is based on your own expertise and research. You can rely on your experience or refer to job-specific guides. For example, in our Web Developer resume guide we emphasize what relevant skills, programming languages and interests that have been trending in the last couple of years. In our Nurse resume guide we mention the two statistically most common job skills requested by employers for this position.

Researching the employer’s website is also always a great idea. It can hint at what the company values, what kind of language they use and so forth. Such knowledge can be the necessary “ace up your sleeve”.

The job description is your most important ally in picking ATS keywords for your resume sections. Job descriptions often outline the vital requirements and soft skills for the position. Make sure to find these and include them in your resume text.

If the job description is too vague or too wordy, don’t worry, there’s a handy tool to make sense of it: Word Clouds. These are useful instruments (easily found through Google, like Wordle or Worditout.com) where you can simply copy-paste the text of a job description and get a visualization of its terminology.

Moving on to the human side of hiring: consider two main points on how a potential employer views your resume. First of all, understand the volume of submitted applications. Hundreds of resumes is the reality for some companies. Avoid being bland, generic or low-energy. No need to overdo it (hiring managers have a keen eye for "artificially hyped" resumes), but you should consider whether your text is too low-key. 

Second, don't overload recruiters with technical terminology. All professions have their jargon and "inside lingo", but not all recruiters are equally knowledgeable. Highlight your technical skills , but make sure to space them out (especially in the Summary) and mention soft skills and qualities to feel relatable and human.

Should you include resume references?

While every resume should include summary, work experience, education and skills sections, whether you should include references from previous employers is far less clear cut. Let’s explore in more detail .

If the job description requests references on a resume, then follow it to the letter, but if references are not requested it doesn’t mean that they may not contribute to your application when you write it.

As you should seek to use your resume space to create the optimal impact, here are a few tips about when including references might be appropriate:

How to write a cover letter alongside a resume

As you consider how to write a resume, you should not forget to consider the advantages of pairing it with a well-written cover letter . 

In actual fact, employers will request a cover letter the vast majority of the time. For good reason: there are certain aspects of a cover letter that make the content very different (and highly complementary) to a resume.

For a start, a cover letter is a free-form piece of writing that allows an applicant to outline the finer details of their application. It is a personal pitch to the hiring manager, it can be closely tailored to the role in question and its arguments should form the core of a future interview process.

The format of a cover letter should follow the structure of any persuasive argument: the introduction sets the scene; the body of the cover letter contains the key arguments; and the conclusion ends on a high note and includes a call to action. 

The cover letter distils your career story into 300-400 words of compelling and relevant copy. Your potential future boss should be able to read it and create a mental picture of how you will fit into their future plans. Everyone likes a good story, especially if they feel that it could become their story too.

The most important aspect to consider when writing a cover letter is whether every sentence makes an impact. How you go about outlining your accomplishments can make all the difference:

Cover letters help to explain complex career issues, in a way that resumes could never manage. There has to be some degree of repetition of the core achievements, but in a cover letter you can add so much more personality and emotion to nudge your future boss in the right direction.

The art of proofreading a resume

Once you have sent your resume in to a potential employer, there is no “edit” button. Multiple people will read it over the course of the interview process, and they will assume what you write reflects the best of what is on offer.

When you are considering how to write a resume, it is vital to check for careless mistakes and lazy language choices, which tend to slip in all too easily in your excitement to send the application.

Proofreading a section of text requires a slow-motion thought process that is forensic in its approach. Every word counts and you have to consider how they will be received by the reader rather than how they sound in your head.

We have written a comprehensive expert guide to proofreading your resume. Doing it right could make all the difference. Here are three of the tips that far from every candidate will consider:

International vs. country-specific resumes

Last but not least, if you're looking to relocate or find a job abroad, consider the geographical specifics of hiring.

Every region or even country has cultural, ethical and technical nuances when it comes to good resumes. Asia, Europe and the United States may be drastically different in some aspects. It's a great idea to do your research on the country in general and your specific local industry too. Find expat communities, networking events and online resources to expand your knowledge.

Generally speaking, the "geographical" resume types that often come up are:

• The international resume
• The US resume
• The British CV
• The Spanish resume
• The Asian resume
• The Russian resume

If you're interested in the career expert tips of writing a resume for a certain geography, check out our guide on regional resume types : it includes all the categories listed above, as well as resume tips on how to write a resume as a non-native English speaker. 

While we’ve provided you with the most fundamental and important information needed to create a resume that secures amazing opportunities, our useful resources don’t end here!

You can check out our guides on additional sections and topics, once you feel like you need to polish up these areas.

And don’t forget to take a look at all the amazing functionality of the resume.io builder tool. It’s likely to save you time and effort and take your resume to the next level! 

This guide on how to write accomplishments for resume will:

• Look at the different types of accomplishments to list.
• Explore how to construct an impressive accomplishment.
• Look at where to list the achievement in the resume.
• Share some work accomplishment examples by industry sector.

Let’s start with the key question: what should I write for accomplishments?

List of accomplishments for a resume

There are different scenarios that may be considered an accomplishment for a resume.

All involve a concerted action on the part of the candidate to bring a benefit (financial or otherwise) for their employer. When you are choosing accomplishments for resume, it is important to consider the sorts of tasks that you will be asked to perform with your future employer and how they might impact the KPIs attached to your role. How do you answer what is your biggest accomplishment? 

In all of these situations, the accomplishment outlines the difference that you have made.

So, how do you go about creating a concise and powerful window onto your awesomeness? 

How to list accomplishments in your resume

How do you explain accomplishments? There are two key aspects of crafting an impressive one-line accomplishment:

1. Piecing together the three-part structure
2. Ensuring that the accomplishment is quantifiable

One of the hallmarks of a great cover letter is a sprinkling of relevant and ideally fairly original action verbs . 

Starting an accomplishment statement with a verb that outlines the skill that you have used is a great way to focus the attention of the reader. What are your greatest strengths ?

The task part of the accomplishment focuses on what you did.

Try to be as specific as possible to give the detail of exactly what led to the eventual result. If it is a team effort, be sure to highlight what your part entailed as otherwise it is easily misconstrued at interview.

An accomplishment would feel empty without an accompanying (successful and impressive) outcome. 

You might have created some new process, but unless you state how the process changed things for the better, the reader can equally assume that the impact may have been less than impressive. It is also critical that you are able to quantify the outcome.

The timescale of the accomplishment allows the hiring manager to understand over which period the accomplishment took place. 

A 3% cost saving over a year is impressive, but over a six-year period it is definitely less so. If you don’t mention the timescale, the hiring manager will have to make assumptions, so if the timescale is praise-worthy, don’t forget it.

The scale of the accomplishment offers a sense of perspective.

You might have won $1.2m of business last year, but that achievement is so much more impressive if you mention that this was 70% of total sales (in a sales team of three). When you consider that employers differ significantly in terms of turnover and size, you have to give a sense of scale to highlight the achievement. What makes you proud of yourself?

Offering a range of results lets you quantify a larger number of actions.

For example, you may have negotiated over a hundred agreements during your employment, so offering an average cost saving or range of percentages for cost savings might be a useful indication of success. I saved the company between 4-10% on the cost price will give a broader idea of the volume of work that has been done.

So, you now know how to answer what your biggest accomplishment is, but where do you put this information in your resume?

Where to list accomplishments in a resume

There are two places that a hiring manager would expect a candidate to enthuse about their accomplishments: in the work experience section and in the resume summary.

Work experience section

Most resumes will contain a work experience section with 5-7 lines of text for each role, depending on the length of career. You can either include the accomplishment in the body of the text or if there are a number of them for one role, it may make sense to list them as a bullet-pointed list.

Summary

The summary at the top of the resume is where your job search elevator pitch needs to be particularly concise, so the brief and powerful format of an accomplishment sentence can cause a hiring manager to sit up and take notice. If the achievement is impressive enough, this can be a perfect way to begin your resume, right at the top of the document.

But what is an example of an accomplishment?

Achievements in resume by industry (examples)

Here are some examples of accomplishments for resume you can borrow or be inspired by for various industries and professions:

Accounting & finance examples

Financial analyst resume accomplishments example: Created a purchasing commodity price dashboard that led to 22% cost savings.

Accountant resume achievement example: Handled tax reporting for more than 50 clients, saving them money via returns and other methods, as well as streamlining the process to be quick and efficient.

Financial advisor resume accomplishments example:  Advised over 100 clients over 3 years on ways to maximize savings and choose the best investment strategies, increasing their passive income up to 80%.

Medical industry

Clinic coordinator resume achievement sample: Implemented a prescription tracking system and mobile app with 80% take up.

Child psychologist resume accomplishments example: Handled over 20 complex child psychology cases and patients per quarter, lending comprehensive support to the children, as well as advising their families on the best developmental and mental healthcare methods.

Nurse achievements for resume : Performed physical exams, health assessments and basic medical procedures for more than 150 patients per month in one of the largest hospitals in the county (with a level 4 Trauma Center), supporting the medical staff in the ICU.

Engineering examples

Research engineer accomplishment sample: Designed inflation system for an intragastric balloon - market leader within 18 months.

Health and safety engineer achievement example for a resume: Led the QA team on inspections and routine checks for health and safety standards on 12 factory-level industrial sites. Developed advanced safety procedures for a biofuel plant with over 300 workers.

Electrical engineer : Handled routine and emergency maintenance as a member of the engineering and repairs team at the largest automotive factory in the state (200 workers and over 500 pieces of complex electrical equipment).

Marketing resume accomplishments examples

Digital marketing manager : Increased occupancy by 45% with a summer dining campaign across five social platforms for one of the top 5 fast food chains in the country.

Creative director : Coordinated the art and production departments of an award-winning creative agency, launched 25 successful video ad campaigns with high ROI, as well as 4 country-wide fashion billboard campaigns with an emphasis on innovative graphic design.

Social media manager : Handled community relations, event-related content and day-to-day engagement posts for a massive FMCS brand over 4 social media platforms with a following of 30,000+ people.

Government accomplishments for your resume

Federal resume achievement examples:

• Implemented an organizational communication matrix to decrease planning time by 22%
• Coordinate a department of 55 employees, implementing at least 4 successful community-based projects per quarter
• Organized the supply and procurement system for the largest correctional facility in the state

Administrative resume achievements

Administrative assistant example : Organised travel for 60 press trips and 40 journalists, tripling press coverage over two years. 

Office manager example :  Handled office supplies, company events and organized the work of the administrative department for the company HQ with over 450 employees.

Receptionist resume accomplishments sample: Received and processed guests, organized the reception log and documentation as well as the shift schedule in the regional office of a Fortune 500 company.

Did you know that even if you’ve spent hours crafting an error-free resume full of all your experience, skills and career goals, there’s still a 75 percent chance that your perfect resume is never read by a human being?

It all boils down to resume keywords.

In the chapters below, we’ll break down everything you need to know about these pesky (yet ultra important!) job keywords, including:

• The definition of a resume keyword
• Where to find resume keywords
• The best place to incorporate job keywords on your resume
• Examples of top CV keywords in each industry.

What are resume keywords?

Resume keywords are specific words and phrases that are sought after by both automated resume scanners and hiring managers looking for the most qualified candidates. When it comes to online application systems, the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software acts as a buffer between your resume submission and the hiring manager. 

In companies where recruiting departments receive hundreds or thousands of resumes, this is the only way to streamline the process and filter out supposedly unfit candidates. These resume keywords can be related to the industry or the position and often include specific skills and experiences. You can also read our blog for cv buzzwords . 

What are keywords when applying for a job?

Given the competition in modern hiring, ATS keywords (Applicant Tracking System keywords) are an important consideration when applying for a job. A single opening can often draw more than 200 candidates, so to quickly narrow down the field, hiring managers employ Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS. ATS algorithms are built into many of the most commonly used online application portals like Greenhouse, Taleo and iCISM. 

The ATS checks resumes for keywords, ranks them against one another and filters out any candidates who don’t rank high enough. In the end, a hiring manager only has to evaluate a small fraction of the resumes that were submitted, saving the company time and money.

What words are employers looking for in resumes?

Employers are looking for keywords for resume skills that signal the ideal candidate for the role. Job description keywords make it easier for them to hire the right people quickly and efficiently. Including resume keywords and phrases is one of the best things you can do to get past the ATS, but don’t forget that the ultimate goal is to have your resume read by a human. Make sure your CV keywords don’t distract from the overall readability of your resume by incorporating them naturally throughout.

Make sure that you include their versions of industry phrases and terminology. There is nothing like showing yourself as an outsider if you speak like one.

Where to find resume keywords?

When it comes to finding keywords to use in a resume, the job description is your #1 place to go. Think of the job description as a little window into the company’s needs and priorities. See a word that’s repeated several times? That’s likely a CV keyword. As is any skill that’s bolded or otherwise emphasized.

Read the job description several times to make sure you haven’t overlooked any important qualifications, which are often a source of ATS keywords. The job posting’s responsibilities section is also a great source of action verbs which can be woven into your experience section to show that you’d already mastered the skills needed for your potential position.

You can also check out how the employer brand material that is shared on social media and understand how the HR department (in particular) talk about the business. Subtle variations in language from business to business are common, so don't assume that your workplace lexicon will be shared.

How to use keywords?

Once you’ve identified the most important resume keywords and phrases, you can begin to incorporate them throughout your resume. Never force keywords into places they don’t make sense or include them even if they don’t match your experience. The ATS might not pick up on CV keyword tricks, but even little lies will likely cause a hiring manager to drag your resume straight into the desktop trash can.

So how do you optimize your resume for keywords?

Make sure to include keywords for the resume scanners in every section of your resume, paying special attention to your summary and skills section. For example, if the job description asks for “3+ years experience in graphic design,” those are great resume buzzwords that can easily be incorporated in your summary (as long as it’s accurate for your experience).

Keywords for resume skills often come in the form of computer programs or specialized processes for your industry. If you’ve included a more general name elsewhere on your resume, you can include more specific software in the skills section if both are mentioned in the job description. For example, a medical receptionist may write “Adept at organizing patient files using EHR software” in the experience section, and then include the specific program name MEDIHEALTH in the skills section.

Formatting your job keywords

Not only is it important that job keywords be included in your resume, they also need to be formatted so that the ATS can easily find them. Here are three tips for formatting your keywords for resume scanners:

1. Use a common font : The ATS may struggle to understand unusual or scripted fonts and therefore your keywords will go overlooked. Some of the most common font choices for resumes include Georgia, Helvetica and Arial – styles that are both easy on the ATS and human eyes.
2. Create a clean layout: Your resume should follow a logical order starting with your summary and moving into education or work history next. If bits and pieces are scattered throughout the page, the ATS won’t know where to look. A resume template can help make organization easier.
3. Label your sections correctly: While it may be tempting to get creative with section headers, resume scanners likely won’t be able to tell that “professional pathways” is actually your “employment history” section. Make sure to use names that both the robots and human readers expect.
4. Save your resume in the right file type: Most online application systems tell you exactly which file types their resume scanners are optimized for. If the portal asks for a PDF or Docx file (the two most common types), make sure to save your resume in either of the formats and check the file yourself for any formatting issues before you submit.

Good keywords to use for a resume

Good keywords for a resume depend on your industry, the employer and the role. That’s why you’ll want to customize your resume with specific keywords for each job application. A general resume is a great jumping off point to help you apply faster, as long as you don’t forget the job description keywords before you submit.

Resume keywords list

Below you’ll find the top 5 resume keywords for a job search (and online resume application) in more than two dozen industries:

Medical:	case management, chronic care, continuity of care, grant administration, preventative medicine
Engineering:	3D modeling, development cycle, project costing, qualitative analysis, regulatory compliance
Accounting & Finance:	cost accounting, cost/benefit analysis, financial planning, operating budgets, risk management
Marketing:	analytics, brand management, competitive analysis, market launch, trade marketing
Government:	campaign, community outreach, policy development, public relations, strategic planning
Administrative:	budget administration, confidentiality, regulatory reporting, staff development, workflow planning and prioritization
Education:	field instruction, holistic learning, individualized education, job placement, program development
Hospitality & Catering:	food preparation, food safety, front-of-house, point of sale, vendor sourcing
Information technology:	AI, data recovery, machine learning, network administration, systems configuration
Human resources:	change management, electronic applicant screening, equal opportunity, negotiations, performance incentives
Sales:	customer retention, direct sales, incentive planning, market positioning, sales forecasting
Transportation:	business travel, equipment control, route planning, safety, ticketing
Transport & Logistics:	Supply chain, dispatch operations, driver leasing, port operations, hazmat
Real Estate:	competitive bidding, preventative maintenance, project development, property management, site development
Social Work:	behavioral, compliance, grant writing, disability, crisis
Business & Management:	business development, financial management, long-term planning, market development, performance standards
Construction:	code compliance, commercial development, environmental compliance, foreman, residential
Beauty & Wellness:	licensed, cosmetology, trends, salon management, massage
Sport & Fitness:	nutrition, client satisfaction, individualized, holistic, results
Other:	Adobe, commission, portfolio, residency, web design
Legal:	administrative law, juris doctor, legal advocacy, legislative review, mediation
Retail:	account management, benchmarks, customer retention, inventory control, loss prevention
Security & Protective Services:	asset protection, corporate security, covert operations, crime prevention, crisis communications
Production:	distribution management, fleet management, health and safety, load analysis, workflow optimization
Maintenance & Repair:	electrical systems, HVAC, mechanics, troubleshooting, wiring

Remember that to land that interview you have to get on the good side of both the Applicant Tracking System software AND the human recruiter or hiring manager. Make sure you hit those keywords but retain the organic feel of your resume text. With the knowledge you received in this guide, it should already be a much easier task. Good luck and may your job hunt be smooth and successful!

Key Takeaways

If you write a resume from the heart, putting your most suitable experience at the center of your application, the keywords will flow naturally. It does make sense to double check the job description for anything that you may have missed, but for the most part your resume should sound natural. Keyword stuffing is artificial and can make it seem that you have something to hide - by all means play the game, but be subtle about it.

What was the situation and what was the nature of the action that you took? Now, be careful…. choose your words wisely as you risk sounding the same as other candidates. Worse still, you might use the same word over and over again.

Trust me, hiring managers will notice if you substitute powerful resume action verbs with bland cliched language.

So, to offer some assistance, we have come up with a list of the most impactful resume action verbs, collated into fifteen categories, with bullet-pointed examples that might fit into a resume or cover letter. 

We cover the following:

• 3 benefits of resume action verbs in a job search
• 300+ resume action verbs in 15 categories with examples
• Expert tips about where and how to use action verbs for impact

I bet you thought verbs could never be so exciting? Well, these very resume action verbs could make the difference between you securing an interview over another candidate who is less discerning. Let’s explore why they are so important in highlighting accomplishments :

3 benefits of action verbs in a job search

There are many advantages of using action-oriented vibrant language in your applications, but the three main benefits of resume action verbs for a job search are:

• Resume action verbs elevate your existing accomplishments, showing how you can contribute in similar way to a new employer
• Action verbs help you avoid cliched or passive language in a resume
• They demonstrate you’ve actually paid attention to the job description, which makes a favorable impression on recruiters.

Thinking through the most suitable action verbs for your job search is not only useful for your resume. Every bit of communication, whether written or oral will be optimised if you choose your words carefully. Your cover letter will obviously benefit alongside your resume. You might be asked to give a potted history of your career over the phone with a recruiter, and you don’t want to be searching for the right word amidst the pressure of an interview.

These three benefits of action verbs outline how to boost your job search and  why you should bookmark this blog for repeated viewing: 

Elevate your existing accomplishments with action verbs

Many of us think that our career achievements seem a little too “normal” for us to get that dream job. While that may or may not be the case, there is a way of elevating the accomplishments so that they stand out from the crowd: with carefully selected action verbs to highlight your accomplishments.

If you are starting your bullet pointed achievements with impactful action verbs that embellish your actions (whilst not changing the accomplishment itself), you are taking your candidature to another level.

Most people will write: “Managed a team of five analysts.” You will write: “Coached and mobilized a team of five insightful analysts.”

Obviously, there is much more to writing an impactful accomplishment than the first word, but, for the purposes of this article, that crucial first verb (or two) is all that matters.

Avoid overused descriptions by using action words instead

Are you a detail-oriented team player, who thinks outside the box to achieve results? I can tell you that this sentence will impress a grand total of zero hiring managers. 

I can also tell you that you can convey the same ideas by using the right action words at the start of your accomplishments (while, at the same time, actually telling the hiring manager about something worthwhile rather than irrelevant fluff). You want to sidestep bland and boring language by utilizing action verbs in your resume.

Here’s how you can substitute overused cliches with powerful resume action verbs:

• “Detail-oriented” – use an action verb from the “researched” category.
• “Team player” – use an action word from the “teamwork” section.
• “Thinks outside the box” (uurgh) – use an action verb from the “creativity” category.
• “Achieve results” – use a power verb from the “achievement” section.

Every word counts in your resume and cover letter. Don’t waste words if you don’t need to.

Show you’ve read the job description by using action verbs

Your third priority should be this: utilize action verbs to show you are attentive and detail-sensitive. Show that you actually put in some effort when analyzing your future job. Every hiring manager wants to get a sense that you are a fit for the role. While there should hopefully be a good amount of synergy between the job description and your resume, the job description is more about responsibilities and the resume is more about achievement.

You can breach that gap by choosing the right action verbs to match.

In addition, the ATS (applicant tracking system) software is getting increasingly sophisticated at selecting the most suitable applicants, so using the most relevant action verbs will help your application to move to the top of the virtual pile.

So, hopefully you now agree that action verbs are pretty important. Let’s get amongst them:

300+ resume action verbs in 15 work situations

While the English language can be wonderfully rich, the same 20-25 action verbs dominate 95% of job search applications. I won’t list them here. You know the usual suspects.

So, here we offer fifteen common categories of resume actions and achievements that job seekers write about, with 20 words and an example per category. We hope they are useful.

For ease of navigation, here are the 15 category links:

• “Leadership” action verbs
• “Achievement” words for resume
• “Teamwork” action words
• “Communication” action verbs
• “Project management” verbs for resume
• “People management” action verbs
• “Customer service” action words
• “Problem solving” power words
• “Improved” synonyms
• “Researched” action verbs
• “Organization” words for resume
• “Creativity” action verbs
• “Worked on” power words
• “Increased” synonyms
• “Reduced” action verbs

Leadership

Consider yourself a leader? Okay, well, let your accomplishments do the talking then. Have you done anything that could be prefaced with any of these leadership-oriented resume action verbs?

Appointed	Approved	Chaired	Coached	Directed
Enforced	Enlightened	Headed	Instructed	Merged
Nurtured	Orchestrated	Oversaw	Predicted	Presided
Recommended	Sculpted	Shaped	Spearheaded	Strengthened

Achievement

Put yourself in the hiring manager’s position. What sort of achievement action words will make them sit up and take notice of your resume? Think about what would work for your industry sector.

Accelerated	Accomplished	Attained	Boosted	Combined
Developed	Founded	Furthered	Generated	Hit
Lifted	Maximized	Measured	Outperformed	Produced
Raised	Showcased	Stimulated	Sustained	Targeted

Teamwork

We all reckon we are good at working with others, but the true measure of a team is the results they achieve together. Which team accomplishments are you most proud of? Demonstrate your qualities with the teamwork-oriented resume action verbs below:

Arranged	Contributed	Embraced	Encouraged	Energized
Established	Explored	Forged	Fostered	Intervened
Joined	Moderated	Organized	Participated	Partnered
Planned	Reorganized	Taught	United	Volunteered

Communication

There are so many ways of communicating with others. Some appropriate, some maybe less so. Again, pick the action verbs that work best for your industry and occupation to empower your resume communication skill list.

Advertised	Articulated	Briefed	Clarified	Conveyed
Corresponded	Debated	Defined	Documented	Elicited
Explained	Expressed	Interpreted	Lectured	Lobbied
Mediated	Outlined	Persuaded	Reinforced	Transmitted

Project Management

When you outline a project in your resume or cover letter, it is important to button down the exact nature of your role. A descriptive action verb will highlight your project management abilities, check out the list here:

Automated	Brainstormed	Charted	Consolidated	Contracted
Controlled	Deployed	Discovered	Engineered	Envisioned
Evaluated	Executed	Forecasted	Governed	Integrated
Overhauled	Patched	Performed	Plotted	Projected

People Management

The words that you choose when describing how you achieved things with others are hugely revealing. What is your impact on those around you? Illustrate your “people skills” with one of the evocative action verbs from this list:

Appraised	Assigned	Delegated	Educated	Empowered
Enabled	Facilitated	Groomed	Guided	Hired
Influenced	Instilled	Mentored	Motivated	Promoted
Sponsored	Supervised	Tracked	Trained	Unified

Customer Service

I serve customers. Really? Is that all you have got? How you describe your customer service sheds a light on how you make your customers feel and whether they walk away happy.

Here’s 20 action verbs you can use in your resume to showcase your customer service experience:

Advised	Advocated	Assisted	Attracted	Concluded
Consulted	Cooperated	Counseled	Delivered	Handled
Hosted	Incorporated	Informed	Interacted	Negotiated
Resolved	Settled	Supported	Updated	Verified

Problem Solving

Why use six words to give more detail about a problem when one action verb will suffice. Matching problem-solving action verbs with the job description is particularly important.

Addressed	Allocated	Arbitrated	Catalogued	Centralized
Collected	Compared	Debugged	Deciphered	Derived
Detected	Estimated	Experimented	Fulfilled	Identified
Interceded	Logged	Rectified	Synthesized	Troubleshot

Improved

There are a hundred shades of improvement and each one says something slightly different about how you made the situation better. How did you really make your difference felt? Help the hiring manager understand your qualities by using accurate and vibrant action verbs from this list:

Acquired	Adapted	Advanced	Amplified	Augmented
Championed	Constructed	Critiqued	Differentiated	Enhanced
Exceeded	Expanded	Focused	Ignited	Launched
Optimized	Rebuilt	Reconciled	Restructured	Transformed

Researched

For the detail-oriented among us, we all have to research information at some point. The research-based resume action verb that you chose to describe this will show just how detail-obsessed you are.

Analyzed	Captured	Checked	Classified	Compiled
Conducted	Considered	Diagnosed	Discerned	Examined
Inspected	Quantified	Reviewed	Screened	Scrutinized
Steered	Surveyed	Traced	Uncovered	Undertook

Organization

If you are anything like me, organized is definitely not my middle name, but a couple of suitably chosen action words could make you seem like a zen master of efficiency.

Administered	Aligned	Authorized	Customized	Effected
Ensured	Filed	Fixed	Formulated	Gathered
Implemented	Itemized	Maintained	Mapped	Modified
Networked	Oriented	Regulated	Remodelled	Upgraded

Creativity

Your accomplishments are the only thing that can shine a light on your creativity. “I am a creative person” is possibly the most vomit-inducing line in any job application. Ever.  So put a bit of effort into an alternative description - use a creativity-related action verb from this table:

Architected	Authored	Composed	Conceived	Conceptualized
Crafted	Created	Designed	Drafted	Fabricated
Fashioned	Illustrated	Imagined	Inspired	Invented
Piloted	Probed	Sparked	Storyboarded	Visualized

Worked on

We all understand that we go to work to get paid, but what was the nature of your work? What exactly did you do? Is it a fit for what you will be expected to do in your next role?

Acted	Adjusted	Assembled	Assessed	Audited
Calculated	Collaborated	Coordinated	Curated	Devised
Initiated	Investigated	Made	Mobilized	Monitored
Operated	Perfected	Processed	Pursued	Refined

Increased

For me, this category of action verbs is the most impactful in most job applications. Your future employer wants you to make a difference to their business. But in what way?

Bolstered	Built	Capitalized	Computed	Cultivated
Doubled	Drove	Enlivened	Escalated	Expedited
Fortified	Gained	Intensified	Multiplied	Outpaced
Revamped	Revised	Revitalized	Surpassed	Yielded

Reduced

Equally valid is the point that some roles may require you to decrease certain things. Which words best fit your brand of elimination? Streamline your resume with great action verbs.

Condensed	Conserved	Corrected	Curtailed	Decreased
Deducted	Diminished	Dispensed	Eliminated	Extracted
Lessened	Lowered	Minimized	Saved	Shattered
Shrunk	Slashed	Streamlined	Terminated	Trimmed

 

First of all, let’s agree that informed sources often disagree on the best fonts to use in a resume. 

Take Times New Roman, which some experts list as among the worst resume fonts. But others list it No. 1 among good resume fonts! What about Helvetica? Some deride it as an antiquated, overused font that you should erase from your type library. Others say it’s best by test — a proven success!

What about serif vs. sans serif fonts? Some say sans serif fonts are easier to read, and some say the exact opposite. How do you make sense of the conflicting advice out there on this important  resume format decision?

Bear in mind that the recommendations of font savants often come down to a matter of opinion. No matter how scholarly or heavily footnoted some articles on this topic are, at times it’s like reading about whether bananas taste better than apples. 

However, there are certain indisputable principles that we’ll explore here. We’ll also look at some of the fonts most commonly mentioned, pro or con, as well as recommended font sizes for resumes, and we’ll look at why it matters.

(And by way of definition, if we also mention “CV fonts” or “the best fonts for “CVs,” bear in mind that a  CV  is simply what most of the English-speaking world outside the U.S. and Canada calls a resume.) 

List of the best resume fonts

The best resume fonts are those that are most legible, meaning easy to read, in whatever format you have chosen to deliver your resume. 

Some fonts are considered easier to read in print (where light shines on top of them), and others are considered easier to read on a screen (where the light comes from behind them). 

There is no single best resume font, but there are several factors to consider in choosing the best font for your CV. Your guiding principle should be that you want hiring managers and recruiters to read the content of your resume, and not to be distracted by an unusual font you’ve chosen.

Let’s look at some resume font choices (presented in alphabetical order) and some of their pros and cons. We’ll rank them green (go for it), yellow (use with caution) and red (don’t go there). 

Top 8 commonly used good resume fonts (green)

These fonts are widely considered good resume fonts.

Arial: A popular and safe choice for a modern sans serif font, Arial is applauded for clean lines and good legibility. But some say Arial is little more than a modification of Helvetica and may soon become a victim of its own success by virtue of being too common.

Calibri: Microsoft Word’s default font, Calibri is a highly readable sans serif font to use for a resume — not as popular as Arial but with few minuses except that its increasing use may not give your resume a distinctive look.

Cambria: A serif font commissioned by Microsoft and designed for computer monitors, Cambria works well in small sizes and yet, while created in 2004, is described as somewhat “traditional.”

Garamond: Whether you call it “timeless” or just “old,” Garamond is a classic serif font with 500-year-old roots that still manages to look distinctive and interesting.

Georgia: This attractive serif font, an alternative to Times New Roman, reads well even in small sizes, though its popularity will not make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Lato: A modern font designed by Google for the web, Lato was designed to be a “serious but friendly” sans serif font. It’s found in the Google Font library but is not a standard Microsoft Word typeface.

 

Trebuchet MS: Commissioned by Microsoft, this elegant sans serif font was designed to look good on a computer, though if you want to use all its features, you’ll have to purchase Trebuchet Pro.

Verdana: A popular san serif font designed by Microsoft for computer screens, Verdana is a go-to choice for resumes, though some say it doesn’t look much different from Arial or Helvetica.

 

Top 5 situational resume fonts (yellow)

These situational fonts are recommended by some sources yet discouraged by others, so use with caution (think about whether they’re appropriate for the job and the employer):

Helvetica: This classic, widely used sans serif typeface is probably the world’s best-known font (and even stars in a documentary film of the same name). But it’s so common that many say it’s too common.

Times New Roman: Formerly the default typeface for Microsoft Office, this old-school serif font is beloved by some for its familiarity yet dismissed by others for the same reason: It’s old-fashioned and boring.

Roboto, Open Sans, Ubuntu:  As we already mentioned, these are common IT fonts, popularized by Google and other tech giants. They are usually clean and legible, but may be too “techy” for some more traditional employers.

6 worst fonts to use in your resume (red)

Virtually all sources recommend against using these fonts in a resume. Whether you call these the “worst fonts” or “extremely situational fonts” or “really think about what you’re doing fonts” is up to you. Bottom line is: extreme caution is advised. 

Brush Script: This and other typefaces made to look like cursive handwriting may be great fonts to choose for a wedding invitation, but don’t use them on a resume.

Century Gothic: This hairline-thin font may be interesting to look at, but it’s definitely not the best font for a CV.

Comic Sans: Designed to look like the text used in comic books, Comic Sans inspires rare agreement among font experts that it doesn’t belong anywhere near a resume.

Courier: Mimicking an old-fashioned typewriter, Courier may appeal to your nostalgia, but in addition to other demerits it features unhelpful horizontal spacing, providing the same amount of space for thin letters like “i” and wide letters like “w.”

Impact: Anything resembling this over-bold, heavily condensed font will save recruiters a lot of time — they will toss it at a glance.

Papyrus: Unless you’re designing a poster for a movie about ancient Egypt, consign this picturesque font to the trash heap of history.

What category of fonts to use for a resume: serif or sans serif?

This is a question that often comes up when considering fonts: what are serif fonts and should you use them in your resume? Let’s break it down.
Serif fonts are those that have decorative little strokes (serifs) added to the letters of the alphabet. For example, in most serif fonts the letter “l” as in “lemon” has a little horizontal line at the bottom, like a base the letter rests on, and a little horizontal stroke at the top jutting toward the left. 

Sans serif fonts: The French “sans” means without, so sans serif fonts do not contain serifs. Sans serif fonts tend to render letters as we were taught to do in grade school, free of artistic flourishes. 

Pros and cons: Sans serif fonts are often considered “cleaner” and less cluttered. Some psychology and marketing experts like Nick Kolenda say that sans serif fonts are more readable on computer screens, while serif fonts are more readable in print. However, agreement on this is by no means universal. On balance, probably a majority of experts recommend sans serif fonts for resumes.

However, studies from 2005 to 2011 show that serif fonts are seen as more credible and authoritative, while readers may be more skeptical of information contained in more informal sans serif fonts.

Which fonts to use in a resume: summary of rules to follow

Clean and legible: Make sure your chosen font does not look too noisy once the resume page is populated by text. Serif fonts (for example) can often overburden a resume describing a robust career, but your mileage may vary. Just make sure your own eyes don’t hurt when trying to read a dense paragraph or bullet point list. If you find it difficult to focus due to the noisiness of the text, chances are the hiring manager will too.

Appropriate for the medium: Pay attention to how your font of choice looks on a digital screen or on paper. Handing over a paper document is becoming increasingly rare these days, but if you plan to bring the resume with you to an interview or share during a networking event, make sure your chosen font actually works on a physical page.

Appropriate for the industry and profession: If you’re sending your resume to a forward-thinking IT or web development company, you might want to consider some of the industry staples, like Google’s pet font, Roboto, or web developer favorites like Open Sans or Ubuntu. If your resume is heading to a more traditional business, consider more widely accepted fonts, often found in Windows or iOS systems, like Arial, Calibri or Georgia. In some cases, even creative fonts like Futura or Montserrat may work, as visual designers favor them, but you have to be purposeful and thoughtful in your choices.

Which fonts to NOT use in a resume 

• Fonts that just look weird: Unusual, avant-garde, over-designed fonts are inappropriate for a resume.
• Fonts that look like cursive: The only cursive in your job application, if any, should be your signature, so avoid fonts that mimic handwriting, or where the plain text looks like italics.
• Anything in all caps or small caps: Fonts with all capital letters are never appropriate for the body text of a resume.

These rules apply to body text, but you have a bit more leeway in header design. For example, the first and largest text on the page will generally be your name, and it may be appropriate to choose a more distinctive font style for this.

We’ll talk about how a  resume writer  should choose the right font in a bit, but first let’s talk about how big the font should be.

The best font size for a resume

The best font size for a resume, in most cases, is somewhere between 10 and 12 points. 

Remember that your goal in choosing both resume font and resume font size is to make your CV as easy to read as possible. Most hiring managers spend just a few seconds scanning a resume, and for a positive first impression, how it looks can be just as important as what it says. If recruiters are able to read other resumes easily, but have to reach for their reading glasses to decipher yours, they may find yours easier to ignore.

On the other hand, if your font size is too large it may look like you’re writing for children, or for senior citizens with failing eyesight. One of the main imperatives involving font size is the need to fit your resume on one page. (In rare cases, a resume longer than one page may be considered appropriate, but that’s a risky proposition.)

There are some fonts that are easier to read in smaller sizes than others. So when choosing the font to use for your resume, experiment a bit with the size to see how it affects legibility. 

If your resume doesn’t fit on  one page  with a 12-point font size, try a size as low as 10 points, but no smaller. Always try to trim your text before you resort to formatting solutions like reducing font size, downsizing margins or eliminating paragraph breaks. Always leave room for an appropriate amount of white space to avoid a resume that’s too dense. 

If you’re still having a hard time holding your resume to one page, you CAN try changing the font to one that’s slightly more compressed, as long as the new font meets the standards outlined here. You may find that a font change instantly solves your problem. But DON’T choose a font that’s so compressed it’s hard to read.

Professional fonts in Word or other software

There are certain commonly used professional fonts in Word, the popular Microsoft application, and others more often used in Google applications and Apple platforms.
Free-form Word software allows for a lot of freedom in choosing your resume font, but the breadth of options can also breed confusion. Choosing good CV fonts is complicated by the fact that the formatting in Word documents can look different on your device than on someone else’s. What looks fine on your PC with a 10-point Arial font may look really bad on someone else’s iPhone. This is why the PDF file format is usually best for preserving the exact visual impression you want to convey with fonts, since PDFs lock your design in place so that it will look the same on any device.

In some methods of creating resumes, like online resume builders, good resume fonts are usually matched up by professional designers with the resume templates where they will be most effective. Using a pre-designed template takes the guesswork out of the process, since an expert designer has already chosen a good font to use for your resume. All you need to do is choose an appropriate  template category  based on your occupation, follow the appropriate profession  example guide , and you’re good to go.

If you’d like any help, look to resume.io for professionally formatted resume templates that have pre-selected fonts and font sizes for your documents. All you have to do is the writing!