LET’S BUILD A RESUME

Written By Brian .

So, you found the perfect looking job on Indeed, LinkedIn, etc. This is where it all starts… the resume. A great resume isn’t about cramming your entire work history onto a page, it’s about telling a clear, powerful story of who you are as a professional. Resume expectations have changed over the years, so it’s important you’re completing your resume with the most up-to-date needs. That resume you wrote in 2013 probably isn’t going to be what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in today’s age.

Whether you're breaking into a new field or leveling up in your current one, your resume is often the first impression an employer gets. Here’s how to make it unforgettable.

1. START WITH A STRONG, CLEAN LAYOUT

Your resume should be easy to read at a glance. Hiring managers often skim in seconds, so clear structure is everything.

Tips:

  • Stick to one page unless you have 10+ years of experience. If you have had a long history, try to cut it down to the most related positions for the role you’re applying for and the ones you’ve had the longest experiences with: If you’ve got a long list and you’re looking for a role in the tech field, don’t worry so much about the 4-months you spent as a grocery store stocker.

  • Use consistent formatting, spacing, and headers. You want something that is pleasing to the eye, not something that is going to make the recruiter or hiring manager have to adjust their glasses or strain their eyes every time they move onto a different section.

  • Choose a simple, modern font (think Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial). Look, I get it, you want to express who you are as an individual, but Comic Sans ain't it right now.

A polished layout signals professionalism before they even read a word.

2. LEAD WITH A COMPELLING SUMMARY

Once upon a time, this section used to be the “Objective.” The recruiter knows what your objective is, to get this career. Instead, use this as an opportunity to quickly sell who you are and what you are going to bring to the organization.

Example:
Cybersecurity professional with 5+ years of experience conducting Red Team engagements, identifying vulnerabilities, and driving stronger security outcomes through data-driven analysis. Adept at adversarial simulation, exploit development, and reporting critical findings with precision. Proven ability to collaborate with engineering and security teams to implement effective mitigation measures.

Aim for 2–3 sentences that highlight strengths, specialties, and what sets you apart.

3. HIGHLIGHT ACHIEVEMENTS, NOT JUST DUTIES

Generally speaking here, we know more-or-less what jobs come with what duties. Use this section to sell how you did in each role, not just what you did.

Instead of saying:

  • Handled customer complaints.

Say:

  • Resolved high-volume customer disputes with a 95% satisfaction rate.

Use metrics whenever possible: revenue saved, efficiency improved, caseload handled, time reduced, risk mitigated.

Numbers catch attention and add credibility.

4. USE ACTION VERBS THAT SHOW IMPACT

Start your bullet points with strong verbs like:

  • Led

  • Built

  • Implemented

  • Analyzed

  • Resolved

  • Improved

These reinforce that you were an active driver of outcomes, not a passive participant. However, be honest here; don’t say you led a team or managed a project, if you aren’t going to be able to speak to that in an interview.

5. TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO EVERY JOB

One-size-fits-all resumes rarely win interviews. Employers want to see alignment, so tailor your resume to match the job description. Chances are, most of the jobs you’ve worked at have multiple duties and you have made different achievements. Use the most related information to the job you are applying for on each application.

How to tailor effectively:

  • Mirror relevant keywords from the posting.

  • Prioritize experience that directly supports the role.

  • Remove irrelevant tasks that dilute your story.

This helps both human reviewers and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

6. KEEP IT FOCUSED AND CLUTTER-FREE

White space is your friend. Don’t overwhelm the reader. I have seen a lot of resumes where the candidate has crammed text into every single block of white space. It looks chunky, unorganized, and if a recruiter is going to be looking at hundreds of resumes, these might end up right in the trash bin. Now, I’m not saying to sell yourself short and take out important information, but keep it reasonable and well organized.

Avoid:

  • Long paragraphs

  • Dense blocks of text

  • Listing every job back to high school

Your goal: a resume that reads effortlessly.

7. DON’T FORGET SKILLS AND TOOLS

Lucky #7 will probably get the most debate of all these, but I think that these are critical. Not only do they help represent who you are as a professional, but the keywords can also help your resume get highlighted in an ATS filter.

Include 8–12 relevant skills, such as:

  • Software/tools (Excel, SQL, Zendesk, Salesforce)

  • Industry-specific skills

  • Soft skills that can be demonstrated (de-escalation, cross-functional communication, etc.)

Now here’s the catch and the important part (and I really can not stress this enough…) Keep them relevant. Avoid cliché fluff like “team player” and “Self-Motivated.” These are skills that you should be selling in the details of your resume: instead of mindlessly listing “Self-Motivated” as a skill, sell it in one of your achievements.

8. ADD OPTIONAL SECTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN YOUR PROFILE

Depending on your background, consider adding:

  • Certifications

  • Volunteer work

  • Awards

  • Notable projects

  • Languages

These can help differentiate you, especially in competitive fields, or if you are working on pivoting your career. If you’re looking to break into a new industry, you might consider spending some time getting some training, education, and certifications in that field, and sell them here.

9. PROOFREAD LIKE YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT

Because it might. Typos, inconsistent formatting, and grammatical errors can instantly undercut your credibility. I am personally not a big fan of the show Friends, but I do remember a bit where Rachel is having her friends fold and envelope resumes and Ross points out that he’s sure employers will be real impressed with her “excellent compuper skills.”

In a world where a recruiter is going to be potentially looking at hundreds of resumes, silly mistakes like this can potentially get you screened out of a role that would have otherwise been a great fit.

Read it aloud, get a second pair of eyes, and check for:

  • Consistent tense

  • Proper spacing

  • Aligned bullet points

  • Correct company/job titles

10. KEEP UPDATING—EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT JOB SEARCHING

Your resume should always be ready. Opportunities move fast, and keeping a running log of accomplishments ensures nothing gets forgotten later.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Okay… If you’ve gotten this far, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed, but here’s the deal: Writing the best resume isn’t about creating a perfect document, it’s simply about crafting a clear, confident story of your professional value. When your resume highlights achievements, shows measurable impact, and is tailored to the job, you’ll stand out from the onslaught of copy/paste competitors.

Ready to level up your resume? I can help you write or refine yours. Check out my resume review offer in the store, or feel free to reach out with general questions!

Brian .