How to Create a Resume That Gets Interviews (Step-by-Step Guide)

Writing a winning resume isn't as hard as you might think. With the right structure and the steps below, you can create an effective resume that helps you outshine other candidates and sail through initial screening — whether that screening is done manually by a recruiter or automatically by an ATS resume checker.

Here's the reality: studies show recruiters spend as little as 6–7 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read further. And before a human even gets involved, your resume usually has to pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) — software that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use to automatically filter out unqualified candidates.

In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly how to create a resume that passes the ATS filter and holds a recruiter's attention long enough to land an interview. Every step is built on practical resume-writing experience, the latest hiring trends, and ATS best practices.

Before you write a single word, gather everything you'll need. This makes the whole process smoother and ensures you don't leave anything important out. Here's a checklist of what to collect:

• Past job titles, company names, locations, employment dates, and your main responsibilities
• Awards and recognitions you've received at work
• Hard and soft skills that match the job you're targeting
• Degree, school name, and graduation year
• Certifications, issuing organizations, and dates earned
• Volunteer work, extracurriculars, or any other contributions worth mentioning

There are three main resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination. All three tell the same story about you — just in a different order. Choosing the wrong one is one of the most common mistakes I see, and it can lead to instant rejection.

If you're a fresher or entry-level candidate, a functional resume might seem appealing because it puts your academics, volunteer work, or apprenticeships front and center. But for most job seekers with work experience, reverse-chronological is the safest choice. It's the format recruiters expect, and ATS systems parse it most reliably. Start with your most recent position and work backwards.

You can browse Resumaly's free ATS-friendly templates — each one is designed to pass both automated systems and human review. No account or login required.

Not all resume templates are created equal — and I can't stress this enough. Many visually stunning templates with columns, tables, graphics, and fancy fonts are completely invisible to ATS software. If the ATS can't read your resume, it doesn't matter how good you look on paper. Here's what to look for in a template:

• Single-column layout (avoid text boxes and side columns)
• Standard section headings: Work Experience, Education, Skills
• Professional fonts: Calibri, Arial, Garamond, or Georgia
• Clean, consistent spacing with no images or graphics in the main content

Your contact section needs to be clean and professional. This is the first thing an ATS parses, and the first thing a recruiter checks to reach you. Make sure you include:

• Full name and professional title — clear and prominent at the top
• Professional email address — firstname.lastname@email.com format works best
• Phone number — one you check regularly, with a professional voicemail message
• City and State only — no need for your full street address (it's a privacy risk). Add "Willing to Relocate" if that applies to you
• LinkedIn URL — customized, not the default random string of numbers
• Portfolio or GitHub — only if directly relevant to the role

Your professional summary is a short 2–4 sentence statement that sits right at the top of your resume. It's the first thing a recruiter reads in those precious few seconds, and it's the first thing an ATS scans for keyword relevance. Think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume — it should reflect your strongest qualities and focus on what you bring to the table.

Write yours using the same formula: your role + years of experience + your biggest achievement + top skills relevant to the job. Be specific, be quantified, and use the language of the job description.

Your work history carries the most weight in a hiring decision, so don't skimp here. Use reverse-chronological order (most recent job first). For each position, clearly show:

• Job title, company name, city/state, and employment dates
• 3–6 bullet points describing your responsibilities and, more importantly, your achievements

How to Write Strong Bullet Points

Use the Action Verb + Task + Measurable Result formula. Vague, responsibility-heavy bullets are the number one reason I see experienced candidates get rejected.

Strong action verbs to use: Led, Drove, Generated, Reduced, Increased, Launched, Negotiated, Developed, Managed, Optimized. Avoid weak phrases like "Responsible for," "Helped with," or "Assisted in" — they tell me what you were supposed to do, not what you actually achieved.

Skills fall into two categories:

• Hard skills — technical, measurable abilities you've gained through training or experience: Python, SEO, Project Management, HubSpot, Adobe Photoshop, language skills
• Soft skills — interpersonal traits tied to your personality: Leadership, Communication, Problem-solving, Time management

Only list skills that matter for the job you're applying for. Adding irrelevant skills doesn't fill space — it signals to the recruiter that you haven't read the job description carefully or aren't serious about the role. This section is also a great place to naturally include resume keywords that help you get noticed by ATS.

For most professionals with solid work experience, the education section should be short and sweet. Include your degree, institution name, and graduation year. That's all you need.

If you're a recent graduate or still a student, your education section can carry more weight. Include: relevant coursework, academic honors, GPA (if it's above 3.5), and any leadership roles in extracurriculars.

Place education after work experience unless you have less than two years of experience — in that case, education can come first.

This section validates your skills and sets you apart from other candidates with similar experience. It's especially important for roles that require specific licenses — nursing, teaching, contracting, healthcare, project management. Include:

• Professional certifications with the issuing organization and date earned
• Industry licenses required for your field
• Awards or formal recognition you've received at work or school
• Relevant volunteer work that shows transferable skills and versatility

Keep it simple — use bullet points and only include what's relevant to the job.

Before you send your resume anywhere, run through this final checklist:

• ✅ Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors (read it out loud — it helps)
• ✅ Check formatting consistency — same font, same sizes, same spacing throughout
• ✅ Make sure keywords from the job description appear naturally in your resume
• ✅ Confirm your contact information is correct and professional
• ✅ Save as a PDF — this keeps your formatting intact when you upload or email it
• ✅ Run it through a free ATS checker to see your score before submitting

Not sure if your resume will pass the ATS? Upload it to Resumaly's free ATS Checker — it scans your resume and tells you exactly what needs fixing. No account required.

The Role of Keywords in a Resume

According to a 2025 ATS Usage Report by Jobscan, 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS software in their recruitment process. And outside the Fortune 500, small and mid-sized companies are adopting these tools rapidly too.

Here's what that means for you: ATS systems scan resumes for specific keywords — skills, job titles, tools, certifications, and phrases — that match the job description. If your resume doesn't have the right keywords, it could be rejected automatically before a recruiter ever sees it.

Wondering how long your resume should be? Read our guide: How Long Should a Resume Be? One Page vs Two (2026 Guide).

Last updated: April 2026. This guide is reviewed regularly to reflect the latest ATS technology and hiring practices.