How to Make a Resume: The 7-Step Method
Header, summary, quantified experience, layout: the simple method for a resume that gets read in seconds and passes applicant tracking systems.
A good resume doesn’t need to be original. Its main job is to help a recruiter understand in seconds who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re a fit for the job. Here’s the step-by-step method.
1. Start with the job posting, not your background
Before you write a single line, reread the job posting and highlight three things: the exact job title, the required skills, and the main responsibilities. Your resume should speak directly to those. The same background can produce two very different resumes depending on the target job: that’s normal, and it’s even recommended.
2. Start with the header
At the top of your resume, include:
- your first and last name;
- the job title you’re targeting, taken from the posting when possible (“Accounts Payable Accountant” rather than “Finance Profile”);
- a phone number and a professional email address;
- your city (a full street address is no longer necessary);
- optionally, your LinkedIn profile if it’s up to date.
Age, marital status, or nationality are not required. Add a driver’s license only if it’s relevant to the job.
3. Write a two-to-four sentence summary
The summary (or “profile”) is the first text recruiters read. It answers three questions: who are you, what do you bring, and what are you looking for? Avoid vague adjectives like “dynamic” or “motivated”: a fact is worth more than a quality.
Accountant with six years of public accounting experience, specializing in construction and trades SMBs. I’m looking for an in-house role to support a growing finance team.
4. Describe your experience with results
List your experience from most recent to oldest. For each role: job title, company, city, and dates (month and year). Then three to five bullet points that start with an action verb.
The difference between an average resume and a great one comes down to this: use numbers whenever you can.
| Avoid | Better |
|---|---|
| Social media management | Managed 3 social accounts, growing followers by 4,000 in one year |
| Customer service | Greeted about 80 customers per day in a retail store |
| Assisted with month-end close | Closed books for 12 entities monthly, cutting the close from 8 to 5 days |
5. Add education, skills, and languages
If you have more than two or three years of experience, education goes after your experience. Include the degree, the school, and the year you earned it. For skills, prefer verifiable items (“Excel: pivot tables,” “QuickBooks”) over general qualities. For languages, use clear levels: basic, intermediate, fluent, bilingual.
6. Polish the presentation
- One page is enough up to about ten years of experience; two pages maximum after that.
- One font, two sizes, one accent color: simple layouts are easier to read.
- Always send a PDF, clearly named: “Resume FirstName LastName.pdf”.
- Proofread it, then have someone else proofread it: a single typo can be enough to get your application rejected.
7. Keep applicant tracking systems in mind
Many companies screen applications with software (an ATS) before a human ever reads them. To get past that filter: use keywords from the job posting, stick to standard section headings (“Professional Experience,” “Education”), and avoid resumes that are entirely images or text placed inside graphics.
In short: a clear header, a short summary, quantified experience, and a clean layout. That’s exactly what CVZeno templates do for you, with an example for every section.
Example of a one-page structure
- Header: first name, last name, target job title, city, phone, email.
- Summary: three lines about your experience and what you’re looking for.
- Experience: most recent to oldest, with results.
- Education: relevant degrees, most recent to oldest.
- Skills and languages: six to ten specific items.
- Interests, if you have little experience.
The most common mistakes
- A “Resume” title instead of the target job title.
- Duties without results or numbers.
- The same resume for every application.
- Spelling errors and inconsistent dates.
- A file in image format or poorly named.
Want to use an artificial intelligence tool?
Is your resume ready?
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to make a resume?
Allow one to two hours for a first complete version, then about ten minutes to tailor it to each job posting.
Do you need a photo?
It’s not required in the U.S.
Should a resume fit on one page?
Most often, yes.