How to Improve Your Resume

Your resume is often the first thing a hiring manager or ATS sees. Improving it isn’t about tricks—it’s about clarity, relevance, and consistency. Here’s a structured way to do it.

1. Get the structure right

Use a clear, conventional layout so both humans and systems can scan it quickly. In most industries (especially in the US and UK), a single-column format with clear headings works best.

• Contact details at the top: name, email, phone, and optionally LinkedIn or portfolio.
• Summary or profile (2–4 lines) that states your role and key value, tailored to the type of job you want.
• Work experience in reverse chronological order, with company, job title, and dates.
• Education: degree, institution, and year. Add honours or relevant details if they matter.
• Skills and, if relevant, certifications or languages.

Avoid graphics, multiple columns, or unusual fonts if you’re applying through an ATS; many systems parse plain text and simple formatting more reliably.

2. Write for the job you want

Generic resumes get fewer responses. For each application, align your wording with the job description: use the same job title where it fits, mirror important phrases, and highlight experience that matches the requirements.

That doesn’t mean copying the ad word-for-word. It means choosing the right achievements and terms so a recruiter can quickly see a match.

3. Use strong, concrete bullets

Under each role, use bullet points that start with a strong verb and focus on impact (results, scale, or improvement), not only duties.

• Weak: “Responsible for customer support.”
• Stronger: “Reduced average resolution time by 20% by introducing a new ticketing workflow.”

Where you can, add numbers: percentages, team size, budget, or time saved. Quantified outcomes are easier to remember and compare.

4. Keep it concise and consistent

In the US and UK, one to two pages is standard for most roles. Be consistent with dates (e.g. “Jan 2020 – Mar 2024”), capitalisation, and punctuation. Proofread carefully; spelling and grammar errors can undermine an otherwise strong resume.

5. Save in the right format

When applying online, submit a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. PDF keeps your layout intact. Use a clear filename, e.g. YourName_Resume.pdf or YourName_JobTitle.pdf.

Key takeaways

• Use a simple, single-column layout and clear headings.
• Tailor your summary and bullets to each job description.
• Lead with strong verbs and measurable results.
• Keep length and formatting consistent; submit PDF when possible.

Improving your resume is an ongoing process. As you get feedback from applications and interviews, update it. If you want help aligning your bullets with job descriptions and making them ATS-friendly, tools like ResumaryAi can help you optimise the wording while you keep full control of the content.