Most resumes are not rejected because the person is unqualified. They are rejected because the important information is buried. A hiring manager with 200 applications is scanning, not reading, so your job is to make the scan easy.
Lead with a clear headline
Replace the old "objective" line with a one-sentence headline that names the role you want and the value you bring. "Marketing coordinator who grew organic traffic 40% in one year" tells a reader more in five seconds than a paragraph of adjectives.
Turn duties into results
For each role, write bullets that start with a strong verb and end with an outcome. Instead of "Responsible for social media," try "Launched a weekly video series that doubled Instagram engagement in three months." If you do not have exact numbers, use honest estimates or scope: team size, budget, number of clients.
- Start with an action verb: led, built, reduced, launched, negotiated.
- Add the result: time saved, money earned, problems solved.
- Keep each bullet to one or two lines.
Mirror the job description
Applicant tracking systems look for keywords. Read the posting closely and use the same language for skills you genuinely have. If they say "stakeholder management," do not write "working with partners."
A resume is not a history of your life. It is a marketing document for your next job.
Keep the design simple
Fancy columns, graphics, and icons can confuse tracking software. Use a clean single-column layout, a readable font, and consistent spacing. One page is ideal for under ten years of experience; two is fine beyond that.
Proofread out loud
Typos are the fastest way to the "no" pile. Read your resume out loud, then ask one friend to read it on their phone, since that is where many recruiters will see it first.
Maya writes about career with a focus on practical, realistic advice you can use today.
