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How to Create a Resume on a Mac – Tutorial

Creating a resume on a Mac needs a word processing document. In this case, first of all, you have to make sure that on your Mac, you have installed Microsoft Word for Mac or the Apple’s Pages. At this time, the tutorial on how to create a resume on a Mac will talk about the mac resume templates that are available for Words or Pages.

how to make a resume on macbook air

For make it easier, you are better using the Microsoft Word Resume Templates on your Mac’s Dock. Here are some steps to follow:

Select “Resumes” from the List of Templates

Play with the fonts and colors.

select resume

Create the Right Format into your Resume

create the right format into your resume

Make sure your Resume is Professional

make sure your resume is professional

Recheck your Resume Format

recheck your resume format

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When you need to create a word processing document , such as resume on your Mac computer, you may have the option to use Microsoft Word for Mac or Apple's Pages, depending on the software you have installed on your computer. Before you choose a resume template from Word or Pages, the first step is think about your work experience and the nature of the position for which you're applying.

Resume Prep

If you have extensive experience doing the work that the new position includes, use the more traditional, chronological resume format. That type of resume lists your most recent jobs near the top of the page in reverse chronological order. If you're applying for a job that you haven't done before – but for which you still have the skills to qualify – use a skills-based or "functional" resume, which highlights your best skills or accomplishments near the top of the page. You'll know what skills are best to list for an individual job by closely reading the job posting, and then pulling out the required or desired skills the employer wants that apply to you. In either case, make some notes about your most recent jobs, the duties you performed, and the skills required for the job.

Microsoft Word Templates

Launch Word for Mac from your Mac's Dock and then select "Resumes" from the list of Templates that appear along the left hand side of the window. If none of those appeal to you, check out the Microsoft Office "Templates/Resumes" Web page. Once the template is downloaded, it should appear among your templates when you launch Word. From the Templates window, click on the one you want to highlight, and then select your desired colors and fonts. If the employer has specified certain fonts or font sizes in the job posting, choose those here. Then click "Choose." If you decide to change the font or font size after you've begun working on the document, that's fine too; simply highlight the text within the document, and change the font from the "Fonts" panel. The formatting of the document should remain the same.

Entering Your Information

Now fill your personal information into each pre-formatted field. Double-click on a section to highlight it, and then simply start typing; the generic template information will disappear and be replaced by your text. Enter your name, address, skills, jobs, dates and other information into the correct fields. To save the file, click "File," and then "Save As," and then name the document and click "Save." Word will automatically save it as a Word-based DOCX file – which tends to be the preferred file type for business, and for online resume databases. Be sure to review the document carefully so that none of the generic information provided by Word is left in the document. Have someone else review the document before you print it.

The Mac Alternative: Pages

If you're using Pages, follow a very similar process to create your resume. Launch the application, choose from the resume templates listed along the left hand side of the page, and click "Choose." If you want another template, try the iWork Community website, which offers several additional templates for download. Pages will automatically put your name into the "Name" field, as well as the phone number, if you have one saved to your user account. Double-click on a section to highlight it, and then start typing your personal details to delete the generic information. Highlight sections to drag and move them, or even delete them altogether. When you are done, click "File," and "Save As." Pages will save the document as a PAGES document, unless you specify otherwise, and it will allow you to save a copy as a Word document by clicking the check box in the "Save As" window. To save the document as plain text, click "File," and then "Export," and then choose "Plain Text."

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Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.

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Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, create a resume with pages on mac, iphone, ipad.

How to create a resume in Pages for Mac, iPhone, or iPad

Creating a resume is one of those tasks that can be stressful, but it does not need to be if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. That’s because your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, all have a readily accessible series of resume templates that you can access.

Whether it’s updating a resume into a new format, or creating an entirely new resume, we’ll show you how you can easily make a resume on Mac, iPhone, or iPad, by using the bundled Pages app.

If you don’t have Pages yet, you will need to download it to your device free from Apple. You’ll find it at the App Store for iPhone, iPad here , or Mac here . You’ll be able to sync your Pages documents, including the resume, across any of your devices using the same Apple ID.

How to Create a Resume in Pages for Mac, iPad, iPhone from a Resume Template

Pages functions mostly the same whether it’s being used in macOS, iOS, or iPadOS:

  • Create a New Document
  • Scroll down to the “Resumes” section and select the resume type you wish to create (we chose Classic Resume for this example)

how to make a resume in Pages app with a resume template

  • Fill out the resume with your information, including name, job position and experience information, education information, the standard resume fair

Once finished creating the resume, you can print it out, save it as a Pages file, save it as a DOCX file, save it as a PDF , or whatever else you’d like to do with it.

Whether you’re hunting for a job, getting ready to apply for a first job, or preparing to get back into the job market, having a nice, easy to read, and professional looking resume can make a difference. There’s no need to be intimidated by creating a resume, with the Resume Pages template, you can simply just plug in your resume information, and you’ll be finished in no time.

Looking beyond resumes, the entire iWork suite is fantastic, and each of the office suite apps offers handy templates for all sorts of personal and life tasks, whether you’re making a resume like we discuss here, setting up a budget spreadsheet , using a net worth tracker , creating a picture book, or so much more.

Have you ever created a resume from the free templates that come with the Pages app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac? What do you think of these features? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Related articles:

  • How to Export Pages as Word on iPhone & iPad
  • How to Convert Pages to Word on Mac
  • Disable Resume for Safari or Other Specific Applications in Mac OS X Lion
  • How to Highlight in Pages for Mac

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Hello. Please note that the word RÉSUMÉ is French and requires two accents to differentiate it from the non-French word resume, which has a totally different meaning.

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Home  »  Free Resources  »  Resume Templates  » Apple Pages Resumes

Free Apple Pages Resume Templates for Mac Users

With the help of our free resume templates for Mac, you can create a winning resume in minutes. To modify your resume, you can use Apple Pages or the free, web-based iCloud Pages . There is no software to download or install with iCloud Pages. It can be used to edit and save documents in different formats. Start by downloading one of the free Apple Pages resume templates below, make changes, save as PDF, and send! Take advantage of one of our free resume templates for Mac Pages and get one step closer to landing your dream job! There is also a Microsoft Word version available of these templates.

Download Free Resume Templates for Pages

Finding the perfect resume template for your job search can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of professional and free Mac resume templates available for you to download and customize for your job application. You can also download matching Pages cover letter templates .

Our Collection of Resume Templates for Apple Pages

These clear resume designs are great for job seekers nearly in any industry.

Mac Pages resume template

Other Resume Formats Available

Microsoft Word

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PowerPoint resumes

Customizable and Professional CV Templates for Pages

Our collection of free resume templates for Apple Pages offers a variety of designs to help you create a professional resume or CV. Whether you are using a Mac, iPad, or iPhone, our templates are fully customizable and easy to download.

5 Tips For Using Apple Pages Resume Templates

  • Use one of our pre-made resume templates for Pages to help create a professional, sleek resume.
  • Make sure to use a font that is easy to read – Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are all great options.
  • Keep the content of your resume concise and relevant to the job you are applying for.
  • Include keywords and phrases related to your industry to help your resume stand out.
  • Proofread your resume thoroughly to make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Use Apple Pages for Your Resume?

Apple Pages is a versatile and user-friendly application available on all Apple devices, including Mac, iPad, and iPhone. With our free templates, you can create a professional-looking resume or CV quickly and easily.

How to Download and Use Apple Pages Resume Templates

  • Browse our collection of resume templates.
  • Download the template that best suits your needs.
  • Open the template in Apple Pages on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone.
  • Customize the template with your personal information, skills, and experience.

Is Pages free on Mac?

Yes, Apple Pages is free to download and use on Mac. You can also use iCloud directly on your browser even on Windows.

Why to Use Apple Pages to Edit Your Resume?

Using Apple Pages to edit your resume is a great choice because it is a powerful and intuitive word processing tool that makes it easy to create a professional looking resume. You can choose from a variety of templates that are professionally designed and can be customized with your own information. With Pages, you can easily format text, add images, tables, and shapes, and even use advanced features like Smart Annotation to highlight text and make notes. Pages also makes it easy to collaborate with others on your resume, allowing you to share and edit documents with others. This makes it perfect for creating resumes that look great, are easy to share, and are sure to make a great impression on potential employers.

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Land your Dream Job with our Resume Templates for Mac (most of them are Apple Pages ready too..)

Abby Resume Template

The Abby Resume

US letter resume

The Barbara Resume

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The Brianna Resume

Jennifer Amstrong Resume A4

The Jennifer Resume

The Alexis Resume 1

The Alexis Resume

The Caleb Resume 1

The Caleb Resume

Abby Resume Template

  • This instant download contains a zip-file an editable resume in Microsoft Word.
  • Easy to customize
  • Microsoft Word
  • Apple pages
  • See below for complete description and additional information

$ 11.99 $ 7.99

US letter resume

$ 11.99 $ 9.99

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WANT TO SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO EDIT THE TEMPLATE? WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO BELOW

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR WORD FOR MAC & PAGES TEMPLATES

HOW IT WORKS

Choose: Select a resume template that suits your style from our collection. We have a wide variety of resume templates for Mac to choose from, and finding the one that suits you is easy-peasy. Going for a creative Marketing position? Pick one of our colorful designs that will give your resume lots of flair. Looking for a job in Finance? You might be better off with one of our black-and-white templates.

All of our resumes and cover letter templates are compatible with Mac. A good bunch of them also have an Apple Pages version included. Just check the download pages to see which one have an Apple Pages template included.

Download: After picking a resume template you like, check out and download a zip file. Edit the included docx or Pages files on your Mac computer.

Send Out: Finish your resume and send it to your dream company via PDF or printed version. Patiently wait for the recruiter or HR Manager whom you have impressed to call you.

Now go ace that interview!

Stand out: Research has shown that on average recruiters look for 6 seconds at a resume, so you better make sure you catch their eye in the few seconds you have!

A standard format won’t cut it so you will need a creative yet professional document. Our resume templates will do the job for you, without you having to spend hours on designing your own.

Eye for Detail: Our team of designers spends a lot of time and effort in creating these resume templates to impress potential employers and recruiters. We use custom fonts for added special effects and included separate versions for A4 and US Letter.

Remember that you only have a small amount of time to make a lasting impression. We make sure you WOW them.

Compatible: All our resume templates are compatible with Word for Mac and most of them are editable with Apple Pages too. Just check the respective download pages to see which ones are.

If you don’t have Word, download a free trial version .

WHY DON’T YOU OFFER FREE RESUME TEMPLATES FOR MAC?

Our design team carefully crafts each template and makes sure it’s compatible with all different versions of Word. Of course you could look around the web and free resume templates but a) you’ll be one of the many people who use the design and b) these docs are usually hard to edit. Wouldn’t you rather pay less than 10 bucks for a well-designed template that makes you stand out and can land you the job you want?

DO YOU OFFER SUPPORT?

Of course! We can’t fill out your resume or cover letter template for you but we will not leave you hanging if you run into problems. Send us an e-mail and we’ll be there for you.

CAN YOU WRITE MY RESUME FOR ME?

We have certified resume writers who can do the hard work for you for very affordable prices. Contact us and mention you would like to have your resume written by us. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

*IT'S SALE TIME!* All our templates now with huge discounts...Sale can end anytime!! Dismiss

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

person on laptop

Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!

Whatever your concern, we’ll break down everything you need to know about making the perfect resume, from scratch.

What Is a Resume?

What are employers looking for in a resume.

  • Pick Your Format
  • Start With Your Basic Information
  • Add in Your Work Experience
  • Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience
  • Don’t Forget Your Education
  • Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests
  • Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)
  • Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)
  • Edit and Refine It

What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?

A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.

For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little time—mere seconds in many cases—looking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, it’s safe to say that creating a great resume (rather than hastily throwing one together) still matters.

“If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist,” says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky , founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isn’t the goal to “spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?”

You might be wondering if you can lean on your LinkedIn profile instead of writing a resume. The answer, sadly, is no. Most hiring managers still expect you to submit a resume, even if they also look at your LinkedIn. Even if you don’t need a resume for a job you’re applying for now, you’re going to need one at some point in your career—they’re not anywhere close to going out of style. So it’s best to always have one at the ready should an opportunity pop up.

And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company (more on that later).

Oh, and you’ve probably heard of something called a CV? It’s slightly different from a resume , and usually more common with academics and job seekers outside the U.S.

Hiring managers look for three things on your resume, “What did you do? Why did you do it? And what was the result?” says Muse career coach Martin McGovern , owner of Career Therapy. “If you can answer all three of these questions in...your resume bullet points, you’re going to be on the right track.”

Clear, easy-to-understand language is key. “The truth is that most resumes make no sense. They are stuffed with jargon, they are too technical, and they are filled with redundancies. Try to read a resume that isn’t yours and you will quickly realize that it feels like an alien wrote it,” McGovern adds. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter who has no idea how your role works—how can you make your resume accessible to them?

The hiring manager also cares about more than just you and you alone—they care about you in relation to them. “Hiring managers want to see if a candidate matches the requirements” of the role they’re hiring for, Yurovsky explains. “Your resume should paint this picture so the hiring manager not only knows what day-to-day responsibilities you can handle, but why you, above other[s], bring value to their organization.”

How Do You Write a Resume?

Whether you’re someone who’s never written a resume in your life, or you need a nice, thorough refresher on the process of creating one, follow these steps to go from a blank page to a complete—and dare I say beautiful—document.

Related: This Free Worksheet Makes It Easy to Create (or Update) Your Resume

1. Pick Your Format

Before you start typing one single thing, you have to decide what you want the overall resume to look like.

Resume builders can be helpful for this step—they’ll take all your basic information and organize it for you, eliminating some of the legwork. You can also use a pre-made outline, such as one of these free Google Docs templates .

But it’s often safest to start with a clean slate all on your own and eventually upgrade to a more advanced layout. (If you'd still like a place to write all the relevant information before you get started, check out our resume outline .) This allows you to course correct, edit and re-edit, and choose a resume format that best fits your particular situation (after all, not everyone has a career trajectory that’s easy to compartmentalize).

In general, you’re most likely to cover and/or include sections on the following:

  • Your work experience
  • Your non-work experience, including professional organizations, community involvement, or side projects
  • Your education and certifications
  • Your skills (specifically hard skills) and interests

So how do you format and organize all of that information?

By far the most common (and safest, if you’re not sure which route to take) option is reverse chronological order . This means you organize your experiences from most recent to least recent. So your work experiences would go above your education, and your current role would go above previous roles you’ve held. This of course has its exceptions—maybe you went back to grad school between jobs, or your most recent role is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. So the whole page may not be exactly in reverse chronological order depending on your situation. It’s just a guideline.

There’s also something called a functional or skills-based resume . This is used pretty rarely, mainly with career changers and those with limited or complicated work histories. It gets its name because it’s primarily about listing your skills rather than experiences, and showcases them above your work history and education.

You can also opt for a combination resume , which is a mix between a reverse chronological resume and skills-based resume. It highlights your skills at the top, but allows just as much room below to cover your job and school experience.

Use caution when choosing these two formats: “Combo and skills-based [resumes] can be hard to follow, because [they force] the reader to hunt for connections between your skills and experience, and [don’t] provide the full context of your work,” says Muse Career Coach Angela Smith , founder of Loft Consulting. “I’ve also heard a lot of recruiters say that they automatically discount skill-based resumes because they feel the candidate is trying to hide something. I don’t necessarily believe that, but I think it’s important for job-seekers to know that perception is out there.”

2. Start With Your Basic Information

Your contact information should always go at the top of your resume. In this header you’ll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:

  • Your full name (preferably the name you use across the web)
  • Your phone number
  • Your personal email address

You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub (for technical roles), your social media profiles (if relevant to the job), or your address. If you’re looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write “open to relocating” to better your chances of getting an interview.

The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, there’s no point in perfecting the rest of your resume.

3. Add in Your Work Experience

This section will most likely be the bulk of your resume. Even if you’re changing careers, employers still want to see where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and the impact of that work to get a sense of your background and expertise.

Your “Work Experience” might be one entire category, or you might choose to break it up into “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to highlight the jobs that are most important for hiring managers to focus on. Either way, you’ll almost always want to have your most recent experience at the top and your older experience down below.

Within your work experience, you’ll want to include each official job title, the company (and possibly its location), and the years you worked there. Below that, you’ll add in two to four bullet points explaining what you did in that job, the skills you built and exercised, the tools you used, and the results of what you did. If you accomplished a lot during your time there, focus on the responsibilities that made the most impact or you’re the most proud of, as well as the ones that best align you with the job you’re applying for (more on that in the following sections). It’s key here to list, if relevant, quantitative as well as qualitative accomplishments.

For example, you might write:

Associate Accountant, Finances and Co., Ann Arbor, MI September 2017 – Present

  • Manage billing and invoicing for more than 50 clients, ensuring the deadlines and needs of our enterprise partners, including Big Company and Super Star Org, are met
  • Collaborate closely with sales, account management, and project management teams on project setup, maintenance, and invoice management
  • Assist in the streamlining of invoicing guidelines and procedures through documentation and the implementation of new software, resulting in an average two-week decrease in total time spent per client

Your resume bullets should be in past tense if you’re referring to past jobs and present tense if you’re talking about your current roles. In addition, your bullets should always start with a strong action verb that best describes what you did. And if you have examples of your work, consider hyperlinking them here as well.

If you have a ton of experience and this category is starting to run long (read: over one page), consider kicking out your oldest jobs unless they’re super relevant to the job you’re applying for, or extra impressive for your field.

Not sure where to start? “It’s helpful to do a brain dump and create a document that has everything and anything you consider as experience or an achievement,” says Yurovsky. From there, she explains, you can start to whittle down what is and isn’t important. And you can refer to this document later if you ever decide to update your resume for a specific role.

Need more specific advice on listing your work experience on your resume? Check out these additional resources:

  • When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company: 2 Jobs, 1 Company: How to Show Multiple Positions on Your Resume
  • When you’re not sure what your accomplishments are or how to explain them: Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties Into Accomplishments
  • When you want to spruce up a boring or insignificant job: How to Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting on Your Resume
  • When you’re considering fudging a job title: The Answer to “Can I Change My Job Title on My Resume to Make It More Accurate?”
  • When you’ve had a bunch of short-term gigs: How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume

4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience

Anything you’ve done that’s not work experience—your side gig, volunteer work, special projects—can be hosted under clearly-labeled sections (“Volunteer Experience” or “Activities,” for example). Depending on how robust your work experience is, these things may be worth including, particularly if they’ve helped you level up your skill set or better align you with your dream job. Plus, they make you look that much more well-rounded, passionate, and hardworking.

If you’re a recent grad, you might also build out a section for on-campus activities, such as clubs, organizations, or leadership experience. This can be a great supplement if you’re lacking in the jobs department. You can frame these just as you would professional jobs—including your title, the organization’s name, and bullets describing what your role was and what you accomplished.

Read More: This Is Exactly How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume

5. Don’t Forget Your Education

If you’re still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you don’t want it to take up too much space over your work experience.

It’s possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologically—so a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.

Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:

  • How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume
  • How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)

6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests

The skills section of a resume gets a bad rap, but it’s just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. It’s a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what they’re hiring for. And it’s super ATS-friendly (ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” the robot that in some cases reads your resume before a human does) because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.

Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special cases—such as a skills-based resume or when someone’s switching fields—you may place it further up.

What exactly do you throw in here? You’ll want to list any hard skills and applications you’re familiar with (Photoshop, SEO, JavaScript, to name a few examples), and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speaking—save those for your bullet points instead.

Be strategic when filling in your skills. Don’t list things you actually couldn’t do at a high competence level (I’m looking at those of you who say you’re “great” at Excel), and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if you’re applying for say, a design position, unless it’s listed as a job requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking, I’m a really good volleyball player, but that’s not a “skill,” right? No, it’s not, but it is a hobby. Adding in a hobby section at the bottom of your resume is underrated, and frequently a smart choice. It can be a great conversation starter with a hiring manager, and it can show that you’re a good culture fit—or a culture add—for the company. Also, it’s just a nice way to add in some of your personality. So tack on a bullet point listing out some of your interests, such as hiking, rowing, or crafting (no more than five to seven work-appropriate verbs), and you’re all set here.

7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

You may have heard of a resume summary statement . They’re not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if you’re looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If you’re a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if you’re a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.

Overall, you probably won’t need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, “Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it,” says McGovern. “Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldn’t be any more complicated than that.”

So, taking McGovern’s example, you might say:

Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.

Yurovsky adds that “you don’t want your summary statement to be a dense paragraph with too much information. You want it to be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Almost like a tagline.”

Read More: 3 Resume Summary Examples That’ll Make Writing Your Own Easier

8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)

Once you have your resume written out—you’ve broken down your work experience, tagged on some activities and additional experiences, and listed out your skills—it’s important to go back to the job description (or multiple job descriptions, if you’re applying to several similar jobs) and make sure that what your resume says matches up with the kind of candidate the employers are looking for. In other words, tailor it .

Let’s explain further. You’ll want to begin by tackling the ATS . This means combing the job description to see if individual words and phrases line up. What skills are they asking for, and have you listed them (so long as you actually have them)? What words are they using to describe their ideal hire, and do you use similar language in your resume?

Next, take a bird’s-eye view. If you were the hiring manager for the role, where on your resume would your eyes be drawn to? And what would you be looking for? Whatever you think will be most important for the recruiter, make sure it’s near the top of your resume, or otherwise emphasized.

Finally, dig into the role and responsibilities of the job. Does your resume reflect similar experience? If not, is there a way you can spin it so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)?

These articles can help you if the word “tailoring” makes you start to sweat:

  • What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”
  • Your Guide to Making Unrelated Experience Look Relevant on Your Resume
  • A Cool Trick: How to Spin 1 Resume Bullet 5 Different Ways

9. Edit and Refine It

Please, please don’t just write your resume and shoot it out without giving it a second glance. Hiring managers may not spend hours browsing it, but if there’s one thing that sticks out more than anything else it’s a glaring typo.

The best approach? Write a rough draft, then leave and come back to it later with fresh eyes to give it an edit.

Cover the basics: Is your contact information correct and updated? Are you using the right verb tenses? Does everything look consistent and accurate in terms of spelling and grammar?

Then do some cutting if your resume’s quite long. It’s no longer a hard-and-fast rule that all resumes must be only one page—but consider it a smart guideline for most applicants, especially if you've got less than 10 years work experience. The exception is if you’re very senior or very established in your career; in this scenario, a two-page resume isn’t completely out of the question. Everyone else, read this article for advice on how to cut your resume down.

Formatting-wise, it’s key to consider a couple things. First, what font are you using , and is it legible (for a human and a robot)? When in doubt, go with one of these simple, but sleek, options: Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Second, are you going to save it as a Word document or PDF ? Neither option is wrong, although a PDF helps ensure that your formatting is maintained, no matter what type of computer the hiring manager uses to open the document.

Third, is your resume formatted in a way that it’s skimmable? If it’s feeling crowded or overrun with words, read this: 12 Tiny Changes That Make Your Resume Easy for Recruiters to Skim .

Once you’ve given it a few good looks, it may be worth sending it to a friend or colleague (or even a career coach ) to get a second opinion. Don’t just have them edit it for spelling and grammar—they should dig into your bullets and offer feedback on whether or not your resume is showing you in the best possible light (it’s smart to also send them the job description for something to compare it to).

Here’s the thing: Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.

So there isn’t a universal way to do a resume. But there are common themes. To give you some context as to how yours might turn out, here are three examples of different kinds of resumes.

The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume

As previously mentioned, a reverse chronological resume is preferred by many coaches and HR experts, mainly because it’s super readable. When everything’s in a clear order, it’s easy to skim and even easier to draw lines between experiences.

Who it’s good for: Just about everyone—from students applying to internships all the way up to senior-level executives (with an optional resume summary statement)

Download an Example Chronological Resume for a Software Engineer

how to make a resume on macbook air

The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume

Rather than listing out your experience in reverse chronological order, a functional or skills-based resume has bullet points that reflect how each of your skills is demonstrated by the work you’ve done over the course of your career. At the bottom, you’ll include everything else, such as your education, job history, professional achievements, community involvement, and other technical skills. This is a good option if you have a somewhat all-over-the-place work history and want to tie everything together neatly.

Who it’s good for: Career changers whose work experiences may not appear to be relevant and people with an abundance of temporary jobs or gaps in their work histories.

Download an Example Functional Resume for a Project Manager

how to make a resume on macbook air

The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website

This resume type is characterized by how it’s formatted visually. You may choose a reverse chronological order or skills-based style to organize your information, but also use graphics, colors, unique fonts, and even multimedia elements to help that information pop. Keep in mind that any creative resume is still likely subject to an ATS—and certain elements may be unreadable by a robot. So consider going this route only if you know a human will be reading your resume (and that said human might enjoy it).

Who it’s good for: People applying to creative roles (designers, editors, writers, marketers, video producers, for example), startups, or fun companies, or to jobs where a creative resume is encouraged, if not required.

Download an Example Infographic Resume for a Designer

how to make a resume on macbook air

Not a designer but want your resume to look just as pretty as this example? Check out these articles:

  • 5 Sites to Create an Awesome Infographic Resume (Even if You’re the Least Creative Person Ever)
  • How to Build a Resume Website That Will Impress Every Hiring Manager Who Sees It
  • 5 Digital Tools That Will Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful

Your resume is a living, breathing document. So while you won’t go through this whole process every time you apply for a job, you should be thinking about all these things as you go to update your resume for your next career step. You might decide later on to switch up the order, or remove or add things, or even get creative and try out a whole new format. If you’re not getting the calls back you expect, you may decide to scrap it and start over —and that’s totally OK.

Regardless of where this piece of paper goes and how it grows, when you give it the care and attention it deserves, you set yourself up for success. And you’ll make it that much more likely that you’ll land an interview and get the chance to prove to the hiring manager—over the phone or in person—what you’ve got to offer.

how to make a resume on macbook air

How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

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For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

  • The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
  • 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
  • 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

how to write a resume

  • Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
  • Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
  • Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
  • Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
  • Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
  • Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
  • Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
  • Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

  • Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
  • Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
  • Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

reverse chronological resume

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

  • Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
  • Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
  • Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
  • Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
  • Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
  • Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

traditional vs modern resume

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

novoresume vs text editor

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

  • Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
  • Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
  • Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
  • Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

  • Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
  • LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
  • Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
  • Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
  • Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
  • Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

professional resume contact section

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

resume summary professional

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

  • Your job title and years of experience.
  • A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
  • Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

  • Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
  • Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
  • Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
  • Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

how to list work experience on a resume

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

  • Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
  • Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
  • Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

  • Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
  • Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
  • Generated leads through cold-calling
  • Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

  • Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
  • Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
  • Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

  • Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
  • Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
  • Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

how to tailor your resume to the job ad

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

  • In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
  • Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
  • In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

  • No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
  • Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
  • Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
  • Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

ats system statistic

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

  • Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
  • Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
  • Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
  • Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

  • Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
  • University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
  • Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
  • Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
  • GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
  • Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
  • Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
  • Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

education on resume

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

  • If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
  • You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
  • If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
  • Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
  • Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
  • Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

  • Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
  • Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

How to List Skills in Your Resume

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

  • Agile Methodology
  • SCRUM Framework
  • Waterfall Project Management
  • Microsoft Project
  • Critical Path Method (CPM)
  • Earned Value Management (EVM)
  • Risk Management

Soft Skills

  • Team Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
  • Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
  • Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
  • A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
  • Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
  • Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

  • Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
  • Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
  • Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
  • Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

other important resume sections

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

  • Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

  • Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
  • Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
  • Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
  • Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
  • Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
  • Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
  • Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
  • Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
  • Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
  • Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
  • Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
  • Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
  • Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
  • Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

professional resume writing checklist

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Architect Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

  • Administrative Assistant Resume
  • Bartender Resume
  • DevOps Engineer Resume
  • Executive Assistant Resume
  • Flight Attendant Resume
  • Graphic Designer Resume
  • Paralegal Resume
  • Pharmacist Resume
  • Recruiter Resume
  • Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

cover letter structure for resume

  • Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
  • Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
  • Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
  • Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

cover letter example for resume

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

  • Open MS Word
  • Click “file” from the menu bar 
  • Select “new”
  • Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

  • Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
  • Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
  • Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
  • Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
  • Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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The top iPhone Resume App is now available on the Mac! Writing an effective resume doesn't have to be hard. A precision targeted and professionally typeset resume is the key to scoring an interview. Simply fill in your information, and Resume Star produces a clean, correctly formatted PDF resume you can email directly, post online, or print out. BUILD A PROFESSIONAL RESUME IN MINUTES Resume Star creates professional resumes using industry best practices: - Using a battle-tested template with complete sections. - Using the right fonts (did you know that many fonts don't appear the same on Mac and PC?). - Including a targeted and properly addressed cover letter for each company. - Avoiding gaudy colors and styles that send the wrong message. SCORE THAT INTERVIEW, OR PAY US NOTHING! There are many resume apps out there. Resume Star is different. Download it for free and use it unrestricted. Pay us only when you get the interview. That's right, this is not a cut-down, limited free edition. It's the full featured App, and the best one you can buy. There are no annoying ads, or gotcha limits on creating and sending resumes. It has everything you need to score that interview. Use the secure in-App purchase to pay us only when we've earned it. Instead of you taking a risk in trusting an unknown App, we'll trust you instead. How's that for a change? If you like this way of buying Apps, please be sure to let us know in the reviews section. GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL, FAST Resume Star is fine tuned to produce resumes that get the hiring manager's attention (in the right way), and get you in the door. People are using Resume Star to get jobs every day. We're confident it can help you too. Resume Star has a full feature set with everything you need: - Creates cross-platform compatible PDF resumes - Email or print resumes directly - Export to 3rd party Apps such as Dropbox to upload - Create unlimited resumes, one for each company if you want - 10 professionally drafted examples provide a starting point, or inspiration - Use pre-defined sections or create custom ones - Rearrange sections to suit your needs - Create a specific cover letter for each company, properly addressed - Optional fine adjustments to text and margin sizes to fit the page - Live previews BONUS GUIDE Also check out the in-depth guide, How to Score That interview With a Precision Targeted Resume. It's full of tips and tricks to get the most out of Resume Star. It's included free for all Resume Star users. Access it from the help menu. APPS YOU'LL LOVE At Qrayon, we love building Apps that you'll find useful and actually enjoy to use. We hope that Resume Star helps, even in its small way, towards you getting your dream job. If you like it, please be sure to let us know. We love to hear success stories. Oh, and do tell your friends about us too! All the best in your journey, -- All the App Makers @ Qrayon.

Version 1.3

+ Fixed a bug when reordering sections.

Ratings and Reviews

Resume star: pro cv templates.

I am covered in sweat. Essentially, this is a good app and it has focused what was needed. But, it’s been six hours of sweat and screaming. Sometimes, I think it is the receiving employment end. Case in point: ZipRecruiter, saved eight times. Restarted the computer once. Sent my resume, OK. Format problem. Fixed format. Sent resume. Nonsense phrases came up and the resume was partially cut off. Fixed resume. Saved. Fixed. Saved. Fixed. Restarted computer. Finally, everything came through clean. Ran out of that program! Tried to enter another job site. Wouldn’t take saved file. Had to copy, paste into Pages. Reformat. Confirm format, confirm bulletins, spacing and dates in proper side bar site. Pasted hand format into site. Cover letter was gross. But, I will use it. Thank goodness I pulled off your original and pasted into Page. Next time I brought you app up, surprise, no cover letter! If I somehow get a job, I will pay you. But ye gads! I’m exhausted.

Pretty Good

Oddly starts with a blank folder in front of you. Go to the menu bar and pick new. Read the directions and start inputing the information for the cover letter and resume. Different blocks of data can be deleted, added or moved around. If you're like me a needs more than a blank canvas, this is a good program. The final result isn't fancy, just useful. You can take that data and use it somewhere else. Note, you better copy the data to Word as it just saves a pdf. Also, its free but they are hoping you send them money after a successful result. There are a few bugs - you click on a section and the wrong section pops up to work on. It can be trial and error sometimes. It crashes about once an hour. It works though. Thanks!:)

way more than just a templet to copy

I needed a resume in a very short time. I looked through the templets and resume catagory apps. I decided to pick this one. I made a great choice. it has blocks that are identified with what informationis needed to be filled. I entered what it the prompts said went there. It is a little clunky to add each extra work history history spots, but it only took a few seconds to figure it out. It was 30 to 45 minutes after I started filling in the blocks that on the right on my screen was an actual resume. They thanked me for the well organized resume I had for them on short notice. I am gladly going to pay them for this app out of my first pay check. It really help to get me the job. I am a real person writing this on my own after using this app.

App Privacy

The developer, Qrayon, LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

  • Standard Purchase $9.99
  • Bonus Purchase $24.99
  • Developer Website
  • App Support

More By This Developer

Resume Star: Pro CV Maker

Inkflow Visual Notebook

Simple Whiteboard by Qrayon

Air Projector: Photo Slideshow

Smart PDF Editor

Resume Star 2: Pro CV Designer

macOS User Guide

  • What’s in the menu bar?
  • Work on the desktop
  • Search with Spotlight
  • Quickly change settings
  • Get notifications
  • Open apps from the Dock
  • Organize your files in the Finder
  • Connect to the internet
  • Browse the web
  • Preview a file
  • Take a screenshot
  • Change your display’s brightness
  • Adjust the volume
  • Use trackpad and mouse gestures
  • Use Touch ID
  • Print documents
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Apps on your Mac
  • Work with app windows
  • Use apps in full screen
  • Use apps in Split View
  • Use Stage Manager
  • Get apps from the App Store
  • Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
  • Install and uninstall other apps
  • Create and work with documents
  • Open documents
  • Mark up files
  • Combine files into a PDF
  • Organize files on your desktop
  • Organize files with folders
  • Tag files and folders
  • Back up files
  • Restore files
  • Change System Settings
  • Choose your desktop wallpaper
  • Add and customize widgets
  • Use a screen saver
  • Add a user or group
  • Add your email and other accounts
  • Automate tasks with Shortcuts
  • Create Memoji
  • Change your login picture
  • Change the system language
  • Make text and other items on the screen bigger
  • Set up a Focus to stay on task
  • Set up Screen Time for yourself
  • Use Dictation
  • Send emails
  • Send text messages
  • Make a FaceTime video call
  • Edit photos and videos
  • Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
  • Start a Quick Note
  • Get directions
  • Work across devices using Continuity
  • Use iPhone as a webcam
  • Use iPhone with Desk View
  • Stream audio and video with AirPlay
  • Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
  • Hand off between devices
  • Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
  • Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
  • Sync music, books, and more between devices
  • Manage Apple ID settings
  • Set your Apple ID picture
  • What is iCloud?
  • What is iCloud+?
  • Store files in iCloud Drive
  • Share and collaborate on files and folders
  • Manage iCloud storage
  • Use iCloud Photos
  • What is Family Sharing?
  • Set up Family Sharing
  • Set up Screen Time for a child
  • Share purchases with your family
  • Watch and listen together with SharePlay
  • Share a Photo Library
  • Collaborate on projects
  • Find content shared with you
  • Find your family and friends
  • Play games with your friends
  • Listen to podcasts
  • Watch TV shows and movies
  • Read and listen to books
  • Read the news
  • Track stocks and the market
  • Apple Music
  • Apple Arcade
  • Apple News+
  • Podcast shows and channels
  • Manage subscriptions in the App Store
  • View Apple family subscriptions
  • Guard your privacy
  • Use Mail Privacy Protection
  • Control access to your camera
  • Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
  • Set up your Mac to be secure
  • Keep your data safe
  • Create a passkey
  • Understand passwords
  • Keep your Apple ID secure
  • Find a missing device
  • Get started with accessibility features
  • Connect an external display
  • Use the built-in camera
  • Connect a Bluetooth device
  • Use AirPods with your Mac
  • Optimize your Mac battery life
  • Optimize storage space
  • Burn CDs and DVDs
  • Control accessories in your home
  • Use Windows on your Mac
  • Resources for your Mac
  • Resources for your Apple devices

how to make a resume on macbook air

Create and work with documents on Mac

You can use macOS apps—such as Pages or TextEdit—or apps from the Mac App Store to create reports, essays, spreadsheets, financial charts, presentations, slideshows, and more.

A Pages document open on the desktop.

Tip: If you have questions about how to use an app like Pages or TextEdit, choose Help in the menu bar while working in the app, then look for answers in the app’s user guide .

Create documents

On your Mac, open an app that lets you create documents.

For example, open TextEdit to create a plain text, rich text, or HTML document.

Click New Document in the Open dialog, or choose File > New.

Many Mac computers come with these Apple apps that you can use to create reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and more:

Pages: Create letters, reports, flyers, posters, and more. Pages includes many templates that make it easy to create beautiful documents. See the Pages User Guide .

Numbers: Create spreadsheets to organize and present your data. Start with a template, then modify it however you like—add formulas, charts, images, and more. See the Numbers User Guide .

Keynote: Create compelling presentations with images, media, charts, slide animations, and more. See the Keynote User Guide .

If you don’t have Pages, Numbers, or Keynote on your Mac, you can get them from the App Store.

Open App Store for me

They’re also available for your iOS and iPadOS devices (from the App Store) and on iCloud.com .

Format documents

There are several ways to format and work with text in documents on your Mac:

Change fonts and styles: In a document, choose Format > Show Fonts, Format > Font > Show Fonts, or Format > Style. See Format text in documents with fonts .

Change colors: In a document, choose Format > Show Colors, or Format > Font > Show Colors. See Use colors in documents .

Enter different types of characters: You can enter characters with accent marks or diacritic marks.

Check spelling: In most apps, spelling is checked while you type, and mistakes are automatically corrected. You can turn off these features or use other options. See Check spelling and grammar .

Check definitions: In a document, select the text you want to check, Control-click it, then choose Look Up. See Look up words .

Translate text: In a document, select the text you want to translate, Control-click it, then choose Translate. See Translate text .

Save documents

Many apps on your Mac save your documents automatically while you work. You can save a document at any time.

how to make a resume on macbook air

When you save your document, you can add tags to it so it’s easier to find later. You may be able to save your document in iCloud Drive so it’s available on your computers and iOS and iPadOS devices set up with iCloud Drive.

Save a document with another name: In a document, choose File > Save As, then enter a new name. If Save As isn’t shown, press and hold the Option key, then open the File menu again.

Save a document as a copy: In a document, choose File > Duplicate or File > Save As.

You can also save a document as a PDF and combine multiple files into a single PDF .

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Where do I find a resume in my MacBook Air?

where do I find a Resume in my MacAir

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on Apr 10, 2022 4:32 AM

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  • professional resume for mac What is the most highly recommended program for creating a resume on Mac? It should be able to open in Word.docx format 574 1

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PRP_53

Apr 10, 2022 7:18 AM in response to Joelhuey1

Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question

Is this a New Issue ? If Yes, what exactly changed on this computer ?

Is this an Old Issue ? If Yes, what actions has the user taken to fix this issue ?

Reliable , accurate, details and context will really help to pinpoint a possible solution.

ku4hx

Apr 10, 2022 9:32 AM in response to Joelhuey1

If you're looking fro a resume' template, you'll need an app that has templates. MS Office does; not sure if FreeOffice and LibreOffice do or not.

IMAGES

  1. How to Create a Resume in Apple Pages [Mac]

    how to make a resume on macbook air

  2. How To Write A Resume On A Macbook

    how to make a resume on macbook air

  3. How To Edit Resume On Macbook Air

    how to make a resume on macbook air

  4. How to Create a Resume on a Mac

    how to make a resume on macbook air

  5. How to Create a Resume in Apple Pages [Mac]

    how to make a resume on macbook air

  6. How To Make A Resume On Mac

    how to make a resume on macbook air

VIDEO

  1. MY EXPERIENCE WORKING AT APPLE AS A SALES SPECIALIST

  2. how to turn on your macbook when asleep

  3. How to create Resume

  4. Resume Guide for Aspiring Aviation QC Inspectors

  5. Tiny resume tweaks you can make to land your dream job l GMA

  6. How to Create a Resume with Pages on Mac

COMMENTS

  1. How to Make a Resume in Pages for Mac

    Learn how to format and create a resume in Page on MacOS High Sierra.Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/chasecarringtonTwitter: https://twitter.com/ChaseTheSon...

  2. How to Create a Resume in Apple Pages [Mac]

    Step 1: Launch Pages from Applications. Open the Apple Pages app located in your Applications folder. You will be greeted with the following window. If you don't see this window, go to your top menu bar and select File > New… (or use the shortcut Cmd+N). At the left sidebar, navigate to the Stationery tab, scroll down to the Resume section ...

  3. How to Create a Free resume in Mac

    Are you ready to craft the perfect resume on your Mac without breaking the bank? Look no further! In this comprehensive tutorial, we'll show you how to creat...

  4. How to Create a Resume on a Mac

    Click it to add/ edit your resume. Recheck your whole resume before click the 'finish' button. Besides creating the professional and complete resume, you also have to prepare yourself to the interview session because the interview session also takes an important part for your career experience.

  5. 15 Free Pages Resume Templates for Mac

    Here are ten free Mac resume templates available for Pages. You can easily find all these templates available by default in Pages: 1. Classic Resume. This is your standard minimalist resume template. The Classic template has a clean, straightforward layout that gets the job done.

  6. How to create a professional resume in Mac

    Are you ready to craft a winning resume that will impress employers and land you your dream job? In this comprehensive tutorial, we'll show you how to create...

  7. How to Write a Resume on a Mac

    Microsoft Word Templates. Launch Word for Mac from your Mac's Dock and then select "Resumes" from the list of Templates that appear along the left hand side of the window. If none of those appeal to you, check out the Microsoft Office "Templates/Resumes" Web page. Once the template is downloaded, it should appear among your templates when you ...

  8. Create a Resume with Pages on Mac, iPhone, iPad

    Open Pages. Create a New Document. Scroll down to the "Resumes" section and select the resume type you wish to create (we chose Classic Resume for this example) Fill out the resume with your information, including name, job position and experience information, education information, the standard resume fair. Once finished creating the ...

  9. Free Apple Pages Resume Templates for Mac Users

    5 Tips For Using Apple Pages Resume Templates. Use one of our pre-made resume templates for Pages to help create a professional, sleek resume. Make sure to use a font that is easy to read - Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are all great options. Keep the content of your resume concise and relevant to the job you are applying for.

  10. Resume Templates for Mac (Word) & Apple Pages. Instant Download

    All of our resumes and cover letter templates are compatible with Mac. A good bunch of them also have an Apple Pages version included. Just check the download pages to see which one have an Apple Pages template included. Download: After picking a resume template you like, check out and download a zip file. Edit the included docx or Pages files ...

  11. How to Make the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

    5. Don't Forget Your Education. If you're still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree.

  12. Pages Resume Templates: 10+ FREE Resume Templates for Mac

    Simply open the App Store on your Mac, and type "resume templates" in the search box. You're bound to come across a large variety of resume templates for Pages. Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.

  13. Editing or Creating a Resume

    You can enter your personal information directly, or open a 'blank' document in which to compose the text that will go in each block, then copy that text from the composition document and paste it into the appropriate space of the resume template, replacing the placeholder text there. Regards, Barry. View in context. 3 replies.

  14. How To: Using Resume Templates in Apple Pages

    Watch former Apple Creative use a template in pages to create a resume.Also, how to restore old items in your resume if they were deleted.ApplePodcasts: http...

  15. How to Make a Resume in 2024

    Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles. Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there's a good chance they'll mess up your resume's formatting.

  16. ‎Resumake

    Take a look at some of the key features of Resumake below. Visual Editor. Edit and control every aspect of your resume using our live preview. Add pre-formatted sections and entries and we'll take care of the rest, or take control of the style and customize your resume as much as you'd like. AI Powered Analysis.

  17. How to Write a Resume for Apple + Templates

    Below are anonymous sample resumes from Apple employees who started working at the company within the last twelve months. Use them as a reference for your own resume. Real Resume 1: Apple Software Engineer. Real Resume 2: Apple Product Manager. Real Resume 3: Apple Data Scientist. Sample Apple Cover Letter. 📃.

  18. ‎Resume Star: Pro CV Designer on the Mac App Store

    The top iPhone Resume App is now available on the Mac! Writing an effective resume doesn't have to be hard. A precision targeted and professionally typeset resume is the key to scoring an interview. Simply fill in your information, and Resume Star produces a clean, correctly formatted PDF resume you can email directly, post online, or print out.

  19. Create and work with documents on Mac

    Click New Document in the Open dialog, or choose File > New. Many Mac computers come with these Apple apps that you can use to create reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and more: Pages: Create letters, reports, flyers, posters, and more. Pages includes many templates that make it easy to create beautiful documents. See the Pages User Guide.

  20. Where do I find a resume in my MacBook Air?

    How to send a resume online with my Mac? I just spent almost another $2,000 on another Macbook pro and it's worse than the last computer that didn't even last 5 years. I'm so disappointed I'm thinking about returning it. I can't even submit a resume on this thing. I bought this for work and its so far pretty useless. I can't even apply for work.