As you prepare to take your career to the next level, you cannot help but wonder: what should my resume look like?

In the competitive job market of today, it is important to have a well-written resume to be able to rise above the crowd. But what constitutes a good resume? What are the must-have elements that will grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers?

To answer these questions, let’s get a clearer picture of what my resume should look like in 2025. With AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) becoming more common and personal branding becoming more important, rules for resume writing are changing.

In this article, we’ll offer expert tips and advice on how to make a resume shine, from the best formats and layouts to the most effective keywords and phrases.

What Should My Resume Look Like in 2025?

A resume that is visually appealing will be more likely to catch the eye of hiring managers and be read more thoroughly.

Your resume is the first chance to make a lasting impression on the prospective employers, and it needs to look professional.

An attractive resume is well designed and typically consists of the following sections:

Resume header
Resume summary
Work experience section
Education section
Skills section

If this is your first time writing a resume or you’re determined to improve your current application documents, keep reading to learn more about resume basics and tips to ensure your resume looks good.

1. Modern Resume Header

In the early 2000s, it was enough to have your name in bold at the top of your resume to stand out. A quarter-century later, resumes are more visually oriented now.

Begin your resume with a captivating resume header so that the hiring manager takes notice of your application and recalls your name.

This type of resume header is effective because it has high contrast, drawing the reader’s eyes to the candidate’s name, title, and contact information. Placing your contact information in the header is convenient for hiring managers as they do not have to search for your phone number and email on the page.

2. Brief Resume Summary

A good-looking resume starts with a summary. A resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume that highlights your most significant credentials. We recommend writing a short paragraph of 3–4 sentences.

This summary is concise and won’t take up too much room on the page but still does an excellent job of bringing to the front the applicant’s best skills and achievements.

3. Basic Fonts and Design

When you’re trying to make a good-looking resume, it can be tempting to go overboard with the design. But it’s important to keep your resume simple, because more than 40% of recruiters don’t like resumes with too many design elements or creative fonts, according to the latest resume statistics.

The most readable fonts for your resume are basic, like serif and sans serif fonts, and the font size must be consistent from section to section. Use a 10 to 12 font size for body text.

Sticking to a basic font choice can keep your resume from looking too busy, and makes the hiring managers’ lives easier as they sift through.

4. Reverse-Chronological Work Experience Section

Most employers prefer chronological resumes because they display your career progression in an easy-to-follow way.

Even though two other resume types are available to choose from, most job applicants should select the chronological type.

A chronological resume works for all industries and experience levels, is conventional and easy to understand, and clearly demonstrates a vertical career progression. Unless you’ve had long periods of time out of work or are switching to a different industry, stick to the chronological resume format.

A good balance of text and white space
A resume page that’s completely filled with text is hard for hiring managers to read.

Keep your resume readable with a sufficient amount of white space to enhance readability and make it have a clean, professional look. This will not overwhelm the reader with dense text, and hiring managers will be able to scan it quickly and easily locate the information they are looking for.

5. One Page in Length

The majority of job candidates believe the more information they can fit on their resume, the better. This is not true.

Barring decades of experience in your line of work or an academic CV, your resume should fit on one page.

Hiring managers want to know about your experience but don’t necessarily have much time to devote to reading your resume thoroughly. You may be one among dozens or even hundreds of candidates.

In order for you to enhance your possibility of moving to the next step in the application process, you are only meant to bring out those skills, accomplishments, and personality traits that will enable you to excel in your workplace. Besides making the hiring manager’s work easy, this is a sign that you understand what is needed in the job.

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What is a Resume Supposed to Look Like for the ATS?

Your resume must look good to the hiring manager, but you must also consider what a good resume looks like to the applicant tracking system, or ATS.

Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS, with smaller companies coming on board. Online job hunting enables you to apply for more jobs than ever, but companies are inundated with more resumes than they know what to do with. Enter ATS software.

The ATS is a software database that stores resumes of job candidates. The database basically becomes a resume search engine for the hiring managers.

They input the same keywords from the job description, and the ATS scans the resumes to find the best candidates matching the search criteria.

If the ATS ranks your resume at the top of the pile, the hiring manager will likely read it. However, the ATS has limitations on what information it can read on your resume, so it’s essential to make your resume look a specific way.

Tips for Writing and Formatting Your Resume

Here are top five suggestions for how to write a successful resume:

1. Keep it Simple

You may be tempted to insert fancy fonts or elaborate graphics in your resume. However, keeping your design simple and neat helps your resume become professional and readable.

2. Use Bulleted Lists

To help in designing for optimized space and keep your design brief, use bulleted lists within your sections instead of paragraphs. Including bulleted items under your work experience, education and skills categories allow them to present your information more effectively.

3. Highlight Your Achievements

When you’re writing the bullets for your work experience, ensure that you’re highlighting your achievements rather than your duties. Potential employers want to know what you’ve accomplished in your previous positions, not what work you were assigned.

4. Use Keywords

Look through job listings and sample resumes to find keywords that will enable you to best portray your skills and sell yourself as a candidate. Look for action verbs that express your potential and will catch your reader’s attention.

5. Proofread Carefully

The final step in crafting your resume is thoroughly proofreading your document. Look for spelling mistakes, typos and grammatical errors. If possible, ask a friend or coworker to read over it as well to make sure all your information is clear and accurate.

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Key Skills to Put in Your Resume to Land Your Dream Job

Below are some of the skills to help you know what your resume should have and how it needs to be in order to land your next digital marketing job:

Communication Skills: Having good communication skills implies that you are capable of expressing ideas, opinions, and thoughts clearly and respectfully. It includes verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, and conflict resolution.

Leadership Skills: Leadership skills involve leading, motivating, and inspiring others to achieve a common goal. This includes strategic planning, decision-making, and empowering others.

Problem Solving Skills: Problem-solving skills involve analyzing problems, deciding on solutions, and implementing successful solutions. This includes critical thinking, creativity, and resourcefulness.

Adaptability Skills: Adaptability involves being receptive and flexible to changing situations, priorities, and deadlines. This includes being open-minded, resilient, and able to change direction when necessary.

Time Management Skills: Effective time management involves setting priorities, setting realistic goals, and managing distractions to attain peak productivity. This includes creating schedules, setting deadlines, and minimizing procrastination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a professional summary or objective statement?

Yes, a professional summary or objective statement can be used to highlight relevant experience and skills. Keep it concise and tailored to the job for which you’re applying.

How do I emphasize my skills and certifications?

Create a different section for skills and certifications, and itemize them in bullet points. Be concise and utilize keywords from the job posting.

Do I include references on my resume?

No, it is preferable to provide references separately when requested by the employer. Make your resume brief with your accomplishments, experience, and skills.

How often do I need to update my resume?

Answer: Update your resume every 6-12 months or when you have significant career, skill, or experience updates. Tailor your resume for each job application to increase your possibility of standing out.

Conclusion

Designing an outstanding resume in 2025 is strategic. Remember, what should my resume look like is a personal question to you.

By tailoring your resume to every job you apply for and highlighting your relevant skills and experience, you’ll have a better chance of standing out.

Keep in mind that what my resume should look like is something that lacks a generic answer. Be flexible, and don’t be afraid to try until you come up with the correct formula that works best for you.

What Should My Resume Look Like in 2025: Tips to a Good Resume

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