10 Tips to Build a Resume That Gets You Hired in 2026

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is sending the same resume to every company. Each job is unique, and recruiters can instantly spot a resume that hasn’t been customized for the role.

Review the job description carefully. Identify the skills, tools, and responsibilities highlighted by the employer. Then adjust your resume to reflect how your experience aligns with those needs. This process helps your resume pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and shows recruiters that you’ve taken time to understand the role.

If the posting mentions skills like 'project management' or 'team collaboration,' include those exact phrases in your resume wherever relevant. Tailoring your content shows genuine interest and significantly improves your chances of getting noticed.

A clear and focused resume is far more effective than a long, cluttered one. Recruiters prefer resumes that are easy to skim and highlight only relevant experience.

If you have under 10 years of experience, keep your resume to one page. For senior professionals, two pages are acceptable—but avoid going beyond that. Remove outdated roles, irrelevant hobbies, and generic statements that don’t support your candidacy.

Each section should serve a purpose. If a detail doesn’t strengthen your application, it’s better to leave it out. Clean formatting and enough white space help make your resume easier to read and more professional.

How you describe your experience matters. Start each bullet point with strong action verbs such as 'Led,' 'Designed,' 'Improved,' 'Implemented,' or 'Managed.' These words show ownership and responsibility.

Whenever possible, include numbers to quantify your work. For example, write 'Improved customer satisfaction by 20%' instead of 'Improved customer satisfaction.' Numbers make your achievements more concrete and credible.

If you don’t have exact figures, use reasonable estimates based on your contributions. Quantified achievements help recruiters understand the value you can bring to their organization.

Most companies use ATS software to screen resumes before they reach a recruiter. That means your resume must be ATS-friendly to make it through the first stage.

Use simple section titles such as 'Work Experience,' 'Education,' and 'Skills.' Avoid tables, text boxes, images, and unusual fonts—these often confuse ATS scanners. Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

Include relevant keywords from the job posting naturally throughout your resume. Don’t overuse them—keyword stuffing can get your resume flagged. Our Resume Builder automatically formats your resume for ATS compatibility, making the process easier.

A clean, well-organized resume makes a strong first impression. Use consistent formatting: matching font styles, aligned dates, uniform bullet points, and proper spacing.

Your resume should be easy to scan quickly. Use bullets instead of long paragraphs, maintain margins between 0.5 and 1 inch, and keep your layout simple and professional.

Finally, proofread multiple times. Even one typo can give the impression of carelessness. Use tools like Grammarly, and consider asking someone else to review your resume to spot mistakes you might miss.