How to Write a Resume in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide

What to put on a resume

A standard resume includes five core sections in this order: contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills, and education.

• Contact information: name, targeted title, phone, email, city/state, LinkedIn URL.
• Professional summary: two-sentence overview of your background and impact.
• Work experience: roles with achievement-focused, quantified bullets.
• Skills: job-specific hard and soft skills grouped for scanning.
• Education and certifications: degrees and current, relevant credentials.

ResumesKey builds each section for you as you enter your details.

Step 1: Choose an ATS-safe format

Choose a single-column, reverse-chronological layout as your default because it parses cleanly in applicant tracking systems.

Use standard fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10.5-12pt, and keep section headings plain and recognizable such as Experience, Skills, and Education. Avoid tables, text boxes, and columns that can break parsing. Browse Plantillas seguras para ATS or review resume formats for more detail.

Step 2: Write your header and contact info

Your header should include only the contact details a recruiter needs to reach you quickly.

• Include: full name, targeted job title, phone number, professional email, city/state, and LinkedIn profile URL.
• Omit: photo, full street address, date of birth, marital status, and personal social media handles.

Step 3: Write a professional summary

Write a two-sentence professional summary using the formula: [Role/Years] + [core expertise] + [notable achievement], tailored to each job posting.

Example: "Customer success manager with 6 years in B2B SaaS. Reduced churn 22% by redesigning onboarding and launching proactive account reviews."

Adjust the wording to reflect the specific role and requirements; see summary examples for more.

Step 4: Add work experience with quantified bullets

Use the bullet formula: action verb + what you did + quantified result.

• Before: Responsible for social media. After: Managed Instagram and LinkedIn, growing followers 40% in six months.
• Before: Helped with customer tickets. After: Resolved 50+ weekly support tickets, raising CSAT from 82% to 91%.

Learn more at quantify your resume.

Step 5: List skills that match the job

Mirror the exact keywords from the job posting, then group them into hard and soft skills.

• Hard skills: Python, SQL, Tableau, A/B testing
• Soft skills: cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder communication, prioritization

Use exact phrasing from the posting; see resume keywords for guidance.

Step 6: Add education and certifications

Include your highest degree, school, and graduation year, plus certifications only if they are current and relevant.

If you have less than 3 years of experience, place education above work experience; with more experience, place it below. List certifications in the same section or as a separate "Certifications" line under education.

Step 7: Proofread and run an ATS check

Before you apply, check your keyword match, formatting, and length against the job description.

Run your resume through a verificador ATS gratuito to confirm it parses correctly, and proofread for typos and inconsistent spacing. Aim for one page if you have under 10 years of experience.