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How To Write A Good Resume That Is ATS-Friendly

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How do you write a good resume that is ATS-friendly for beginners?

Have you applied to several jobs but have not had any response? Your skills or qualifications might not be the problem but your resume.

Importance Of A Good Resume

The purpose of a good resume is to make a strong impression on a potential employer. 

It’s like an image of your skills, experience, and achievements, showing why you’re the right person for the job. 

A clear and well-written resume can grab attention and allow you to stand out from other applicants. 

A poorly written resume might get overlooked, even if you’re highly qualified. It’s so important to take the time to create a resume that is professional, and easy to read.

What Is ATS-Friendly Resume?

ATS is software employers use to scan and sort resumes. Instead of a person reading every resume, the ATS looks for specific keywords, phrases, or information that match what the employer is looking for.

If your resume isn’t formatted properly or doesn’t include the right keywords, the ATS might not recognize how qualified you are for the job. 

That’s why an ATS-friendly resume is important because it ensures your resume gets noticed by both the software and the hiring manager.

Larger companies usually use ATS. Make your resume readable by the ATS system.

How To Write A Good Resume

Your resume is your chance to show employers why you’re the best fit for the job.  It’s a way to show your skills, experience, and qualifications in a way that’s easy for employers to understand.

Writing a good resume might come across as difficult, but with a guide to writing a great resume, you can create one that stands out. 

To make your resume stand out, it’s important to know about ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and how to create an ATS-friendly resume.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you write a resume that gets noticed.

What To Include In A Resume

A good resume starts with the right sections in the right order. At the top, include your contact information. 

This means your name, email, phone number, and the city and state where you live. For example:

Michelle Summers

michelle@my.email

123-407-4865

New State, New City 56-090

You don’t need to include your full address, just the city, state, and zip code. Make sure your contact information is accurate so employers can easily reach you.

Education

Next, include your education. Start with your highest level of education, like a college degree or certification. Keep it simple and clear.

Skills

Then, highlight your skills. Place this section near the top so hiring managers can quickly see what you’re good at.

Work Experience 

Write down your work experience, this is the heart of your resume.

List your jobs from the most recent to the oldest, including what you did and where you worked. 

If you don’t have work experience, include internships or volunteer work instead. 

A good rule of thumb is to focus on the last 5-10 years of experience.

These sections will help you create a strong, well-organized resume!

Recommended Fonts and Format For Writing A Good Resume

These are the most recommended fonts for writing an ATS-friendly resume.

Commonly used fonts include:

Garamond

Arial

Calibri

Cambria

Georgia

Helvetica

Times New Roman

Palatino

Tahoma

Verdana


What To Include And Not To Include On A Resume

  • You don’t need to include your full address, stick to the city, state, and zip code.
  • Include contact info, email address, and phone number. If you don’t have a cell phone, clarify if it’s a home phone.
  • Use spell check, it’s important to have things spelled correctly.

What file format to use when submitting a resume?

  • I recommend a PDF. Pay attention to what format they are asking for.

How Long Should A Resume Be?

When it comes to writing a good resume, one big question is how long it should be.

The answer is to keep it short and to the point. For most people, one page is enough to show your skills, experience, and education. 

If you have many years of experience or a lot of achievements, you can stretch it to two pages, but no more than that. 

Employers spend just a few seconds looking at each resume, so make sure yours is easy to read and highlights the most important information. Less is often more!

Tips When Writing A Resume

List the skills that make you a great fit for the job. Include:

Hard skills: Things you can measure, like software expertise or foreign languages.

Soft skills: Personal qualities, like teamwork or problem-solving.

Look at the job description and use some of the same keywords to match what the employer is looking for.

Write a Strong Summary and include:

For experienced professionals: Highlight your career achievements and skills in 2-3 sentences.

For beginners or those changing careers: Mention your goals and why you’re excited about the job.

Example:

Detail-oriented marketing professional with 5+ years of experience driving successful campaigns. Skilled in content creation and analytics, looking to bring fresh ideas to (Company Name).

I suggest sticking to a single-column resume. Because if a company uses an ATS, it scans resumes from left to right, and from top to bottom.

Organize your resume with clear headings and avoid colors, graphics, or fancy designs, keep it straightforward.

Nothing hurts your chances more than typos or mistakes, double-check everything.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, writing a good resume is all about organizing the right information. 

Start with your contact information at the very top, your name, email, phone number, and city/state (no need for your full address). Make sure this section is easy to spot.

Next, include your educational background, starting with your highest level of education. Keep it simple.

After that, highlight your skills near the top of the resume so they are immediately noticeable to potential employers.

Finally, list your work experience. If you don’t have much work experience, include any volunteer work or internships.

Now you know how to create a good resume that stands out, take your time to make it clear, professional, and tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Have any questions on how to create a good resume? Leave a comment below!

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