How to Make a Resume
A resume is your introduction to an employer — who you are and what you can do. According to Indeed's career guide, it should be short, clear and relevant to the job; for most people, one page is enough.
What you'll learn in this guide
- Writing contact details and a summary
- Listing experience with numbers
- Keeping the format clean and ATS-friendly
In this guide
1Write the basic details
Name, contact and a short summary come first.
- Put your full name, phone number and email at the top.
- Write a 2–3 line professional summary of your top qualifications.
2Write experience and education
Most recent job first, with achievements in numbers.
- List work experience, most recent job first, with bullet points describing duties and achievements under each job.
- Show achievements with numbers, for example handled 50–70 calls daily.
- List your education, highest qualification first.
3Add skills and keep the format clean
A simple layout works best for tracking systems.
- List 10–15 job-relevant skills in a separate section.
- Add awards, projects or volunteer work only if relevant to the job.
- Keep a clean format — standard font, clear headings, no columns, tables or graphics.
- Adjust the resume for each job using keywords from that job description.
- Proofread spelling and grammar before submitting.
💡 Pro Tip
Do not put your full mailing address on your resume — Indeed says city and state are enough, and this also protects your privacy.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a resume be?
For most people one page is enough; two pages may suit professionals with longer careers.
What should come first on a resume?
Your first and last name, phone number and email should be the first items.
What if you have no full-time work experience?
You can include internships, freelance projects or volunteer positions instead.
How many years of experience should a resume cover?
Indeed says jobs from the past 10–15 years are generally enough; your entire job history is not expected.
Should you use a fancy designed template?
No — avoid templates with columns, tables, graphics or boxes, as they are hard for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to read; choose a simple layout.