A single job opening can attract hundreds of applicants, which can be discouraging for candidates who are actively seeking new employment. A strong resume is key to standing out in a large pool of applications and capturing the hiring manager’s attention.

Today, many hiring teams are using AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) to parse resumes and identify top talent. To help you appeal to both human hiring managers and AI reviews, let’s discuss how to write strong resumes that will get you job offers in 2025.

Include essential resume components

All resumes should contain a few essential components like your contact information, a professional summary, and experience. Let’s discuss what you need to include in each section.

1. Contact information

Start with your basic contact details at the top of your resume, including your:

• Full name (in a slightly larger font to stand out).
• Phone number.
• Professional email address.
• LinkedIn profile URL, if relevant.
• Location (city and state).
• Professional website or portfolio link, if applicable.

Pro Tip: Make sure your email address sounds professional. If needed, create a new one specifically for job applications. Your first name and last name through a Gmail address is perfect.

2. Professional summary or objective

In 2025, resumes are starting with more than just a list of qualifications. They kick off with a vibrant and concise personal branding statement that allows recruiters to instantly grasp what makes you unique and valuable to the company.

Your summary should be:

• Brief, no more than 2-3 sentences.
• Tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.
• Highlighting your most relevant experience and skills.

Focus on the value you’re bringing to the organization, not just what you’re looking for in a position.

For example, you could say:

"Detail-oriented project manager with 7+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the healthcare industry. Proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and under budget. Seeking to leverage expertise in stakeholder management and process optimization to drive operational excellence."

3. Skills section

Employers often look for specific skills when hiring candidates— and that includes both hard and soft skills.

Past work history as a software developer, for example, doesn’t tell the hiring manager which programming languages or tech stacks you’re proficient in. If they’re looking for a specific skill, you want to have that on your resume or you’ll risk being passed over.

Be specific about your skills, tailoring the list to the role you’re applying for, even mirroring the language used in the job description. And don’t forget about soft skills, which include communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

4. Work experience

When detailing your work experience, you should include the following:

• Job title.
• Company name.
• Location.
• Dates of employment.
• A description (often in the form of several bullet points) to detail the work you did and your accomplishments.

When it comes to the description of each role, use the STAR method to create impactful descriptions for each experience on your resume: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This approach helps you describe the context of your work, your actions, and how your actions had a positive impact on the organization.

Here are a few tips:

• Start with strong action verbs (managed, implemented, created).
• Be specific about what you did and how you did it.
• Quantify results whenever possible, like “increased sales by 25%” or “reduced costs by $10,000.”
• Focus on achievements rather than just duties.

As an example, don’t just write "Responsible for customer service." Instead, opt for "Resolved an average of 45 customer inquiries daily with a 95% satisfaction rating, contributing to a 15% increase in customer retention."

5. Education

List your educational background in reverse chronological order, and include the following information.

• Degree, credentials, or certificates earned.
• Institution name.
• Graduation date (or expected date).
• Relevant coursework, honors, or GPA (if impressive).

6. Additional sections

You may have additional information that you want or need to add to a resume. Nurses, for example, can benefit from having a section that details their professional and specialized certifications.

Some sections you can add include: 

• Professional certifications.
• Volunteer work.
• Professional memberships.
• Publications.
• Awards and recognition.

Use trending resume formats

Minimalism is a key trend in resumes for 2025, with most resumes using a simple format and black-and-white design. Creative elements like colors, graphics, and special fonts, however, can be an option if you’re applying for creative positions.

Here are a few formatting tips you should keep in mind:

• Structure your sections logically, with clear headings and bullet points to break up text.
• Avoid unnecessary graphics, colors, or fancy designs that might distract from your qualifications.
• Opt for a simple, direct layout.

• Keep your resume to 1-2 pages max.
• Use a clean, readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Maintain consistent formatting and watch for issues with parallelism.
• Include sufficient white space to make the document easy to scan.
• Save as a PDF (unless otherwise specified) to preserve formatting.

Making your resume ATS-friendly

The reality is that plenty of companies have been using AI-powered (or at least heavily automated) ATS systems to parse resumes and identify top talent. This means that a computer system may need to flag you as a good candidate before a human will even read your cover letter and resume, which means it’s essential to make your resume ATS-friendly.

To ensure your resume appeals to the ATS, you should do the following:

• Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume, including key skills, experience, and education.
• Avoid using tables, headers/footers, or text boxes; your resume needs to have scannable text.
• Use a clean, standard format.
• Be specific about the skills, certifications, and experience that you have using direct language.

Tailoring your resume for each application

One of the most important things you can do is adjust your resume for each application or job role that you’re applying to. We’ve touched on this several times already, but it’s so critical to success in 2025 that we want to stress it again.

Each employer may be prioritizing a unique set of skills or experience, and that will be reflected in each job description. Taking note of that and using similar or identical language in your resume will appeal to both the hiring managers and the ATS they’re using. While this does take significant effort and time, it can determine whether or not you get a call back.

For each application, you should:

1. Analyze the job description for key skills and requirements.
2. Rearrange or modify your bullet points to highlight relevant experience according to what the employer is looking for.
3. Adjust your professional summary to align with the specific role.
4. Update your skills section to emphasize matching qualifications.
5. Use similar language and key phrases as the job posting.

What not to do: Mistakes to avoid

You work hard to create a strong resume, so you don’t want to derail that effort with a simple mistake. Make sure you avoid the following:

• Including irrelevant information, which can cause hiring managers to think you may not be a strong fit.
• List references, which use up valuable space and will only be needed later in the hiring process.
• Including a headshot, unless it’s requested or common to do in your industry.
• Using passive voice instead of active voice (this tool can help you detect passive voice if you want some assistance!).
• Inconsistencies like using sentence case for one heading and title case for another, or only having periods after some bullet points.
• Exaggerate your skills or experience, as this will typically quickly be rooted out during the interview process.

Final tips for success

Whether you're just starting your career, looking to advance in your current field, or making a complete career change, a strong resume can help you stand out from the crowd and secure that all-important interview.

Remember that your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you. It needs to quickly communicate your value and demonstrate why you're the right fit for the position.

Before you submit your resume, be sure to do the following:

• Proofread carefully: Even a single typo or grammatical error can create a negative impression. Review your resume multiple times and consider using digital tools to help catch mistakes.
• Look at examples online: Reviewing resume examples in your industry can provide valuable insights and inspiration for your own document.
• Consult with an expert if needed: Career counselors, professional resume writers, or trusted colleagues in your field can offer valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement. If you need assistance, get it!

Remember, the job market is constantly evolving, so regularly updating your resume to reflect current trends and your growing experience is essential for staying competitive. With dedication to creating resumes that are both employer- and ATS-friendly, you'll be well on your way to landing your best opportunity yet.