Resume basics articles

Guides tagged resume basics: practical steps, examples, and templates.

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Job seeker drafting a resume on a laptop with handwritten notes beside the keyboard

Resume Writing22 min read

How to Write a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide With Examples

Learn how to write a resume step by step, from format and header to bullets, summary, and proofreading, with before-and-after rewrites and a final checklist.

Woman drafting the summary section of her resume on a laptop in a bright home office with a coffee mug

Resume Sections23 min read

Resume Summary Examples and How to Write Your Own

Resume summary examples up top, then a four-part formula, a fill-in template, length rules, and 40+ examples from high school students to executives.

College graduate in a cap and gown holding a diploma folder and transcript outside a campus building

Students & Entry Level18 min read

Should You Put Your GPA on Your Resume? Rules and Examples

Decide whether to put your GPA on your resume, how to format and round it, when to use major GPA, and what to do if it's low, with current employer data.

Person completing an online job application on a laptop at a kitchen table with printed documents beside them

Formats & Templates23 min read

Federal Resume: How to Write a USAJOBS Resume

Write a federal resume that meets the two-page USAJOBS rule, with a fill-in template, the required fields, specialized experience tips, and two examples.

A two-page printed resume laid side by side on a wooden desk next to a cup of coffee

Resume Writing17 min read

How Long Should a Resume Be? Page Length by Career Stage

How long should a resume be? Get page-length rules by career stage, years of experience, industry, and country, plus a simple test to settle your own length.

Close-up of a printed resume on a desk showing the candidate's name and contact details at the top of the page

Resume Sections19 min read

Resume Header: What to Include in Your Contact Section

Build a resume header that parses cleanly: what to include, what to leave out, how much address to show, a copyable template, and examples for every situation.

Experienced professional reviewing a printed resume with a pen and marking older jobs to trim

Resume Writing19 min read

How Far Back Should a Resume Go? The 10–15 Year Rule Explained

How far back should a resume go? Use the 10–15 year rule, a career-stage table, and worked examples for handling older jobs, dates, and age bias.

Person writing a list of skills on a notepad beside an open laptop on a wooden desk

Resume Sections22 min read

How to Write the Skills Section of a Resume (With Examples)

Build the skills section of your resume the way recruiters search: how many skills to list, how to group and order them, where to put them, and 12 examples.

Close-up of a printed resume page on a desk showing clean typography, section headings, and bullet points

Resume Writing20 min read

Best Resume Fonts and Font Sizes for Readability and ATS

The best font for a resume is one recruiters read at a glance. Compare 12 fonts, exact sizes, spacing, and margins, and keep them intact in your PDF.

Person at a laptop attaching a resume file to an email before sending a job application

Resume Writing19 min read

Should You Send Your Resume as a PDF or Word Document?

Resume PDF or Word? See when each format is right, how ATS software handles both, how to turn a PDF into a Word file, and how to name your resume file.

Job seeker drafting achievement notes in a notebook beside an open laptop on a wooden desk

Resume Writing22 min read

How to Write Resume Bullet Points That Get Interviews

Write resume bullet points that prove results. Learn the XYZ, CAR, and STAR formulas, how many bullets per job, length rules, and before-and-after rewrites.