Today’s job market is fiercely competitive, and the use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) makes your resume getting noticed that much harder.  Knowing how to create a resume that stands out among the rest is crucial. Your resume is more than likely going to be the first impression you make on potential employers and can significantly impact your chances of landing your dream job. 

Whether starting your career, switching fields, or setting your sights on a promotion, you should know how to make a resume that is ATS-optimized. If not, don’t worry!  Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of crafting a resume that will not only help you meet industry standards but will also help you better showcase your skills and highlight the unique value you can bring to a new position.

We will open doors to exciting opportunities by leveraging innovative tools to teach you how to create a resume that can attract employers’ attention. We are about to explore everything from how to choose the most appropriate formats to how to make a resume using an easy-to-customize Picsart template. Let’s dive in and transform your career prospects with a resume that shines as brightly as you do.

1. Understand resume formats: Choosing the right one for you

Before you can start writing your resume, it’s essential to select the format that best highlights your strengths and experiences. To do this, you must understand the three main resume formats and how best to use them. Each format serves a different purpose and caters to specific career situations, so not every format will be feasible for every job opportunity.

Format Best For Key Features
Chronological Candidates with a strong, consistent work history Lists work experience in reverse chronological order
Functional Career changers, recent graduates, or those with gaps in employment Emphasizes skills and abilities over work history
Combination Experienced professionals showcasing both their skills and work history Blends elements of chronological and functional formats

Selecting the appropriate format helps you to present your information effectively. As you decide your format, consider your career stage, current industry norms, and the specific listed job requirements of the position you want.

2. Craft a powerful resume header

As the first thing recruiters see, your resume header should be fierce. Use your header to make an impactful statement about who you are by including these essential elements:

  •  Full Name (in a larger, bold font or color)
  •  Professional Title (aligned with the job you’re applying for)
  •  Phone Number
  •  Email Address
  •  Location (City and State/Country)
  •  LinkedIn Profile URL (optional but recommended)

3. Write a compelling professional summary

Think of your professional summary as your elevator pitch. Highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements in 3-4 impactful sentences. Tailor this section to the job you’re applying for, and ATS-optimize it by incorporating keywords from the job description.

Example:

“Results-driven Marketing Specialist with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing and content creation. Proven track record of increasing website traffic by 150% and generating a 200% ROI on social media campaigns. Skilled in SEO, Google Analytics, and content management systems. Eager to leverage my expertise to drive growth and engagement for [Company Name].”

If you’re having trouble getting started, try Picsart’s AI Writer tool to help you craft a professional and grammatically correct summary. Just describe what you want to create, add the details you want to include in the summary, and just hit Generate to see the initial results. You can then take them as initial drafts and quickly adjust them to get the version you want with much less effort. 

4. Showcase your professional experience

Make your accomplishments stand out by following these best practices when you list your work experience:

  • List positions in reverse chronological order
  • Include the company name, your title, dates of employment, and job location
  • Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements
  • Start each bullet point with a strong action verb
  • Quantify your achievements whenever possible

Example:

Marketing Specialist | XYZ Company | New York, NY | Jan 2019 – Present

  • Spearheaded a company-wide rebranding initiative, resulting in a 30% increase in brand recognition
  • Developed and implemented an SEO strategy that improved organic search rankings by 40%
  • Managed a team of 5 content creators, producing 50+ pieces of high-quality content monthly
  • Increased social media engagement by 75% through strategic content planning and community management

5. Highlight your skills

This is the portion of the resume where it isn’t rude to brag. Your skill set lets your potential employer know what unique value you bring to the company. Here are a few ideas of what you can add.

Include a mix of hard (technical) skills, such as:

  • Project management
  • Research
  • Data analysis
  • Marketing
  • Communication
  • Content creation

Add soft skills relevant to the job, like:

  • Problems solving
  • Adaptability
  • Teamwork
  • Active listening
  • Creativity
  • Time management

Use the job description as a guide to highlight the skills the employer is seeking. This helps you optimize your resume so that it appears in more ATS data searches.

6. Present your education and certifications

List your educational background in reverse chronological order, including:

  • Degree and major
  • Institution name
  • Graduation date (or expected graduation date)
  • Relevant coursework, honors, or academic achievements (optional)

Don’t forget to include any relevant certifications or professional development courses you’ve completed.

7. Optimize your resume with advanced tools

Use a professional resume template to give your resume a competitive edge. Expertly designed layouts can help your resume visually stand out while maintaining a clean, professional look.

AI-powered content generators can also assist you in crafting compelling bullet points and descriptions. Simply input your basic information, and the AI can suggest practical ways to phrase your experiences and achievements.

Picsart provides resume templates that are easy to customize and can have a powerful impact on the employer. Here are a few eye-catching resumes you can use to get started:

Showing the work summary and work experience most prominently, this template displays the applicant’s chronological background. Note the bold colors that draw the potential employer’s attention to the essential sections so they don’t have to search for information.

Following the functional and chronological combination format, this template is excellent for applicants who don’t have much corporate work experience but are in the production or entertainment industry, with jobs in theater, TV, or film.

The functional format of this template is excellent for a recent college graduate with limited work experience. The resume style allows the applicant to showcase their education, skills, internship experience, and any leadership roles they had during their university years.

8. Tailoring your resume for each application

Every resume should be uniquely tailored to the job you want, as well as the experience and skills you bring to the position. You can customize your resume for each job application by:

  • Analyzing the job description and identifying key requirements
  • Incorporating relevant keywords throughout your resume to increase ATS optimization
  • Reordering your skills and experiences to highlight the most relevant ones first
  • Adjusting your professional summary to align with the specific role

With Picsart, you can easily customize your resume to fit the position you are applying for by following these easy steps:

  • Browse Picsart’s resume template selection here 
  • Choose your resume template and select “Edit Now” to the right of the image
  • Select each element to customize it. Change the colors, fonts, texts, photos, etc. to your preferences
  • Use the “Export” button on the top right corner  when you are ready to download the finished product

If you need more inspiration and want to explore some cool customization ideas, check out our recent post to spark your creativity. 

9. Proofread and finalize

Follow these final steps to ensure your resume is polished and professional before you submit it to your potential employer:

  1. Proofread multiple times for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
  2. Ask a trusted friend or mentor to review your resume
  3. Ensure consistent formatting throughout the document
  4. Save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting
  5. Use a clear, professional file name (e.g., “John_Doe_Resume.pdf”)

Conclusion: Your path to a standout resume

Creating a resume that leads to employment requires attention to detail, strategic thinking, and a touch of creativity. Learning how to make a resume isn’t always easy, but there are tools you can use to make it easier. Following this comprehensive guide and leveraging modern tools and templates will put you well on your way to crafting a resume that opens doors to exciting new career opportunities.

As you master how to make a resume stand out, remember that your resume is a living document. Regularly update it with new skills, experiences, and achievements. With persistence and a well-crafted resume, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the job market and secure your dream role. Best of luck in your job search!