How to Make a Good Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Start with an ATS-Compatible Layout

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes before they reach a recruiter’s desk. To ensure your resume passes through, follow these key guidelines:

• Use a simple, clean layout with clear headings.
• Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Calibri.
• Avoid excessive graphics, columns, and tables that ATS may struggle to read.
• Save your resume in PDF or DOCX format (unless the job description specifies otherwise).

ShortcutCV’s templates are designed to be 100% ATS-friendly, ensuring that your resume gets seen by the right people.

2. Craft a Strong Personal Summary

Your personal summary is the first thing recruiters read, so make it concise, impactful, and tailored to the job. Here’s what to include:

✔ Your profession & years of experience ✔ Key skills that match the job description ✔ A career highlight or key achievement ✔ Your unique value proposition

Example: “Results-driven marketing specialist with 5+ years of experience in digital campaigns and content strategy. Proven track record of increasing engagement by 150% through data-driven social media initiatives. Passionate about building strong brand identities and delivering measurable results.”

ShortcutCV’s AI-powered summary generator can help you refine your introduction, making it compelling and job-specific.

3. Clearly Separate Technical & Soft Skills

Employers look for both hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) skills. Separating these makes your resume easier to scan.

Technical Skills (Hard Skills)

• Software proficiency (e.g., Excel, Python, Adobe Suite)
• Industry-specific tools (e.g., Salesforce, AutoCAD)
• Certifications (e.g., PMP, AWS Certified)

Soft Skills

• Leadership & teamwork
• Communication & problem-solving
• Time management & adaptability

ShortcutCV’s resume builder automatically categorizes your skills, ensuring your strengths are effectively highlighted.

4. Showcase Work Experience with Achievements

Instead of simply listing responsibilities, focus on what you’ve achieved in each role. Use the PAR method (Problem-Action-Result) to structure bullet points:

❌ Weak Example:

• Managed social media accounts
• Wrote blog content

✅ Strong Example:

• Increased social media engagement by 45% by implementing a new content strategy.
• Wrote and optimized 50+ blog posts, boosting organic traffic by 30%.

ShortcutCV’s AI improvement tool suggests achievement-driven bullet points to help transform basic job descriptions into impressive accomplishments.

5. Structure Your Education & Certifications Properly

Your education should be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and should include:

🎓 Degree Name 🏫 Institution Name 📆 Years Attended 🏆 Key Achievements (if applicable)

Example: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Toronto | 2018 – 2020

• Graduated with Distinction
• Led a team project that won first place in a business innovation competition

If you have certifications relevant to the job, list them in a separate section. ShortcutCV ensures all key educational details are formatted correctly and emphasized where needed.

Why Use ShortcutCV?

Building a resume from scratch can be time-consuming. ShortcutCV simplifies the process by: ✅ Providing ATS-friendly templates ✅ Using AI-powered content suggestions ✅ Offering real-time resume feedback to optimize every section ✅ Allowing seamless customization & formatting

Start Building Your Perfect Resume Today!

Don’t let a poorly formatted resume hold you back from landing your dream job. Try ShortcutCV now and create a professional, standout resume in minutes!

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