By Ihor Tymonchuk in resume —

What Makes a Good Resume? The Ultimate Guide to Getting Hired in 2025

What Makes a Good Resume? The Ultimate Guide to Getting Hired in 2025
Photo by Resume Genius / Unsplash

A resume is not an autobiography. It is not a list of everything you have done since high school. It is a marketing document. Its sole purpose is to sell your skills to an employer and secure that all-important interview.

Studies show that recruiters spend an average of just 6 to 7 seconds on their initial scan of a resume. If your document doesn’t hook them in that time frame, it ends up in the "No" pile.

So, how do you beat the clock? Here is a breakdown of what differentiates a generic CV from a top-tier resume.

1. Structure and Visuals: Less is More

A good resume is a clean, structured document that is easy to skim. If a recruiter has to hunt for information, you have already lost.

  • Length: Ideally 1 page. If you have over 10 years of experience, 2 pages is the maximum.
  • File Format: Always save and send as a PDF. This ensures your formatting remains intact regardless of the device or software the recruiter is using.
  • Design: Avoid over-complicated templates with skill bars (e.g., "Photoshop: 4 out of 5 stars"). These are subjective and uninformative. Stick to simple, readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Roboto.

2. The Header: Only the Essentials

Keep your contact section professional and clutter-free. Modern resumes do not require your full home address, age, marital status, or number of children.

Must-haves:

  • Full Name.
  • Contact Info: Phone number and email address.
  • Links: LinkedIn profile (mandatory) and a portfolio (GitHub/Behance) if relevant to your field.
  • Location: City and Country (e.g., "London, UK" or "New York, NY").
Pro Tip: Check your email address. superman1990@gmail.com looks unprofessional. Switch to a standard format like firstname.lastname@gmail.com.

3. The Summary: Your "Elevator Pitch"

Ditch the outdated "Objective" section. Instead, write a powerful Professional Summary. This should be 2-3 sentences at the top that answer: "Who am I, and what value do I bring to this business?"

  • ❌ The Bad (Objective): "Looking for a management position to grow my skills and earn a higher salary."
  • ✅ The Good (Summary): "B2B Sales Manager with 5+ years of experience. Proven track record of increasing sales volume by 30% in previous roles. Expert in expanding into international markets."

4. Work Experience: Achievements vs. Duties

This is the heart of your resume. Most candidates simply copy-paste their job description ("Responsible for sales," "Wrote reports").

A winning resume focuses on results. Use this formula to transform your bullet points:

Action Verb + Context + Numerical Result

Comparison:

  • Duty: "Managed company social media accounts."
  • Achievement: "Grew Instagram followers from 5k to 25k in 6 months by implementing a new content strategy."

How to optimize this section:

  • Quantify everything: Use numbers, percentages, and currency symbols.
  • Power Verbs: Start bullet points with strong words like Created, Launched, Optimized, Spearheaded.
  • Order: Always use reverse-chronological order (current job first).

5. Skills: Hard vs. Soft

To make your resume scannable, categorize your skills clearly:

  1. Hard Skills: Tools, software, languages, and technologies (e.g., Excel, Python, SAP, Google Analytics, Spanish C1). These are often the keywords recruiters search for.
  2. Soft Skills: Avoid clichés like "hard-working" or "friendly." Instead, list specific professional traits: "Strategic Negotiation," "Crisis Management," or "Mentoring & Coaching."

6. The ATS Factor (Beating the Bots)

In large companies, your resume is often read by a robot first—an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). If your resume lacks the right keywords from the job description, it may be automatically rejected.

How to pass the filter:

  • Read the job description carefully.
  • Mirror the language. If they ask for "Project Management," do not write "Managing Projects."
  • Tailor your resume slightly for every single application.

7. Resume Red Flags (What to Avoid)

Ensure your application doesn't get rejected for silly reasons:

  1. Typos and Grammar: Errors suggest a lack of "attention to detail."
  2. Inappropriate Photos: In the US and UK, photos are generally discouraged to avoid bias. In Europe/Asia, keep it strictly professional (neutral background, business attire)—no selfies or beach shots.
  3. Lying: Experienced recruiters can spot exaggerations quickly. Never list a skill you cannot demonstrate in an interview.
  4. Irrelevant Experience: Applying for a marketing role? You can likely remove the bartending job you had 10 years ago.

Final Thoughts

A great resume answers the employer's most burning question: "Why should we hire you over everyone else?" It speaks the language of business value, relies on facts, and respects the recruiter's time.

Would you like me to help you write a "Summary" section for your resume based on your current job title? Just tell me what you do!