Recruiters receive thousands of resumes, meaning standing out from the competition isn’t easy. However, with these 10 essential resume dos and don’ts, you can significantly improve your chances of catching a recruiter’s eye and landing that all-important job interview.
1. Do Use Keywords from the Job Listing
Only one in four resumes is ever seen by a human. The other 75% are filtered out by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems scan resumes for specific phrases and discard files that don’t match.
To beat the ATS, carefully review the job listing and include relevant keywords in your resume. Use the exact phrasing where possible. For example, if the job description mentions “customer service skills,” don’t use variations like “client service skills” or “customer-oriented professional.”
✅ Good Example: “Customer service skills: Maintained a 93% positive customer satisfaction rate over six months, with 99% of clients stating that ‘this agent actively listened to me.’”
❌ Bad Example: “Excellent customer service skills based on reducing customer effort via active listening.”
2. Don’t Rely on Buzzwords
While keywords are crucial, overloading your resume with buzzwords can backfire. Recruiters can quickly spot generic or exaggerated phrases, and if they aren’t backed up with evidence, your application will lose credibility.
Instead of vague statements, provide quantifiable achievements and concrete examples.
✅ Good Example: “Increased online sales by 25% through a targeted social media campaign.”
❌ Bad Example: “Results-driven marketing professional with a passion for growth.”
3. Do Keep It Concise
Recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to continue. To make those seconds count, ensure your resume is concise and to the point.
Focus on the most relevant details, and keep your resume ideally to one page unless you have extensive experience. Use a professional summary or skills section at the top to highlight key strengths immediately.
✅ Good Example: A one-page resume with a clear structure, bullet points, and a professional summary.
❌ Bad Example: A two-page resume filled with irrelevant details and dense paragraphs.
4. Don’t Forget a Cover Letter
Even if a recruiter doesn’t read your cover letter, most hiring managers will. A well-crafted cover letter can complement your resume, address gaps, and explain your interest in the position.
Make sure your cover letter is:
- Grammatically correct and error-free
- Personalized and addressed to the right person
- Focused on your skills, achievements, and fit for the company
- Concise, ideally no more than 300-400 words
✅ Good Example: “I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to ABC Company’s growth with my experience in social media marketing, where I increased engagement rates by 40% within six months.”
5. Do Include a Skills Section
A dedicated skills section helps recruiters quickly see what you bring to the table. It’s particularly useful if your skills aren’t immediately apparent from your work history.
Include a mix of hard skills (e.g., programming, data analysis) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork). Integrate keywords from the job listing and, where possible, back them up with metrics.
✅ Good Example:
- Data Analysis: Analyzed sales data to identify trends, increasing revenue by 15%.
- Project Management: Led a team of 5 in completing a product launch ahead of schedule.
6. Don’t Include References, Hobbies, or Your GPA
Space on your resume is valuable. Don’t waste it on:
- References: Employers will ask for them if needed. “References available upon request” is outdated.
- Hobbies: Unless directly relevant, leave them off. If relevant, integrate them into the skills section.
- GPA: Include only if it’s above 3.5 and you’ve graduated within the last 2-3 years.
✅ Good Example: “Social media skills: Managed a personal YouTube channel with 20,000 subscribers.”
7. Do Customize Your Resume for Each Job
Tailor your resume to match each job application. Highlight experiences and skills most relevant to the role and incorporate the job description’s keywords.
This customization shows attention to detail and increases your chances of passing through both the ATS and the recruiter’s review.
✅ Good Example: For a marketing role, emphasize your campaign management experience and analytics skills.
8. Don’t Forget to Proofread and Check Formatting
A single typo can undermine your credibility. Before submitting your resume:
- Proofread for grammar and spelling errors.
- Check for consistent formatting (font type, size, bullet points).
- Use easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in size 12.
✅ Good Example: “Meticulous attention to detail; ensured error-free reports delivered ahead of deadlines.”
9. Do Send Your Resume as a DOCX File
While PDFs are becoming more ATS-friendly, DOCX remains the safest format. Avoid uncommon file types like INDD or PAGES, which may not be compatible with ATS software.
✅ Good Example: Save your file as “[YourName]_Resume.docx.”
10. Don’t Use a Header or Footer for Important Information
Many ATS cannot read headers and footers, meaning vital details like your contact information might get missed. Keep key information in the body of the document.
✅ Good Example: Place your name, phone number, and email address at the top of the resume.
❌ Bad Example: Contact information hidden in a footer.
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