A free, no-nonsense guide to building a US resume that passes the ATS and reads well to a recruiter - five steps, plus a free ATS check. Prefer it done for you? That option's here too.
Before you write anything, pull 5 to 8 job descriptions for the role you want. The repeated skills, tools, and phrases tell you exactly what to emphasize. Build the resume around that overlap - it's the difference between a resume and a document.
One column. Standard headings: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education, Certifications. No tables, text boxes, columns, or graphics - they break the applicant tracking system's parser. Save graphic flourishes for a portfolio, not the resume.
Lead each bullet with the result, quantify it, then explain how. 'Managed the email program' becomes 'Grew email revenue 34% ($120K/quarter) by rebuilding the segmentation strategy.' Do this for every bullet that can carry a number.
One page for entry and most mid-career candidates, two for senior and executive roles. Cut anything older than ~10-15 years unless it's directly relevant. Density beats padding.
Run the finished resume through an ATS check to see how the software parses it, then read it out loud to catch anything that sounds like a duty instead of a win. Fix, then apply.
Follow the five steps above, then run your draft through the free ATS check to confirm it parses cleanly. Perfect if your background is straightforward and you just need structure and an honest check.
Run the free ATS check →For senior roles, career changes, or when you're not getting interviews, a personally written resume is worth it. ATS-optimized, achievement-led, tailored to your roles, and backed by a agreed revision support.
View packages & pricing →Yes. If you follow a clean ATS-safe structure and write achievement-based bullets tuned to your target roles, you can build a strong resume yourself. This guide plus a free ATS check will get most people to a solid result. Where a professional helps most is senior positioning, career changes, and knowing what a specific hiring market screens for.
Some produce clean output, but many push graphic, multi-column templates that look nice and break in applicant tracking systems. If you use a builder, choose a simple single-column format and always run the export through an ATS check before applying.
Run it through an ATS audit that shows how the parser reads your file. If your name, titles, dates, and skills come through cleanly and the keywords from your target job appear naturally, you're in good shape. If sections scramble or content goes missing, simplify the layout.
When you're applying to roles you're qualified for and still not getting interviews, when you're changing careers or levels, or when you're competing for senior and executive roles where positioning is the product. In those cases a personally written resume usually pays for itself quickly.
See the structure by career level.
Read moreHow to pass applicant tracking systems.
Read moreCheck how the ATS reads your resume.
Read moreHave your resume written for you.
Read moreHow long a US resume should be.
Read moreCompare done-for-you packages.
Read moreSend your draft and target role for a personal review and a clear recommendation on the next step.
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