How to structure your resume

Recruiters and ATS software in 2025 expect resumes to be structured in a clear, logical way. Following modern formatting best practices will improve both ATS compatibility and readability:

• Standard format and order: Use a reverse-chronological format for most industries, listing your most recent work experience first. This format is the most familiar and ATS-friendly. Start with a header that includes your name and updated contact information (phone, professional email, City/State, and an optional LinkedIn URL)​. Next, write a professional summary – 2-4 sentences highlighting your top qualifications for the role (replacing the outdated objective statement). Follow with Work Experience, then Education, and finally Skills. (If you’re a recent graduate or changing careers and your education or certifications are more relevant than experience, list Education before Experience.) Clearly labeled sections help the ATS identify key info like titles, companies, dates, and degrees.
• Length guidelines: Keep it concise. One page is standard for most candidates, especially those with under 10 years of experience. Seasoned professionals with extensive experience can use two full pages. In rare cases (senior executives or academics), a resume might extend to three pages, but only if needed to cover highly relevant accomplishments​. Remember that hiring managers often skim – they spend only seconds initially – so prioritize your most important content on page one.
• ATS-friendly formatting: Design your resume to be easily parsed by software. Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, etc.) and a normal font size (10–12 pt). Avoid using tables, text boxes, multiple columns, or graphics, as many ATS systems can’t read information embedded in those elements. Stick to plain text for section headers (e.g. “Experience,” “Education,” “Skills”) – this ensures the ATS recognizes each section correctly. Use bullet points to list achievements under each job, and maintain consistent formatting for dates (e.g. always use MM/YYYY or “Month YYYY” format). It’s also wise to save and submit your resume in a format the employer requests. If not specified, a PDF preserves layout but some ATS prefer a .docx – check the job posting or ATS instructions, as a few systems may have trouble with PDFs.
• Sections and content: In the Work Experience section, list jobs in reverse chronological order with job title, company, location, and dates. Under each, include 3-5 bullet points focusing on accomplishments and key responsibilities. The Education section should list degrees or certifications (school, degree, graduation year) – new grads can add relevant coursework or honors. The Skills section (typically a bullet or comma-separated list) should include technical skills, tools, languages, and pertinent soft skills mentioned in the job description. Optional sections like Certifications, Projects, or Volunteer Work can be added if they enhance your candidacy (ensure they’re relevant and not overwhelming the main sections). Keeping a standard structure with clear headings helps both automated systems and human readers navigate your resume efficiently.