Resume Tips Worth Following, and the Ones You Can Skip

James Walker

James Walker writes about career transitions. London-based career enthusiast.

Visual representation of the voice · not a photographic portrait

Quick answer: Yes, a handful of resume tips are worth following because they decide whether a recruiter reads past the first few seconds. Tailor the resume to each job, lead with results, and keep the layout simple enough for hiring software. Many other tips, like strict one-page rules or fancy designs, matter far less.↗ Share on X

Yes, some resume tips are worth your time, and a few of them make a real difference in whether you get called for an interview. The ones that matter most are simple: match your resume to each job ad, show results instead of duties, and use a clean layout that hiring software can read. Many other tips you see online are myths or matter very little. Paying a professional writer can help in some cases, but most people can fix their resume on their own in one evening.

Here is what to keep, what to ignore, and a step-by-step way to rewrite yours.

Why do resume tips matter at all?

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Your resume has one job: get you to the interview. It doesn't need to tell your whole life story.

Two readers see it:

• Hiring software. Many companies use an applicant tracking system, or ATS. It is a program that stores resumes and helps recruiters search them by words and job titles.
• A busy person. A recruiter or manager often scans many resumes for the same opening. If yours is hard to read, they move on.

Good tips help you pass both readers. Bad tips waste your time or make things worse.

Which resume tips are worth it?

How do you show results instead of duties?

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This is the change that helps most people. A duty says what you were supposed to do. A result says what happened because of you.

Use this simple pattern:

Action word + what you did + result

Examples:

• Duty: "Responsible for stocking shelves."

Result: "Restocked 3 aisles each shift, keeping shelves full during peak hours."

• Duty: "Answered customer calls."

Result: "Handled about 40 calls a day and solved most issues on the first call."

• Duty: "Helped with social media."

Result: "Posted 5 times a week and grew the page's followers over six months."

Only use numbers you can explain in an interview. If you don't know the exact number, use an honest estimate with words like "about" or "around." Never make numbers up.

What does "tailor your resume" mean?

It means adjusting your resume for each job you apply to. You don't rewrite everything. You change a few key parts.

1. Read the job ad twice. Circle the skills and tools it mentions more than once.

2. Check your resume for those words. If you have the skill, use the same words the ad uses.

3. Move the most relevant bullet points to the top of each job.

4. Update your summary (the two or three lines at the top) so it speaks to this job.

5. Save a new copy with the company name in the file name.

Don't add skills you don't have. It will come out in the interview.

How do you make a resume the software can read?

Keep it plain. These choices help:

• Use a common font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Avoid tables, text boxes, and columns for your main content.
• Don't put important details in the header or footer.
• Use standard headings: Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills.
• Save as a Word file or PDF, whichever the job posting asks for.
• Write dates the same way every time, like "Jan 2023 – Mar 2025."

How do you show soft skills?

Soft skills are people skills, like communication, teamwork, and solving problems. Just writing "great communicator" doesn't prove anything.

Show them through examples instead:

• Communication: "Trained 4 new hires on the register system."
• Teamwork: "Worked with the kitchen and front staff to cut order mistakes."
• Problem solving: "Found a scheduling gap and set up a shared calendar that the team still uses."
• Reliability: "Covered extra shifts during the holiday season."

What if you are changing careers?

A career change resume needs a different angle. The goal is to show that what you already know works in the new field.

1. Write a short summary that names the new role you want.

2. List transferable skills near the top. These are skills that work in many jobs, like managing a budget, training people, or handling complaints.

3. Rewrite old bullet points in the language of the new field. A teacher who "planned lessons for 30 students" also "planned and delivered training for groups."

4. Add new learning: courses, certificates, volunteer work, or side projects related to the new field.

5. Keep older, unrelated jobs short. One line each is often enough.

Should you pay for a resume writer?

It can make sense if:

• You are applying for senior roles.
• You have a complex history, like many short jobs or a long gap.
• You have tried on your own and still get no calls after many applications.

Before you pay:

• Ask to see sample resumes they wrote.
• Ask what is included: one draft or several, cover letter, LinkedIn profile.
• Be careful with anyone who promises you a job. Nobody can control a hiring decision.

Prices vary a lot, so compare a few options. Free help also exists: public libraries, community colleges, and local workforce centers often review resumes at no cost.

Rewrite your resume in one evening

Set aside a few hours and follow this order:

1. Pick one job ad you really want.

2. Delete what doesn't help: very old jobs, "objective" statements, and references.

3. Rewrite your top three bullet points per job using the action + result pattern.

4. Write a new summary of two or three lines aimed at that job.

5. Update your skills section with the tools and skills from the ad that you truly have.

6. Clean the layout: one font, clear headings, no tables.

7. Read it out loud. You will catch mistakes your eyes skip.

8. Ask one person to read it and tell you what job they think you want. If they guess wrong, your summary needs work.

How does your resume connect to the interview?

Everything on your resume can become an interview question. Before you send it, prepare a short story for each result you listed:

• What was the situation?
• What did you do?
• What happened in the end?

This makes job interview preparation much easier, because your resume becomes your study sheet.

Your next step

Tonight, open your resume and do just one thing: rewrite your three most recent bullet points using the action + result pattern. Then pick one job ad and tailor your summary to it. Send that version out this week and keep a simple list of where you applied, so you can see what gets responses.

FAQ

Does a resume have to be one page?

Not always. One page works well early in your career. If you have many years of relevant experience, two pages is usually fine, as long as everything on it relates to the job.

What is an ATS?

An applicant tracking system is software many employers use to store and search resumes. A simple layout with standard headings and the words used in the job ad makes your resume easier for it to read.

Is a professional resume writer worth the money?

It can help for senior roles or a complicated work history. Ask for samples, check what is included, and avoid anyone who promises a job. Libraries and workforce centers often review resumes for free.