Your résumé has one job: to earn a conversation. Recruiters and hiring managers often skim quickly, so the goal is to make the right information easy to find and easy to believe.

Lead with a clear headline

Replace a generic objective statement with a short headline and summary that says who you are and what you do best. For example:

Senior Accountant, with experience in month-end close, reconciliations and NetSuite. Known for cleaning up processes and shortening the close.

Show results, not just responsibilities

“Responsible for accounts payable” tells a reader what the job was. Results tell them what you did with it. Where you can, describe the outcome:

  • Reduced late vendor payments by redesigning the invoice approval workflow.
  • Built the dashboard leadership used for weekly pipeline reviews.
  • Migrated support tickets to a new platform with no missed service commitments.

Numbers help when they are accurate and you can explain them in an interview. Never inflate them.

Match the role, honestly

Read the job description and make sure your relevant experience is easy to spot. Use the same terms for tools and skills you genuinely have. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters both look for them. Don’t add skills you can’t discuss in depth.

Keep the format simple

  • One or two pages for most roles.
  • A clean, single-column layout with standard headings (Experience, Skills, Education).
  • Consistent dates, and a short note for significant gaps if you want to explain them.
  • Save as a PDF unless the employer asks for another format.

Using AI to help? Edit carefully

AI tools can help with structure and wording, but generic, polished-sounding text is easy to spot. Make sure every line is specific, true and sounds like you.

Proofread, then ask someone else

Typos and inconsistent formatting can cost you an interview. Read it out loud, then ask a friend or recruiter to review it.

Let a recruiter advocate for you

A recruiter who knows your strengths can explain the context a résumé can’t, such as why you left a role, how quickly you learn or which projects you’re proudest of.

Looking for your next role? Talk to a recruiter about contract, contract-to-hire and full-time opportunities in your field. There is never a fee to job seekers.