In today's competitive job market, your resume (or CV) has one primary job: to get you the interview. On average, a recruiter spends only about 6 to 7 seconds scanning a resume before deciding if it belongs in the "yes" or "no" pile.

1. Choose the Right Format

Before you type a single word, decide on the structure that best highlights your strengths.
Reverse-Chronological: Best for those with a steady work history. It lists your most recent experience first.
Functional: Focuses on skills rather than dates. Good for career changers or those with employment gaps.
Hybrid/Combination: A mix of both, lead with a strong skills summary followed by your work history.

2. The Header: Make it Easy to Contact You. Keep this professional and clean. Include:

Full Name (Large, bold font)
Phone Number
Professional Email (e.g., firstname.lastname@email.com)
LinkedIn Profile URL
Location (City and State is sufficient)

3. The Professional Summary (The "Elevator Pitch")

Ditch the old "Objective" statement (which tells the employer what you want) and replace it with a Professional Summary (which tells them what you offer).
Example: "Detail-oriented Project Manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Proven track record of delivering projects 10% under budget while increasing team efficiency by 15%."

4. Experience: Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties

This is the heart of your resume. Avoid simply listing your job description. Instead, use the Action Verb + Task + Result formula.
Weak: "Responsible for managing a sales team."
Strong: "Led a team of 10 sales associates to exceed quarterly targets by 20% for three consecutive years."

5. The "Skills" Section: Hard vs. Soft

Create a dedicated section for your skills to help pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—the software companies use to screen resumes.
Hard Skills: Technical abilities (e.g., Python, Adobe Creative Suite, Project Management, Data Analysis).
Soft Skills: Interpersonal traits (e.g., Leadership, Communication, Problem Solving).

6. Education and Certifications

List your highest degree first. If you are a recent graduate, you can include your GPA (if above 3.5) and relevant coursework. Don't forget to list professional certifications or workshops that prove you are staying current in your field.