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Resume Writing for Success:
Showcasing Your Talent in Words
Victoria A. Witkewitz
6 March 2025
Resume writing can be one of the toughest parts of finding your dream job. Why? Resumes are prime real estate. You have a select amount of space and words to highlight your skills, qualifications, achievements, and talent to prospective employers.
Additionally, while our world strives to improve efficiency while implementing technology to enhance performance, this requires job candidates to format resumes to meet the technical criteria of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). In this Authors' Notes article, we'll address essential resume writing techniques to write your resume that can help you land your dream job.
Brevity is key
Many studies have been conducted over the years assessing the time hiring managers spend the time to review an applicant's resume which has and that number is shrinking as time is spent on strategy, meetings, answering emails, and decision-making which is why it is crucial to write a resume that is:
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Impactful
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Highlights why you made your position a success
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To the point
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Clean and professional
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Applicant Tracking System (ATS) friendly
Do your research
Whether you are a new candidate, returning to the workforce after a long period of time, or are seeking to make a change, it's important research the position you are seeking to ensure the role is a good fit. Conduct a quick search on a job board to review the daily responsibilities, required skills and education.
Your resume should be crafted to mirror the role with your own personal achievements and skills.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
According to Select Software Reviews, nearly 99% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS which is why it is crucial to write and design a resume that is ATS-friendly. ATS has multiple functions including but not limited to: job posting and board distribution, pre-screen questions and applications to identify relevant keywords that match the job posting, interview scheduling and much more.
Your resume should follow formatting guidelines to comply with ATS:
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Avoid fancy fonts. ATS can have a difficult time reading. Stick with Times New Roman, Arial, Georgia, and Calibri to name a few.
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Do not use tables, graphs, logos, or photographs
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Use square bullet points
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Single column
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11 to 12 size font for the resume body
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14 to 16 size font for resume headings
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Use 1-inch margins on all sides
Resume tips
Think of the number of applicants pressing the submit button for a position
Myth #5 Traditional publishing is the preferred route
As the internet age continues to blossom, the ability to produce creative works is easier than the barriers to entry many authors faced years prior. While I do recommend doing your research to see if a traditional publishing house makes sense for your project, there are alternative solutions such as hybrid and self-publishing.
Final punctuation
Resume writing can be a difficult process. Download our Resume & Cover Letter Writing Guide in our Author Tools portal.
For additional information please click the links below. Questions? Contact Us.
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