There are countless resume experts, AI tools, and templates out there to help you enhance your resume. Some of them are genuinely helpful, and I really admire and appreciate anyone who puts resources out there to support jobseekers. That said, I’ve also come across some nonsense advice.
Here are the top five things I’d do right now (if I were looking for a job) to improve your resume and get it ready for your job search:
1. Keep it clean
Your resume doesn’t need fancy fonts, graphics, or multiple columns. If anything, those distract from the most important part: your accomplishments. Think of it this way—we want to make content accessible to everyone. That means removing distractions, making it easy to read, and getting straight to the point.
My rule of thumb? Use Arial, size 11, and keep your margins at 0.5" all around (but not less). Clean, professional, and accessible.
2. Accomplishments > Responsibilities
If your resume reads like a copy-paste of your job description, we need to change that. Instead of listing what you were responsible for, tell us what you actually achieved.
What action did you take? What results did you drive? Quantify when you can. Make it easy for someone skimming your resume to understand the impact you made.
3. Include your City, State (but skip the full address)
Even if you’re applying for remote roles, you still need your city and state listed. Many employers (even for remote jobs) have location-based hiring requirements. Including your location removes the guesswork and might actually work in your favor.
On that note: no need to list your full mailing address. It’s outdated and unnecessary.
4. Include a skills section
When I say “skills,” I’m not talking about soft skills or general responsibilities like “project management” or “stakeholder engagement”—those are already baked into your accomplishments.
I’m talking about the tools and systems you know how to use: CRM platforms, project management software, design tools, data analysis tools, etc.
If you use multiple systems, even better! Group them by category and list them clearly. Make it easy for a recruiter or hiring manager to spot the tech you're fluent in.
5. Create categorical resumes (one for each type of job you’re applying to)
Don’t fall into the trap of writing a brand-new resume for every single job—that’s a recipe for burnout. But also, don’t rely on one generic resume for every job you apply to.
Instead, create a “master” resume that includes all your accomplishments. Then build out tailored versions for each job category—e.g., a Project Manager Resume, Customer Success Resume, or Partnerships Resume.
In each version, reorder your bullet points to highlight the most relevant experience at the top. Not everything needs to be included on every version. Be selective to keep it to two pages max.
I love resumes and could go on and on about this one document. But I also get that not everyone feels the same way—so I’ll keep it to these five tips for now.
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