Struggling to get interviews?
Making the best resume for each application should be every job seeker’s aim. But how do you actually write the perfect resume?
To find out, we asked a professional career and resume expert what the ideal resume looks like.
According to him, these are three examples of a perfect resume:
Perfect entry-level resume example
This is an entry-level resume for a new graduate looking to find work in computer science.
What makes this resume perfect
According to our expert, this resume is perfect because it:
- Uses a clear resume objective: The objective succinctly highlights education, key skills, and relevant experience, making it immediately clear what the candidate offers.
- Highlights relevant experience: Although this candidate hasn’t held a full-time job yet, they list roles and tasks specific to software development, showing direct relevance to a Junior Developer position.
- Includes a strong education section: Featuring GPA, honors, relevant coursework, and a notable project, which highlights technical skills.
- Lists relevant skills: This candidate also highlights their key technical skills here, making it easy for recruiters to see they’re qualified for the role.
Perfect experienced resume example
Our expert says this is a perfect example of how to write an experienced project manager resume:
What makes this resume perfect
According to our expert, this resume is perfect because it:
- Quantifies results: By using clear metrics (e.g., “reducing costs by 8% annually” and “17% revenue increase”) to demonstrate the candidate’s ability to deliver measurable results in budget management and revenue growth.
- Highlights relevant experience and responsibilities: The experience section is well-structured, showcasing progressive responsibilities in project and budget management, as well as leadership.
- Includes relevant professional certification: The PMI Agile certification adds a valuable credential that aligns with the candidate’s goal of working in agile project management.
- Demonstrates clear career progression: Each role’s bullet points show increasingly complex responsibilities, which underlines their suitability for a senior project management role.
Perfect senior-level resume example
An ideal example of a senior-level marketing resume:
What makes this resume perfect
This resume is perfect for several key reasons:
- Major achievements are backed by concrete metrics: 85% increase in brand recognition, 45% revenue growth, 90% employee retention, etc., which immediately demonstrates the candidate’s impact in clear, measurable terms.
- Shows clear career advancement: From manager to director, with increasing responsibility (from $5M to $20M budgets) and team size (growing to managing 25 professionals). Each role builds upon the previous one’s achievements, telling a compelling story of growth and leadership development.
- Describes each role and its responsibilities: On senior-level resumes, add a sentence or two to each work experience entry describing what the company did and what your responsibilities were to show boards of directors that you can handle the role you’re seeking.
How to make your own perfect resume
Here are 5 steps for writing a resume that stands above the competition and impresses employers:
1. Tailor your resume to the position
Show employers that you’re the perfect person for the job by tailoring your resume to the job description.
Each time you apply for a new position, you should:
- include skills-based resume keywords from the job description throughout your resume
- research the company and customize your resume to match its needs and company culture
- place your most job-relevant qualifications in a resume objective that states how you can add value to the company
This TikTok video explains why tailoring your resume to the job you’re applying for is important for you as a job seeker:
@resumegenius Tailoring your resume is one of the most important things to do when preparing your application. If you want to improve your chances of landing an interview, you have to show the employer that you have the specific skills they need ? ?Learn how to make a perfect resume: resumegeniusDOTme/perfect-resume #resumetips #resumehelp #careeradvice #jobsearchtips #jobsearching ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Advice
The difference between a good resume and a perfect resume is often just the level of effort you put in. If you want to come across as the ideal candidate, you need to take the time to tailor your resume.
2. Choose a clean, professional design
To make the perfect resume, use a design that’s aesthetically pleasing, but not too flashy. You never want your resume design to end up distracting from your qualifications.
A perfect resume has clean fonts and design features that highlight your most important qualifications.
Resume examples for different industries
Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.
3. Use simple, precise language
The ideal resume length is one page. Cut any unnecessary words to make your resume easy for the hiring manager to skim. For example, keep your work experience bullet points to one or two lines of text.
Another great way to reduce the length and wordiness of your resume is to remove unnecessary adjectives, modifiers, and prepositional phrases. See how the following excerpt from a resume summary is edited to reduce wordiness and still communicate the same message:
Wordy
Highly driven, I am motivated at work by the fact that I can empower my patients to overcome their daily challenges and live more connected, fulfilling lives.
Concise
Highly motivated by empowering my patients to overcome challenges and live more fulfilling lives.
If your industry requires you to write a CV, or you have over 10 years of relevant experience, your perfect resume may end up being two or more pages long.
4. Quantify your achievements
To write the perfect resume, quantify your achievements with examples that include numbers. Tying your successes to actual data gives hiring managers a better idea of your ability to do the work.
Here are examples of quantifiable data that could increase the impact of your resume’s accomplishments:
- Amount of resources saved
- Percentage of profits increased
- Number of direct reports supervised
- Customer satisfaction rates
- Times recognized for achievements
Without quantified achievements
- Managed social media accounts and created content across multiple platforms to increase brand awareness and engagement while coordinating with the marketing team on campaign strategy and implementation
With quantified achievements
- Managed social media strategy across 4 platforms, creating 12 pieces of weekly content that grew followers from 15K to 45K in 12 months, increased engagement rate from 1.2% to 2.8%, and generated 800 qualified leads while managing a $5K monthly ad budget
5. Ensure it’s error-free
If your resume has the smallest typo — an extra space after a period, for example — it gives the impression that you didn’t put enough thought or effort into your application.
Here’s how to make sure your resume is perfectly clean and free of errors:
- Read through your resume slowly (or out loud) to make sure you’re not overlooking any typos or unnecessary words
- Use an editing tool like Grammarly (but use logic to double-check suggestions!)
- Step away from your computer for a while, then come back and read it again with fresh eyes
- Ask a friend to check it for you
Frequently asked questions about making a perfect resume
Here are answers to three frequently asked questions about making the perfect resume:
What is the perfect resume format?
The perfect resume format for most job seekers is a chronological resume because it makes relevant experience and accomplishments the main focus of your application. Hiring managers and employers are usually most interested in your experience and professional background, and this format is best equipped to showcase these details.
With the chronological format established as the most commonly used type of resume, it’s the easiest structure for hiring managers to understand at a glance.
For some job seekers, especially those making a career change, other formats like combination resumes or functional resumes could be more suitable.
Why is having a perfect resume important?
Having a perfect resume is important because it helps you present your qualifications in a way that’s easy to understand, and it shows employers that you’re highly motivated to work with them.
In some cases a good resume is enough, but companies with desirable openings often receive dozens if not hundreds of applications from qualified candidates. Writing a perfect resume ensures you stand out amongst these candidates and increases your chances of getting interviewed.
How should I print off my perfect resume?
Print off your perfect resume using professional resume paper. You should ensure your word processor is set to print out your resume in US Letter size if you’re in the US.
Additional resources to help you write a perfect resume
About the Author
9
Years of Experience
31
Articles Written
Leora Joy Jones is a multidisciplinary creative who writes career content for job seekers. She is passionate about empowering people to invest in personal development. From recent graduates to career changers to DIY freelancers, she aims to cheerlead her readers to make informed choices.
Born in the USA and raised in South Africa, Leora now lives and works in Taiwan. She has a BFA in Fine Arts, an MA in Art Curation, and over 10 years experience writing and editing words on many topics. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Click to rate this article
4.9 Average rating
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Pinterest
Reddit
Copy link