How to Write a Great Resume: Tips, Tools, and the STAR Method

A compelling resume can mean the difference between landing an interview or getting passed over. With recruiters spending just 6–8 seconds on an initial resume scan, every word and design choice counts. How to Write a Great Resume — from content strategies like the STAR method to online tools that help you build a impressive resume.

1. Start with the Basics: Build a Solid Foundation

A resume should offer a clear snapshot of your professional background, not a biography. Stick to the essentials and structure them well:

Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn profile, and optionally a portfolio or GitHub link.
Professional Summary: A 2–3 sentence elevator pitch summarizing who you are and what you bring to the table. Tailor this to match the role.
Work Experience: Include job title, company name, dates of employment, and 3–5 bullet points that focus on achievements, not just duties.
Education: List degrees, institutions, and graduation dates. You can also include relevant coursework or honors.
Skills: Highlight both hard (e.g., Python, Excel, project management) and soft skills (e.g., leadership, communication).
Certifications, Awards, or Languages (optional): Only include those relevant to the role you’re applying for.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Use a clean, consistent format with bold section headings and bullet points for readability.

2. Use the STAR Method: Show, Don’t Just Tell

When listing your work experience, avoid vague claims like “Responsible for customer support.” Instead, demonstrate what you did and the impact using the STAR method:

Situation: What challenge or task were you facing?
Task: What needed to be done, and what was your role?
Action: What steps did you take?
Result: What was the measurable outcome?

✅ Example:

"Faced with a 20% drop in customer satisfaction (Situation), I was tasked with streamlining our ticketing system (Task). I implemented a new CRM and trained 15 staff on its usage (Action), which led to a 30% improvement in resolution times and an 18% rise in CSAT score (Result)."

This format helps you tell impact-driven stories that recruiters love.

3. Resume Writing Tips That Make You Stand Out

Good resumes aren’t just about listing experience. They’re about strategically presenting your value. Here’s how:

🎯 Tailor for Every Job

Don’t send the same resume to 20 employers. Use the job description as a blueprint: pull keywords, echo the language used, and reflect the skills they prioritize.

📊 Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers speak louder than adjectives. Instead of “helped boost sales,” say “increased monthly sales by 22% in Q3 by launching a referral program.”

🔨 Use Strong Verbs

Start bullet points with action verbs like “Spearheaded,” “Optimized,” “Managed,” or “Developed.” Avoid generic openers like “Worked on” or “Helped with.”

🧹 Keep It Clean

No walls of text. Use bullet points, whitespace, and consistent formatting. Stick to professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica.

🧠 Be Strategic With Job History

You don’t need to list every job. Focus on the most relevant roles from the past 10–15 years, especially those that match your target position.

4. Use Online Resume Builders: Look the Part

Your resume not only has to read well — it needs to look polished. First impressions matter, and tools like these can help: Canva, ResumeBears, Zety, Resumeio

These platforms ensure your formatting is consistent, attractive, and printable — no more fighting with Microsoft Word margins.

5. Final Checks Before You Submit

Your resume is almost ready — now polish it up like a pro. Don’t skip these final steps:

✅ Proofread: Typos or bad grammar can be instant deal-breakers.
✅ Test Formatting: Check how it looks as a PDF and on mobile devices.
✅ Check File Name: Save as Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf — it looks professional.
✅ Review Links: Make sure LinkedIn, portfolio, or GitHub links work.
✅ Get Feedback: Ask a mentor, friend, or use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway App for final review.

🔍 Consider uploading your resume to an ATS checker (like Jobscan) to make sure it passes employer filters.

Conclusion

Writing a resume can feel intimidating, but it’s simply a storytelling task: your job is to highlight what you’ve achieved and how you did it — clearly, confidently, and concisely.

Use the STAR method to make your accomplishments shine.
Follow resume best practices to build credibility.
Leverage online tools to present your story with polish.

Remember, your resume doesn’t get you the job — it gets you the interview. Make it count.