How to Create a Resume That Helps You Get Hired
A good resume doesn’t need to be complicated. Its job is simple: show an employer who you are, what you can do, and why you may be a good fit for the job.
Whether you’re creating your first resume, returning to the workforce, or looking for a better opportunity, knowing what to include—and what to leave out—can make the process much easier.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create a resume step by step, including what information to include, how to describe your experience, and common mistakes to avoid.
What Should a Resume Include?
Most resumes should include these five basic sections:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Work experience
- Skills
- Education and certifications
Depending on your experience and the type of job you’re applying for, you may also include licenses, technical training, equipment experience, or other relevant qualifications.
The goal isn’t to include everything you’ve ever done. Focus on the information that helps an employer understand why you’re qualified for the position.
1. Start With Your Contact Information
At the top of your resume, include:
- First and last name
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- City and state
You generally don’t need to include your full street address.
Before submitting your resume, double-check your phone number and email address. Employers and recruiters need an accurate way to contact you if they’re interested in moving forward.
Tip: Make sure your voicemail is set up and isn’t full. If an employer can’t leave a message, you could miss an opportunity.
2. Write a Short Professional Summary
A professional summary is a brief introduction near the top of your resume. Usually, two or three sentences are enough.
Your summary should quickly explain your experience, strongest skills, and the type of work you’re qualified to perform.
For example:
Manufacturing example:
Dependable manufacturing professional with three years of experience in production and machine operation. Experienced with quality inspections, hand tools, and working in fast-paced production environments. Strong focus on safety, quality, and meeting production goals.
Warehouse example:
Warehouse associate with experience in shipping, receiving, order picking, and forklift operation. Comfortable working in fast-paced environments and maintaining accurate inventory while following workplace safety procedures.
Avoid vague statements such as “hard worker looking for a good job.” Instead, give the employer specific information about what you can bring to the position.
3. Add Your Work Experience
Your work history is one of the most important parts of your resume.
For each relevant job, include:
- Company name
- Job title
- City and state
- Dates employed
- A short list of your responsibilities and accomplishments
List your most recent position first and work backward.
How to Describe Your Previous Jobs
Don’t just list the name of the position. Explain what you actually did.
Instead of:
Worked in a warehouse.
Try:
Picked and packed customer orders, prepared shipments, and maintained accurate inventory in a fast-paced warehouse environment.
Instead of:
Machine operator.
Try:
Operated production machinery, completed quality checks, documented production results, and followed established safety procedures.
Use clear action words such as:
- Operated
- Assembled
- Inspected
- Loaded
- Unloaded
- Maintained
- Trained
- Prepared
- Packaged
- Troubleshot
- Coordinated
- Managed
Whenever possible, be specific about the equipment, processes, materials, or responsibilities you handled.
4. Include Skills That Match the Job
Your skills section gives employers a quick way to see what you know how to do.
The best skills to include depend on the position you’re applying for.
For manufacturing, warehouse, and skilled labor positions, examples could include:
- Forklift operation
- Machine operation
- MIG or TIG welding
- Blueprint reading
- Quality inspection
- Shipping and receiving
- Order picking
- Inventory
- Assembly
- Hand and power tools
- Preventive maintenance
- CNC equipment
- Measuring tools
For office and administrative positions, relevant skills might include:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry
- Customer service
- Scheduling
- Accounts payable or receivable
- Inventory management
- Filing and recordkeeping
Review the job description before applying. If you genuinely have a skill or qualification the employer specifically requests, make sure it’s easy to find on your resume.
5. Add Your Education, Training, and Certifications
Include your highest relevant level of education along with applicable training, certifications, or licenses.
Depending on the job, this might include:
- High school diploma or GED
- College degree
- Trade school
- Welding certifications
- Forklift training
- OSHA training
- Apprenticeship experience
- Industry certifications
- Technical training
You don’t need to make this section complicated. Keep it clear and easy to scan.
How Long Should a Resume Be?
For many job seekers, one page is enough.
If you have an extensive work history, specialized technical experience, or experience that is highly relevant to the position, a two-page resume can also be appropriate.
Don’t add unnecessary information simply to make your resume longer. Employers should be able to quickly identify your relevant experience and qualifications.
What If You Don’t Have Much Work Experience?
You can still create a strong resume without years of employment history.
Focus on transferable skills and relevant experiences from:
- School
- Volunteer work
- Internships
- Temporary jobs
- Part-time work
- Training programs
- Personal or school projects
- Military experience
For example, someone applying for an entry-level production position might highlight experience using hand tools, following instructions, working as part of a team, maintaining good attendance, or performing physical tasks safely.
Don’t exaggerate your experience. Instead, show employers the skills you already have and your ability to learn.
Should You Create a Different Resume for Each Job?
You don’t necessarily need to start over every time you apply, but you should adjust your resume for the position you’re targeting.
Read the job posting and look for important skills, experience, equipment, certifications, and responsibilities.
If those qualifications accurately describe your experience, make sure they’re clearly represented on your resume.
For example, if a company is looking for someone with forklift and shipping experience, don’t make the employer search through several paragraphs to discover that you’ve operated a forklift for three years.
Put the most relevant information where it’s easy to find.
Keep Your Resume Easy to Read
A resume doesn’t need elaborate graphics to get someone’s attention.
In most cases, a simple format is better.
Use:
- Clear section headings
- Consistent fonts
- Short bullet points
- Plenty of white space
- Consistent dates and formatting
Avoid large blocks of text, excessive graphics, unusual fonts, and complicated layouts that make important information difficult to find.
Remember that your resume may be viewed on a phone, computer, or applicant tracking system. A clean layout helps both people and technology understand your information.
Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
Before submitting your resume, check for these common problems:
Spelling and grammar errors: Proofread your resume carefully. Even small mistakes can make a resume look rushed.
Incorrect contact information: Make sure your phone number and email address are current.
Too much information: Focus on experience and skills that are relevant to employment.
Vague job descriptions: Explain what you actually did instead of listing only job titles.
Inconsistent formatting: Keep dates, headings, fonts, and spacing consistent.
Using the same resume for every opportunity: Small adjustments can make your qualifications much easier for an employer to recognize.
Adding skills you don’t actually have: Your resume should accurately represent your experience.
Can You Use AI to Help Write a Resume?
AI tools can be useful for organizing information, improving wording, or helping you describe your experience more clearly.
However, AI should help you present your actual experience—not invent it.
If you use an AI tool to help create your resume, review the final version carefully. Make sure every skill, responsibility, certification, and accomplishment listed is accurate.
A polished resume won’t help if you can’t confidently discuss the experience during an interview.
Resume Checklist: What to Do Before Applying
Before sending your resume to an employer, ask yourself:
- Is my phone number correct?
- Is my email address professional and current?
- Are my most relevant skills easy to find?
- Did I explain what I did at previous jobs?
- Are my employment dates accurate?
- Did I check spelling and grammar?
- Is the formatting easy to read?
- Did I remove information that isn’t useful?
- Did I tailor the resume to the type of job I’m applying for?
- Is everything on my resume accurate?
If you can answer yes to each question, you’re ready to start applying.
Ready to Put Your Resume to Work?
Creating a strong resume is an important first step, but you don’t have to navigate your job search alone.
AMPM Employment connects job seekers with opportunities throughout the Miami Valley and surrounding communities, including positions in manufacturing, warehouse, skilled trades, administrative work, and more.
Whether you’re looking for your first job, your next opportunity, or a new direction in your career, explore our current openings and find a position that matches your experience and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best format for a resume?
For most job seekers, a simple chronological resume works well. List your most recent work experience first, followed by earlier positions. Use clear headings and simple formatting so employers can quickly find important information.
How far back should a resume go?
For many applicants, the most recent 10 to 15 years of relevant work experience is enough. You don’t necessarily need to include every position you’ve ever held, especially if older jobs aren’t relevant to your current job search.
Do I need a resume for a manufacturing or warehouse job?
Not every employer requires one, but having a resume can make it easier to demonstrate your experience with specific equipment, machinery, processes, or responsibilities. It can also help recruiters match you with positions that fit your background.
What should I put on a resume if I have no experience?
Focus on education, training, volunteer experience, part-time work, projects, and transferable skills. Include abilities that are relevant to the position, such as using tools, following instructions, working on a team, customer service, computer skills, or maintaining dependable attendance.
Should I include references on my resume?
Usually, you don’t need to list references directly on your resume unless the employer specifically requests them. Keep a separate list of professional references available in case you’re asked for one later.
Should a resume be a PDF or Word document?
PDF is often a good choice because it helps preserve your formatting. However, always follow the employer’s application instructions if they request a particular file type.
What are the most important things to put on a resume?
Your contact information, relevant work experience, job-related skills, education, training, and certifications are typically the most important. Prioritize information that helps an employer quickly understand what you’re qualified to do.
Questions? Stop by your local AMPM Employment office.