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GPT-4 Resume Rewriting

Let AI rewrite and improve your resume.

Do you feel like your resume is good — but not quite there yet? Our AI Resume Rewriter can improve your CV and give it that extra polish in a matter of seconds. GPT-4 will fix any mistakes in your resume and even make it sound more professional.

Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model.

GPT-4 is an AI language model so capable, it has begun to scare even its own creators. Now you can use it to rewrite and polish your CV. And while with most resume rewriting services you have to wait at least 24 hours to get the final result, our automatic resume rewriting tool can generate a professional resume in an instant. Try it for free and have it write or rewrite your resume in no time at all.

• The world’s most advanced language model
• Indistinguishable from human writing

Resume Enhancer

As if (re)written by an industry insider.

Our AI-powered Resume Rewriter uses industry-specific jargon and terminology. It will rewrite and improve your CV in a way that showcases your expertise and familiarity with the field. This will make potential employers more likely to see you as an industry insider who can easily adapt to the new role.

• Uses industry-specific jargon and terminology
• Fixes mistakes in your resume

AI Resume Review

Tailors your resume to a job description.

Give the AI Resume Rewriter a job description or a specific job post and it will automatically tailor your resume to it. Not only will that make it easier for you to pass the initial ATS screenings, it will also help you get noticed by hiring managers.

• Helps you pass through ATS checks
• Makes you appear like a more relevant candidate

Level-up your career with our AI features.

AI Resume Builder

Let artificial intelligence write your resume. Our AI Resume Writer is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model and it can produce your first draft in seconds.

AI Cover Letter Builder

Try our AI Cover Letter Writer and produce a rock-solid cover letter in seconds. Most people struggle to find the right words for their cover letter. Let AI find them for you.

AI Interview

Generate possible interview questions for the position you’re interviewing for and don’t let the job interview catch you unprepared.

“Not only does Kickresume provide templates, it also makes you think vigorously about yourself as a candidate, thus getting the best out of you. I would highly recommend Kickresume to every enthusiastic jobseeker — give it a try and you'll fall in love with it.“ David Mantic, Product Manager at Telekom

“Kickresume helped me land a job at Philips! Creating my CV and cover letter was very quick and easy, and the outcome very professional. It impressed every single job interviewer I had an interview with. Definitely worth the small investment as it will benefit your career substantially.“ Dennis Bondarev, Key account manager at Philips

“When I was changing careers, I wanted a resume with a modern look and feel that would set me apart from other applicants. When I came across Kickresume, I absolutely loved their designs and the ease of use. What's more, interviewers would often tell me how pleased they were with the look of my resume.“ Steve Dominguez, Graphic Designer at K-Brite

“Kickresume is by far the most powerful resume editor on the web. It helped me create my resume really fast and people are always "Wow" when they see it. Moreover, having a portfolio website is awesome and it's easy to create. A must-have tool for anyone who changes jobs regularly.“ Bastien Vidé, Full-stack Developer & Team Manager at Airfrance

“When I was looking for my first job after finishing university, I struggled to stand out from the crowd of other graduates. Kickresume gave me the edge I needed. Suddenly I would get invited to interviews! I can't recommend it enough. Great designs, incredibly easy to use and totally worth the upgrade.“ Peter Trenkner, Product Line Manager at Dell

“Being a college student who is transitioning to the work life, I consider Kickresume the most helpful tool available. It is very user-friendly with a variety of designs tailored to your personal preferences and profession. It doesn't get any better than this!!!“ Giamnys Valdés Lastre, Research Intern at University of Kentucky

AI Generated Resume

Ai-generated resume examples.

What does an AI-generated resume look like? See for yourself! These resumes were generated by our AI resume builder.

Your frequently asked questions.

While we’ve tried to make this tool as easy to use as possible, it’s okay to have questions. If you don’t find your answers here, contact our customer support.

How does the AI Resume rewriter work?

The AI Resume rewriter uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze the content of your existing resume, as well as job postings for your desired job or industry.

The system extracts the key information from your resume, such as:

• your work experience

Then it generates a new version of your resume that is optimized for your desired job or industry.

AI Resume rewriter suggests new resume phrasing, keywords, as well as formatting that can improve your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.

Is AI Resume rewriter free, or do I have to have a premium Kickresume subscription?

Even with a free account, you get a limited number of uses. Every premium subscription (starting at $5/month) includes a substantially higher number of AI requests.

At the beginning of every billing period, credits are added to your account (whether it’s a month, three months, or a year).

GPT-4 is a paid tool, and we have to pay Open-AI for every API request. We’re “buying” the use of their AI technology. Because of that, we had to put a limit on how many times you can use the AI Writer per month.

What is a Kickresume AI rewriter?

The Kickresume AI Resume rewriter is a powerful tool that can help you create a highly effective resume in a fraction of the time it would take to do it manually.

It uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to analyze the content of your existing resume so it can rewrite in the way that will be the best fitting for your desired job or industry.

How do I rewrite my CV in Kicresume AI rewriter?

With Kickresume’s AI Resume Rewriter, it's really simple. All you have to do is:

• Sign up or log in to your Kickresume account. When logged in, on the dashboard, scroll down to Your Documents and click on Create New.
• When filling in the “ Work Experience section ”, enter your job title, click “Use AI Rewriter” and the AI will generate a number of bullet points for your work experience subsection.
• If you don't like these bullet points, you can either edit them or delete them and click the button again.
• If you like the bullet points but feel like that section is still too short, simply click the button again, and the AI will add more phrases to it.

The only career toolbox you'll ever need.

40+ ats-ready templates.

All resume and cover letter templates are customizable, ATS-friendly, and designed by a team of professional typographers and recruiters.

AI Resignation Letter Generator

Our AI Resignation Letter Writer will help you find the right words to quit your job and leave all bridges unburned.

Kickresume for Mobile

Create a perfect resume or cover letter from your mobile device. You can now access and edit your career documents from anywhere! Available on both iOS and Android.

1,500+ Resume Examples

Get inspired by resume and cover letter examples that helped real people land jobs with the world’s top companies. Search by company or job title.

Resume Checker

Find out how your resume compares against other successful resumes in our database. Receive your resume score and get personalized tips on how to improve it.

Website Builder

Turn your resume into a personal website with a single click. Choose from a number of customizable templates and let your future employer find you online.

Proofreading

Let our experienced human proofreaders make sure that your resume or cover letter have impeccable grammar. Don’t let a silly mistake ruin your chances of landing a job.

Let your resume do the work.

Join 5,000,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.

Resume Rewriter

Rewrite your resume in seconds with AI. Instantly transform your resume with our AI-powered rewriter and craft job-specific content that lands interviews.

Rewrite and Revise Your Resume for Impact

Rewrite to win: craft resumes that land interviews.

Struggling to rewrite your resume for each job application? Our AI rewriter personalizes your resume in seconds, highlighting relevant skills and bullets to match the job description.

Every job application deserves a unique resume. Use our AI rewriter to quickly adapt your resume to each position, highlighting the skills and experience they're looking for. Showcase your perfect fit and land your dream job faster.

Rewrite for Readability: Enhance Clarity and Impact

Rewriting your resume doesn't have to be painful or time-consuming. Our AI tool helps you rewrite for readability, ensuring your message is clear, concise, and impactful.

Grab the attention of hiring managers and land more interviews with a resume that...

Speak the Job's Language: Rewrite with AI to Align Perfectly

Stop using a generic resume for every job. Our AI rewriter helps you match your skills and experience to the specific requirements of each position.

Land dream jobs faster with targeted resumes that speak the hiring manager's language.

How Resume Rewriting Can Supercharge Your Job Search

Gone are the days of the one-size-fits-all resume. Today's competitive job market demands dynamic resumes that showcase your unique value proposition for each specific opportunity. But crafting multiple, tailored resumes from scratch can be a daunting and time-consuming task.

That's where our AI Resume Rewriter comes in. It empowers you to rewrite and refocus your resume in seconds, ensuring your skills and experience resonate perfectly with each job description. No more struggling to remember which bullet point goes where - our AI does the heavy lifting, suggesting targeted content and language that highlights your perfect fit for the role.

But it's not just about speed. Our rewriter goes beyond automation, offering intelligent suggestions and guidance to help you craft compelling narratives that captivate hiring managers. Say goodbye to generic summaries and keyword stuffing - rewrite your way to a resume that tells a powerful story and lands you more interviews.

Remember, your resume is your marketing tool. Rewrite it with the power of AI to showcase your adaptability, relevance, and value proposition for every job you pursue.

How to Use the Resume Rewriter

Import your resume into the resume builder.

Bring in your current resume with ease! Import an existing draft, start from scratch in our builder, or connect your LinkedIn profile.

The more comprehensive your career history, the richer your AI-powered rewrites will be.

Attach a Job Description to Your Resume

Get a head start on customizing your resume. Go to the 'Matching' section to attach a specific job description to your resume.

Our tool will analyze the job requirements to provide tailored suggestions and help you rewrite your summary, work experiences, and skills.

Rewrite, Customize, Improve

Take the guesswork out of resume rewriting. Generate a refreshed version of the content tailored to your career experience and the job details, including alternative phrasing, skill keywords, and fresh sentence structures.

Toggle between your original content and the re-written versions to craft the most impactful resume possible.

Save and Repeat

Your resume should evolve with your job search. With Teal, it’s easy to save multiple versions of your resume that you can quickly return to and revise for the next job application.

Use the Resume Rewriter to customize your resume content for every job you apply to.

What's Free & What's

• Unlimited Resumes
• Unlimited Resumes Templates
• Unlimited Job Tracking
• Top 5 Keywords
• 1 Email Template Per job stage
• Limited AI Usage for Resume Bullets (10), Professional Summaries (2) and Cover Letter (2)
• Basic analysis in the resume builder
• Basic Resume Keyword Matching
• Everything in Teal Free
• Unlimited Advanced Resume Analysis
• Unlimited Resume Keyword Matching
• Unlimited AI Usage for Resume Bullets, Professional Summaries and Cover Letter
• Unlimited keywords (hard and soft skills) listed in the job tracker
• Unlimited Email Templates
• No ads across the entire platform
• 24/7 Email Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes - AI-powered resume rewriters offer several advantages. They can identify ways to make your language stronger and more specific, adapt your phrasing for different job descriptions, and even suggest relevant keywords based on industry trends.

However, It's essential to view AI as a tool to enhance your own writing process, not replace it entirely.

The Resume Rewriter uses advanced language models to adapt your resume's tone and focus based on the job description you provide.

Whether you're targeting a technical role, a creative field, or a sales position, the AI will adjust its suggestions accordingly.

The Resume Rewriter excels at speed, precision, and adaptability. It can offer fresh perspectives and language choices you might not consider on your own, speeding up the revision process. 

Combining its suggestions with your own understanding of your skills and experience ensures the final resume is both unique and tailored for success.

Not at all! Because the Resume Rewriter considers both your career history and specific job targets, it offers custom-fit adjustments. This helps you  stand out from cookie-cutter applications.

Plus, you always have the final say on editing and combining the best of both worlds – your original content and the AI-powered suggestions.

Better Resume. Faster Search. More Offers.

Jobscan > Resume Scanner | Free ATS Resume Checker

Land More Job Interviews with Jobscan's Resume Scanner

Get hired faster with an ATS-friendly resume that highlights the right skills. Our resume scanner helps you write the perfect resume so that you stand out from the competition.

Jobscan users have been hired by

Optimize Your Resume for the ATS

Many employers use automated systems to screen job applications. Submitting a resume that doesn’t meet applicant tracking system (ATS) requirements can mean getting passed over by hiring managers before they even see your application. Our ATS resume checker analyzes your resume against real job listings and tells you exactly how to optimize your resume to match each company’s ATS.

Highlight the Right Skills

Jobscan’s resume scanner uses AI technology to analyze your resume and compare it to the job listing you want to apply for. You’ll see the specific skills and experience the recruiter and hiring manager will be looking for in candidates and are searching for when they screen out candidates.

Different companies have different needs and requirements for similar jobs. Jobscan helps you make sure your resume highlights the most relevant skills and work experience for each job you apply for.

What our keyword scanner checks

• Hard skills
• Soft skills
• Recommended skills
• Industry lingo

What our ATS resume checker scans:

ATS read certain file types (.doc, .pdf, etc.) differently. Find out if your document file type is ATS-friendly.

Can the ATS read your font? If it can’t, it won’t parse the text correctly and your resume might not show in keyword searches.

ATS parse information by the section headings. Using unconventional section names can cause parsing errors.

Date formatting helps the ATS correctly calculate your years of experience – a crucial part of many hiring decisions.

An ATS can’t read every part of a document. We’ll check your formatting to make sure everything is scannable.

We’ll make sure that your resume doesn’t contain any formatting that could trip up an ATS.

ATS can’t parse images. Our scanner will check your content to make sure everything will be parsed correctly.

Jobscan will check your text alignment to make sure it follows standard practices so that the ATS can read and parse the text correctly.

Get Expert Feedback on Formatting and Best Practices

With Jobscan, you’ll get personalized feedback based on best practices for writing a resume. We built our software using input from real, professional recruiters. That means you get expert and reliable tips and suggestions to help you present your skills and experience in a way that stands out to recruiters and hiring managers.

Get expert insights from recruiters on

• Measurable results
• Job level match
• Words to avoid
• Resume format

How to optimize your resume

From your Jobscan dashboard, upload your resume file or paste the resume text into the scanner.

Paste the text of the job listing into the scanner.

The Match Report will give you tailored advice on which skills or experience to mention in your resume plus writing guidelines for writing the perfect resume.

Update your resume document, click on the Upload and rescan button, then paste in the updated text of your resume. Your Match Rate will update. Continue this process with your resume until you reach a match rate of 75% or higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a resume scanner.

A resume scanner is a tool that analyzes a job seeker’s resume and compares the resume to a job listing to identify the skills the recruiter or hiring manager will be looking for based on the context of the job. It also checks to make sure that the resume is ATS-friendly. Resume scanners help job seekers identify areas of their resume that need improvement and optimize their resumes with better formatting, keyword usage, and content. This can increase their chances of getting noticed by recruiters and get job interviews.

What is the best resume scanner?

There are three main features that a resume scanner should have:

• Job listing comparison
• ATS-compatibility checks
• Guidance on best practices

There are many resume scanners available, but Jobscan is recognized as the most comprehensive because it includes all of the above features. Our tools also help you optimize your cover letter and LinkedIn profile – meaning you can build the most optimized and effective job search collateral.

What tests does our ATS resume scanner run?

Jobscan will check the formatting of your resume to make sure it’s ATS-friendly. These checks include fonts and font size, text color, margins, alignment, images, and more. An ATS scan will tell you how searchable your resume is and if elements like your contact info, education, and dates are readable by an ATS.

Can I run my resume through ATS?

Most applicant tracking systems, or ATS, are not available for single users or job seekers. We designed our resume scanner to mimic the most popular ATS on the market so that you can see how an ATS would read your resume and optimize it to be ATS-friendly.

How do I make sure my resume is ATS-compliant?

To make your resume ATS-friendly, you should use relevant resume keywords and phrases from the job description in your resume. Use a clear resume format and avoid using tables, graphics, or special characters. Save your resume in a compatible file format (such as .docx or .pdf).

Do companies use a resume scanner?

99% of Fortune 500 companies use what’s called an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS. This software is a tool that collects job applicant information and documents submitted from the job board. The recruiter can use the ATS to filter resumes by skills, education, experience, location, or other criteria.

“I was having a hard time getting interviews, and every single one I submitted after using the tool received a response – either a screening or an invitation to interview.”

Thelonious B.

“I used Jobscan Pro throughout my job search to compare the job description to my resume. I really liked that there were in-depth tips based on what kind of ATS some jobs use to parse keywords and save time.”

“Jobscan helped me immensely. I applied to over 250 jobs over about 2 years and got only one job interview and no offer. I started using Jobscan, applied to only 12 jobs in 3 months and received 5 interviews and landed an awesome job. […] This software is incredible and worth every penny.”

“Once I signed up for Jobscan, I ran my resume with a job that I had applied for previously and found the my resume was really lacking! I used Power Edit and suggestions to rework the resume and resent it to a company that I really had interest in! Almost immediately, I got a positive response and landed an interview!”

Explore More Features

• AI Resume Builder

Powered by ChatGPT, Enhancv is the easiest way to create a tailored resume containing all the right keywords, improve your writing & highlight your strengths.

3,908 happy customers shared their experience.

Our resumes get people hired at top companies

AI resume writer, powered by ChatGPT

Nail the keywords, beat the ats.

Use them to identify the high-impact keywords that must be on your resume for each job application.

Improve your writing

Besides the bread & butter spelling & grammar checks, the Enhancv AI assistant helps you re-write your bullets to show impact and focus on your achievements.

AI-Tailored resume summary

Win the recruiter's attention with an AI-tailored resume summary based on the job ad, and a title optimized for keywords in the job.

Highlight your strengths

Stand out from other applicants with a dedicated section to showcase your competitive advantages. Applicants often stumble in writing this section, so our fine-tuned ChatGPT Assistant generates amazing suggestions for you.

Beautiful ATS-friendly templates made with AI

A feature-packed resume builder

Create the perfect cover letter

Use the AI assistant to quickly create the perfect cover letter for each job application, based on your experience.

Start with your old resume or LinkedIn profile

Don’t have the time to start from scratch? Just upload your old resume, or add a link to your LinkedIn profile, and our resume builder will extract all the standard sections.

AI resume builder FAQs

What is an ai resume builder.

An AI resume builder is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to assist users in creating their resumes. These tools often have features like customized templates, content suggestions, optimization for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), custom tailoring, feedback, and revision options.

What features does Enhancv’s AI resume builder offer?

Enhancv offers a range of AI features to help you create your resume with ease:

• Templates and customization: AI resume builders typically offer a variety of templates that users can choose from. These templates are designed to be both visually appealing and to meet the standards expected in different industries.
• ChatGPT-powered resume content writing and suggestions: Enhancv suggests content based on your input. For example, after entering your job history, you will receive suggestions for expanding upon your professional accomplishments or skills that align with your experience.
• Optimization for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): These systems are used by employers to screen resumes before they are seen by a human. Our builder suggests keywords and phrases that are likely to be favorable in these systems based on your job title.
• Feedback and revision suggestions: we’ve got a resume checker that provides feedback on the overall quality of the resume, including suggestions for improving layout, grammar, and wording.

How do I use ChatGPT on my resume?

You can use ChatGPT on your resume for a range of activities, related to resume building, including:

• Rewriting or writing from scratch difficult-to-write resume sections, such as your resume summary and job descriptions.
• Making your resume bullet points more action and performance-oriented.
• Suggesting skills and other keywords to include in your resume based on a job title.
• Suggesting extra sections that can help you stand out from the crowd.
• Using your resume as a starting point for an interview preparation mockup.
• Using your resume as a base for writing your cover letter.

Can recruiters tell if my resume was written by ChatGPT?

As long as your application is customized with your job history and accomplishments, it’s unlikely that recruiters can tell if you used ChatGPT. ChatGPT can only help improve your resume writing, but lying on a resume is unacceptable.

Are resumes scanned by AI?

Resumes in some companies are scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which may or may not have AI features. These systems parse resumes and match them with job descriptions. Enhancv’s resume templates are tested for ATS compatibility, though a 100% parsing rate is not guaranteed due to varying ATS models because the content of the resume is more important for ATS-friendliness than the template itself.

Enhancv Executive has changed my life: One week & four interviews later, I will be making 150% more doing the job I chose.

Your resume is an extension of yourself – make one that’s truly you.

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I tested 5 AI resume builders to help get a job — here's what happened

Here’s how to apply for a job using AI

I long for the day when I’ll wake up in the morning and get my AI ready to go to work for me . Until that time comes, the least AI could do for me today is to help me land a job I like.

Not everyone is a fan of resume and cover letters, but they remain staples in many recruitment processes.

For years, employers have also been using forms of AI to filter through these documents in order to narrow down the pool of applications they receive for any given vacancy. 

The latest advances in generative AI mean that right now employees can leverage AI tools at their disposal to empower themselves in the job-hunting process.

I wanted to see how powerful these tools are. To find out, I created a shortlist of AI resume and cover letter builders that I wanted to try. Tom’s Guide believes in fair fights, so I used each of them as though I was applying for the same job with the same profile.

A target was required and I found a LinkedIn ad for a real job as a remote Software Engineer with generative AI responsibilities at Meta (formerly Facebook) that looked promising.

The role asked for a candidate with over two years of coding experience and over two years of building large-scale applications. More experience was required in designing and completing medium to large features without guidance. Meta was looking for a candidate with, or in the process of obtaining, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent practical experience. In exchange, the company was offering a salary between $116k and $168k per year.

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I created a fictitious aspiring Meta software engineer, Tamsin Smith, in order to have some kind of profile I could submit to the AI. Smith holds two Stanford University degrees in computing science, completed an internship with Twitter and has been working at Google as a software engineer since 2019. 

If that’s not enough for Mark Zuckerberg to give her an offer, she also leads a local scouting group in her free time.

With an actual job ad and an alter ego in hand, I was ready to start reviewing AI tools. Read on to find out which tools I used, what they produced and my thoughts on their performance.

My first attempt was with Rezi.ai since it offers a free basic service and I wanted to check if the way I designed the review could work in principle. And it did!

Right after confirming my email, I was creating Tamsin Smith’s first resume.

I was presented with a choice between a “Job-Tailored Resume” and a “General Purpose Resume”; I went with the first choice as it was exactly what this test was about. It asked me for the role and company I’m targeting but I was blindsided when Rezi asked me to insert a job application I’d written for the role. Isn’t this something the AI should be doing for me?

I finished this side quest and then added basic details like my name and email, followed by my previous work experience. Here’s when I first encountered signs of AI life in the form of a bullet point generator to further explain my role. 

Rezi went on to ask me to add details on projects I’d worked on, my education history, certifications, coursework, involvement in other organizations, and my skills.

The next exciting step was the summary section, where I gladly let the AI take control. It was nothing I couldn’t have come up with myself if I simply wanted to summarize my resume, but it at least merits a pass mark. (I wanted to ask the AI to write a cover letter for me based on the finished resume but that feature requires a subscription.)

Overall Rezi marked the resume it produced at 87 out of 100, which I think is a bit too generous. If you have a rough idea of what you want your resume to look like, by all means, use Rezi so you don’t have to worry about the formatting. It might also provide a helpful AI-generated bullet point or two along the way.

If you were worried that not using Rezi’s AI was the one thing stopping you from getting your dream job, rest assured that (at least with its free version) this is not the case.

My score: 3/5

Resumaker.ai

“Designed templates that will get you hired at the world's leading companies,” Resumaker proudly displayed on its homepage. I also had to pay ($0.99) to download my resume and cover letter. Surely, I was on the verge of getting Tamsin hired?

By now I’d gotten the hang of inserting details like my education and work history. In this regard, little separates the resume builders tested here.

The AI kicked in to provide me with text I could insert as accomplishments in my jobs and as the headline summary. The latter left much to be desired but at least it was presentable. Resumaker didn’t offer to beef up my volunteering section so I had to write that part manually. As a whole, the resume felt a bit dry but at least it was presentable.

However, it’s a good thing this service isn’t called Coverlettermaker. Every sentence it generated started with either an “I am” or “I have”. When you’re working with such a structure, there’s only so much you can do to make the rest more exciting. Furthermore, it left the [Company Name] field for me to fill in. AI that’s supposed to help me land a job in a highly competitive market should come with higher standards. 

Resumaker.ai claims that thousands of applications it created landed people jobs. If there’s any truth to that, then on the bright side we really shouldn’t be overthinking what we’re sending to hiring managers.

The main question I asked myself before deciding whether each AI builder deserved a pass mark was: Can I send out the résumé as is? 

Teal didn’t quite make the cut here.

It asked me to connect the specific job I was applying for from LinkedIn to the resume and it started analyzing the job ad for keywords I should include. Fantastic! I was ready for a made-to-measure summary, past accomplishments, and cover letter — the areas where I wanted the AI to work its magic.

Unfortunately, this is where I felt let down. In the headline summary, Teal ended up giving me a compilation of the achievements it had previously generated but also prominently added that I had expertise in “work authorization”. The AI thought the right to work in the U.S. requirement from Meta’s job description was a hard skill. 

It scored its own resume at 79%.

As far as its cover letter goes, I appreciated that I could generate it for free without having to spend time adding more details than I already had. However, the result was something I could have just as easily written myself.

My score: 2/5

Kickresume.com

The last AI resume maker I wanted to test was Kickresume, which had the highest monthly fee out of the lot at $19 per month. You can bring that down by paying an annual lump sum that brings the pricing down to $9 a month or, as I did, utilize the free trial version. 

Right when I was losing hope in the resume generators, Kickresume lifted my spirits.

Its helpful AI writer was alongside me from start to finish, offering handy suggestions for work accomplishments, explaining my certifications, and also suggesting skills I should list specifically for a software engineering position. I ended up with a clean-looking CV and I didn’t even have to break a sweat.

Kickresume gave the resume it generated a score of 88/100.

If I’m in a pinch and need a new resume that I don’t have to scan for AI-generated sentences that would land me in the "rejected" pile, Kickresume.com is the first website I’ll be visiting.

I wanted to add a nice cherry to the cake, so I asked Kickresume to create a cover letter using the great resume it made. But this is where I was underwhelmed. 

While devoid of grammatical errors, I felt as though the AI didn’t take the résumé and job description I gave into consideration. It provided me with a few short lines that didn’t even name-drop Tamsin’s fictitious stints at Twitter and Google. You wouldn’t even know she completed two degrees at Stanford. Based on my positive experience with the résumé, I couldn’t believe this was the same AI content generator.

My score: 4/5

No subscriptions. No plugins. I wanted to see how well the free version of OpenAI ’s ChatGPT would do against the four dedicated AI resume and cover letter generators listed above.

I tweaked a prompt that I found online and, in 161 words, I asked the AI for a first draft of my new resume. I then asked the chatbot to refine its work based on the job description I gave it to make my resume less generic. In seconds, I had my second draft.

Since ChatGPT only gave me a plain text version of my resume, I then pasted what it gave me into a template from one of the previous builders.

I’m happy to announce that both myself and Tamsin were very pleased with the results. The resume easily rivals the ones generated from the other services I tested. I wouldn’t have minded some text to beef up the education section to explain what I had learned at Stanford. Also, the line pointing out that Meta was previously called Facebook is something I would never have included in a resume intended for Meta’s eyes. Other than that, ChatGPT gave me decent results in the shortest amount of time.

I was especially impressed with the cover letter I asked ChatGPT to craft for me. It was perhaps a bit too long for some tastes but it was arguably the most well-rounded out of the five.

Honorary score: 4/5

The verdict

There have already been reports of people using AI to write resumes and cover letters who ended up getting hired for the positions they’ve applied for, and I’m not surprised. But as this test has shown, a website’s claim that it uses AI to provide a service is not some kind of guarantee of the level of service you can expect. 

Shop around when looking for AI resume and cover letter writers. Perhaps combine two or more of them to leverage each one’s specific strengths. But add the finishing touches yourself.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google's new Gemini AI could beat ChatGPT — here's why
• Google’s plan to train its AI now includes the entire public internet
• 3 best AI synthetic video generators you can use today — tested and compared

Christoph Schwaiger is a journalist who mainly covers technology, science, and current affairs. His stories have appeared in Tom's Guide, New Scientist, Live Science, and other established publications. Always up for joining a good discussion, Christoph enjoys speaking at events or to other journalists and has appeared on LBC and Times Radio among other outlets. He believes in giving back to the community and has served on different consultative councils. He was also a National President for Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global organization founded in the USA. You can follow him on Twitter @cschwaigermt.

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7 Creative Ways to Greatly Improve Your Resume

Your resume is your own personal promotional advertisement; including sufficient information to sell your skills and experience will determine whether you are asked for an interview.

Think of a promotional flyer; the main purpose of a flyer is to give relevant information to the reader. The same is the case with your resume.  Your resume should highlight the most attention-grabbing, impressive and unique details about you, your work and your skills.  Your resume doesn’t have abundant time to make a great impression on the employer. A professional recruiter can tell in seconds the time your resume has to get noticed. So your resume should help the employers to determine whether your skills match their needs.

In this extremely competitive market, it’s important that your resume and cover letter be specifically meshed toward a particular opportunity. Here are few creative ways to greatly improve your resume.

1. Make a great first impression.

The first section of your resume shows a clear picture of the value you’ll bring to an employer. The  headline  and the  summary  section can be used to capture the reader’s superfluous attention by emphasizing outstanding successes, experience, expertise and professional qualities.

Let’s give you an example of a creative Headline and Summary section:

• Headline: Marketing Manager with expertise in Marketing and PR
• Summary: Marketing Manager with seven (7) years of experience in advertising, Public Relations and Marking for several multinational Brands.

2. Select specific industries, businesses, and disciplines.

You cannot send the same resume to different companies for different jobs. Rather, you should customize each application for each employer. Your job search should focus on the targeted areas in industries, companies, businesses or services sector.

3. Highlight your expertise, capabilities, skills, and successes.

Contemplate your interests, experiences, skills, and achievements that you want to showcase to a potential employer. Try to add the obvious yet essential qualities of yours to make yourself unique and impress the employer. To have a satisfying career it is essential to understand your interests, expertise and qualities.

4. Improve readability.

Improve the readability of your resume by using the language that is comprehensive and understandable to those who make hiring decisions in these fields. Avoid using certain terms, phrases, and contractions that are distorted and unrecognizable outside of your workplace; as a result, reading your resume is like decoding a foreign language. Information on your resume should be easily and quickly gleaned and readable.

Make these changes to enhance readability:

• Adjust your font and add space by cutting words and spreading margins. You can expand your resume to two pages if necessary.
• Consolidate job positions rather than listing each assignment separately.
• Avoid repetitive information.
• Use one font and attributes (small and capital letter words, italics, character spacing bold,etc.) to differentiate headings and sub-headings.
• Try to eliminate content that reads like a job description.

5. Quantify your career, job, and work life accomplishments.

Try to quantify and monetize your career, job, work, and life accomplishments and the complexity of your accountabilities. Always mention numbers, dollars, and percentages instead of just describing your responsibilities.

Quantify this type of information:

• Sales, percentage of sales growth, and new accounts opened.
• “Held responsible for bringing in new clienteles” or “Brought in X new clients in X months”
• 500 Employees supervised directly.

6. Polish and showcase accomplishments.

Reflect your past accomplishments, illustrate the value you’ll bring to a prospective company. Your resume should accentuate the outcomes you have delivered with precise examples. You should utilize this section with concise sentences and bullets to make these results stand out.

7. Resume length.

You should be very specific about your resume length; if you have of seven years of experience working at different positions, your resume should be two pages. With low work experience, write a one page resume.

Every day, thousands of employers search for candidates; taking the time to improve your resume will result in better chances of getting hired. Get started today!

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Resume Worded

Optimize your resume to get more interviews, instantly, want to optimize your resume for recruiters and resume screening systems upload it to our free resume optimizer and you'll instantly find out how it scores against key criteria hiring managers look for. you'll also find out if your resume's template is optimized to pass applicant tracking systems and other hiring systems..

Optimize your resume in seconds, for free

A quality resume can help you create the right impression on reviewers, land interviews, and ultimately, win jobs. even though several different factors determine whether or not you’re going to be called in for an interview, in many cases it all boils down to your resume’s capacity to convince employers that they should hire you. but before hiring managers even consider your resume, they’ll run it through software known as applicant tracking systems (ats). atss are designed to help employers streamline the recruiting process. the ats filters through applications and lets ones that are worth the recruiters’ time through, while ignoring the rest. pretty much all online job boards or careers pages are linked up to an ats - so it's likely your resume is going to go through one of them. so when you’re preparing your resume, it’s not enough to consider that it’ll impress hiring managers. you’ll also have to remember that atss reject applications that don’t fit certain standards. and that’s why you need the resume optimizer. the resume optimizer does what its name suggests, it optimizes your resume. but what does that really mean let's break it down., what does it mean to have an optimized resume, exactly, applicant tracking systems have several criteria they use to recognize which applications deserve to be reviewed by hiring managers. essentially, it comes down to a few key things..

• Improve your resume's readability, aka optimize your template This is probably the most important thing you need to make sure of. Now that you know your resume is going to be read and processed by an automated hiring system, you're going to want to make sure it's actually going to be read correctly . Many people make the mistake of using a complicated resume template that was designed in Photoshop or Canva. Sure, these look nice, but ATS and hiring systems can't process them. An ATS won't be able to figure out your experience from a template it can't read in the first place, so you'll likely be automatically discarded. So, first things first, use a resume template that was created in a text processing tool, not a design tool. Word, Google Docs, and most tools like that are perfectly fine to use.
• Using the right words, aka 'Keyword optimization' These criteria include keywords and relevance of your resume to the job description. ATS and hiring systems essentially want to make sure you're a good 'fit'. And the way they do that is by checking if you have the right skills on your resumes. If you're unsure what skills or keywords to include, don't worry — that's what this tool is for. Just upload your resume and you'll get suggestions on what to include to ensure your resume is keyword-optimized for ATS.

Find out if your resume is optimized for the ATS

💡   our resume optimization ai, score my resume, has a ton of features that can help you write a better resume. aside from showing you what your resume needs, it can grade your resume by pitting it against several factors that define a winning resume..

How an Applicant Tracking System works and filters applicants

The tedious job application process

Finding a job can be exhausting. you go on a job hunt, try to find ones that are a great fit, prepare your resume, send in your application and wait. preparing your resume can be a chore and waiting for a reply can be nerve-wracking, especially when considering that an ats could reject your resume. you might be very careful when preparing your resume, but there’s always the possibility that it won’t make it past the ats because of errors that weren’t obvious to you. even when you make it through the ats though, there’s another layer of review that your resume will be filtered through. and this part is the most challenging and competitive part of the application process. we’re talking about the hiring managers who’ll make the final call. convincing them to hire you requires more than just your skills and experiences. your resume is their point of reference and you need to optimize your resume so that they’ll know you’re the right fit for the job., getting past the ats can help you win interviews, although an optimized resume does not automatically guarantee that you’ll be hired or even called for an interview, it’ll significantly increase your chances. not to mention the assurance you’ll get knowing that the ats won’t throw away your application because you forgot to include a keyword. atss look out for a lot in a resume, so it can be difficult to notice why your resume could be rejected. keyword optimization, formatting, grammar, and other details determine whether or not your resume reaches the actual reviewers. if you’re new to these concepts, learning the ropes and crafting a resume from scratch can seem like a job in and of itself. the whole process consumes valuable time and energy and the last thing on your mind should be worrying about details on how to prepare a resume..

We built a tool to guide you through optimizing your resume

We know how exhausting it is to go through the whole process, and how unnecessary it is to go above and beyond to prepare a resume only for it to be thrown away by a bot. and that’s why this resume optimizer was created. the resume optimizer uses artificial intelligence to show you which parts of your resume need a quick fix. it was made by recruiters who know the whole process, everything from what makes a great resume to why many decent resumes don’t get the consideration they deserve. all you’ll have to do is simply upload your resume and the tool instantly optimizes it for the ats and hiring managers by rearranging keywords, correcting grammatical errors, and reformatting. with the resume optimizer, you don’t need to spend days researching how the ats works and how you can get past it..

•   Free Resume Critique Improve your chances of getting hired with a free, personalized resume critique in seconds. You'll find out where your resume falls short and what you need to do to impress recruiters.
•   Resume Keyword Scanner Optimize your resume's keywords instantly. This tool will scan your resume and a job description. Then, it will tell you what which keywords your resume is missing.
•   Google Docs Resume Templates Need a resume template that's recruiter-approved and passes automated hiring systems? Choose one from 300+ free Google Docs templates we've curated that you can edit online.

Get your free resume review in 30 seconds

Get actionable steps to revamp your resume and land more interviews using our free ai-powered tool,    access samples from top resumes, get inspired by real resume samples that helped candidates get into top companies,    optimize your linkedin profile, get tailored feedback on how to generate 5x more jobs, leads and opportunities..

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More From Forbes

10 certificates to put on your resume in 2024.

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Certificates are proven to boost your salary and increase your visibility and competitive edge to ... [+] employers

Studies show that earning a professional certificate and putting it on your resume can significantly increase your chances of being hired—and even lead to a salary boost.

For example, according to a salary survey undertaken by CertMag in 2023, 64% of U.S. respondents and approximately 40% of non-U.S. respondents agreed that gaining an IT certification led to them receiving a raise within the first year after completing their studies and achieving their certificate. They received a raise of between 3-20% respectively, according to the survey's findings.

Whether you're in the spring of your career, a seasoned professional, making a career pivot, looking externally for a new role, or are hoping to secure a promotion or pay raise, gaining a certificate this year should absolutely be on your 2024 must-do list.

But what are the most essential and in-demand certificates you should be learning and adding to your resume right now?

Certificates You Should Include In Your Resume

It's key to remember to have a strong focus when deciding which certificate you wish to study this year. It must have some purpose, and be interrelated with your overall career goals.

Otherwise, you may commence your study but you'll lack the motivation to proceed all the way until the end. And it will be harder for you to draw practical applications from your course and apply them into workplace scenarios, because you will have little if any opportunity to apply them.

Additionally, adding random certificates to your resume makes you look indecisive and confused about your career, painting a negative picture of your personal brand to employers.

Therefore, there must be a meaning behind the certificate you choose to embark on. Every certificate must complement each other and your long-term career goals.

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Bearing this in mind, let's take a look at 10 of the most popular certificates that are globally recognized by employers:

1. CPR Certification

CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) is a short course that you can undertake in person that teaches you how to save someone's life using an emergency first-aid procedure. There are many course providers that offer this as a combination of online and in person training.

Popularly offered by the American Red Cross and other non-profit organizations, a CPR certification is useful in a wide range of professions. It's not only an obvious requirement in healthcare and in first responder jobs, but it is also useful for roles that involve working with children and those who are vulnerable. These include carers, teachers, security, construction, and events management.

2. PMP Certification

If you're interested in landing a role as a project manager or programme manager or even more broadly within management or leadership, completing a project management course such as a PMP Certification is highly advantageous, and is coveted by many employers.

Similar certifications to PMP which are offered by the Project Management Institute, include CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management), and PgMP (Program Management Professional).

3. AWS Certification

If your role requires you to use Amazon Web Services software, wouldn't it make sense to get a certificate in it so you can have an edge in your work? Thankfully, Amazon offers multiple role-based and speciality learning pathways through AWS certification, with exams administered by Pearson VUE.

Be intentional with your efforts to upskill, and ensure your certificates complement each other

4. Google Certification

Google offers a diverse range of certificates, primarily focused on enabling you to acquire in-demand skills within tech and business, such as analytics, project management, and technical support. Some Google Career certificates include the Google Data Analytics certification, Google Digital Marketing certificate, and the Google Cybersecurity certification.

5. Cybersecurity Certification

Speaking of cybersecurity, cybersecurity certifications are another set of certificates that employers view as necessary to the success of their business, especially as we continue to work remotely. Not only does Google offer this through Coursera, but you can obtain it from providers such as CompTIA and ISC2.

6. Six Sigma Certification

Six Sigma is a skill that is helpful for careers within project management, quality management, supply chain management, production and manufacturing, and healthcare and IT.

You may often see it appear as a desirable or essential requirement in job adverts within these industries; and there are different levels, or belts within Six Sigma, so it's important to chart your career path carefully so you can pace yourself to study each belt. APMG International is one of the providers of this certification.

7. CISSP Certification

The CISSP certification (Certified Information System Security Professional) is one of the more advanced tiers of cybersecurity training, and "requires candidates to have at least five years of experience in two or more of the eight CISSP domains," according to Knowledge Hut. "In addition, CISSP candidates must pass a rigorous exam that tests their knowledge of all aspects of information security."

8. ITIL Certification

ITIL means Information Technology Infrastructure Library, a framework designed to improve the customer experience with IT services. The ITIL certification teaches you best practices for managing IT services effectively and aligning them with business needs while improving overall service quality.

This certificate can be obtained from providers such as Skillogic and Axelos, and there are various certification paths , so it's important to assess which on is most relevant for your needs.

9. Microsoft Certification

Microsoft certifications vary depending on your role; for example, you could get a certificate in Power BI, Microsoft Azure, Office 365, or Microsoft Dynamics. And to eliminate all the extra noise, Microsoft Learn's platform allows you to filter by your role to get the best recommendations for courses you can pursue.

10. Salesforce Certification

CRM (customer relationship management) software such as Salesforce remain highly popular in organizations, particularly as big-name employers such as Amazon Web Services, the U.S. Bank, Walmart, Macy’s, and The Hershey Company, amongst others, are its avid customers.

This means that to secure or maintain a well-paid role within these organizations, you need to have prior experience and working knowledge of Salesforce, relevant to your job. Salesforce offers a vast array of certificates, from Salesforce Administrator to Salesforce Platform Developer.

There is a huge variety of Microsoft certifications that can help you increase your confidence ... [+] within your role

As the saying goes, there's no time like the present. Stop procrastinating and define your career goals, chart your path, and identify what certificates you need to help you achieve your vision. Take a moment to invest in yourself today.

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18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

By  Allison Pohle

Updated May 11, 2021 2:15 pm ET

• A résumé isn’t just a list of every job you’ve ever had. It should demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Mirror language used in the job posting so your résumé isn’t discarded by an applicant tracking system.
• Use a clean and simple format. 

Companies increasingly  rely on software  to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm. Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

1. Highlight your achievements in your résumé. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.” 

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.  

2. Customize your résumé.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.  

The same applies to your cover letter. It is your chance to provide more detail on how your experience will help you succeed in the job.  Read our cover letter guide  for how to write one that makes you stand out.

3. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate.  Read more about résumé formats here.

4. Make your contact information easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

In addition to making it easy to connect with you, it is important to your job search that you grow your network.  Read our networking guide  for tips on how to do so.

5. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says. 

6. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of  7.4 seconds.  

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. 

For additional ways to make a good impression on recruiters and headhunters, read  our guide on how to work with headhunters .

7. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

• Optimize keywords.  Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.” 
• Use a straightforward format.  Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
• Think about order.  When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title. 

8. Prioritize relevant keywords. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. 

9. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed. 

• Don’t focus on tasks.  Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
• Instead, explain what those tasks achieved.  Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
• Use metrics.  Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says. 
• Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable.  Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your  soft skills.

10. Focus on transferable skills if you lack experience.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

11. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

12. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have  gaps  on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be  prepared to talk about them in an interview . “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

13. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to  add a skills section to your résumé , outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

14. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

15. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

16. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

17. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending. 

18. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

• How to Prepare for a Job Interview
• What Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
• Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• How to Dress for a Job Interview
• How to Write a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview  
• How to Negotiate and Counter a Job Offer
• How to Negotiate Salary for a New Job: The Do’s and Don’ts
• Severance Pay: What It Is and Why You Should Negotiate a Package Before Accepting a Job

Corrections & Amplifications Ashley Watkins is a résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Write Steps LLC. (Corrected on Nov. 20)

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the November 23, 2020, print edition as '11 Résumé Tips to Help You Get Noticed

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How will you stand out?

Your resume may be one of the most important assets you have to land an interview. Your resume will likely be compared against hundreds of others with similar majors, GPAs, and experiences as yours. We will help you develop the most effective, one-page summary of your qualifications.

Before you get started

Approach your resume with a growth mindset, keeping in mind these three basic principles:

• Your resume should be a compelling summary of why you are the best candidate for that particular position .
• There are recommended resume formats based on the types of roles  you are seeking.
• Seek as much feedback as possible. Use web-based resources and ask others to review your resume . 

Select one of the following to learn more: 

• First resume
• Action verbs
• Resume reviews

Start your first resume

It's never too early to draft your first resume.  The goal of your resume is not to be a record of all your accomplishments; consider your resume to be a  one-page "sell sheet" that will tell the story about why you are the best candidate for a particular position . Here are 5 tips to get you started:

• Your resume will evolve over time.  Create an organized system to keep a record of all of your accomplishments and the various versious of your resume for different positions you apply to. 
• Since you may not have much content to add, focus first on the framework of your resume. Use this template to get started.
• It's OK to include high school information in your first resume.  Once you reach January of your sophomore year, you will want to remove your high school accomplishments and experiences (unless you have experiences that are compelling and transferable to the position you are pursuing).
• Learn how to use AI tools like JobScan and AI language models like ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing to help optimize (not write!) your resume.
• Be careful when signing up for free resume building tools. While they sound great, many of them may require you to pay for full functionality and editing in the future. To get started, stick with a simple Word or Google Doc template .

If you are not sure where to get started, watch our "Writing Your First Resume" video .

• Sample first-year resume
• Sample early resume
• Sample advanced resumes

Resume templates

There are recommended resume formats based on the type of roles you are seeking. For example:

• If you are pursuing a job in the federal government, you will need a  federal resume , which is longer and includes more information than a standard resume.
• If you are seeking a design role, adding creative formatting or design elements will benefit you.
• For many roles, you will need a standard one-page, black and white resume. This simply-formatted resume helps you navigate applicant tracking systems ( ATS ), technology employers use to screen resumes. The best place to start is with our standard resume template .

Finding ways to stand out is important. Avoid using standard templates that are embedded in Google Docs or Word. Instead, use a template that allows 

Download the .docx resume template

Improve your resume

As a college student, plan to update your resume at least three times per year (at the end of the fall semester, spring semester, and summer). When updating your content, also take the time to proofread. To help you learn from others, here are a few tips and common mistakes:

7 important tips

• The audience for your resume is the recruiter, not you. Focus your content on what they want to know about you, not what you are most proud of.
• Tailor your resume to the position you are applying to.  Include keywords you find in the job description (this will improve your resume's scoring in ATS ).
• Use metrics , whenever possible.
• Give recruiters the opportunity to learn more about you by including your LinkedIn profile URL (and be sure to have a short, customized URL )
• Align the content of your resume with your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles.  
• Use AI language models like ChatGPT to proofread. 
• When you are ready to submit your resume, save it as a PDF

6 common mistakes

Our staff reviews hundreds of resumes every year. Here are the most common mistakes we see:

• Typos and inconsistent formatting show a lack of attention to detail.
• Not tailoring the resume to the position (missing keywords)
• Inconsistent formatting and line spacing
• Inconsistent use of verb tenses
• Lack of white space / margins are too narrow / inconsistent line spacing 
• Focusing on job duties instead of the impact you made

Use metrics

Recruiters want to know more than your job duties with past internships and projects. They want to know about how you contributed and what impact you made.  Numbers help tell the story about the impact you made. Metrics can also articulate what others think about you and how well you can work with others.

• If you are struggling to think about metrics, Jeff Su shares three simple questions to help you come up with a meaningful metric:  How many? How often? How long?
• Use Google's XYZ format:  "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]."  ( read this LinkedIn article from a former Google VP of Human Resources)

View our sample resumes

Comprehensive resume checklist

To help you create the most compelling resume, we have created an interactive checklist in a Google Sheet format. You will also find links on the resource to learn more about particular topics.

Learn about the checklist

Compelling action verbs

Aim to not repeat action verbs.  If you are looking for inspiration, The Muse has an excellent resource to think about action verbs by types of accomplishments (e.g. led a project, improved something, research, etc.) .  In addition to this resource, we have also created a resource with 300+ action verbs. Not only will you find ideas for verbs, we have also provided alternative verbs so you can avoid using each verb more than once. 

Get ideas for action verbs

Learn how ATS works

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software tools used by employers to save time by automating recruitment and hiring processes. Due the complexity of managing thousands of applications for thousands of positions across their organizations, 99% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).  ATS screen resumes using artificial intelligence, and in many cases, score and rank candidates based solely on the content of your resume and how it aligns to the position description. 

Here are a few tips to position your resume to have a better chance of 

• Avoid complex formatting like tables, pictures, columns, etc.
• Use the keywords found in the job description
• Focus on the "soft skills" mentioned in the job description, too, not just the technical skills
• Include a list of skills that you possess, and make sure you include the key skills outlined in the position description. Don't just list the skills in a string of words (the AI used by ATS will notice that you are trying to beat the system)

There are a number of tools online where you can get your resume analyzed. One of these is JobScan.  

Learn more about ATS

Get your resume reviewed

Once you have a draft of your resume take the time to get feedback from at least three sources, including technology-based and human reveiws.

Self-review

• Use our  comprehensive checklist to learn about dozens of important elements to consider.

Tech-based resume reviews

• Tools like Grammarly are great for checking for grammar and spelling.
• Use a tool like Resume Worded to see how well your resume alings with a job description.
• Run a more in-depth analysis of your resume against a position decscription using JobScan .
• AI language model tools like ChatGPT and Bard are great for not only checking for grammar, but also giving tips for how to improve your bullets. Ask the language model "What are 5 other ways I can write this resume bullet to be more compelling?" (note: You may want to consider using more than one tool, as you will get different results).

Reviews by others

• Ask a roommate, friend, or family member to proof for grammar. Ask them "which of my experience do you think is most compelling if I am applying to this position?"
• Our career advisors can offer specialized guidance based on the type of roles you are pursuing. Start with a virtual drop-in appointment , and then schedule a follow-up to get advice for developing a job search strategy.

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10 Collaboration Skills Examples—and How to Improve Yours

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10 Collaboration Skills Examples—and How to Improve Yours was originally published on The Muse , a great place to research companies and careers. Click here to search for great jobs and companies near you.

Collaboration skills are more than just being a buzzy phrase—they’re essential for any successful team. Whether you’re brainstorming with coworkers or tackling a complex project, the ability to work well with others can make all the difference. But what are collaboration skills, exactly, and why do they matter so much in today’s workplace?

In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about collaboration skills: definition, examples, and practical tips to help you boost your abilities. Whether you’re wondering, “Is collaboration a skill I can develop?” or looking to define collaboration skills more clearly, we’ve got you covered.

Looking for a collaborative work environment? Check these amazing open jobs on The Muse and find the next perfect role for you »

What are collaborative skills?

At its core, collaboration skills are about bringing together diverse perspectives and working cohesively towards a common goal.

“They’re the ‘glue’ that holds a team together, enabling it to transcend sum-of-its-parts limitations,” says Philip Alves, founder and CEO of DevSquad , who has extensive experience fostering collaboration through diverse tech teams and firmly believes in its power. “In today’s interconnected world, these skills are not just nice to have; they’re crucial for driving innovation and navigating complex projects across geographies and cultures.”

Why are collaboration skills important?

Whether you’re part of a small team or a large organization, the ability to work effectively with others is crucial for achieving shared goals. “Collaboration skills enable different teams to combine their strengths, pool their knowledge and come up with creative solutions,” says Tanya Lamont, CEO of Conversational , who has personally experienced how essential collaboration skills are to the success of any team, especially in a remote work environment. “This enhances decision making, increases productivity and creates a positive working atmosphere.”

Sofia Perez, Owner and Content Manager at Character Counter , also highlights the importance of collaboration skills from her own experience. “One of my favorite examples in action is when my marketing department convenes to organize and administer marketing campaigns, especially through our social media channels,” Perez says. “Because diverse platforms appeal to different customers—graphics vs. written copy vs. short videos—my staff collaborates in these meetings to offer distinct ideas that perhaps someone else had not considered.”

When team members communicate clearly and work well together, tasks get done more efficiently, with fewer errors and misunderstandings. Plus, strong collaboration skills help create a positive work environment, build trust and camaraderie among colleagues, and usually lead to higher job satisfaction and better retention rates.

Collaboration skills: are they soft skills, hard skills—or both?

In the realm of professional development, collaboration skills are often seen as soft skills —those interpersonal abilities that enable effective teamwork and communication. While hard skills , such as technical expertise or specific job-related knowledge, are important for completing tasks, soft skills like empathy, active listening, and adaptability are essential for fostering team collaboration skills.

In reality, it’s a mix of both that makes for great collaboration; hard skills let you tackle tasks effectively, and soft skills help you connect and work smoothly with your team. Together, they lay the groundwork for successful teamwork and career growth.

Collaboration skills: examples

When it comes to collaboration, Alves says, “in my experience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and resilience stand out as the most valued soft skills. These qualities allow professionals to thrive in fluctuating work environments and maintain team morale, proving essential for long-term success.”

Lamont calls out problem-solving skills, too. “They drive innovation and play a critical role within any organization that seeks continuous improvement in its operations,” she says.

Below, we’ll break down these and other collaboration skills and show you how they can help you succeed at work.

1. Adaptability

Being open to new ideas and ready to pivot when necessary is crucial in a collaborative environment. Adaptability allows you to navigate changes and challenges without losing momentum, helping the team remain agile and responsive in dynamic work situations.

2. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence involves recognizing, understanding, and managing your own emotions, as well as being aware of others’ emotions. This skill is vital for building strong relationships within a team, enabling you to navigate social complexities, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive work environment.

3. Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive attitude during challenging times. In a collaborative setting, resilience ensures that you can keep the team motivated and focused, even when facing obstacles or difficult circumstances.

4. Problem-solving

Problem-solving skills are essential in any collaborative environment. Being able to analyze situations, identify potential challenges, and devise effective solutions is crucial for driving innovation and ensuring the team can overcome obstacles to reach its goals.

5. Active listening

This skill is about truly hearing what others are saying, asking clarifying questions, and making sure you understand their point of view before responding. Active listening fosters mutual respect and ensures that everyone’s ideas are considered, which is key to effective collaboration.

6. Communication

Whether you’re sharing ideas in a meeting or sending an email, being able to articulate your thoughts clearly is critical. Effective communication helps prevent misunderstandings, ensures that everyone stays on the same page, and facilitates a smoother collaboration process.

7. Conflict resolution

When disagreements arise, it’s important to address them constructively. Conflict resolution involves finding solutions that satisfy all parties, allowing the team to move forward without lingering tensions. This skill is essential for maintaining harmony and productivity within the team.

Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can help you better relate to your teammates, fostering stronger connections and more effective collaboration. Empathy allows you to build trust and create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued.

9. Giving and receiving feedback

Constructive feedback is crucial for continuous improvement in a collaborative environment. Being able to give feedback in a helpful and respectful manner, as well as being open to receiving it , helps the team refine processes and enhance performance. This skill encourages growth and helps individuals and teams reach their full potential.

10. Trust-building

Trust-building is the foundation of any successful collaboration. Developing trust within a team involves being reliable, maintaining transparency, and consistently delivering on commitments. When team members trust each other, collaboration flows more smoothly, and the team can tackle challenges with greater confidence.

How to improve your collaboration skills

Collaboration skills don’t just appear overnight—they take ongoing effort and refinement. Whether you’re already a strong collaborative person or looking to improve, there are plenty of strategies you can use to boost your skills.

Engage in self-reflection

Think about past team experiences to identify what went well and where you could have contributed more effectively. Tracking your progress through notes or a journal can help you pinpoint the collaboration skills that matter most for your role and identify areas where you can improve.

Seek feedback from colleagues

Coworkers can provide valuable insights into how you contribute to team collaboration skills and where you might need to improve. Approach this with an open mind, viewing feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism.

Invest in communication skills

Consider taking courses or participating in workshops that focus on enhancing communication skills. This could include public speaking, active listening, or conflict resolution techniques. The better you communicate, the more seamlessly you can contribute to your team collaboration skills.

Practice empathy and understanding

Empathy helps you connect with your teammates on a deeper level. Make a conscious effort to understand their perspectives and emotions. This not only strengthens your relationships but also makes you a more adaptable and effective collaborative person.

Be proactive in team settings

Being proactive demonstrates your commitment to the team’s success and your willingness to go above and beyond your responsibilities. So, take the initiative and offer help where needed. Whether it’s volunteering for a new project or simply offering support to a colleague, proactive behavior can significantly enhance your team collaboration skills.

Look for company tools to boost your collaboration skills

Many companies already incorporate exercises or activities designed to boost team collaboration.

“One innovative approach we’ve implemented at DevSquad is the Collab Hackathons, where teams are mixed across projects to solve an unrelated problem in a limited time frame,” Alves says. “This not only breaks routine but also sparks creativity, as team members bring different skills and perspectives to the table.”

Lamont favors team-building activities such as brainstorming sessions, role-playing, or feedback exercises. “For instance, regular check-in meetings where members discuss challenges faced and successes achieved can build trust and open up communication channels within the group,” she says.

Bonus tips: Using professional guidance to boost your collaboration skills

While practice and experience are essential, seeking professional guidance can take your collaboration skills to the next level.

In this bonus section, we’ll explore how expert advice and tailored strategies can help you boost your collaboration skills, making you an even more valuable team member.

Work with a professional coach or mentor

A coach or mentor specializing in leadership and communication can help you become a more effective collaborative person. “They provide a neutral perspective, helping to realign team objectives, mediate conflicts, and introduce frameworks that enhance mutual understanding and respect,” Alves says.

(You can find career coaching services right here on The Muse, hi!)

Consult an organizational development expert

These professionals can assess your team’s dynamics and offer customized training to improve your collaboration skills. They can design workshops that foster better teamwork and communication, helping your team work more cohesively.

Leverage HR resources

HR specialists can recommend team-building exercises , communication workshops, and other resources to boost team collaboration skills. They can also introduce tools and programs that promote effective collaboration within your organization.

Engage a conflict resolution expert

If conflicts are hindering collaboration, a mediator can teach your team strategies for managing disagreements constructively. “Mediators help navigate difficult conversations between two parties involved ensuring each person’s point of view is taken into account towards reaching an amicable settlement,” Lamont says.

This might also help: Conflict Resolution Skills: Definition, Examples, and How to Improve Them

Enroll in educational courses

Many universities and online platforms offer courses in organizational behavior and team dynamics. These courses can equip you with both the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to improve your collaboration skills.

By following these steps, you can steadily improve your collaboration skills and become a more effective, valued team member. Remember, the key to successful collaboration is continuous learning and adapting—skills that will serve you well in any professional setting.