Resume, ATS and career guides
Most resume advice online tells you to "use strong action verbs" and stops there. These guides go further: what to write in each section, which formatting choices break applicant tracking systems, how to turn a job description into a bullet point, and what to do when your history does not fit the standard template.
Where to start
If you are writing a resume from scratch, read the resume writing guide first — it walks through the document section by section and explains the decision behind each one. If you have a resume already but it is not producing replies, start with the ATS resume guide to rule out a formatting problem, then work through resume tips for the writing itself.
These guides are free to read and do not require an account. When you are ready to build the document, the resume builder handles the formatting so you can concentrate on the content, and every layout in our template library follows the structural rules described here.
Writing a Statement of Purpose instead?
A Statement of Purpose is a different document with different rules — it is an argument, not a summary, and length expectations come from the institution rather than from convention. If you are applying to a university or for a visa, start with what an SOP is and what belongs in one, then use the SOP builder to draft it against a structure that admissions committees expect.
How these guides are produced
Everything here is written by the team that builds the tools on this site, which means the formatting advice is tested against our own PDF and Word export before we publish it. Each guide shows a last-reviewed date, and we correct errors when readers report them. Our editorial policy sets out how we research guides, how we handle corrections, how the site is funded, and where our advice ends and a qualified professional should take over.
Shorter, more topical articles live on the blog, and common questions about the platform itself are answered on the FAQ page.
Build the document while the advice is fresh
Pick a layout, fill in the sections, and export to PDF or Word. The free plan is enough to produce a complete resume.
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