How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume in 2025

January 2025 | ⏱️ 8 min read

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Here's how to make sure yours passes:

1. Use Standard Section Headings

ATS software looks for specific section names. Use these headers:

• Professional Summary or Summary
• Work Experience or Professional Experience
• Education
• Skills or Technical Skills
• Certifications (if applicable)

❌ Avoid creative headers like "What I Bring to the Table" or "My Journey"

2. Include Keywords from Job Descriptions

ATS systems scan for keywords. Here's how to optimize:

• Read the job posting carefully
• Identify key skills and requirements
• Mirror the exact language used (e.g., if they say "project management," don't say "managing projects")
• Include both acronyms and full terms (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)")

3. Choose the Right File Format

Unless specified otherwise, use PDF format. It preserves your formatting across all systems. Our resume builder automatically exports to PDF.

4. Avoid Complex Formatting

ATS systems struggle with:

• Tables and text boxes
• Headers and footers (put contact info in the main body)
• Images, graphics, and logos
• Fancy fonts (stick to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman)
• Columns

5. Use Simple Bullet Points

Start each bullet point with a strong action verb:

• ✅ Managed team of 10 engineers, increasing productivity by 30%
• ✅ Developed marketing strategy that generated $2M in revenue
• ✅ Reduced costs by 25% through process optimization

10 Common Resume Mistakes That Cost You Interviews

January 2025 | ⏱️ 6 min read

1. Using an Unprofessional Email Address

❌ partygirl2000@email.com or coolman85@email.com

✅ firstname.lastname@email.com

Create a professional email address that includes your name. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

2. Including Personal Information

Never include: Photo, age, marital status, religion, social security number, or physical address (city/state is enough).

This information can lead to unconscious bias and has no place on a modern resume.

3. Writing "References Available Upon Request"

This is outdated and wastes valuable space. Employers assume you have references.

4. Using Passive Language

❌ "Was responsible for managing projects"

✅ "Managed 15+ projects with budgets exceeding $500K"

Use active voice and quantify your achievements with numbers.

5. Listing Job Duties Instead of Achievements

❌ "Answered customer phone calls"

✅ "Resolved 50+ customer inquiries daily with 98% satisfaction rating"

Show impact, not just responsibilities.

6. Making It Too Long

Ideal resume length:

• Entry-level (0-5 years): 1 page
• Mid-career (5-15 years): 1-2 pages
• Senior/Executive (15+ years): 2 pages maximum

7. Poor Formatting and Typos

Even one typo can disqualify you. Always:

• Use spell check
• Read it backward (catches more errors)
• Have someone else proofread it
• Use consistent formatting throughout

8. Using Generic Objectives

❌ "Seeking a challenging position where I can grow"

✅ "Results-driven marketing manager with 8 years experience in SaaS, seeking to leverage data analytics expertise to drive customer acquisition"

9. Outdated Information

Remove:

• Jobs older than 15 years (unless highly relevant)
• Ancient technology skills
• Irrelevant early career jobs
• Graduation years (if 15+ years ago)

10. Not Tailoring for Each Job

Customize your resume for each application:

• Match keywords from the job description
• Emphasize relevant experience
• Reorder bullet points to highlight what matters
• Adjust your summary for the specific role

150+ Powerful Action Verbs for Your Resume

January 2025 | ⏱️ 5 min read

Starting bullet points with strong action verbs makes your resume more compelling. Here are the best verbs organized by category:

Leadership & Management

Directed, Led, Managed, Supervised, Coordinated, Mentored, Coached, Delegated, Executed, Oversaw, Spearheaded, Championed, Guided, Orchestrated

Achievement & Results

Achieved, Exceeded, Surpassed, Outperformed, Delivered, Accomplished, Attained, Earned, Generated, Increased, Maximized, Boosted, Expanded

Innovation & Creativity

Developed, Created, Designed, Invented, Pioneered, Established, Launched, Introduced, Initiated, Originated, Conceptualized, Formulated, Innovated

Improvement & Optimization

Improved, Enhanced, Streamlined, Optimized, Refined, Transformed, Restructured, Upgraded, Modernized, Revitalized, Reduced, Eliminated, Decreased

Communication

Presented, Communicated, Authored, Wrote, Edited, Published, Reported, Briefed, Negotiated, Persuaded, Influenced, Convinced, Advocated

Analysis & Research

Analyzed, Researched, Evaluated, Assessed, Examined, Investigated, Audited, Measured, Calculated, Forecasted, Identified, Diagnosed

Problem-Solving

Resolved, Solved, Troubleshot, Fixed, Remedied, Addressed, Overcame, Rectified, Diagnosed, Debugged

Financial

Budgeted, Forecasted, Allocated, Reduced costs, Saved, Secured funding, Invested, Audited, Balanced

How Long Should Your Resume Be in 2025?

January 2025 | ⏱️ 4 min read

The "one-page rule" is outdated. Here's what actually matters:

Entry-Level (0-5 years experience): 1 Page

If you're early in your career, stick to one page:

• Focus on education and relevant coursework
• Include internships and part-time work
• Highlight skills and projects
• Include volunteer work if relevant

Mid-Career (5-15 years experience): 1-2 Pages

You've earned the right to expand:

• 2 pages is perfectly acceptable
• Include detailed accomplishments
• Show career progression
• Quantify major achievements

Senior/Executive (15+ years): 2 Pages

Senior roles require more detail:

• 2 pages is standard (rarely 3)
• Focus on leadership and strategic impact
• Include major projects and initiatives
• Show business results and metrics

When More Pages Are Acceptable:

• Academic CVs: Can be 3-10+ pages
• Federal/Government jobs: Often require detailed resumes
• Medical/Healthcare: Need to list credentials, publications
• International positions: Some countries expect longer resumes

Quality Over Quantity

Key principle: Every line should add value. If it doesn't demonstrate your qualifications or achievements, remove it.

Remove these space-wasters:

• Irrelevant early jobs
• Obvious skills for your level
• Personal hobbies (unless relevant)
• Lengthy job descriptions

How to Quantify Your Resume Achievements (With Examples)

January 2025 | ⏱️ 7 min read

Numbers make your resume 300% more compelling (see what I did there?). Here's how to quantify every achievement:

Sales & Revenue

❌ "Responsible for increasing sales"

✅ "Increased quarterly sales by 45% ($2.3M to $3.3M) through targeted outreach to Fortune 500 companies"

Management & Leadership

❌ "Managed a team"

✅ "Led cross-functional team of 12 (engineering, design, marketing) across 3 time zones, delivering project 2 weeks ahead of schedule"

Cost Reduction

❌ "Reduced operational costs"

✅ "Cut operational costs by $150K annually (18% reduction) by renegotiating vendor contracts and implementing automation"

Process Improvement

❌ "Improved efficiency"

✅ "Streamlined onboarding process, reducing time-to-productivity from 6 weeks to 3 weeks for 200+ new hires"

Customer Service

❌ "Provided excellent customer service"

✅ "Maintained 98% customer satisfaction rating while handling 50+ support tickets daily, resolving 85% on first contact"

Marketing & Growth

❌ "Managed social media"

✅ "Grew Instagram following from 5K to 75K in 8 months, generating 12K monthly website visits and 850+ qualified leads"

Types of Numbers to Include:

• Money: Revenue, budget, savings, costs
• Percentages: Growth rates, improvements, reductions
• Time: Ahead of schedule, faster processing, time saved
• Volume: Number of projects, clients, employees managed
• Frequency: Daily, weekly, monthly activities
• Scope: Geographic reach, market size, audience size

What If You Don't Have Exact Numbers?

You can estimate! Use phrases like:

• "Approximately 50+ clients"
• "Estimated $200K in cost savings"
• "Over 10,000 users"
• "Increased by more than 40%"

Operator Brief #21 — Flippa-ready metrics in one email

October 11, 2025 | ⏱️ 4 min read

This edition curates the exact snapshot buyers asked for while reviewing Build-a-Resume.com. Copy the structure:

• Acquisition dashboard: 4.9% builder → export conversion plus premium unlock rates.
• Retention view: cohort graph that highlights 22% returning creators and builder-to-newsletter flow.
• Content cadence: Three playbooks per month, each with newsletter + social snippets you can copy/paste.

Drop this template into your own investor updates or acquisition decks. Want these weekly? Subscribe from the homepage newsletter module.

Operator Brief #20 — SEO clusters driving 480+ weekly builders

October 4, 2025 | ⏱️ 5 min read

Inside: the content scaffolding that feeds our traffic flywheel.

• Keyword lattice connecting resume templates, action verbs, and cover letter prompts.
• Internal link routing that keeps users inside the builder workflow for longer sessions.
• Swipeable briefs you can rerun with a freelancer pod for fresh long-form drafts.

Pair this with the template packs to launch your own newsletter-driven funnel.

Operator Brief #19 — Monetizing templates without paywalls

September 27, 2025 | ⏱️ 4 min read

We outline how the free builder co-exists with $9/mo Notion + PDF kits:

1. Lead magnets: downloadable interview prep sheets triggered after exports.
2. Trigger emails: 24-hour follow-ups with reminder CTAs tied to template engagement.
3. Operator-ready assets: documentation + automations you can reskin for your own brand.

Subscribers get the raw copy plus Figma assets each Friday.