Reddit's Best Resume Tips & Tricks

Always name your resume file with your full name (e.g., 'JohnDoe.pdf') instead of generic names like 'resume.pdf' to make it easier for hiring managers to find and organize your application.

• Replace objective statements with short taglines under your name
• Remove GPA from your resume - focus on skills and experience instead
• Delete the skills section entirely - demonstrate skills through accomplishments
  Note: We disagree with this advice. Skills sections are important for recruiters to quickly assess qualifications, especially in tech roles, and are crucial for ATS keyword matching.
• No headshots on resumes - keep it professional and avoid bias
• Lead with work experience, not education
• Keep it simple: black text on white paper only

• Avoid two-column layouts and complex formatting
• Add specific context and quantifiable achievements
• Tailor your resume to each specific job application
• Don't copy-paste job descriptions or embellish accomplishments

• Write a cover letter that mirrors the job description language
• Every resume line should convey: hard work, impact, and honest role description
• Create multiple specialized resumes for different job types
• Don't mention remote work unless the job posting allows it - auto-filters might flag 'remote work' keywords, causing HR to question whether you're seeking remote work or live far from the office
• Keep it to one page unless you have 8-10+ years of experience
• Include non-professional interests to show you're well-rounded
• Avoid red flags: criminal history, desperation, employment gaps explanations

• Focus on specific impact and change, not flashy formatting - rewrite bullets to show exactly how you improved things (e.g., 'Reduced team data errors by reviewing reports weekly—cut mistakes by 12%')

• Tailor your resume for each specific job - match their corporate language, reorganize content, and customize for the role you want rather than sending the same resume everywhere

• Put a number to everything you've done - class sizes for presentations, team sizes for management roles, project scopes, budgets, timeframes. Quantifying achievements dramatically improves interview response rates

• Using a different name can improve interview rates - after 6 months with 1% interview rate, changing from a Russian surname to first/middle name resulted in 13 replies in 2 days from 100 applications

• Apply the 'So what?' method to every bullet point - read your resume to someone who asks 'So what?' after each sentence. The answer to 'So what?' is what your resume is missing. Always put the impact first, not the action. Example: Instead of 'I developed a Python script automating...' write 'Increased Staff satisfaction by 5% by working with CEO and using LLMs and Python to summarize staff replies to a satisfaction survey.'

• Add a skills section for ATS scanning - many employers use systems to scan resumes for specific skills like Microsoft Office or Adobe Suite. Without a skills section, you might miss out on jobs even if you have the experience
• Use numbers to show impact instead of listing job duties - transform 'Produced newsletters and brochures' to 'Produced all marketing materials and increased end-of-year donations by 10%' or 'Managed social media accounts with over 4000 followers'

• Remove dates from your education if worried about age discrimination - by dating your education, you're essentially dating yourself and hiring managers may decide not to interview you based on assumed age. Companies only need to know you have a degree/diploma

• Apply strategically: 10-15 applications per week is the sweet spot - too few (2/week) or too many (50+/week) both show bad habits. Give each application proper care with small revisions
• Make your career story make sense - if transitioning careers or taking a step down, explain the reason tactfully. Don't apply to completely unrelated positions without explanation
• Cut the fluff - most resumes are too long and wordy. Remove unnecessary words like 'Successfully' and don't over-inflate basic jobs. Be direct and stick to tasks, results, and skills

• Triple check your resume for errors - 15+ year recruiter has seen great candidates excluded by hiring managers due to misspelled words, uneven formatting, and incorrect employment dates. Many resumes list 'detail-oriented' as a skill while the resume screams otherwise

• Use professional email and double-check contact info - typos in phone/email mean no callback. Avoid casual emails like 'bigjosh69@gmail.com'
• Don't spray and pray - hand-pick 5 best jobs daily and tailor applications to each instead of applying to dozens per day
• Don't go over 1 page unless senior professional with 20+ years - 80% should be relevant work experience, 20% other experiences that build your profile
• Avoid generic buzzwords like 'critical thinker' and 'good communicator' - they're space-fillers that every graduate uses and don't help
• Follow up on applications - use email tracking tools like Streak to see if recruiter opened your email, and follow up if they didn't

• Use professional email (gmail, outlook, personal domain) - delete hotmail with extreme prejudice
• Don't put objective section or summary - it'll be skipped and space can be used better
• Keep it 1 page unless you have 20+ years experience - you can do it
• Submit as PDF when emailing - Word docs look wonky on different machines. Use Word only for online applications with parsing software
• Test readability in 10 seconds - that's the initial screen time before up/down decision, so examine from that perspective
• Include interests - gives interviewer something to connect with and makes you more than a faceless resume

• Don't remake your resume for each position - that lowers your chances due to how ATS sorts people. Instead, find up to four job titles you qualify for and create a resume for each based on those keywords and qualifications
• Use bullet points in this format: What + How + Reason/Result. The first bullet under each job should be a summary bullet point simple enough for a toddler to understand
• What: Keyword/Qualification | How: How you used the keyword/qualification | Reason/Result: The reason you used the keyword/qualification or the result of using the keyword