Give every line a reason to be there.
Turn a list of responsibilities into a clear account of your contribution.
TETRIUM Career Studio · Updated 11 October 2026Start with the opportunity
Read the job description and list the problems the employer wants someone to solve. Identify the experience you actually have that relates to those problems. Your resume should help a reader find that evidence quickly; it does not need to tell your entire life story.
Describe the action and the result
A useful bullet explains what you did, the context or tool you used, and what changed. “Worked on a college project” is vague. “Built a Python script to organize laboratory measurements and documented the workflow for three teammates” gives the reader something concrete. This is a fictional example, not a claim to copy into your own resume.
Use numbers only when they are real
Counts, time saved, test coverage and project size can add context, but you do not need a percentage in every sentence. Never invent a metric to make a bullet sound stronger. If you did not measure the impact, describe the deliverable, process improvement or feedback accurately.
Make the document easy to read
Use recognizable headings such as Experience, Education and Skills. Keep dates consistent and put your strongest relevant evidence near the beginning. Choose a readable font size, avoid dense walls of text, and use the single-column templates as a straightforward starting point.
Review the exported file
Follow the employer’s requested file type. In the PDF print dialog, review every page, select the intended paper size, and disable browser headers and footers. Open the saved file, select or copy some text to check that it remains readable, and verify every link and contact detail. A checklist cannot predict an employer’s decision.