Insights
Your Résumé Should Show Impact, Not Just Keywords.
A list of duties shows what you were assigned. Results show what you delivered.
Hiring managers scan quickly. A list of duties tells them what you were assigned. Results tell them what you delivered.
Lead with outcomes: what changed because of your work. Name the exact tools and systems you used. Keep it current, because the last 10 years carry the most weight.
Make it easy to read: clear headings, short bullets, no dense paragraphs.
The AP Professionals résumé format our clients prefer, in this order: 1. Summary: five sentences tailored to the job description. 2. Technical Knowledge: the tools, systems and methods the role calls for. 3. Professional Experience: most recent first, with outcomes and the tools you used. 4. Certifications: current credentials. 5. Education: degrees and relevant training. Keep it to four pages or fewer.
What our recruiters look for: Tailor the summary to the job; it's the first thing anyone reads. Back up every summary skill in your experience, so readers see where you used it. List only the technical skills that match the role. Tell a story: show how you moved from one role to the next, and how long you stayed.
Use the job's key skills naturally and often in your experience, because many employers screen résumés with AI scoring. Write "experience with" or give years instead of "expert." Skip "I" and "my" and keep a professional, third-person voice. Check grammar and spelling, and make sure no bullet wraps onto a line of its own.
Your recruiter can help you tighten it before it goes to a hiring manager.
What's one change that made your résumé stronger?