How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews in 2026

Writing a resume that consistently lands interviews is both an art and a science. In 2026, hiring managers spend an average of 7.4 seconds on the initial scan. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) reject up to 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. This guide shows you exactly how to beat both filters.

1. Choose the Right Resume Format

There are three main resume formats, and your choice matters more than you think:

• Reverse-chronological — Best for most people. Lists your most recent experience first. ATS systems parse it most reliably, and recruiters expect it.
• Functional — Emphasizes skills over timeline. Use only if you're switching careers or have significant employment gaps.
• Hybrid/Combination — Leads with a skills summary, then lists experience chronologically. Good for experienced professionals with diverse skillsets.

Our recommendation: use reverse-chronological unless you have a compelling reason not to. It's what 90% of recruiters prefer and what ATS software handles best.

2. Write a Compelling Professional Summary

The summary sits at the top of your resume and is the first thing a human reader sees. Skip the vague "results-oriented professional" clichés. Instead, be specific:

Weak: "Results-oriented marketing professional with experience in digital marketing."

Strong: "Growth marketer with 6 years of experience driving B2B SaaS acquisition. Led campaigns that generated $4.2M pipeline at Stripe and HubSpot. Specialize in paid search, lifecycle email, and conversion rate optimization."

A strong summary includes: your title/role, years of experience, 2-3 measurable achievements, and your core specializations.

3. Quantify Your Experience

The single biggest differentiator between resumes that get interviews and those that don't is quantification. Every bullet point in your experience section should ideally include a number.

Use the XYZ formula: "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]."

• "Reduced customer churn by 23% ($1.2M ARR saved) by implementing automated onboarding sequences"
• "Managed team of 8 engineers delivering 3 product launches in 6 months"
• "Increased organic traffic 340% in 12 months through technical SEO and content strategy"

If you can't find exact numbers, estimate. "Managed large team" becomes "Managed team of ~15 engineers." Approximate numbers are infinitely better than no numbers.

4. Optimize for ATS Software

Before your resume reaches a human, it goes through an Applicant Tracking System. Here's how to ensure yours gets through:

• Use standard section headers: "Experience," "Education," "Skills." Not "Where I've Made Impact" or "My Journey."
• Include keywords from the job description: If the posting says "project management," your resume should say "project management" — not just "PM" or "managed projects."
• Avoid graphics, tables, and columns: ATS software reads linearly. Fancy formatting confuses it.
• Use a standard font: Arial, Calibri, Georgia, or Times New Roman. Size 10-12pt.
• Save as PDF unless the application specifically requests .docx.

5. Tailor Every Resume

Sending the same resume to every job is the most common mistake. Companies use different terminology for similar roles, and ATS systems look for specific keywords.

For each application:

1. Read the job description carefully. Highlight required skills and qualifications.
2. Mirror the language in your resume. If they say "stakeholder management," use that exact phrase.
3. Reorder your bullet points to lead with the most relevant experience.
4. Adjust your summary to match the role's focus.

This takes 15-20 minutes per application, but dramatically increases your interview rate. Tools like ApplyWave's AI resume tailoring can automate much of this process.

6. The Skills Section: Do It Right

Your skills section should be a curated list, not a brain dump. Include:

• Hard skills that appear in the job description
• Technical tools and platforms you're proficient in
• Certifications relevant to the role

Don't include: Microsoft Office (everyone knows it), "hard worker," "team player," or any other soft skill that can't be verified. Soft skills belong in your experience bullets, demonstrated through achievements.

7. Education Section

If you have more than 3 years of experience, education goes at the bottom. Include:

• Degree, major, university, graduation year
• GPA only if above 3.5 and you graduated within the last 3 years
• Relevant coursework only for entry-level positions
• Honors, scholarships, or relevant extracurriculars if recent

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Typos and grammar errors — An instant rejection for 77% of hiring managers.
• Including an objective statement — Outdated. Use a professional summary instead.
• "References available upon request" — Waste of space. Everyone knows this.
• Using a photo — Not standard in the US/Canada and can trigger bias.
• Going beyond 2 pages — Unless you're in academia or have 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Using personal pronouns — No "I" or "my." Start bullets with action verbs.

9. Action Verbs That Work

Start every experience bullet with a strong action verb. Here are the most effective by category:

• Leadership: Directed, Orchestrated, Spearheaded, Championed
• Achievement: Delivered, Exceeded, Surpassed, Accelerated
• Creation: Designed, Architected, Developed, Launched
• Improvement: Optimized, Streamlined, Transformed, Revamped
• Analysis: Identified, Evaluated, Assessed, Diagnosed

Key Takeaways

• Use reverse-chronological format with quantified achievements
• Write a specific, metrics-driven professional summary
• Optimize for ATS with standard headers and job-matched keywords
• Tailor every resume to each specific job description
• Keep it to 1-2 pages, use standard fonts, save as PDF