How to write a clean resume
Start here
What a clean resume means
A clean resume is easy to read. A recruiter can find your name, your job title and your work in a few moments. Hiring software can read it too.
It does not need colours or pictures. It needs clear headings, short points and plenty of white space. Write only what is true and useful for the job you want.
Order
Put the sections in a familiar order
Use standard headings. People and software both look for them.
- 1. Name and job title.
- 2. Contact: phone, email and city.
- 3. Summary: two or three lines about you.
- 4. Experience or projects, newest first.
- 5. Education. A fresher can put this before experience.
- 6. Skills.
- 7. Certificates and languages.
Length
One page or two pages
There is no fixed rule. A fresher or someone with a few years of work can often fit everything on one page. If you have many years of work, two pages is fine.
The test is simple. Ask of every line, “Does this help me get this job?” If not, remove it. Do not shrink the font to squeeze more in.
Bullet points
Start each point with an action word
Write two to four short points for each job or project. Start each one with a word such as Prepared, Managed, Built, Entered, Handled or Organised. Then say what you did and which tool you used.
Weak
I was responsible for handling customer calls and many other tasks.
Better
Handled customer calls and recorded each query in Excel.
Weak
Worked on accounts.
Better
Prepared monthly sales and purchase entries in Tally.
Consistency
Dates, fonts and spacing
Pick one way of doing each thing and keep to it all through the resume.
- Write dates in one style everywhere, for example Jun 2023 – Mar 2025.
- Use one plain font, in one or two sizes.
- Use the same bullet shape in every list.
- Keep the same gap between sections.
For software
Keep it easy for hiring software
Many companies use software to sort resumes. It reads plain text best. Fancy layouts can confuse it.
Avoid
A photo or graphics
Software cannot read a picture, and it takes space.
Better
Use the space for skills and work. Add a photo only if asked.
Avoid
Tables and several columns
The text can be read in the wrong order.
Better
Use one column from top to bottom.
Avoid
Skill bars and star ratings
They show no real information.
Better
List the skills in words.
FAQ
Common questions
How long should a resume be?
Keep it as short as it can be while still showing your best work. Many freshers fit everything on one page. If you have more years of work, two pages is fine. Remove any line that does not help you get this job.
Should I put a photo on my resume?
Most jobs do not need one. A photo can also confuse hiring software. Add a photo only if the employer asks for it.
Which sections should a resume have, and in what order?
Name and job title, contact details, a short summary, experience or projects, education, skills, and then certificates and languages. A fresher can put education before experience.
Why should bullet points start with an action word?
A word like Prepared, Managed or Built shows what you did, in few words. It is easier to read than a long sentence that starts with “I was responsible for”.
Related reading
- Upload your resume
- Build a resume
- Get found by recruiters
- Jobs near home in Mumbai
- Resume ready: your next step
- Free resume builder
- Resume for freshers
- Which resume style to choose: Classic or Modern
- Interview tips: before, during and after
- How to present yourself at an interview
- Why small details on your resume matter
- What is an ATS-friendly resume, and how to check yours for free
- Where to upload your resume to get a job in Mumbai