Out of Work or On the Search: Building a Resume That Gets You Interviews

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely decided it’s time to find something new. 

Maybe you’ve been laid off. Maybe you’ve outgrown your current role. Maybe you just woke up one day and realized you’re ready for a change. Whatever the reason, your resume has probably gathered some virtual dust over the past few years and needs a brush-up.

Let’s walk through what I’d tell you if we were sitting at a coffee shop, laptop open, working through this together. Think of it as my 2-minute crash course.

Keep It Clear and Easy to Navigate

I’ve worked with enough recruiters and hiring managers over the years to know this: the difference between a “fine” resume and a strong one is rarely about design or fancy formatting. It’s about clarity, relevance, and making it as easy as possible for someone to see why you’re worth talking to.

Did you know most recruiters spend less than 60 seconds scanning your resume? And with the rise of AI-powered screening tools, a well-organized resume is more important than ever. When recruiters and hiring managers first look at your resume, they’re scanning. They want to figure out, quickly, if you have what they’re looking for. Your job is to make that as simple as possible.

No fancy fonts, no colors that distract from the content, no resume “themes” that look like they belong in a design portfolio unless you’re actually in a design role. White space is your friend. It gives the reader’s eyes a break and makes your experience easier to follow.

Follow a Logical Structure

Before you start typing, think about the order you’re going to present your story in. The goal is for someone skimming your resume to be able to answer three questions within 10 seconds: Who is this person professionally? What kind of work do they do? Why should I talk to them?

The wrong order can bury your most important selling points halfway down page one. Here’s the order I recommend for most job seekers:

1. Name & Contact Information: Simple but critical. Include your phone, email, and city/state. Skip the full street address. And yes, your email needs to be professional. If you’re using something you made in high school (i.e. [email protected]), set up a new one.
2. Opening Summary: Think of this as your elevator pitch. It’s not a place to list every skill you have. It’s your chance to give a quick snapshot of your experience, strengths, and the type of value you add. Three to five short sentences is plenty. Keep it future-focused and tailored toward the kinds of roles you’re applying for.
3. Professional Experience: List your roles in reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Under each job, use bullet points to describe your key achievements, starting each one with a strong action verb - “increased,” “reduced,” “launched,” “grew.” Whenever possible, tie your work to measurable results. Something like “Increased sales by 15% over 6 months” qualifies real impact.
4. Education & Certifications: Unless you’re just starting your career or work in a field where credentials are the main qualifier, this section belongs at the bottom. Include degrees, certifications, licenses, and any relevant training.

That’s it. Keep the focus on what’s going to get you the interview.

Proofread, edit, and keep it concise

Errors make it hard for a reader to focus on your skills. Even one typo can pull them out of your story and into “this person didn’t take the time to double-check.”

Here’s how to avoid that:

• Read it out loud. You’ll catch awkward phrasing faster.
• Step away for a day before making final edits.
• Get another set of eyes. A friend, colleague, or even a professional resume reviewer to sanity check your work.
• Use a tool like ChatGPT or Grammarly to spot grammar issues, suggest tighter wording that flows better for the reader, or as a thought partner when you're stuck.

As for length: early-career folks should aim for one page. More experienced candidates can go to two pages, but every line needs to earn its place. Anything more than that feels like overkill. If you’re really struggling with length, consider consolidating old work experiences (i.e. 15+ years ago) to a short-list you can discuss live!

Now let’s get to work!

Go dust the cobwebs off your resume and go get the job you deserve. Don’t overthink perfection. Focus on clarity, relevance, and showing the value you’ve brought in your past roles. If you take the time to make it clean, structured, and tailored, you’ll already be ahead of most applicants. 

And remember, your resume will get you noticed…but it’s your skills, personality, and drive that will get you the offer!