Why your resume matters

The purpose of your resume is simple: to get you an interview.

A well-written resume should quickly demonstrate:

Your relevant experience
Your key achievements
Your professional strengths
Why you’re the right fit for the role

Recruiters often spend only a few seconds reviewing each application, so your resume needs to be clear, concise, and easy to scan.

Who reads your resume?

Your resume may be reviewed by several people throughout the hiring process, including:

Recruiters – Recruiters search resumes for relevant skills, experience, and keywords that match open positions.
Hiring Managers – Managers want to see whether your background and accomplishments align with the needs of their team.
Human Resources (HR) – HR professionals assess cultural fit, professionalism, and overall suitability for the organization.

Writing a resume that appeals to all three audiences is essential for a successful job application.

How to structure a professional resume

A clean, organized structure helps recruiters quickly find the information they need.

The best resume format typically includes:

Contact Information
Professional Summary
Career Objective (Optional)
Work Experience
Certifications & Training
Education
Skills & Interests

For most professionals, a resume should be between one and two pages long.

Resume Writing Tips: What to Include

1. Contact information

At the top of your resume, include:

Full name
City and state
Phone number
Professional email address
LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended)

Make it easy for employers to contact you.

2. Write a strong professional summary

Your professional summary is one of the most important sections of your resume. It should briefly highlight:

Years of experience
Key skills
Industry expertise
Career achievements
Example Professional Summary

For example: “Licensed Professional Engineer with 11+ years of experience in project management and project engineering across land development, site development, municipal infrastructure, public works, and special purpose districts.”

Key tip: Include industry-specific keywords naturally throughout your professional summary and work experience to improve your resume’s visibility in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Many employers use ATS software to scan resumes for keywords related to the job description, skills, and industry terminology before a recruiter reviews them. Including the right keywords can improve your chances of getting shortlisted.

Use relevant terms naturally throughout your resume rather than simply listing them. If you are an Engineer in the water sector, include keywords frequently referenced in industry job postings, including Wastewater Treatment, Water Quality Management, Filtration, Contaminant Removal, and Process Engineering.

3. Tailor your resume for each job

One of the most important resume tips is to customize your resume for every application.

Carefully review the job description and include relevant:

Skills
Certifications
Industry terminology
Keywords

4. Work experience: focus on achievements

Your work experience section should clearly show your impact and accomplishments.

Make sure your work experience section follows these resume best practices:

List jobs in reverse chronological order
Include company name, job title, and employment dates
Use clear, recognizable job titles
Focus on measurable results
Use bullet points to highlight your key responsibilities and achievements, making your resume easier for recruiters and hiring managers to scan quickly

5. Quantify your accomplishments

Adding statistics makes your experience more credible and impactful.

Quantifying your accomplishments helps demonstrate leadership, technical expertise, problem-solving ability, and the direct impact of your work.

Instead of simply listing job duties, focus on the outcomes of your work. Metrics help hiring managers understand the scale of your responsibilities, your level of expertise, and the results you achieved.

Strong examples include: