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Pick a goal, skim the three takeaways, act. Open the article only when you need the detail.

Create my resume

10 guides

  • 6 min
    • Interview
    • Career

    How to Prepare for a Job Interview: A Step-by-Step Plan

    A practical plan to prepare for a job interview: researching the employer, building STAR stories, questions to ask, video call logistics and following up.

    Takeaways

    • Read the ad again and match each requirement with a concrete example.
    • Structure those examples with the STAR method, then practise them out loud.
    • Prepare two or three questions of your own, and follow up with a short thank-you.
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  • 5 min
    • Layout
    • ATS

    Resume Layout and Formatting: A Guide to Readability

    How to lay out a resume that is easy to scan and ATS-friendly: section order, fonts, spacing, margins, length, file format and the design pitfalls to avoid.

    Takeaways

    • A consistent visual hierarchy beats any graphic effect.
    • One readable font, body text between 10 and 12 pt, generous margins.
    • Avoid skill bars and text in images: software reads none of it.
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  • 5 min
    • Writing
    • Layout

    12 Common Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them

    From vague bullet points to cluttered layouts, these common resume mistakes can cost you interviews. Learn how to spot each one and fix it before you apply.

    Takeaways

    • Show achievements and outcomes, not duties.
    • Tailor the resume to each role instead of sending a generic version.
    • Check before sending: contact details, links, length, file name.
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  • 6 min
    • Writing
    • Career

    Writing a Resume in English as a Non-Native Speaker

    CV or resume? US or UK conventions? A practical guide for non-native speakers writing a resume in English: format, vocabulary, spelling and pitfalls to avoid.

    Takeaways

    • In the US a resume is concise and a CV is academic; in the UK, CV is the everyday term.
    • Drop the photo and the personal details, and open every bullet with an action verb.
    • Translate qualifications by level rather than word for word, and watch for false friends.
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  • 5 min
    • Cover letter
    • Writing

    How to Write a Cover Letter: Structure, Tone and Examples

    A step-by-step guide to a cover letter that complements your resume: structure, opening lines, tailoring tips and mistakes that make letters forgettable.

    Takeaways

    • A cover letter explains and connects; it does not repeat the resume.
    • Four movements: opening, what you bring, why this organization, a proposal to meet.
    • Every sentence should make sense for this application only.
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  • 6 min
    • ATS

    Applicant Tracking Systems Explained: How to Get Through

    What applicant tracking systems actually do, why some resumes get lost in them, and practical steps to write a resume that software and recruiters can read.

    Takeaways

    • An ATS organizes and searches applications; a person still decides at the end.
    • Simple layout, standard section headings, selectable text, unambiguous dates.
    • Mirror the ad’s terms only where they describe what you actually did.
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  • 6 min
    • Career

    Career Change Resume: How to Reframe Your Experience

    Changing careers? Learn how to write a resume that links your past experience to a new field, pick the right format and explain the switch with confidence.

    Takeaways

    • Define a precise target role before rewriting anything.
    • Use a hybrid format so transferable skills come before the timeline.
    • Explain the transition in your summary and back it with proof of commitment.
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  • 6 min
    • First job
    • Writing

    How to Write a Resume With No Work Experience

    No work experience yet? Learn how to build a convincing first resume from education, projects, volunteering and transferable skills, with concrete examples.

    Takeaways

    • “No experience” means no full-time job, not nothing to show.
    • Put your strongest material, such as education or projects, near the top.
    • Describe a project with the detail you would give a job, and keep it to one page.
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  • 5 min
    • Writing
    • ATS

    Resume Action Verbs: Lists by Field and How to Use Them

    Strong action verbs make resume bullet points clearer and more convincing. Find verb lists by field, examples of strong bullets and tips on ATS keywords.

    Takeaways

    • Open each bullet with a precise verb, then the object, then the result.
    • Drop “responsible for” and “worked on”: they do not say what you did.
    • Keep the same grammatical form throughout the section.
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  • 6 min
    • Writing

    How to Write a Resume Summary: Structure and Examples

    A practical guide to writing a resume summary in three or four lines, with a simple structure, examples for several profiles and the mistakes to avoid.

    Takeaways

    • A summary is three or four lines: who you are, your core strength, what you are after.
    • Replace adjectives with facts, including at least one concrete result.
    • Tailor it to each application using the ad’s own priorities.
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Practical guides | IdealCV