In a competitive job market, every detail matters. Your resume is your key tool for demonstrating your achievements and skills. A strong resume stands out by presenting your experience clearly and effectively.
Today’s resumes have another challenge: getting past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Over 90% of the time, an ATS is scanning your resume before a human even sees it. The ATS helps employers organize and search applications, meaning your resume must be compelling and readable to a hiring manager and also comply with the technology system’s search for keywords that will match you to the role.
Here’s how to create a resume [and a cover letter] that does both.
Step 1. Build a strong foundation
Formatting is key with an ATS. You need to make sure the format is easily scannable and can be picked up clearly by the ATS. Here are some formatting guidelines you can use:
- Font and size: Stick with a standard, widely recognized font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Use 10-12 point for body text and 14-16 point for your name at the top.
- Margins: Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch on all sides to create a balanced layout. Don’t worry about keeping your resume to one page. The system can read multiple pages, and if you have the experience, a hiring manager will want to read it.
- Single-column format: The ATS is scanning left to right – don’t use multiple columns or callout boxes. Avoid tables, text boxes and graphics.
- Use bold sparingly: Only bold your name, section headings, job titles, and employers’ names. Also, education if you want.
- Information in this order:
- Name and contact information (phone, email, city/state, LinkedIn). You don’t need to add a street address – just city and state.
- Professional summary
- Relevant experience
- Skills
- Certifications or licenses
- Education
- Volunteer work, projects, or extracurricular achievements
- Standard bullet points: Use simple circle bullets. Avoid custom symbols or squares, triangles or diamond shapes. Some ATSs can’t read them and will either skip the line or misread the text.
- File format: Word document (.docx) and PDFs are best. Name your file professionally, such as Jane_Smith_Regsitered_Nurse.pdf
Step 2. Focus on Results, Not Responsibilities
A great resume is more than just listing previous jobs and what you did. You need to explain what you accomplished. A simple way is to use the Action + Project + Result approach. Where you can, quantify that result with a number, percentage, or dollar figure. It gives a recruiter a concrete reason to keep reading.
For example: Instead of stating, Worked on a team to fix bugs in the company’s app. It would be more compelling and specific to say, Resolved 40+ software bugs in a customer-facing mobile app as part of a four-person engineering team, cutting crash reports by 25% over two months.
Step 3. Create a cover letter
There’s been debate recently about cover letters. Some hiring experts say they’re dead and others say they are critical. The advice lies somewhere in between. While not having a cover letter won’t stop your resume from being scanned and potentially reaching the hiring manager, the keywords in a cover letter can increase your chances.
A cover letter also sends a subtle signal of intent to a hiring manager. Taking the time to write a professional cover letter shows your motivation for the role. It doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to be error-free and well-written. Here’s a typical cover letter format:
- Header – contact information
- Greeting – keep it simple and say Dear (hiring manager’s name). If you don’t know it, Dear Hiring Manager is fine.
- Opening paragraph – state the role you’re applying for, explain your current role and background, and mention why you’re interested in working for the company, like this: I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With experience in [your field/skill area], I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to [specific company goal, mission, or value].
- Middle section – use one or two paragraphs (no more than two) to explain why you’re a fit for the role. Include relevant accomplishments, skills that match the job description and specific examples when possible.
- Closing paragraph – Wrap it up with a call to action. Reaffirm your interest and invite next steps: I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss how my experience in [skill/industry] can support [Company Name]. Thank you for your time and consideration.
- Sign off. Include your full name, email and phone number so they can reach you.
How your resume gets sorted behind the scenes
These automated tools are used by many employers to screen and filter applications based on a score. A detectable ATS was found on 97.8% of Fortune 500 career sites. If resume isn’t optimized, it could be filtered out without anyone seeing it.
Here’s some more helpful tips to build the best version of your resume:
- Use keywords from the job description: Read the job posting carefully and mirror the language used for required skills, qualifications, and job titles. If the posting says “data analysis,” your resume should say “data analysis” rather than just “analytical skills.”
- Spell out acronyms: Some ATS systems don’t match abbreviations, so if you’re using an acronym, spell it out. The proper format is to use the words and then the first letter of each word in parentheses after, such as Physical Therapist (PT).
- Use AI to improve writing, not replace it. AI tools can help you brainstorm to improve sentence clarity, tailor your resume to a specific job description and catch errors. Use AI to sharpen your words, not a shortcut to replace them.
- Don’t overstuff keywords: Copy-pasting an entire job description into your resume backfires. ATS software can detect a resume packed with repeated terms that read as robotic. Aim for natural, accurate keyword alignment instead.
- Test before submitting: Tools like Jobscan can check whether a resume matches the job posting, improving chances of reaching a human reviewer.
Your next job search begins here
A strong resume opens doors, but finding the right opportunity matters just as much.
StaffDNA’s platform connects healthcare professionals with top opportunities, providing full pay transparency and the ability to manage your career all in one easy-to-use app. If you’re ready to put your resume to work, upload it to your StaffDNA profile today and take the first step toward landing the healthcare opportunity that’s right for you. Learn more at staffdna.com. Your next opportunity could be one application away.
