How to Make a Resume (Free Guide + Template)
A great resume gets you the interview. This guide shows you exactly how to make a professional, ATS-friendly resume in 2026 — section by section, with a free template you can copy. At the end, generate a polished resume automatically with our free AI Resume Builder.
Want it done for you in 60 seconds?
Skip the manual work. Our AI Resume Builder writes your summary, rewrites your experience as achievement-focused bullets, and exports a clean ATS-friendly PDF — free, no signup.
Free Resume Template (copy + customize)
[YOUR FULL NAME] [Job Title You're Targeting] [City, Philippines] · [email] · [+63 mobile] · [LinkedIn URL] ───────────────────────────────────────────── PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY [2-3 sentences: who you are, years of experience, top 1-2 achievements, what you're looking for] ───────────────────────────────────────────── WORK EXPERIENCE [Job Title] · [Company] · [Dates] • [Achievement with a number — "Increased X by Y%"] • [Achievement with a result, not just a duty] • [Achievement showing impact] [Previous Job Title] · [Company] · [Dates] • [Achievement] • [Achievement] ───────────────────────────────────────────── EDUCATION [Degree] · [School] · [Year] ───────────────────────────────────────────── SKILLS [Skill], [Skill], [Skill], [Skill], [Skill] ───────────────────────────────────────────── [Optional: Certifications, Languages, Portfolio link]
How to write it (step by step)
Start with contact info
Full name, target job title, city, email, mobile number, and LinkedIn URL. Keep it clean — no full home address needed in 2026.
Write a punchy professional summary
2-3 sentences. Lead with your strongest achievement. Example: "Senior VA with 4 years supporting US e-commerce founders. Reduced order processing time 40% across 3 brands."
List experience as achievements, not duties
Don't write "Responsible for social media." Write "Grew Instagram engagement 35% in 6 months." Numbers + results win interviews.
Add education + skills
Education in reverse-chronological order. Skills as a clean comma-separated list matching the job description keywords.
Make it ATS-friendly
No tables, no graphics, no columns that confuse applicant tracking systems. Simple, clean, single-column layout. Save as PDF.
Quick tips
- ✓Keep it to 1 page (2 max if you have 10+ years experience)
- ✓Match keywords from the job posting — many resumes are screened by software first
- ✓Use achievement bullets with numbers wherever possible
- ✓Tailor your summary + skills for each application
- ✓Proofread twice — one typo can cost you the interview
Generate yours free with AI
Skip the manual work. Our AI Resume Builder writes your summary, rewrites your experience as achievement-focused bullets, and exports a clean ATS-friendly PDF — free, no signup.
Try AI Resume Builder →Frequently asked questions
How do I make a resume for free?+
You can use the free template on this page and customize it in Google Docs or Word. Or use our free AI Resume Builder, which writes your summary and experience bullets automatically — no signup, no credit card, 3 free resumes per month.
What should a resume include in 2026?+
Contact info, a 2-3 sentence professional summary, work experience as achievement bullets, education, and skills. Optionally: certifications, languages, and a portfolio link. Keep it to 1 page, ATS-friendly format.
How long should a resume be?+
One page for most people. Two pages only if you have 10+ years of experience. Recruiters spend 6-10 seconds on first scan, so concise + scannable wins.
What is an ATS-friendly resume?+
ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software screens resumes before humans see them. ATS-friendly means: no tables, no graphics, no multi-column layouts, standard section headings, and keywords matching the job posting. Our AI Resume Builder generates ATS-friendly resumes automatically.
How do I make a resume for a job application with no experience?+
Lead with education, skills, and any projects, internships, volunteer work, or freelance gigs. Frame everything as achievements. Even school projects can be written as "Built X that achieved Y." Our AI Resume Builder helps you phrase these professionally.