Loona How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews
Recruiters spend only a few seconds on a first scan. These are the rules that make those seconds count - written for students, first-time job seekers and anyone whose resume has been met with silence.
1. The Structure That Works
- Contact details - name, professional title, email, phone, city. Nothing else is needed.
- Professional summary - 3-4 lines: who you are, your strongest experience, one measurable result.
- Work experience - newest first, 3-5 bullet points per job, each bullet a result, not a duty.
- Education - newest first; recent graduates put it above experience.
- Skills - the specific tools and abilities named in the job advert.
- Languages - with an honest level for each.
2. Write Bullets That Prove Something
Compare these two bullets for the same job:
- Weak: "Responsible for social media accounts."
- Strong: "Grew Instagram following from 8,000 to 45,000 in 18 months by posting 5 times a week."
The formula is action verb + what you did + the measurable result. Numbers - percentages, amounts, counts, time saved - are what separate a claim from evidence. If you have no numbers yet, use scale: how many people, how often, how big.
3. Tailor Every Application
Read the job advert and mirror its language. If it asks for "inventory management", do not write "stock handling" - screening software (ATS) and busy recruiters both search for the advert's exact words. Keep one master resume, then adjust the summary and skills for each application. It takes ten minutes and it is the single highest-value habit in job hunting.
4. The Mistakes That Get Resumes Rejected
- Spelling errors. The fastest rejection there is. Read it aloud, then have someone else read it.
- An unprofessional email address. Use firstname.lastname@ - create a free one if needed.
- Lying about qualifications or dates. Background checks are routine; a lie ends the process and the relationship.
- One generic resume for every job. Recruiters can tell in seconds.
- Walls of text. Dense paragraphs are skipped. Bullets, white space, one page.
- Listing duties instead of results. Everyone in your role had the same duties - only your results are yours.
5. Passing the Software (ATS)
Many employers scan resumes with applicant-tracking software before a human sees them. Simple, standard formatting wins: use normal section headings (Experience, Education, Skills), a single column, standard fonts, and no text inside images or tables. Both Loona templates are single-column and ATS-friendly - the Modern template keeps its side panel as real, readable text in reading order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best resume format for most people?
Reverse-chronological: contact details, a short summary, work experience newest first, then education, skills and languages. It is what recruiters expect and what screening software reads most reliably - both templates in our builder use it.
How long should a resume be?
One page for students and anyone with under 10 years of experience; two pages at most for senior roles. Recruiters scan a resume in seconds, so every line must earn its place.
Should I include a photo on my resume?
In most countries (US, UK, Canada) no - photos can trigger bias filters and break screening software. In parts of Europe, the Middle East and Pakistan a professional photo is common. Follow the local custom of the job you are applying to.
What is the difference between a CV and a resume?
A resume is a short, tailored summary (1-2 pages) for a specific job. A CV is a longer, complete record of your academic and work history, common in academia and medicine. For most job applications, a resume is what is wanted.
Now Build Yours
You know the rules - the builder enforces the structure for you. Fill in the sections, watch the A4 preview, and download your PDF free.