What a good resume looks like: the same candidate, written two ways.
The difference between a weak and a strong resume is rarely the person. Here is one illustrative candidate written twice: first as a list of duties, then as evidence.
A good resume is easy to scan and full of evidence: contact details and a target job title at the top, a two- or three-line summary, recent and relevant experience first, bullets that start with action verbs and end with results, a skills section that matches the posting, and plain formatting. A bad resume lists duties, uses vague adjectives and makes the reader hunt.
Illustrative examples to adapt
Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.
Weak version
When to use: What to avoid.
Taylor Brooks (illustrative) [email] OBJECTIVE To find a job where I can use my skills and grow. EXPERIENCE Office assistant, [Employer] - Responsible for answering phones - Did filing and data entry - Helped with scheduling - Other duties as assigned SKILLS Hard-working, team player, Microsoft Office, people person
Strong version
When to use: The same experience, written as evidence.
Taylor Brooks (illustrative) [City, State] · [email] · [phone] · [LinkedIn URL] SUMMARY Office assistant with [number] years supporting a [number]-person team. Known for accurate records and calm front-desk service. EXPERIENCE Office assistant, [Employer], [City] | [Month Year] to present - Answered [number] calls a day and routed them, cutting missed callbacks by [result you can prove] - Entered and checked [number] records a week in [system named in the posting] - Scheduled meetings for [number] managers and kept a shared calendar current SKILLS [Tools from the posting you have used], scheduling, data entry
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Good vs bad, line by line
| Part | Bad | Good |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Email only | City, email, phone and LinkedIn |
| Opening | Generic objective | Two-line summary with job title and strength |
| Bullets | 'Responsible for' duties | Action verb, scale and result |
| Skills | Adjectives | Tools and skills the posting names, where true |
| Layout | Tables, columns or graphics | One column, standard headings |
The same line, rewritten
Illustrative example with placeholders.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Other duties as assigned. |
| Strong | Covered the front desk for [number] colleagues during peak season and trained [number] temporary staff on check-in. |
Why it matters: 'Other duties' is filler. If a duty mattered, name it with scale and an outcome; if it didn't, delete the line.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving 'other duties as assigned' or similar filler on the page.
- Listing soft skills as adjectives.
- Using a different date format in each section.
- Leaving typos in names, titles and company names.
- Sending a file named 'resume-final-v3'.
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Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample uses a fictional person marked '(illustrative)' or a 'Your name' placeholder, and every employer, school, date and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details.
- What a specific employer screens for: always read the posting.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never copy a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no resume, letter or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.