Back to Basics: 5 Pieces of Key Resume Advice Every Candidate Should Know

Whether you're actively job hunting, quietly keeping an eye on the market, or just overdue for a CV refresh, the basics matter. Your resume is often the very first impression a recruiter or hiring manager has of you, and in a competitive market, it can be the difference between landing an interview and being passed over. The good news is that a few simple changes can make a big difference.

Every day, our consultants read through countless resumes, so we asked the Frame team to share their key resume advice. Some of it is practical, some of it is about presentation, and all of it is easy to put into action. Here are the five pieces that came up.

1. Keep It Clean

A resume that's easy to read is a resume that gets read. Start with a clear, uncluttered layout that lets a recruiter find what they need within seconds. Traditionally, your education sits at the top, followed by your work experience listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role first.

Pay close attention to your dates, too. Always include the month and year you started and finished each role. A date range like "2025-2026" could mean two months or two years, and that's a big difference. Without the detail, recruiters are left guessing, and they'd much rather have the full picture upfront.

2. Presentation Matters

First impressions count, especially if you're applying for a creative role or a job in fashion. In these industries, your resume doesn't just communicate your experience, it also shows your eye for detail and your sense of style.

Consider using a designed template, or a tool like Canva, to help your resume stand out. Just remember that good design should support your content, not distract from it. Keep fonts consistent, leave plenty of white space, and make sure it still reads clearly when printed or viewed on a phone.

3. Give Context

Your resume tells the story of your career, and every move in that story has a reason. Add a brief reason for leaving each role, such as a contract ending, a restructure, a relocation or a step up into a new opportunity.

A little context goes a long way. It saves the recruiter from wondering about gaps or short stints, and it helps them understand the decisions behind your career path. A line or two is all it takes.

4. Highlight Your Wins

Don't just list what you were responsible for. Show what you achieved. Include your biggest achievement in each role, whether that's exceeding a sales target, launching a campaign, improving a process or leading a team through a busy season. Where you can, back it up with numbers.

If you work in social media or marketing, consider putting together a one-page portfolio that showcases stats from your work alongside imagery. Follower growth, engagement rates and campaign results paired with strong visuals make your impact easy to see at a glance, and give a hiring manager something memorable to come back to.

5. Keep It Concise, Yet Specific

Aim for a maximum of two to three pages. For every role, include your job title, company name and tenure. For anything past the 10-year mark, a couple of basic points is plenty. Recent experience is what employers care about most, so give it the most space.

Concise doesn't mean vague, though. Be specific about what you did and what you achieved, and where possible, tailor your resume to the role you're applying for rather than sending the same generic version to every job. Highlighting the skills and experience that match the job description shows you've done your homework.

Putting It All Together

A strong resume doesn't need to be complicated. Keep it clean, make it look good, add context, show your wins and keep it concise yet specific. Take an hour to review your current resume against these five points, and you may be surprised how much sharper it looks.

Ready to Put This Advice Into Action?

Once your resume is looking sharp, sign up as a candidate or browse our current vacancies to find your next role. Our team is always happy to chat about what you're looking for.