Meet Sarah, a mid-level marketing manager in Alberta, eager to climb up the corporate ladder by switching her company. She applies to a few top choices, but despite her decade-long work experience, doesn’t make it through the clutter.
Then there is James, a fresh IT graduate aiming to break into Alberta’s booming tech industry as a UX designer. Despite responding to many job postings and submitting his resume, he struggles to land his dream job.
Both Sarah and James wonder whether their resumes highlight what employers seek and align with the latest resume trends.
With over 98% of Fortune 500 companies (492 out of 500) using Application Tracking System (ATS), it’s not just about what’s in your resume (Jobscan). It’s more about how you present the information in an ATS resume format.
According to a recently published The Times report, an average of 250 people apply for a corporate-level job opening. This metric varies across industries, but it means recruiters can’t personally review every resume and job application. And if they do, they risk losing the best talent in a competitive world.
So, whether you’re a seasoned professional like Sarah or an aspiring newcomer like James, staying on top of resume trends for 2025 could make all the difference.
What are the Top Resume Writing Trends in 2025?
The employment landscape is transforming at a breakneck pace as we head into 2025. Automation, AI and tech advancements are reshaping industries, creating both opportunities and challenges.
One of the most pressing issues is the widening skills gap for recruiters and job seekers. According to the World Economic Forum, 44% of all workers will need Reskilling by 2025 to stay relevant and competitive.
Resumes, too, must adapt to this new reality. Employers now expect more than just a list of qualifications—they want clear proof of adaptability, digital fluency and alignment with modern industry demands. Staying updated with resume format trends is crucial to meet these changing expectations.
We have compiled a list of five key resume writing trends for 2025 along with practical guidelines for job-seekers.
1. Recruiters are looking for skills-based resumes
In 2025, resumes are no more just chronological lists of qualifications, job titles and past employers. Rapid technological advancements, especially in the AI era, have widened the skills gap. This has prompted employers to seek specific capabilities.
According to the LinkedIn Global Trends Report, over 45% of hiring managers now favor skill-based resumes over traditional chronological formats.
What should job seekers do differently?
With recruiters inclined towards skill-based resume formats, job-seekers must:
- Prove their ability to meet job demands through concrete, demonstrable skills rather than just past roles.
- Clearly list transferable hard-skills like
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Programming
- Other relevant competencies.
- Back their skills up through measurable results and scores.
- Showcase readiness to meet job demands through required skills.
This approach helps them to stand out in the competitive job market.
Pro Tip: Quantify your skills
Use bullet points to mention your job-relevant skills and quantify them through measurable results. For example say:
“Increased sales by 30% through targeted social media marketing campaigns.”
OR
“Automated work-flow to save 20 hours per month.”
2. Resumes are becoming ATS-friendly
In 2025, making your resume ATS-friendly is no longer optional—it’s mandatory. Application Tracking System (ATS) adoption has reached an all-time high.
- 98.4% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS in hiring.
- Most of the medium-sized (approx 70%) businesses have adopted this resume filtering system.
With hundreds of digital resumes submitted for each job, ATS ensures that only the most relevant ones land on the recruiters’ desk.
What should job seekers do differently?
According to a Forbes report, 75% of eligible candidates are rejected by ATS, as their resumes are not optimized for it. Job seekers should:
- Use relevant keywords related to the specific job description.
- Format resumes in a clean ATS resume format without excessive graphics and complex layouts.
- Use universal terms like “Work Experience” and “Education” to help ATS parse the document.
- Highlight key skills and achievements early in the resume to catch the system’s attention.
Pro Tip: Check ATS-friendliness
Run your resume through online tools like Jobscan or Resunate to check its ATS compatibility. Additionally, ensure your resume is in PDF or Docx format.
3. Building a personal brand helps resume
In 2025, the resume is not just a standalone document—it’s part of a larger professional narrative. 70% of employers check candidates’ online footprints during the hiring process (CareerBuilder).
Employers want to see a cohesive story that aligns with the resume. Therefore, candidates must take personal branding seriously.
Action plan for job seekers
Building a personal brand requires effort, but it can set you apart. Here’s how:
- Align your LinkedIn profile with your resume, making sure both tell the same story. Similarly, make sure your social media profiles (e g. Meta, X), align with your professional narrative and avoid harmful content.
- Create a portfolio or personal website to showcase your creativity and skills.
- Network actively with industry professionals. Participate in relevant forums and discussions.
Pro Tip: Showcase your work
Link your portfolio, projects, or creative samples to LinkedIn’s Featured Section. This makes your resume part of a cohesive and compelling personal brand.
4. Soft skills take center stage in the future of work
Soft skills, such as empathy, communication, teamwork, and adaptability, are becoming increasingly important in 2025.
Employers now value these as much as technical skills, especially as automation takes over repetitive tasks.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 44% of companies value soft skills as much as technical skills.
What should the job seekers do differently?
Highlighting soft skills is essential to align with upcoming resume trends 2025. Here’s how:
- Avoid or replace generic terms like “team player” with real examples.
- Demonstrate how your problem-solving, adaptability or creativity made a difference.
- Emphasize the specific soft skills relevant to the job.
Pro Tip: Demonstrate soft-skills
Create a “Key Skills” section in your resume to highlight your soft-skills alongside hard-skills. Provide evidence-based examples like:
“Led a cross-functional team of 4 to deliver a project 20% ahead of time.”
OR
“Settled 90% of client escalations through empathetic communication”.
5. Rise of remote-ready resumes
Even in the post-COVID era, the job-market is still favouring remote and hybrid work models. This holds especially in technology, finance, and education sectors.
According to Upwork, by 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans—around 22% of the workforce—will be working remotely. Employers now expect candidates to craft resume formats that highlight their ability to thrive in virtual work environment.
What should job seekers do differently?
Tailor your resume to reflect remote work capabilities by:
- Highlighting any remote work experiences, including freelancing or academic projects.
- Emphasize skills like time management, self-discipline, and digital communication.
- Showcase proficiency in remote-work tools like Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Team and project management software.
Pro Tip: Reflect past remote roles
Tailor your resume to reflect past achievements in remote-work, such as writing:
“Successfully managed a remote team of 5 to deliver a project on time and within budget.”
OR
“Implemented a new virtual communication and project-management strategy that improved collaboration by 20%.”
Conclusion: Stay Ahead with 2025’s Resume Trends
Entering the job market of 2025 requires more than just qualifications—it calls for adaptability, innovation, and awareness of the latest resume trends.
In this article, we’ve explored key resume trends such as skills-based resumes, ATS friendliness, the significance of soft-skills, and remote readiness.
We’ve also discussed strategies like quantifying your achievements, optimizing your online presence and tailoring your resumes to specific roles.
These trends and strategies are blueprints for future success.
Yet, navigating these resume design trends and creating a standout resume isn’t easy.
That’s where Mokid’s expert resume writing services come in, simplifying the process and aligning with the latest resume trends.
Your next opportunity is closer than you think—start with the right resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a 2025 resume look like?
A 2025 resume is skills-focused and ATS-friendly. It is tailored to specific job roles. It values both hard and soft skills equally and speaks of measurable achievements. Visually, it is cleanly formatted and may use relevant icons, but overall content remains king.
2. What is the future of resumes?
The future of resumes reflects upcoming resume trends 2025, emphasizing interactivity and personalization. Candidates may complement traditional resumes with features like direct links to online portfolios, LinkedIn profiles, and even video introductions.
3. What is an ATS resume? What is an ATS resume format?
An ATS resume format is designed to pass automated Application Tracking Systems (ATS) which filters resumes based on specific keywords and formatting standards. ATS resume uses clean layouts, standard fonts, simple and logical designs and job-specific keywords.
4. What is the five year resume?
The five-year resume is one of the emerging resume writing trends, containing experiences and achievements from the past five years. It focuses on recent accomplishments to add relevance to the job demands
5. What is the most current resume style?
The most current resume style follows resume format trends that prioritize skills-based, ATS friendly approach. It emphasizes measurable achievements and digital fluency. It is visually simplistic and minimalistic, but appealing.
6. Should I include visual elements in my resume?
Only if it fits the role and industry, but usually a clean ATS-friendly design, with subtle visual elements like relevant icons, is appropriate. In fact this approach is a growing aspect of resume design trends, but overuse of graphics may risk software rejection and can turn off recruiters.
7. Can Mokid help with niche resumes?
Absolutely. Mokid’s resume writing services are adept at meeting the demands of different industries.
