Resume Tips for Gen Z (From Someone Who's Reviewed a Lot of Resumes)

Over the years, I’ve gone through a lot of resumes. Some were great, some were confusing, and a few made me want to close the tab right away. What I’ve noticed recently is that Gen Z is entering a job market that looks completely different from the one I stepped into. Remote work is now common. Side hustles are everywhere. And AI tools are just part of the process.

That means your resume should reflect these changes. If you're early in your career or just figuring out what direction to take, here are a few things I’ve learned that can help your resume get noticed in 2025.

1. Keep It Clean, Short, and Easy to Scan

I once saw a resume with tiny font, no spacing, and five different fonts all competing for attention. It was so hard to read that I gave up halfway through.

What works better is the complete opposite. One page is usually enough. Use a simple modern font. Keep the layout open and organized with clear section headings like Summary, Skills, Experience, and Education. Most recruiters skim resumes quickly, so yours should be easy to read at a glance.

I recently came across a new grad who shared their resume on Reddit looking for feedback. My main feedback was that it felt too cluttered and needed a cleaner layout.

That’s why I suggested the FAANG-style template from Yotru. It’s designed to be easy to scan and performs well with applicant tracking systems. You can see the updated version. It’s simple, clear, and lets the important stuff stand out right away.

2. Focus on What Someone Has Done, Not Just Where They Worked

Titles are fine, but they don’t always tell the whole story. I’ve hired people who didn’t have much formal experience, but their projects and side work showed a ton of skill and drive.

One such example is a developer who had applied to over 500 jobs and wasn’t getting results. The main issue was his projects being hidden and convoluted than need be.

In this case, it's better to use simple, more powerful language that clearly explained the work. And this is what Yotru did in his resumes. Yes, resumes... keep in mind that you need to create multiple resumes that are focused on target roles, e.g. one for a software development engineering job and the other for a data engineer analyst.

If you’ve built anything, contributed to a group project, helped someone launch a business, or taken initiative on your own, include it. These are the stories that stick. Make sure you optimize and customize them for the role you are applying for.

3. Make Sure the Resume Can Get Past the Bots (its called ATS screening)

Most companies use software to scan resumes before a person even sees them. This software is called an ATS, and it doesn’t always play nice with complex designs.

I’ve seen really strong candidates get filtered out because their resumes used columns or graphics that couldn’t be read properly. That’s frustrating because it’s so easy to fix.

Now I always recommend using standard headings, avoiding text boxes or images, and including keywords from the job description. I also suggest saving your resume as a PDF to keep the formatting consistent. Tools like Yotru take care of this automatically so you don’t have to stress about it.

4. Encourage Showing a Bit of Personality (Just the Right Amount)

Your resume should sound like you. A short, confident summary can help set the tone. If you have a portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, or YouTube channel with relevant work, add those links.

I’ve helped people include projects they were proud of, even if they weren’t part of a formal job. One person built a small inventory tool for a local store. Another helped their friend’s brand grow on Instagram. That kind of initiative really does matter.

But there’s a line. Skip the emojis and selfies. Keep the tone professional and make sure whatever you include is relevant to the role.

I recently worked with someone who’s still in school and working as an Executive Assistant. Her original resume needed a clearer structure and a stronger voice. We worked on tightening the layout, adding a short summary, and highlighting her strengths in organization, communication, and initiative. The result is a resume that flows well and speaks to both humans and software.

5. Recommend Tools That Actually Work for Early-Career Job Seekers

Most resume platforms assume you have five or ten years of corporate experience. That doesn’t help much if you’re just starting out or switching careers.

That’s one of the reasons I helped build Yotru. It’s made specifically for students, grads, and early-career professionals (the gen-Z crowd.) It helps you say things in a clear way, keeps formatting on point, and makes sure your resume gets through the systems and into the right hands.

You don’t need a perfect resume. You just need one that’s clear, honest, and focused on what you’ve actually done. Keep it short. Make it easy to read. Highlight real projects. And use tools that support the way you work.