In 2025, crafting a resume that stands out in a competitive job market is crucial, especially with 75% of employers using applicant tracking systems (ATS) and 62% of interviews conducted virtually, per a 2024 LinkedIn report. Industries like healthcare, facing $70 billion in Medicaid cuts, and tech, with a 32.1% AI market CAGR through 2030 (IndexBox), demand resumes that are ATS-friendly, concise, and tailored. A modern resume structure emphasizing a professional summary, skills, and projects showcases your value effectively. This blog outlines the best resume structure for 2025, with tips and examples to help professionals in any field excel.
The Optimal Resume Structure for 2025
The following structure is ATS-friendly, concise, and adaptable for industries like healthcare, tech, and beyond:
1. Header
- What to Include: Full name, professional title, contact information (phone, email, LinkedIn), and optionally a portfolio link (e.g., GitHub for tech).
- Why It Works: Provides a professional first impression and ensures easy contact, critical for virtual hiring.
- Tip: Use a professional email and avoid graphics or photos, which ATS may misread
2. Professional Summary
- What to Include: A 3–4 sentence overview of your experience, key skills, and value proposition, tailored with keywords from the job description.
- Why It Works: Acts as a hook, summarizing your fit for the role and passing ATS keyword scans.
- Tip: Incorporate role-specific terms like “patient care” for healthcare or “machine learning” for tech, per Jobscan 2025.
- Example (Healthcare): “Dedicated registered nurse with 5 years of experience in critical care, specializing in patient care and EHR proficiency. Streamlined triage processes, reducing wait times by 25% while ensuring HIPAA compliance. Passionate about leveraging ambient intelligence to enhance outcomes in rural hospitals.”
- Example (Tech): “Innovative software engineer with 3 years of experience developing AI-driven solutions using Python and Azure. Delivered machine learning models that improved fraud detection by 30% in Agile environments. Eager to contribute expertise to scalable cloud-based projects.”
3. Skills Section
- What to Include: A bulleted list of 8–12 hard and soft skills, prioritizing those from the job description (e.g., “telehealth,” “Python,” “team collaboration”).
- Why It Works: ATS scans skills sections for keywords, and hiring managers value concise skill showcases.
- Tip: Use exact phrases from the job posting and group skills (e.g., Technical Skills, Soft Skills) for clarity.
- Example (Healthcare):
- Technical Skills: EHR Proficiency, Telehealth, HIPAA Compliance, Triage Management
- Soft Skills: Team Collaboration, Problem-Solving, Patient Advocacy
- Example (Tech):
- Technical Skills: Python, Machine Learning, Azure, DevOps
- Soft Skills: Agile Methodology, Communication, Critical Thinking
4. Projects
- What to Include: 2–3 relevant projects with brief descriptions, emphasizing outcomes and tools used. Use the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for impact.
- Why It Works: Projects demonstrate hands-on experience, critical for tech roles requiring AI expertise or healthcare roles showing process improvements.
- Tip: Quantify results (e.g., “reduced costs by 20%”) and include keywords like “cloud computing” or “patient outcomes.”
- Example (Healthcare):
EHR Optimization Project, Rural Hospital (2024)- Led implementation of an AI-based EHR tool, training 20 staff members on its use.
- Reduced documentation time by 30% and improved patient data accuracy by 15%, ensuring HIPAA compliance.
- Example (Tech):
Fraud Detection AI Model, Fintech Startup (2023)- Developed a machine learning model using Python and TensorFlow, deployed on Azure.
- Improved detection accuracy by 30%, saving $100,000 annually in fraud losses.
5. Work Experience
- What to Include: Reverse-chronological list of roles (past 10–15 years), with 3–5 bullet points per job focusing on achievements, not duties. Use keywords and metrics.
- Why It Works: Shows career progression and impact, aligning with ATS and hiring manager expectations.
- Tip: Start bullets with action verbs (e.g., “developed,” “streamlined”) and tailor to the job.
- Example (Healthcare):
Charge Nurse, Rural Hospital (2020–Present)- Streamlined triage protocols, reducing patient wait times by 25%.
- Implemented cybersecurity training, cutting phishing incidents by 20% in 2024.
- Example (Tech):
Software Engineer, Fintech Startup (2022–Present)- Designed AI-driven fraud detection system, improving accuracy by 30%.
- Led cloud migration to Azure, reducing costs by 15%.
6. Education and Certifications
- What to Include: Degrees, institutions, and graduation years (omit if over 15 years ago). List relevant certifications, especially in-demand ones like CISSP or BLS.
- Why It Works: Validates qualifications, particularly for healthcare (compliance) and tech (technical expertise).
- Tip: Highlight certifications like “Azure AI Engineer” or “HIPAA Compliance” if listed in the job description.
- Example:
B.S. in Nursing, University of XYZ (2018)
Certifications: BLS, HIPAA Compliance Training (2024)
M.S. in Computer Science, ABC University (2020)
Certifications: Azure AI Engineer, AWS Certified Developer (2024)
Additional Tips for 2025
- Optimize for ATS: Use a single-column, text-based format (Word or PDF) without tables or graphics, per Jobscan 2025. Standard headers like “Skills” ensure ATS readability.
- Tailor for Each Job: Customize keywords for every application, spending 15–20 minutes to align with the job description, as 70% of resumes are rejected by ATS (Forbes, 2024).
- Highlight Emerging Skills: Include terms like “ambient intelligence” for healthcare or “GPT-5 proficiency” for tech, reflecting 2025 trends (HealthTech Magazine, TechCrunch).
- Keep It Concise: Limit to 1–2 pages, focusing on the past 10–15 years. Use 10–12 pt fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri) for readability.
- Use Tools: Platforms like Jobscan or Resunate analyze keyword matches, improving ATS success rates.
- Showcase Remote Work Skills: Highlight proficiency in tools like Slack, Loom, or Microsoft 365, critical for 32% of remote workers (Gallup, 2024).
Challenges and Considerations
- Keyword Overload: Avoid stuffing; use keywords naturally to maintain readability, as ATS flags spam.
- Limited Experience: New professionals can emphasize projects or internships, incorporating keywords like “Python” or “patient care.”
- Time Constraints: Create a master resume and tailor copies for efficiency, per Forbes 2024.
- Industry Nuances: Healthcare resumes prioritize compliance (e.g., HIPAA), while tech emphasizes technical stacks (e.g., Azure).
The Bigger Picture
In 2025, a resume structured around a summary, skills, and projects aligns with ATS demands and hiring trends in healthcare (navigating staffing shortages) and tech (driven by AI innovation). By showcasing measurable achievements and tailoring keywords, you demonstrate relevance in a virtual, competitive market. This structure ensures your resume passes digital filters and resonates with hiring managers, paving the way for interviews.
In Closing
The best resume structure for 2025—header, professional summary, skills, projects, work experience, and education—offers a clear, ATS-friendly format that highlights your value. By tailoring keywords, quantifying results, and emphasizing relevant projects, you can stand out in healthcare, tech, or any field. As virtual hiring and AI-driven recruitment dominate, adopting this structure and leveraging tools like Jobscan will boost your chances of success. Start refining your resume today to thrive in 2025’s dynamic job market.
