Resume Tips Reddit: What the Community Actually Recommends for Job Seekers

Reddit's job search communities have millions of members sharing advice, reviewing resumes, and discussing what actually works. Unlike sponsored content or marketing from resume services, Reddit offers honest, anonymous feedback from people in the trenches—job seekers who've succeeded, recruiters who've screened thousands of resumes, and hiring managers who make decisions.

The collective wisdom on Reddit isn't always polished, but it's battle-tested. When advice gets consistently upvoted across threads and communities, it reflects what genuinely helps people get jobs. This crowdsourced knowledge cuts through the noise of conflicting expert opinions.

This guide distills the most consistent, highly-upvoted resume advice from Reddit. For current best practices, see our resume tips for 2025. You'll learn what hiring professionals and successful candidates actually recommend—and what the community consistently warns against.

The Most Upvoted Resume Tips

These tips appear consistently in top-voted Reddit resume discussions.

Quantify achievements, not responsibilities. The most consistent Reddit advice: use numbers. "Increased sales 30%" beats "Responsible for sales." Specific metrics demonstrate impact in ways that duty descriptions can't.

One page unless you have substantial experience. Reddit strongly favors one-page resumes for most candidates. The exception: 10+ years of highly relevant experience. "Nobody wants to read your life story" appears in virtually every thread.

Tailor for each application. Generic resumes get generic results. Reddit users consistently report better success rates when they customize resumes for specific positions. Keyword matching matters.

Use simple, ATS-friendly formatting. Fancy designs impress humans but fail ATS. Learn how to beat ATS with proper formatting. Reddit favors clean, simple formats that parse correctly. Columns, graphics, and creative layouts cause problems.

Proofread obsessively. Typos are resume killers on Reddit. Recruiters in the community consistently say errors result in immediate rejection. Multiple proofreads by multiple people.

• Quantify everything possible
• One page for most candidates
• Tailor for each application
• Simple ATS-friendly formatting
• Zero tolerance for typos
• Focus on achievements over duties
• Include relevant keywords
• Recent experience matters most
• Remove outdated or irrelevant content
• Honest representation always

Need a stronger resume first? See our resume tips for 2025. Also check how to beat ATS.

What Reddit Says About Format and Structure

Formatting discussions generate strong Reddit opinions.

Professional summary over objective. Reddit largely considers objectives outdated. A brief professional summary highlighting your value works better than "Seeking position where I can..."

Reverse chronological is standard. Most recent experience first. Reddit warns against functional formats that hide timeline—recruiters find them suspicious.

Education placement depends on experience. Recent graduates: education near top. Experienced professionals: education at bottom. Your strongest qualifications go first.

Skills section is important but not inflated. Include relevant skills but don't list basics (Microsoft Word, email) unless specifically required. Reddit mocks skill-padding.

Contact information must be complete and professional. Email, phone, LinkedIn, location (city/state sufficient). Unprofessional email addresses are frequently mocked on Reddit.

• Professional summary beats objectives
• Reverse chronological preferred
• Education placement varies by experience
• Skills section should be relevant, not padded
• Professional contact information
• Clear section headers help scanning
• Consistent formatting throughout
• Reasonable margins and font size
• Standard fonts preferred
• PDF format for submission

Recruiter and Hiring Manager Perspectives

Reddit has active recruiting professionals who share insider views.

They spend seconds on initial review. See best resume tips from recruiters for insider perspectives. Recruiters consistently report 6-10 second initial scans. If they don't see relevance quickly, they move on. This shapes everything about resume construction.

Keyword matching is real. ATS filtering isn't a myth. Recruiters confirm they use keyword searches. Missing relevant terms means missing consideration.

Gaps get noticed but aren't automatic disqualifiers. Recruiters acknowledge they see gaps but say brief honest explanations satisfy curiosity. Unexplained gaps raise more questions than addressed ones.

Cover letters are sometimes read, sometimes not. Recruiter opinions split. Some always read them; some never do. Most say strong cover letters can help borderline candidates.

They can tell when you're lying. Recruiter threads consistently warn against exaggeration. They've seen enough resumes to spot inflation, and they verify claims.

• Initial reviews are very quick
• Keywords matter for ATS and search
• Gaps should be briefly addressed
• Cover letters vary in importance
• Exaggeration gets caught
• They notice effort and tailoring
• Professional appearance matters
• They compare to job requirements
• They look for progression and growth
• Specific achievements stand out

Common Mistakes Reddit Warns Against

These errors get called out repeatedly in Reddit resume reviews.

Including irrelevant information. High school jobs when you have professional experience, hobbies unrelated to work, excessive personal details. Reddit says to cut ruthlessly.

Duty descriptions without achievements. "Managed team" tells nothing. "Managed 5-person team that delivered $2M project under budget" shows impact.

Photos on American resumes. Unless you're an actor or model, photos are considered inappropriate and outdated in US job markets. Reddit consistently advises removal.

Using personal pronouns. "I managed" versus "Managed." Reddit prefers the latter. First-person pronouns waste space and read awkwardly.

Fancy templates over substance. Creative templates might look nice but often fail ATS parsing. Reddit values content and ATS compatibility over visual appeal.

• Remove irrelevant information
• Avoid duty-only descriptions
• No photos (in US)
• Skip personal pronouns
• Substance over style
• Don't list every job ever
• Remove outdated technology
• Avoid buzzwords without substance
• Don't use tiny fonts to fit content
• Don't include references on resume

Reddit-Recommended Resources

The community frequently recommends certain resources.

r/resumes for feedback. This subreddit offers free resume reviews from the community. Posts get honest (sometimes harsh) feedback.

r/jobs for general advice. Broader job search discussions including resume tips in context of overall job hunting.

r/recruitinghell for perspective. Understanding what frustrates recruiters (from both sides) provides insight into what works and what doesn't.

Free resume tools. Reddit generally recommends free tools over expensive services. Google Docs, Overleaf for tech, and free ATS checkers get mentioned.

Against expensive resume services. Reddit is skeptical of paid resume writing services. Many threads describe disappointing experiences. DIY with community feedback is often recommended instead.

• r/resumes for free reviews
• r/jobs for broader advice
• r/recruitinghell for perspective
• Free tools over expensive services
• Skepticism about paid resume writers
• Community feedback is valuable
• Search existing threads before posting
• Industry-specific subreddits exist
• Take all advice with judgment
• What works varies by field

Need a stronger resume first? See our best resume tips from recruiters. Also check resume tips for career change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reddit resume advice reliable? Mostly yes, with caveats. Highly-upvoted advice from verified recruiters is generally reliable. Random comments vary in quality. Look for consensus across multiple threads.

Should I post my resume on Reddit for review? Can be valuable. r/resumes provides free feedback. Anonymize personally identifying information. Be prepared for direct, sometimes harsh critiques.

What does Reddit think about resume gaps? Address briefly and honestly. Extended gaps without explanation raise questions. Brief explanations satisfy curiosity. Don't over-explain or apologize.

Does Reddit recommend resume services? Generally no. Most threads advise against expensive services, reporting disappointing results. DIY with community feedback is typically recommended.

What format does Reddit recommend? Simple, ATS-compatible formats. Clean layouts without fancy graphics. Reverse chronological order. One page for most candidates.

How do I get my Reddit resume review noticed? Follow subreddit rules. Provide context about target roles. Format clearly. Engage with feedback you receive.

What's Reddit's view on AI resume tools? Mixed. Many appreciate AI assistance for optimization. Warnings about generic output are common. AI as a tool, not a replacement for human editing, is the consensus.

Should I include LinkedIn on my resume? Yes, if your profile is strong and consistent with your resume. An incomplete or contradictory LinkedIn is worse than none.

What about career changers? See our resume tips for career change guide. Reddit has active discussions about career change resumes. Focus on transferable skills, address the change in summary, be prepared to explain in interviews.

How long should a resume be according to Reddit? One page is strongly preferred unless you have 10+ years of highly relevant experience. Even then, two pages maximum.

Does anyone actually read cover letters? Recruiter opinions vary. Some always read them, some never do. When required, write good ones. Don't count on them being read.

What's the biggest resume mistake according to Reddit? Listing duties without achievements is consistently cited. "Responsible for X" instead of "Accomplished Y resulting in Z" is the most common fixable error.