Gen Z understands personal branding, but the resume must first pass the machine (ATS) and then appeal to the human reader.

US, UK, Canada: Do not include a photograph. Photos risk bias/discrimination issues and can cause ATS systems to fail. Instead, link to a professional LinkedIn profile that features your headshot.

Creative Exception: If applying for a highly visual role (Graphic Designer, Social Media Manager, Actor/Model) and the job description explicitly requests one, then a professional, high-quality headshot is acceptable.

Use Clean Templates: Utilize simple, single-column templates or clean, ATS-friendly two-column layouts (Canva offers many explicitly labeled "ATS-friendly").

Avoid Distractions: Avoid distracting graphics, skill progress bars, oversized icons, or dense blocks of color that ATS might reject. Clean, white space is your best friend.

Always save and submit your final resume as a PDF unless the application instructions specifically require a .docx file. PDF preserves your formatting, which is especially important for modern, two-column layouts.

Recruiters receive hundreds of files named "Resume_Final.pdf" or "NewDoc1.docx." Make yours instantly identifiable.

Template: [First Name]-[Last Name]-[Target Job Title]-Resume.pdf

Example: Jordan-Lee-UX-Design-Intern-Resume.pdf

A single typo signals a lack of attention to detail, a critical error for any generation. After finalizing your content, run it through multiple quality checks.

Use AI writing tools (like Grammarly, or your preferred LLM) for initial spell-check and grammar consistency but always review every change yourself. AI can sometimes change context-specific terminology.

The final proofreading step should always be reading the document aloud, slowly. This helps you catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and formatting inconsistencies that your eyes skip over.