Markdown Guide

Learn how to write and format your resume using Markdown. Simple syntax, professional results.

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What is Markdown?Headings Text Formatting Lists Links Horizontal Rules Blockquotes Full Resume Example Pro Tips

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a simple way to format text using plain characters. Instead of clicking buttons to make text bold or create headings, you use symbols like # and **.

Why use Markdown for resumes?

Focus on content - No wrestling with formatting tools
Portable - Plain text works everywhere
Version control friendly - Track changes easily with Git
Fast - Write faster without switching between mouse and keyboard

Headings

Use # symbols to create headings. More # symbols = smaller heading.

Markdown Syntax

# Your Name
## Section Title
### Job Title

Result

Your Name

Section Title

Job Title

Resume Tip: Use # Your Name for your name,## EXPERIENCE for sections, and### Job Title for positions.

Text Formatting

Make text bold or italic to emphasize important information.

Bold Text

**Company Name**
**Senior Software Engineer**

Wrap text with double asterisks for bold

Italic Text

*San Francisco, CA*
*Jan 2020 - Present*

Wrap text with single asterisks for italic

Combined Formatting

**Senior Software Engineer** | *TechCorp Inc.* | San Francisco, CA | Jan 2020 - Present

Use the pipe character | to separate information on a single line

Lists

Lists are perfect for achievements, skills, and responsibilities.

Bullet Points

- Led team of 5 engineers
- Reduced API latency by 40%
- Implemented CI/CD pipeline

Use - or * at the start of each line

Numbered Lists

1. First achievement
2. Second achievement
3. Third achievement

Use numbers followed by a period

Skills List (Inline)

**Languages:** TypeScript, Python, Go, SQL
**Frontend:** React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS
**Backend:** Node.js, PostgreSQL, Redis

Group related skills with bold labels

Links

Add clickable links for email, LinkedIn, GitHub, and portfolio.

Link Syntax

[your.email@example.com](mailto:your.email@example.com)
[linkedin.com/in/yourname](https://linkedin.com/in/yourname)
[github.com/yourname](https://github.com/yourname)
[yourportfolio.com](https://yourportfolio.com)

Format: [Display Text](URL)

Contact Line Example

[sarah@email.com](mailto:sarah@email.com) | [linkedin.com/in/sarah](https://linkedin.com/) | [github.com/sarah](https://github.com/)

Combine multiple links with | separators

Horizontal Rules

Use horizontal lines to separate sections visually.

Horizontal Rule

## EXPERIENCE

---

### Software Engineer

Use three dashes (---) on a line by itself

Blockquotes

Use blockquotes for summaries or notable quotes.

Summary/Objective

> Results-driven software engineer with 7+ years of experience
> building scalable web applications. Passionate about clean code
> and developer experience.

Start each line with > for blockquotes

Full Resume Example

Here's a complete resume template you can copy and customize:

Complete Resume Template

# Sarah Chen

**Senior Software Engineer** | San Francisco, CA
[sarah@email.com](mailto:sarah@email.com) | [linkedin.com/in/sarah](https://linkedin.com/) | [github.com/sarah](https://github.com/)

## SUMMARY

Results-driven software engineer with 7+ years of experience building scalable web applications and leading cross-functional teams. Passionate about clean code, developer experience, and mentoring junior engineers.

## EXPERIENCE

### Senior Software Engineer
**TechCorp Inc.** | San Francisco, CA | Jan 2021 - Present

- Led development of microservices architecture serving 2M+ daily active users
- Reduced API response times by 40% through optimization and caching strategies
- Mentored team of 5 engineers, improving code review turnaround by 60%
- Implemented CI/CD pipelines reducing deployment time from 2 hours to 15 minutes

### Software Engineer
**StartupXYZ** | San Francisco, CA | Mar 2018 - Dec 2020

- Built real-time collaboration features using WebSocket and Redis
- Developed React component library used across 3 product teams
- Improved test coverage from 45% to 85%, reducing production bugs by 50%

## SKILLS

**Languages:** TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Go, SQL
**Frontend:** React, Next.js, Vue.js, Tailwind CSS
**Backend:** Node.js, Express, PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker
**Tools:** Git, AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform

## EDUCATION

### Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
**University of California, Berkeley** | 2012 - 2016
GPA: 3.8/4.0

Pro Tips

Writing Tips

Start bullet points with action verbs (Led, Built, Improved)
Include metrics and numbers when possible
Keep bullet points to 1-2 lines max
Use consistent formatting throughout

Formatting Tips

Leave a blank line between sections
Use ## for section headings (EXPERIENCE, SKILLS)
Use ### for job titles or subsections
Keep the structure clean and consistent

ATS Optimization

Use standard section names (Experience, Education, Skills)
Include relevant keywords from job descriptions
Avoid tables, columns, or complex formatting
Spell out acronyms at least once

Common Mistakes

Don't forget the space after # for headings
Don't use tabs for indentation (use spaces)
Don't mix - and * for bullet points
Don't forget blank lines before lists

Ready to Create Your Resume?

Put your Markdown skills to use with our editor. Live preview, 16 templates, and instant PDF export.