Startups read resumes differently

At a large company, your resume gets scanned by an ATS and reviewed by a recruiter who’s looking for keyword matches. At a startup — especially an early-stage one — the founder or hiring manager is probably reading it directly. They’re looking for signal, not polish.

For pre-seed and seed companies

Lead with impact, not titles. Founders care about what you’ve actually built or accomplished, not that you were a “Senior Associate” somewhere. Use specific numbers: “grew user base from 0 to 10K in 6 months” beats “managed growth initiatives.”

Highlight versatility. If you’ve done cross-functional work, call it out. Startups at this stage need people who can context-switch. Mention side projects, open-source contributions, or anything that shows you build things on your own initiative.

For Series A and B companies

Balance breadth and depth. These companies want specialists who can also collaborate across teams. Show that you have deep expertise in one area but have worked with adjacent functions.

Show that you’ve operated at scale-up speed. If you’ve helped build a team, launch a product, or create a process from scratch, highlight it. These companies are looking for people who’ve navigated growth before.

For growth-stage companies (Series C+)

This is closer to a traditional resume format. Lead with your strongest relevant experience, use clear metrics, and make sure your progression tells a story. These companies often have more structured interview processes, so your resume should clearly map to the job description.

Universal tips

Keep it to one page. Use a clean, readable format — fancy designs can backfire. Include a one-line summary at the top that positions you for the specific role. And always, always include a link to your work — whether that’s a portfolio, GitHub, writing samples, or a personal site.