Every year, the Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) Awards reveal where resume writing is evolving as well as where the biggest gaps still remain.
Thanks to a systematized judging results recording process created by Director of Awards, Gayle Howard of Top Margin Executive Resumes & Coaching, she was able to gather valuable analysis data across 587 Round 1 judge scorecards, 10 categories, and approximately 165 entries from around the globe.
And what we found this year is worth sharing, not just for those who entered, but for anyone who wants to become a stronger, more competitive resume writer in 2025 and beyond.
Category Popularity: What Resume Writers Chose to Enter
These categories received the highest number of submissions, in order:
- Classic Executive
- Executive
- Healthcare / Medical
- Classic Sales
- High Tech
- Sales
- Classic Difficult Transition
- Difficult Transition
- New Graduate
- Classic New Graduate
Not surprisingly, Executive and Classic Executive remain the most competitive, yet also the most rewarding due to demand from job seekers.
Categories With the Highest Average Scores
This reflects where entrants brought their strongest work:
- Executive
- High Tech
- Classic Executive
- Classic Sales
- Classic New Graduate
- New Graduate
- Sales
- Difficult Transition
- Healthcare / Medical
- Classic Difficult Transition
The takeaway: Even “entry-level” categories like New Graduate showed exceptional strength this year, and the top-scoring categories weren’t always the most popular ones. Opportunity is everywhere.
Top 3 Pitfalls That Prevented Entries From Reaching the Finals
These insights come directly from scorecards and judge feedback.
#1 – Major Content & Strategy Issues
Most common:
-
- Weak or generic summary / value messaging
- Design overpowering content
- Misalignment with the client’s industry
- Failure to address career goals or challenges
- Lack of clarity in branding
- No (or very few) achievement stories such as CAR/SAR/STAR.
These are the entries most likely to be eliminated early, not because the writing was “bad,” but because the strategy wasn’t aligned.
#2 – Writing, Grammar & Clarity Problems
Judges noted:
-
- Confusing or convoluted sentences
- Verb tense problems
- Fluff, clichés, vague language
- Missing metrics or context
- Overly flowery writing.
This is a major difference between “good writers” and “award-caliber writers”: clarity, precision, and substance.
#3 – Formatting & Presentation Errors
These ranged from tiny (but distracting) to significant:
Major or repeated issues:
-
- Readability problems
- Visual hierarchy confusion
- Inconsistent formatting
- Overly busy design choices.
Minor issues that still cost points:
-
- Widows/orphans
- Typos
- Spacing gaps or PDF conversion quirks
- Inconsistent bullets or alignment
- Weak metric usage
- Vague writer notes.
Hard Truth, Soft Landing: Errors Matter More Than Most Realize
Here’s what the data shows:
Out of 587 Round 1 scorecards…
Major Errors:
-
- 62% had zero major errors
- 24% had one major error
- 14% had two or more major errors.
Minor Errors:
-
- 45.7% had zero minor errors
- 54.3% had one or more.
In tight categories, a single error can be the difference between finalist and no advancement.
This isn’t perfectionism—it’s the level at which resume writers are expected to compete in today’s market (especially where your job-seeking client’s success is on the line).
The Good News: Every Pitfall Above Is Fixable
Yes, every Single One.
That’s what makes the TORIs such an extraordinary growth tool.
They don’t just reward excellence.
They *teach* it.
If your entry didn’t move forward, the issue often wasn’t your talent—it was:
- one strategic misalignment
- one missed storytelling opportunity
- one formatting inconsistency
- one readability barrier
…and those are exactly the areas you can strengthen.
Want to Improve for Next Year? Here’s Where to Start
CDI offers member-included resume writing trainings by TORI winners, covering:
- Content strategy
- Branding clarity
- Formatting and visual hierarchy
- Achievement writing
- Cross-industry best practices
Real deconstructive reviews of TORI-winning resumes
And right now, because TORI season aligns with November, Cyber Week is the best time of the year to join or add the additional training, consulting, or certifications you need.
👉 Learn from the 2025 winners.
👉 Study category samples.
👉 Get ahead before the next TORI cycle opens.
👉 Strengthen your craft for your clients and your career.
However you choose to grow, you won’t be the same writer by next year.
And you won’t compete at the same level, either, which is a win-win for your clients.
If you’re ready to elevate your resume writing (or career coaching) craft, strengthen your client outcomes, and prepare for the next TORI cycle, CDI offers the resources, training, and community to help you rise. Excellence isn’t accidental—it’s trained, practiced, and supported.
And remember: we’re here to guide and support your journey every step of the way.
Helpful Links
View the TORI-winning resumes >>
Explore member-included trainings by TORI winners >>
See current Cyber Week offers >>
