What Are the Main Sections of a Resume?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a recent graduate or a career journeyman with years of work experience — resumes are just notoriously difficult to write.

Fortunately, there are ways to make the ever-daunting task of resume writing easier. It all begins by knowing and understanding the key resume sections of this all-too-important application document.

Why Following a Standard Resume Format Matters

You could write a free-style resume. Employers don’t forbid that, and most job descriptions don’t impose specific rules to follow in resume writing. However, there are a few good reasons to follow a standardized format:

● Standardized resumes are readable and clear

When seeing your resume for the first time, recruiters won’t give it longer than a few seconds. A clear format helps them find key information quickly and effectively. A standard structure gives the contact details at the top, followed by a professional summary, work experience, skills, and education. All recruiters know that, so they expect to find the info they need where it’s supposed to be.

● ATS software prefers clean resumes

Before a recruiter sees your resume, it will probably be filtered through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This software scans resumes for relevant keywords and categorizes them. If you follow a standard, clean format with the usual headings, you’ll make it easy for the system to correctly read your information. Thus, you’ll ensure fair ranking in accordance with your qualifications.

● Clean format makes you look professional

A well-organized resume shows that you respect industry standards. It looks professional.

● The standardized format is designed to show your qualifications

Why do standardized resumes even exist? They are meant to emphasize a candidate’s most relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments. These details are positioned in the most visible areas: at the top of the resume or in bullet points under each job role.

● When the format is standard, content is in the focus

For creative industries, creative resume formats might be OK. But even in that case, recruiters would seek for creativity in your portfolio and the clear descriptions of previous projects that the resume offers. A clean format always works because it doesn’t distract the reader with unusual layouts or inconsistent styles. Since it follows a familiar structure, the recruiter can focus on what you have to offer.

Main Sections to Include in Your Resume

1. Personal Details/Contact Info

When writing your resume, be sure to include the following personal details at the top of the document:

• Name — Type your full name in a larger font. This should be the most visible part of your resume header, so the recruiter will immediately realize whose resume they are reviewing.

• Address — Including your city and state is useful, especially if you’re applying for a local role. But in most cases, there’s no need to include your full address, since the email and phone number are the main contact methods nowadays.

• Phone number and email — Both these details must be included. Double-check to make sure they are accurate, and write them in a simple font that’s easy to read. Use a professional email address that includes your name. That will convey credibility.

• LinkedIn profile link — Although it basically gives the same information you include in the resume, a link to your LinkedIn profile is still useful. If the recruiter visits it, they will quickly view your full career history, endorsements, and additional skills. They may add you as a contact for future collaboration even if you don’t get hired this time. Just make sure to update your LinkedIn profile to make it look as professional as possible.

Of all the resume sections, this one may seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised to know that aside from their name, many applicants forget to add any type of personal details in their resume. So make sure your resume header has all of the above, and double-check for accuracy. Even a minor typo in your email could mean a missed opportunity for an interview.

2. Resume Objective/Summary

The second part of your resume is where you shine a spotlight on the most important qualities that you possess. This is the place for your biggest accomplishments and intentions for your career moving forward. It shows your biggest strengths, and it helps a potential employer to understand how you could add value to their organization.

Ideally, objective/summary resume sections should be up to three to five sentences long, describing your strongest character traits and how you plan to help the employer achieve their goals. Focus on what you have to offer to the company or business. You can highlight specific skills, such as exceeding sales targets or leading successful projects.

Your first goal in this section is to show what you’ve accomplished so far. However, you will expand that part by showing how you’ll use those skills to help the employer achieve their goals.

There’s a pitfall: many candidates follow resume templates that lead to generic language. You don’t want that. This section is the most unique part of your resume. It should reflect the needs of the role you apply for, as well as your personality. Pay close attention to the job description; it will guide you to align your objective with the company’s priorities. Make sure the rest of your resume supports what you’ve written in your objective/summary section. Aim for a cohesive resume, with each section backing up the objective or summary. Although it’s a standardized document, the resume is still personal. As a whole, it should have a persuasive narrative that leaves a lasting impression on hiring managers.

3. Skills

Skills resume sections are usually where the applicant lists specific skills that relate to the position. Make this section easier to scan by summing up your main skills into a short, bulleted list instead of whole sentences or paragraphs. A bulleted list will improve the resume’s readability, but it will also highlight your most relevant skills at a glance. It’s also easier for the ATS to scan.

Before you begin writing this section, review the job posting to see exactly what skills the employer is looking for, and apply the right keywords so that the recruiter can immediately know what you are capable of. Why are keywords important? Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems, which scan the resumes for these keywords. That’s the principle they use to rank candidates based on relevance. To pass the initial stages of the screening process, the right keywords in this section are vital!

Highlight the hard and soft skills that would make you stand out in the eyes of the recruiter. Hard skills are your technical abilities and industry-specific knowledge, such as data analysis, programming in Python, or project management. They are usually required for the role, so they come first. Soft skills, on the other hand, are communication, problem-solving, leadership, and similar. They reflect your interpersonal abilities and the way you collaborate within an organization.

Here’s another thing to have in mind when listing your skills: quality matters more than quantity. You don’t need a huge list. Focus on core skills that show your strengths and unique value. Do you have something that takes you apart from other candidates? For example, a general skill like Microsoft Office doesn’t matter much. Everybody has it. Advanced Excel (PivotTables), on the other hand, shows more depth.

4. Professional Experience

Professional experience resume sections typically contain your previous jobs, but you can also include volunteer work, special projects, internships, consulting gigs, and extra training you may have had. There’s no need to itemize all of your past work—just include the ones that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. And make sure you use the reverse-chronological format, beginning with your most recent professional experience.

How do you list your previous jobs? Each entry should include the job title, company name, location, and dates of employment. You’ll follow that by a brief list of bullet points that show your responsibilities and achievements. Here are some tips to help you write those bullet points:

● Don’t list generic tasks that you performed as an employee. Instead, focus on specific accomplishments that show results. Use metrics: percentages, revenue growth, customer satisfaction scores, or project completion times. That’s how you’ll demonstrate your impact. Here’s an example: Increased sales by 20% within six months through targeted Facebook advertising.

● It’s best to start each bullet point with a strong action verb. Think of words like led, implemented, increased, improved, or optimized.

● Check the job description to see what responsibilities and skills the employer values. Then, mirror those expectations in your descriptions. That’s a great trick that gets you through the ATS, but it also lets the hiring manager see how relevant you are as a candidate.

● Be brief and to the point. Limit each entry to 3-5 bullet points that show your best contributions and results.

This is probably the trickiest section to write, especially if you’re applying to an American company because US resumes are typically only one page long. So be prepared to give this part the time it needs to be done right.

5. Education

This part of your resume details your educational background. Include the name of the last educational institution you attended, whether university, college, academy, or high school. List down the degree/s you completed, along with any academic achievements or citations that may have been awarded to you.

If you’re a multiple-degree holder, list them in reverse chronological order.

If you are a recent graduate with little to no job experience to speak of, you may need to put Education at the top of your functional resume sections. If this is the case, you may add your high school education information to make your resume look more well-rounded and complete.

When listing entries in the Education section, here’s what you should include:

● Specify the type of degree (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or any other degree you have), followed by the major (such as Communications or Computer Science).

● If you have any notable academic achievements, include them. These mat ve: graduating with honors, Dean’s List distinctions, or specific awards and scholarships. These are important details that show your academic excellence and dedication to the field.

● If you’re a recent graduate and you need to add some depth to the resume, you can mention relevant coursework or projects. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, you can list coursework in Digital Marketing Strategies in this section. That shows that even though you lack career experience, you have relevant knowledge to bring into the position.

● Do you have any additional certifications, such as a project management course, language certificate, or specialized training? If you do, then list the certificates here. If they are relevant to the role you’re applying for, the employer will be glad to see them.

6. Optional Sections

While optional resume sections might not be game-changers, they can help you stand out from other qualified candidates. Including these sections can make you more memorable to recruiters:

• Language you can speak: Employers appreciate applicants with diverse language skills, as they can be valuable in the office. Including any languages you speak can give you an edge over other candidates.

• Hobbies and interests: Hobbies and interests can reveal much about your personality. Select hobbies that are relevant to the job and showcase your skills or creativity. Even if they're not directly related, they can help build a connection with potential employers.

• Volunteering experience: Volunteer work is impressive, especially if the company values community involvement. It shows your passion and can count as work experience, which is particularly beneficial for recent graduates. Include the organization's name, location, time period, and your relevant tasks and achievements.

• Certifications and awards: This section allows you to highlight any certifications or awards that validate your skills. List the name of the award or certification, the date, and a brief description of its significance.

• Projects: Including a projects section can showcase your practical experience, whether from college or personal side projects. This demonstrates curiosity and initiative. Format entries like work experience, listing the project name, type, related organization, time period, and key responsibilities and achievements.

• Extracurricular activities: For recent graduates, this section can highlight your involvement in university clubs or societies, showcasing your ability to work on a team and your organizational skills. List your position, the club/organization name, and your achievements.

Should You Add Optional Info to Your Resume?

It’s possible to have additional info that could be relevant to the job but does not fit in with the other sections. Uncommon resume sections include hobbies and interests, references, publications, language skills, and more. Before you include this section, ensure that every detail you add makes you a better candidate for the position.

Equally important is crafting a compelling email subject line when submitting your resume, as it can significantly influence whether your application is opened or overlooked. A well-thought-out subject line can set the tone for the rest of your application, especially for those seeking executive roles where attention to detail is critical. To enhance your chances, consider using executive resume writing services, which can provide tailored guidance to ensure your application stands out from the competition.

What Is the Best Order of Resume Sections?

We recommend preserving the standard order of the resume’s sections. Your contact info should always come first since it shows the recruiter who you are and how they can reach you. After that, you should provide your objective, which gives a quick overview of your career or goals. It also sets the tone for the rest of your resume.

For roles that require specific technical skills (like IT or engineering), the Skills section comes above Work Experience. Recent graduates will prioritize Education over Work Experience. Experienced professionals, on the other hand, should provide the Work Experience above the Education and Skills section. In general, there are three ways to arrange the sections of your resume:

1. Reverse-Chronological Resume Structure

The reverse-chronological resume format remains the most popular to date. It’s popular for candidates with a steady work history since it focuses on their most recent and relevant experience first. The reverse-chronological order lets recruiters see your career progression. It highlights your work experience and skills, making it a preferred choice for many professionals. As the name suggests, this format lists your job history in reverse order, making it easy for recruiters to follow. The sections are typically arranged as follows:

• Personal details

• Resume objective or summary

• Professional experience

• Skills

• Education

• Optional sections

If you’re an experienced professional or you at least have a consistent employment history, then the reverse-chronological resume is the right choice for you. It quickly shows the most recent and relevant roles, which recruiters are most interested in. ATS software also prefers this layout due to its easy-to-scan features.

2. Recent Graduate Resume Structure

The transition from academia to professional work isn’t easy. Many entry-level roles still require some relevant experience, which recent graduates don’t have. Internships and part-time jobs are helpful, but they cannot compete with candidates who have a history of full-time positions.

Graduates face many other challenges, too. They may lack the practical or technical skills employers desire. The competition for entry-level jobs is intense, so it’s hard for them to get noticed. Networking is important, but the network isn’t that large if you just got out of college.

All these challenges are reflected in the way you write your resume. Since you don’t have much professional experience, you’ll need to prioritize academic achievements. The recent graduate resume structure shows your potential to do the job. It aligns your educational background with the requirements of the position. Here’s how to organize it:

• Personal details

• Resume objective or summary

• Education

• Skills

• Professional experience (if applicable)

• Optional sections

3. Career Change Resume Structure

If you’re aiming for career change opportunities, you’re facing unique challenges when writing your resume. You need to highlight transferable skills, relevant achievements, and experiences that show your potential in a new field. You’ll follow a specific format, which focuses on skills and accomplishments instead of job titles. It shows hiring managers how your background aligns with the desired role.

This is what the structure usually looks like:

• Personal details

• Resume objective or summary

• Skills

• Professional experience

• Optional sections/education

• Education/optional sections

The Resume Objective section is crucial here. In 2-3 sentences, you should describe your career transition. Highlight the skills and motivations that make you a good fit for the new role. You don’t have too much space, so use it to show enthusiasm and prove that your previous experience supports your new career goals. For example, if you’re making a transition from marketing to project management, you’ll point out your organizational skills, ability to manage timelines, and experience working with cross-functional teams. This structure works because it highlights relevant skills, achievements, and training that support a career shift. The hiring manager will see your potential beyond previous job titles.

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