Identify the right content to include in your resume to build a compelling and eye-catching document. Although this can vary significantly from industry to industry, there are core best practices for resume writing applicable across a wide range of occupations and fields. When determining what to put on your resume, the most important thing to consider is whether the information will be relevant to the people who review it.
Many job seekers often mistakenly provide vague bullet points that feature generic job responsibilities. Others create long-winded content that does not draw attention to the bottom-line value of their professional achievements. We’ll help you identify the right details of what to include in a resume to improve your interview response rates and land your next job opportunity.
10 Tips for Resume Writing
- Include your name, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn profile. Omit your full street address but include the city, metro area, and zip code. If relevant, state your willingness to relocate or pursue remote work. Optionally, include titles (e.g., Dr., CPA) and pronouns.
- Write a concise resume summary at the top of your document, showcasing your qualifications and incorporating keywords from the job description. When detailing your work history, ensure your accomplishments are clear and include relevant keywords. Instead of relying on an outdated resume objective, focus on showcasing your qualifications with a strong summary.
- Detail your accomplishments rather than just job duties. Use action verbs and include quantifiable achievements when possible. Be specific with dates, using both the month and year, and provide your work location.
- Place education near the top for recent graduates and toward the bottom for experienced professionals. Include degrees, certifications, and relevant licenses critical to the role. If still in school, add an expected graduation date.
- Include both hard and soft skills relevant to the job. List skills you possess and elaborate on them in the experience section.
- Optional sections include volunteer experience, awards, projects, and languages.
- Don’t include hobbies, personal interests, or references.
- Use simple, easy-to-read fonts, maintain at least 0.5” margins. Include headers or footers with your name and page numbers for multi-page resumes. Tailor the resume style (chronological, functional, or combination) to your needs and industry norms.
- Adjust each resume to the job you’re applying for, incorporating specific language from the job description.
- Aim for one to two pages, unless otherwise specified in the job announcement.
Key Sections To Include in Your Resume
Contact information
There are key things to put on a resume, and that starts with your contact information. Always include your name, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn profile at the top of your document. For your address, we suggest including the major metro you’re nearest, with your zip code, and omitting your full street address.
If you’re relocating, however, you may want to exclude these details or include a parenthetical showing you are willing to relocate. If you’re pursuing a remote position, the location is less likely to have a positive or negative impact, so feel free to add it to the job application for those roles.
Include any titles, such as Dr., CPA, or SHRM-CP, in your contact information. You can also include your pronouns in parentheses after your name. If you are unsure how to properly format this section, refer to our guide on how to make a resume.
Professional summary
Your resume summary is critical for grabbing the hiring manager’s attention. Unlike a traditional resume objective, a summary highlights your qualifications for the specific job application. A professional summary at the top of your document is an essential section to include in a resume. It serves the purpose of grabbing the attention of the hiring manager. This section allows you to show an overview of what you bring to the organization and the first quick snapshot that a hiring manager has of your qualifications. It is also a great place to use some keywords from the job announcement. By including keywords this early in your document, you show the employer and hiring team that you took the time to read the job announcement and tailor your resume.
Candidates used to be encouraged to include a resume objective instead of a professional summary. But a resume objective has become less appealing for hiring managers as employers prefer to see you are qualified for the position versus long-term career goals.
Need examples? Check out these resume summary examples.
CPA professional summary example:
Proven corporate tax manager with three years of leadership experience and over 10 years as a Certified Public Account. Responsible for ensuring accuracy and outstanding customer service for tax planning, preparation, and compliance work completed by 50 staff members. Highly educated with a Master of Taxation from Thomas Jefferson University and sought-after expertise in risk management and emerging tax softwares.
Work experience
This section is about you and your achievements during each position you have held. It’s how you build your content and career achievements that makes all the difference during the job search. Employers want candidates who carefully detail accomplishments throughout their career, as this paints a clearer picture of who you are as a professional within your field. For more guidance on showcasing your work history effectively, visit our tips on how far back your resume should go.
Focus on the bottom-line value of your work history, including your achievements and the steps you took. This will demonstrate the impact you made and improve your job application success rate.
If you have quantifiable data that supports your actions, such as showing that you increased sales by 105% over the previous quarter, that is a key detail to include. Also, this is where you need to have strong action verbs to detail what you have done. No hiring manager wants to continuously read “responsible for,” so make sure you highlight what you have done by using some of these great verbs in your job application.
For your dates of employment, include the month and year. For example, if you held a job from October 2019 – February 2020 but listed it as 2019 – 2020, you’d be giving the false impression that you were employed at the company for a full year. Or, even worse, a hiring manager may think you worked for just a few days at the end of 2019 into 2020.
The location you worked in is also a valuable detail that hiring managers like to see included. This location could be where you sit or the local headquarters. Either is acceptable, but we encourage you to be consistent with whichever method you select.
Education and certifications
As a rule, what to include in a resume within the education section should be placed near the top of the document for recent graduates and included at the bottom for experienced professionals. If you have a certification or license critical for the role, such as a registered nurse (RN) license, you may want to place it directly below your resume summary or mention the license within your professional profile itself.
Once you’ve completed a bachelor’s or associate degree, you no longer need to include your high school degree. If you attended college but didn’t complete your degree, you could include the number of credits you achieved and the years you were enrolled in the university. It shows that you have some college experience, which will look stronger than only including a GED.
If you are still in school, include your expected graduation date. However, consider leaving off your graduation date if you have been in a professional setting for five or more years. If you are still in school, include your expected graduation date.
Skills
Including skills in your resume can add an extra level of support to your job application. Skills can be hard or soft and allow a quick snapshot of some of the capabilities you already possess. Plus, you can use your experience section to elaborate on the listed skills.
Additional Sections To Consider Including
Outside of the key sections listed above for what to put on a resume, you can include others that may add additional support to your qualifications and demonstrate your suitability for the position.
Volunteer work
Including volunteer work in your resume can showcase valuable experience. If you have put in significant time supporting an organization near and dear to you, take pride in it. There are nuances to including volunteer work, and our guide can help you navigate the best way to include this. Add the necessary and relevant information that enhances your resume and demonstrates to an employer that you are willing to work with a team to support something larger than yourself.
Awards
Awards can be a great way to showcase additional accolades in your resume, but they should be relevant. Industry awards, such as President’s Club or a sales award, would be a valuable addition to your resume. Academic awards could also add value, especially if you are still early in your career.
Projects
Projects can also enhance your resume. For example, if you are applying for a project manager position, there could be value in including a section that highlights the projects you have overseen. Your work history description should include a high-level summary of the project, the time commitment, and other pertinent information that relates to the role you are applying to.
Languages
You might want to consider including a section in your resume that details any foreign language skills. How you showcase this may change depending on the employer’s needs.
For example, if the position does not have any language requirements, you can put your language ability in your “Skills” or “Summary” section. However, if the position has a language requirement, include in your resume a section that details your proficiency level in the language, which should incorporate speaking, reading, and comprehension.
Language skills example:
Languages
- Fluency in: Spanish
- Proficiency in: Italian, Portuguese
- Basic proficiency in: French
or Skills
- Computer Software: Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Adobe Creative Suite
- Languages: Spanish (native speaker), Fluent in Portuguese and Italian
What Not To Include in Your Resume
Since your resume is your personal profile showing you are qualified for a position, some things are best left off.
Hobbies or personal interests
While it may seem tempting to provide insights into your hobbies and personal interests, this is a poor strategy for what to include in a resume. Hiring managers may ask you these types of questions during an interview, but they certainly won’t persuade them to schedule you for one. The purpose of the resume is to clearly show you’re qualified for the job and bring value to prospective employers. Including irrelevant details, such as your interest in skiing or watching films, may even come off as unprofessional.
References
References are another outdated resume-writing practice that has largely been discarded. They used to be one of the key features of what to include on a resume. It’s generally understood that if an employer wants to look at your references, they can always ask for them. Thus including a sentence at the end of your document explaining that is largely unnecessary. Instead, create a separate document that cleanly formats the names and contact information of your references so it’s ready to send as soon as the company asks for it.
Resume references example:
Raymond Ortiz
123 Bedford Ave., New York, NY 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
Professional References
Joseph Corbin
Operations Manager, ABC Company, Inc.
[email protected]
(123) 456-7890
Philadelphia, PA
Hideo Araki
Former Sales Manager, XYZ Corporation
[email protected]
(123) 456-7890
Boston, MA
Amar Singh
Former Sales Associate, LMN Company, Inc.
[email protected]
(123) 456-7890
San Francisco, CA
Formatting Your Resume
Your resume format may change as you grow in your career and depending on the industry and job you are applying to.
Resume Styles
Three resume formats can be used based on your needs.
Chronological resumes are written in reverse order, starting with your most recent position. This is the most common format as it is easy to read and understand. It shows the hiring manager your career progression and how you have advanced and grown within your industry.
Chronological resume example:
Sarah V. Johnson
555-123-45671
[email protected]
1987 Center Street Richmond, VA 23173
Objective
Event manager with 12 years of experience seeking a mobile marketing manager position with Perfect Promos for You. Qualifications include a BA in Marketing Management, field experience promoting well-known brands such as Cool Cola and Crunchariffic Cereal, a CDL license and an outgoing personality.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management
Florida State College, Miami, FL – September 2003 – June 2007
Professional Experience
Promotional Marketing Manager
On-the-Go Promos | March 2015 – present
- Distributed samples of food and beverages at events across the nation
- Promoted brands using marketing campaigns tailored toward target demographics
- Drove and maintained a box truck
- Assembled and removed displays quickly for events
- Ordered and monitored inventory for promotional goods required for successful marketing campaigns
Brand Ambassador
Mobile Marketing Masters | August 2007 – March 2015
- Promoted products and brands at nationwide events, including baseball games, football games and concerts
- Distributed product samples to adults approximately 18 to 45 years old
- Collected email addresses, phone numbers and addresses from consumers
- Maintained the correct traits and attire required to honor each brand’s identity during in-field marketing promotions
Key Skills
- Field experience managing marketing promotions
- BA in Marketing Management
- CDL licensing
- Physically able to assemble and remove product displays
- Comfortable promoting products at crowded events
- Outgoing personality
Certifications
- COL license
- Official Brand Ambassador (OBA)
- Certification from Marketing Managers USA
Functional resumes are infrequently used as their style can make a job seeker’s experience harder to discern by hiring managers. They focus on the job seeker’s skill and how they have used that skill in a setting. This style of resume can work well for people with a lack of work history, but it should be used with caution.
Functional resume example:
Mina Sayed
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | LinkedIn
Profile
Member – Incoming Class of ’26 at University of Syracuse
Combine high academic performance with commitment to volunteerism and community service. Skilled at collaborating on efforts to advance social and public health causes.
Education
Candidate: Bachelor’s Degree
University Of Syracuse, NY | Expected 2026
Graduate
Central Park East High School, New York, NY | June 2022
3.7 GPA (3.9 weighted) | Top 20% of graduating class
Volunteer Work
Mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, New York, NY | September 2020 to Present
- Provide consistent, long-term support and guidance to the mentee
- Meet and communicate weekly by phone, video, and in person
- Accompanied mentee and family members on multiple outings to help her explore and develop new hobbies and interests
Work Experience
Babysitter, New York, NY | July 2019 to July 2022
- Two years’ experience providing independent babysitting services
- Built positive, long-term service relationships with all 17 client families
Key Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced Word, Excel)
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Task Prioritization
- Time Management
- Writing, Editing & Proofreading
Combination resumes are exactly what they sound like — a combination of a chronological and functional resume. The value of this style of resume is that you can mix and match where needed to add your skills alongside experience.
Combination resume example:
Christine Li
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Philadelphia, PA 12345
Profile
A Psychology Graduate specializing in behavioral analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and developmental psychology. Adept at executing complex research initiatives and collaborating with diverse academic teams.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, September 2017 – May 2021
GPA: 3.8/4.0
- Vice President, Temple Student Psychology Association, 2019-2021
- Member, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, 2017-2021
- Dean’s List 2017-2021
- Magna Cum Laude
Professional Experience
Research Assistant, Dr. William Stern, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
September 2020 – May 2021
- Conducted research on a variety of psychology topics and trends, including emotionally-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques
- Coordinated with a team of scholars to conduct a research project analyzing the psychological effects of poverty in food desert areas, including conducting interviews, developing surveys, and evaluating statistical trends
Academic Projects
Psychology Research Projects, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
September 2017 – May 2021
- Wrote a 25-page research paper for the Psychology capstone course analyzing the cultural experience of Chinese American immigrants in urban and rural areas and the relationship between institutionalized racism and anxiety
- Developed a 10-page research paper evaluating the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to treat depression symptoms
Coursework
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Development Psychology
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Behavioral Analysis
- Trauma Intervention
Key Skills
- Academic research
- Relationship building
- Team collaboration
- Written communication
- Leadership
Fonts
Since your font will appear throughout your entire resume, it is imperative to select the best one for you. Resume fonts should be simple and easy to read. The font you choose can be either a serif or sans-serif font, but make sure it is a professional font that is easy to read.
Margins
The margins in your resume can be adjusted if necessary, but do not make your resume “bleed” into the edges of the paper. No less than 0.5” is recommended, as anything less can be hard to read if printed.
Headers and footers
One of the things to put on your resume could be a header or footer, especially if your resume is more than one page. The header should include your name and contact information, while the footer should contain the page number.
Use Industry Examples
Resumes can vary between industries, and being aware of those differences can help you stand out from the rest. For example, an interior design resume will look different from a budget analyst resume which will vary from a federal resume.
Additional Resume Building Resources
Building a resume from scratch can be daunting, but sometimes, viewing examples can give you the guidance and inspiration to craft your content. Each industry has its own nuances and specifics, and learning how to draw attention to the bottom-line value of your professional achievements is essential for generating interest from potential employers.
Our resume and cover letter example pages can provide you with industry keywords, templates, and expert tips to help you create an accomplishment-driven document and land your next big interview. For veterans, our Veteran’s Resume and Job Hunting Guide can help you with navigating your transition to the civilian workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing
How long should my resume be?-
One to two pages is the typical, agreed-upon length. However, pay special attention to the job announcement as it may have language that specifies how long the document can be.
Do I need to update my resume for each job I apply to?-
Yes, tailor your resume to each position that you apply for. You don’t need to write a new resume each time but some things to put on your resume can be done by incorporating information from the job announcement using some of the organization’s language.
How many jobs should I list in my resume?-
The last 10 to 15 years is typically what is included in your resume. This ensures you are providing the most relevant information to the position you are applying to while also combatting potential ageism. You can also add dates as far in the past as the job announcement is asking for. For example, if it is looking for five years’ experience, you can go back that many years.
If you have more important experience to include, consider including an “Additional Experience” section that is a high-level recount of the work you did.
Is it ok to “embellish” my experience on my resume?-
Lying or “embellishing” your resume or in your interview could lead to a lot of heartaches down the road. If you are found out to have lied, you could lose your job, be blacklisted from working with recruiting agencies, or a plethora of other consequences.
Should I include a picture?-
As with most things related to resumes, the answer is, “It depends.” This depends on the job, the industry, and the culture. For example, if you are applying to be a newscaster, a photo will most likely need to be included. If you’re applying for a federal job, a picture will automatically disqualify you.
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