Have you been wondering what to put in your resume? Look no further, this handout breaks down the sections of a resume and what goes where.
Resume Sections Guide
Personal and Contact Information
Name
Proper Address Format:
1234 Main Street
City, NY 12345
Phone Number
Professional Email Address
Objective
What is an objective? An objective is something that your efforts or actions are intended to accomplish or attain. In other words…You need a goal.
What are you good at? What skills do you have? What kind of job do you want?
Example: To obtain a position in the _____field, where my ___________ skills and experience can be of use.
Profile/Personal Summary
A brief, well-written statement that conveys that you have to offer to a potential employer
It answers the question, “What can this candidate do for me?”
A comparison:
Objective: Desire technical editing position with supervisory responsibilities in an engineering firm.
Profile: Highly skilled technical writer with three years publishing experience. Knowledgeable in current web design
technology. Experienced communicator and team player.
Skills
Skills are things that you do very well, or particular abilities you possess. You should list at most 6 on one resume. There
are 3 different types of skills:
1. Self-Management— traits/work ethics you should already have. These can be used in your Profile section, or in your
cover letter. Examples: Reliable, Dependable, team-oriented, time management, works well with minimal
instruction
2. Transferable— skills that can move from one job, or educational setting, to your new job. Examples: customer
service skills, community liaising, training/instructing/teaching, bilingual…
3. Job-related— usually specifically required for the job, they can be found within the job description. They are
buzzwords or career-specific keywords. Includes skills with specific software, machinery, methods, or programs.
Examples: curriculum development, proficient in MS Office Suite, dispute resolution, medical coding and billing
skills, proficiency in QuickBooks…
Professional Experience
Reverse Chronological Order (Most recent jobs go first)
Include the most important basic job responsibilities, but focus on special projects, duties, tasks and any above and beyond accomplishments/promotions. ALWAYS use bullet points, action verbs, and past tense when listing job responsibilities!
Education and Activities
List degrees and the dates they were earned. Include extracurricular activities, especially if you held an office. Degree
and date earned/ degree in progress, G.P.A., Minors, Special programs, i.e. Pre-Law/ Pre-Med.
Volunteer Experience
A volunteer experience is any service that you performed without pay. This section can look exactly like your
Professional experience section.
Examples: Soup Kitchens, Food Pantry, Community Boards, Precinct Councils.
Certificates and Licenses
Include if relevant to or required by the job you are applying for.
Examples of Certificates: CPR certified, registered nurse’s assistant, food handling license, livery driver’s license,
commercial driver’s license, Certified Associate in Project Management, Certified QuickBooks User, Microsoft Office
Specialist in Word/Excel, etc.
Awards, Publications/Presentations
If you have won any professional awards, been published, or given any presentations or talks, include this optional
section.
Supporting files:
Tip Type: