Crafting the perfect resume can be overwhelming, especially because recruiters only spend around 7 seconds scanning it for critical information. The key is to choose the right resume sections to include and present them effectively to grab the recruiter’s attention.
In this guide, we’ll show you the must-use resume sections and share tips on how to make each section stand out.
To make it easier and faster, try our resume builder! With customizable templates and expert tips, you’ll have well-structured and polished resume sections in minutes.
What are the 5 main resume sections you should include?
Your resume is like a snapshot of your professional life. It should highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments in a way that speaks to your future potential.
“A standout resume effectively captures the attention of hiring managers and recruiters, presenting a clear, concise, and compelling snapshot of your qualifications and achievements,” says Clair Levy, a Certified Resume Writer for Precision Resume Solutions.
The main sections of a standout resume are:
- Contact information
- Resume summary
- Work experience
- Skills
- Education
How do you organize your 5 essential resume sections?
A standout resume is not just about listing your experiences; it’s about presenting them in a way that tells a compelling story of your career journey and showcases your unique value proposition to potential employers.
Here’s a closer look at each section and the information you need to include when updating your resume.
1. Contact information section
Make your contact info easy to find at the top of your resume. You want employers to reach you easily.
Here’s what you should include in your contact section:
- Full name. Your name should be the most prominent part of your contact info. It should be at the top of the page and in a larger font than the rest of your text. Include any titles or professional designations.
- Home address. Just include your town or city, state, and zip code.
- Professional email address. Don’t use your current employer’s email, as it appears unprofessional and inappropriate for job searching.
- Contact number. This can be your landline number or your cell phone number. It’s not necessary to include both as this will only confuse the hiring manager. Make sure the phone number listed is one that you feel comfortable having potential employers contact.
- LinkedIn URL or link to portfolio (Optional). This gives employers additional insight into your experience, education, and skillset.
Here’s an example of what a contact information section might look like:
2. Professional summary section
Think of your resume summary as your “elevator pitch.” It should consist of 2 to 3 sentences that give employers a quick overview of who you are and what you bring to the table.
While your summary should be brief, it should also be specific. If you’re not sure how to be brief and specific, here’s a formula you can use:
[Your Professional Title] with over [X Years] of experience in [Field/Role]. Skilled in [Skill 1], [Skill 2], and [Skill 3]. Proven success in [Measurable Accomplishment 1] and [Measurable Accomplishment 2].
Here is an example of a resume summary for a marketing professional:
Need help crafting a standout resume summary? Create your professional summary with Jobscan’s resume summary generator. All you have to do is go to Jobscan’s resume builder, go through the prompts, and click on the blue button that says “Generate summary.”
Read our full guide: How to Write a Resume Summary Statement
3. Work experience section
The work experience resume section is the heart of your resume. This is where you show your career progression and accomplishments. Hiring managers will check your work experience to see if you have the skills to excel in the job you’re applying for.
Here are six steps you need to take to create a compelling work experience resume section:
Step 1. Include details like employer name, employer location, job title, and start/end dates.
Step 2. List your work experience in reverse chronological order.
Step 3. List job responsibilities and accomplishments in bullet points.
Step 4. Include specific and measurable results.
Step 5. Include any awards or recognition you’ve received.
Step 6. Use keywords from the job description.
Incorporating those keywords is critical because most companies use computer software called an applicant tracking system (ATS) to make the hiring process easier.
To create a resume that uses the necessary keywords, without keyword stuffing, use Jobscan’s bullet point generator. This allows you to create the perfect resume in minutes that highlights your achievements and skills.
4. Education section
Compared to other sections of a resume, writing an education section is easy.
Just like your work experience, your education should be listed in reverse chronological order. This section should include the following:
- Name of your degree/diploma or certification
- Name and location of your school or institution
- Year of completion (or expected year)
- GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
- Honors and academic achievements (Optional)
Here’s an example:
Listing your college GPA is optional, but only consider doing it if you’re a recent graduate and your GPA is above 3.5.
Read our full guide: How to Format Your Resume Education Section
5. Skills section
The skills section of your resume is the perfect place to showcase the unique abilities that make you a great fit for the job you’re applying to.
Your skills section should include both the hard and soft skills that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
- Hard skills are specialized, measurable knowledge and abilities. Examples include computer programming, web design, data analysis, project management, and financial accounting. They come from specific training.
- Soft skills, on the other hand, refer to abilities related to interacting with others and working productively. Examples include communication, problem-solving, time management, and leadership.
Like the rest of your resume, your skills section should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.
This is especially important because 76.4% of recruiters use their ATS to filter resumes by skills, according to Jobscan’s 2025 State of the Job Search report.
To find relevant skills, carefully read through the job description and pick out what hard and soft skills are mentioned. Then include these skills in your skills section (as long as you have those skills, of course!).
If you have skills that are not relevant to the job you’re applying for, then don’t include them in your skills section.
Read our full guide: Best Resume Skills to Put on a Resume
Additional resume sections
Hiring managers and recruiters appreciate it when you go the extra mile to make your resume stand out, and adding additional sections can help you do just that.
Remember, only include the following additional resume sections if they are relevant to the job you are applying for!
Here are optional resume sections you can include:
- Awards and honors: Enhance your credibility by listing awards and commendations. If you have multiple awards, this is where you should list them.
- Certifications and licenses: Adding paid or even free certifications to your resume can set you apart from other candidates while adding skills that might be missing in your work experience.
- Volunteer work: Helping out at a non-profit is a great way to add key skills and experience to your resume. According to a study by Deloitte, 82% of recruitment managers choose candidates with volunteer experience over those that don’t. Format this section similarly to your work experience.
- Hobbies and interests: Unless your hobby is relevant to the job you’re applying for, this section is typically reserved for recent grads and entry-level candidates who lack work experience.
With our resume builder, you can add these optional sections easily to further boost your credibility and value.
To use the resume builder, all you have to do is:
- Upload your resume, import your LinkedIn profile, or create from scratch.
- Enter your job title.
- Choose skills from our suggested skills list.
- Pick from 5 ATS-friendly resume templates.
- Add your contact information, work history, education, skills, and certifications.
- Click “Jobs” to view personalized job listings.
- Scan your resume with Jobscan’s resume scanner to optimize it for the ATS.
- Download your resume as a PDF.
Organizing resume sections based on your career level
Whether you’re just starting in your career or have years of expertise, structuring your resume correctly helps recruiters see your most relevant qualifications and value at a glance.
Here’s how to organize your resume sections based on your career stage.
1. Entry-level job seekers
When you are new to the workforce or if you have no work experience yet, you can follow these tips when writing your resume sections:
- Start with a strong resume summary. Briefly explain your skills and career goals.
- Put your education first. Highlight your degree, relevant courses, projects, or GPA if it’s strong.
- Focus on your internships and volunteer work. Include any hands-on experience you have.
- List your key skills. Show off important skills if you don’t have a lot of job experience yet.
- Keep it simple and tailored to the job you are applying for.
Here’s an example:
2. Mid-level professionals
When you are a mid-level professional with robust work experience, follow these tips when organizing the sections of your resume:
- Lead with your work experience. Since you have more work experience, put your work history near the top, showcasing your key achievements and responsibilities.
- Highlight your key skills and expertise. Follow your work experience section with a skills section that includes both hard and soft skills relevant to the job, such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, and technical skills.
- Include your education and certifications. Place these below your experience if they’re relevant.
- Keep it focused. Remove any sections that aren’t directly relevant to the job, such as hobbies or outdated experiences, to keep the focus on what matters most to the prospective employer.
Here’s an example:
3. Career changers
Here are tips you can follow when organizing your resume sections for a career change:
- Start with a strong resume summary, Highlight your transferable skills and show how they relate to your new field.
- Emphasize your skills. List your key skills that match the new career.
- Reframe your work experience. Focus on measurable accomplishments that apply to your new career, even if they were from a different industry.
- Include relevant certifications and education. If you’ve taken courses or earned certifications for your new field, include them on your resume.
- Showcase projects and volunteer work. You can add a section for personal projects, freelance work, or volunteer experiences that show your new skills. Make sure they are aligned with your new career.
Here’s an example:
The three resumes above were created using professional templates from Jobscan’s resume builder. Try it yourself and build an ATS-friendly resume in minutes!
To help you create your standout resume, you can also check our library of resume examples and resume templates.
Key takeaways
Here are key pointers you need to remember when organizing your resume sections:
- A standout resume should include these five essential resume sections: contact information, resume summary, work experience, skills, and education.
- When writing your work history, focus on measurable accomplishments to show your impact.
- Make sure your resume is tailored to the specific job you are applying for. You can do this by studying the job description, learning what recruiters want, and incorporating keywords that match the job.
- Order your resume sections based on your experience level. With entry-level job seekers, it is good to emphasize your education first in your job application.
- Use clear section titles, bullet points, and a structured resume format to make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to scan your resume.
- You can always ask tools like ChatGPT to help you write your resume sections. Or, you can use free tools like Jobscan’s resume builder.
- Double check your information and don’t lie on your resume.
- Make sure you proofread your resume and regularly update it.
FAQs
A resume usually has the following sections: contact info, a summary, work experience, education, and skills. Optional sections can include certifications, languages, and volunteer work.
Resume sections are important because they organize your information and make it easy for recruiters to quickly find your qualifications. A well-structured and well-formatted resume highlights your strengths and increases your chances of getting interviews.
Include at least five sections: contact details, a summary, work experience, education, and skills.
The best way to order your resume sections is: contact info, professional summary, work experience, education, and then skills.
Separate sections using clear headings with consistent formatting. Use spacing and bold font to make each section easy to identify for recruiters.
Yes, a resume is different than a CV. A resume is a brief document (1-2 pages) focused on work experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to a specific job. A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is longer and provides a detailed overview of one’s academic background, research, publications, and professional achievements, often used for academic or research positions.
No, it’s generally discouraged to include a profile picture on resumes in countries like the U.S. and Canada, as it could lead to bias in the hiring process.
For most professionals wondering how long a resume should be, the answer is usually one page. However, if you have extensive experience or are applying for senior roles, a two-page resume may be acceptable.
