Recruiters take just 7 seconds to skim through a resume and decide if an applicant deserves a closer look. Your resume sections could determine the success of your job application in that brief window.
A smart arrangement of sections can increase your interview chances by 40%. Most employers spend between 30-60 seconds reviewing each resume during their first pass. However, your resume gets only 6 seconds to make that original impression. The strategic organization of your resume becomes vital to help you stand out.
This complete guide will help you become skilled at creating the perfect resume format for your career stage. You'll learn exactly which sections to include and how to order them effectively. The guide has detailed instructions to optimize each component for both human recruiters and ATS systems, whether you're writing your first professional resume or updating an existing one.
The numbers show that 76.4% of recruiters use their ATS to filter resumes by skills. This makes proper structuring more significant than ever. Our expert recommendations will help you create a resume that passes automated screenings and grabs attention during those critical first seconds of human review.
Essential Resume Sections to Include
A good resume needs some basic sections that show what you can do. Your chances of catching a hiring manager's eye go up by a lot when you structure your resume well. Studies show that 41% of hiring managers look at your skills first.
Contact Information
Put your contact details right at the top where employers can find them fast. Make your full name stand out in bold or bigger letters. Add your city and state (skip the full address), phone number, and a work-friendly email. You might want to add links to your LinkedIn profile or work website if they fit your field. Note that using your work email or phone looks unprofessional. A wrong digit in your phone number could cost you an interview, so double-check everything.
Professional Summary or Objective
Your career stage helps you pick between a summary and objective. A resume summary packs your biggest wins and best skills into a quick intro. An objective talks about where you want to go instead of what you've done. Experienced pros should stick with a summary. New grads or people switching careers do better with an objective. Whatever you pick, keep it short—about 2-4 sentences—and match it to the job you want.
Work Experience
Employers often call this the heart of your resume. List your jobs from newest to oldest. Each entry should have the company name, your title, when you worked there, and what you did. All the same, don't just list what you were supposed to do—show what you achieved. To name just one example, rather than "Responsible for marketing campaigns," say "Developed and ran marketing campaigns that boosted engagement by 30%." This shows your real value instead of just listing tasks.
Education
The education section needs your school's name, where it is, your degree, and what you studied. New grads should put this near the top. If you've been working a while, it goes after your work history. Only show your GPA if it's 3.5 or better. If you have several degrees, list the newest ones first.
Skills
Your skills tell employers if you'll fit the role. Mix technical skills with people skills, but focus on what matters for the job. This part really counts now—76.4% of recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes by skills. Then look through the job posting to spot and use the skills they're after.
How to Order Resume Sections Based on Career Stage
The way you organize your resume sections will change as your professional experience grows. A well-laid-out resume highlights your strongest qualifications at each stage of your career.
Entry-Level Resume Format
Recent graduates and workforce newcomers should emphasize their education more than their limited work experience. Your education section needs more prominence. A good entry-level resume starts with contact information and a resume objective that shows your career goals instead of past achievements. The education section follows next and should include relevant coursework if applicable.
The skills section comes after education. You should highlight hard skills from your education, internships, or projects. Soft skills like teamwork and problem-solving make you more competitive despite limited experience. Your work experience section follows with internships, part-time work, and volunteer positions. You might want to add extracurricular activities and hobbies that align with the company's culture.
Mid-Level Professional Resume Format
Professionals with about 10 years of experience need to emphasize their work history and achievements. Start with contact information and a professional title that matches your target position. A compelling career summary (3-5 sentences) should highlight experiences and skills relevant to your desired role.
Your work experience section becomes the star here. Show your career growth and measurable achievements with numbers and action verbs. List your experiences in reverse-chronological order and focus on your best accomplishments. The skills section should feature advanced competencies rather than simple skills like Microsoft Word.
The education section moves to the bottom since your work achievements matter more now. Advanced degrees or notable credentials should appear with your name at the top. This format shows your career growth and achievements effectively.
Career Change Resume Format
A career change requires your resume to connect past experience with future goals. The combination resume format works best here because it emphasizes relevant and transferable skills over traditional work experience. Your contact information comes first, followed by an objective that explains your career move and shows why you fit the new role.
A prominent skills section should showcase abilities that transfer to your target position. Use keywords from job descriptions naturally in this section. The work experience section follows, highlighting achievements and responsibilities that connect to your new career path.
Each previous position should include brief bullet points showing skills that transfer to your new field. Put education and certifications after work experience, and highlight recent courses that show your steadfast dedication to your new career direction. This structure draws attention to your transferable skills while acknowledging your previous experience.
Your resume's main goal is landing an interview, not telling your life story. Whatever your career stage, keep your resume clean, easy to scan, and organized to pass that vital 6-second review by recruiters.
Optional Resume Sections That Add Value
Your job application can get a big boost from adding optional resume sections beyond the basics. These extra sections let you show off qualifications that might go unnoticed otherwise. Deloitte's research shows that 82% of recruitment managers choose candidates who have volunteer experience.
