Resume Sections: examples and rules

¿Wanting what should a resume include? You are in the right place.

For a clean, concise presentation, three to five categories per page works best. With the “as few rooms as possible” principle, consider combining an Objective and Qualifications sections or combining short categories (headings that will have only a few items under them) with the Qualifications section or Professional Experience section.

Know what should be on a Resume

In this Resume Sections webpage, you’ll review the categories, or building blocks, that make up a winning resume. In Resume Format you can select the format, or structure, for your resume. Now it will begin to take shape as you decide on a heading style and choose categories that will best showcase your experience.

Many people base their resumes on the three most obvious categories (such as Objective, Experience, and Education) while overlooking other categories that can help catapult their resumes to the top of the “must interview” list.

Resume sections field

In creating your resume outline, you will look at the following categories:

You’ll take a look at each of these categories and decide which are most appropriate for your situation. You’ll also receive a refresher course on what not to include—such as information that is illegal, passé, superfluous, or grounds for potential discrimination. At the end of this resume section category, you’ll have an opportunity to fine-tune your outline for structural integrity and visual appeal.

Top Ten Tips to Write Resume Sections

1. When listing your contact information in the heading, offer employers several options for contacting you, including mobile or daytime phone and e-mail.
2. Remember Plan well. Choose categories that will best showcase your experience.
3. Format your heading wisely if you’re short on space. Instead of listing street address, city/state/ZIP, telephone, and e-mail on separate lines, place your address and city/state/ZIP on the left margin, and telephone number and e-mail on the right margin to save space.
4. Use an Objective or Qualifications Summary that captures your brand and zeros in on the employer’s needs.
5. Do not list your business telephone if you want to keep your search confidential and do not have a secure voice-mail system.
6. An Education category  or related categories such as Credentials and Licenses should be included if you possess degrees or training relevant to the target position. If you’re a recent graduate, expand your education category to highlight honors, course highlights, co-curricular activities, or other items of interest.
7. Always include a Professional Experience category: the mainstay of a chronological format. In a functional format, you can also include a Summary of Professional Experience to lend credibility to the skills cited.
8. Do not include personal information: your date of birth, marital status, number of children, height and weight, health status, and so on.
9. In addition to other categories such as Affiliations, Publications, and Awards, consider including an Endorsements or Customer Comments category. These third-party comments add weight and credibility to your candidacy.
10. Limit the total number of categories for optimum visual appeal. Three to five categories per page works best. Consider combining sections, such as Objective and Qualifications, if you have more than five categories per page.