What to include in a Resume

It’s important to know what to include in a resume before you begin applying for jobs in your career field. Discover everything you need to know about what to include in your resume.

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Are you in the process of putting together a resume? It’s important to create an informative, balanced resume that will get a hiring manager’s attention and set you apart from other candidates. Knowing what to include in a resume can be difficult if you don’t have the right resources. You can easily put together a polished resume in a short amount of time if you follow a template for sharing your professional skills and accomplishments using the right categories.

Table of Contents

The Essentials

There are several required resume sections that all hiring managers and employers look for when they scan resumes. Many people make the mistake of using the wrong format when putting together a resume.

required resume sections

Not knowing what sections to include makes it much harder to impress hiring managers and land job interviews. Hiring managers want to be able to glance at your resume and learn about your skills, qualifications and experiences without reading through too many words or dense paragraphs.

This is why using a professional template for figuring out what to include in your resume is so important.

Contact Information

Your contact information should be placed somewhere near the top of your resume. Be sure to include your full name, address, telephone number and email address. You can also include a website address for your online portfolio. It’s important that your email address is serious and professional. You should also make sure that the outgoing message on your voicemail account is professional.

A Summary Statement or Objective Statement

You should either put a summary statement or an objective statement somewhere near the top of your resume. This will catch an employer’s eye and provide a quick glimpse into what you offer. A summary statement should offer a quick snapshot of your capabilities and accomplishments.

Be sure to use many action verbs in your summary statement. An objective statement should clearly state your intention for applying to a job. This is your chance to let an employer know how the position you’re applying for fits into your long-term career goals.

Employment History

It is very important that you list all of your recent and relevant work experience on your resume. The simplest way to do this is to list each job title in chronological order. You should provide a brief description of your role, responsibilities and successes under each position you list. You should also be sure to list each employer’s name and the city and state each job was located in. Starting dates and ending dates for each job should also be listed.

Education

You should list your educational history and accomplishments below your employment history on your resume. Students and recent graduates may prefer to place the education section above the employment section on a resume to draw attention away from a limited work history.

Degrees should be listed according to completion dates. The name and location of each institution you’ve attended should also be listed. You can also include any information regarding your degree and field of study.

Additional Information Beyond Required Resume Sections

Any information that does not fit into the key categories mentioned above can be placed in a separate section near the bottom of your resume. Some extra pieces of information that may be worth mentioning include memberships in organizations, military-related experience, special technical skills, interesting hobbies, awards and volunteer work.

Take caution to avoid mentioning any affiliations with organizations or groups that may be deemed controversial by some. References shouldn’t be included on your resume unless specifically requested by a hiring manager.

Craft Your Resume the Right Way

Taking time to carefully plan your resume using a professional online resource can really make a big difference once you start applying to jobs. Knowing what sections to include on your resume is crucial if you want to craft something that makes you look like a desirable candidate for the job position you’re applying for.

What to put in a resume?

All resumes should contain everything the employer needs to make sure that you are the best choice for the vacancy position offered. By knowing what to include in your resume, you better the chances of getting a job.

Your resume should match your experience, education, and job goals. Learn what goes into your resume with these resume sections examples and descriptions, and increase your knowledge about what should be on a resume.