Resume Sections: How to Organize a Resume

All good resumes share a vital feature. They have the right resume sections. In the correct order. With the right contents. And you really need to get all these things right, not to get left behind.

In this guide, I’ll show you the following:

• The best and most common resume sections.
• The order of a resume has the maximum impact on recruiters.
• Tips on how to make the most of the sections on a resume.

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If you’re looking for specific info, here’s a table of contents you can use to help you navigate through this article:

• Key 5 Resume Sections Every Resume Should Include

• Additional Sections on a Resume

• How to Order Sections on a Resume

Key 5 Resume Sections Every Resume Should Include

A single glance at a resume should be enough for the recruiter to know whether they’re dealing with an entry-level candidate or a seasoned pro. You can show it by including the right sections on your resume in the right order.

The 5 key sections of a resume are:

• Resume Header (contact information)
• Resume Profile
• Work Experience Section
• Education Section
• Resume Skills Section

It doesn't matter if you're applying for a job in the US or if you're using the Canadian resume format.

Let me tell you more about each one in more detail:

1. Resume Header

If your contact information isn’t there, you can just as well submit a blank page—it will amount to just as much.

Lucky for you, this section of a resume is pretty straightforward. The only information you need to put in here is:

• Your full name
• Your job position
• Phone number
• Email address

Putting your address on a resume is unnecessary, although you may sometimes want to include it. You may also want to consider including your LinkedIn handle in the contact information section. Just make sure it’s up-to-date.

Some things you should never include in this resume section are your race, gender, and your photo. You don’t want to have any information that could lead to having your resume discarded due to discrimination, as half of employers still judge candidates based on appearance.

The only exception is if you’re applying for an appearance-based job, such as an actor, or if you’re writing a biodata for a job.

Examples of Resume Sections—Header

Nicole Zuniga

UX Designer

Phone: 501-872-2516

Email: nicole.zuniga@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/nicolezuniga

Nicole Zuniga

Date of Birth: 07.11.1987

Gender: Female

Marital Status: Married

Phone: 501-872-2516

2. Resume Profile

Your resume profile is either your professional summary or your resume objective. Choose the former if you already have a couple of years of experience, and the latter when you’re just starting your career.

Fortunately, both of them follow pretty much the same rules. When writing this resume section, remember to:

• Limit the length to 3–5 sentences.
• Write the name of the company you’re applying to.
• Use facts and figures to boost your chances.
• Showcase your best skills and achievements.

The main difference between these two types of resume sections is that a resume summary focuses on work achievements, while a resume objective should mention academic wins and extracurricular experiences.

See these examples:

Sections of a Resume—Summary Example

Passionate UX Designer with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to use proven wireframing and prototyping skills to improve Z-Factor’s Apps profitability. At ArcLight, raised average subscription conversion by 21% in 1 year by optimizing the user experience journey. Trained 6 new employees in UX design and created a proprietary A/B testing system, cutting testing costs by 9%.

Passionate, hard-working, go-getting UX Designer, looking for a new position. Highly skilled in visual design, computer graphics, and training. Recently worked at ArcLight as a UX designer specializing in app optimization. Highly proficient with prototyping and A/B testing.

As I mentioned before, this resume section needs to neatly and succinctly highlight your work experience and impressive achievements. Just like a book review, it needs to make the recruiter want to read more. That’s also why numbers are so powerful here.

Now, a resume objective:

Sections of a Resume—Objective Sample

Final year General Engineering student at the University of South Carolina with a projected 3.75 GPA and consistent Dean’s List recognition. Leader of the most successful Engineering Society team, winning 3 out of the last 4 challenges. Practical experience from internships at P&D and SpaceQ, working with mechanical engineers on 3D design and printing, laying a strong foundation for a career at DNP.

I am nearing graduation with a degree in General Engineering from the University of South Carolina. I have a strong interest in CAD and CNC design, and during my two internships, I focused primarily on 3D design and printing. I am now seeking my first engineering position.

The thing is, that second candidate might not be bad, they just can’t showcase their strengths as well as the first example. Oh, and a piece of advice from me, avoid using the first-person pronouns on your resume. It’s an outdated practice.

3. Work Experience

This is the central section of a resume. Recruiters will usually look at this one right after going through your resume profile. That means you must build your experience resume section correctly. To write a good job experience section, follow these steps:

• Write down your job position, company name, and city location.
• Describe your work experience in terms of achievements, not responsibilities.
• Focus on the things applicable to the position you’re pursuing.
• Use numbers to quantify your experience and show your real-life impact.
• Be selective: your resume should go back 10 to 15 years and include as much relevant experience as possible.

And when you’re listing out your job experience, use a chronological resume format. This way, whenever a recruiter reads this resume section, they will always see your most recent experience first.

What does it mean to present your work experience as achievements rather than responsibilities? It means you should always say what you did rather than what you were expected to do.

To visualize what it looks like, check out these examples:

Resume Sections Sample—Work Experience

User Experience Architect

ArcLight, New York

April 2019–Present

• Ran 100+ tests which resulted in developing a user experience journey granting the company a 21% higher conversion rate in subscriptions.
• Assessed functionality of interface design tools and developed 2 new tools, which increased the speed of implementing design changes by about 10%.
• Created microcopy for 25+ products and services, increasing their traffic by up to 33%
• Performed daily interface design systems troubleshooting.

ArcLight, New York, April 2019–Present

User Experience Architect

• Responsible for performing daily system troubleshooting.
• Ran A/B tests to improve user experience on websites.
• Assessment of functionality of the interface design.
• Writing microcopy for several products and services.

Expert Hint: Remember that no recruiter wants to read huge paragraphs of text, especially in this section of a resume. Organize your experience into short and strong resume bullet points to maximize their effectiveness.

4. Education Section

Just like when you list out your job experience, you’ll want to segregate your resume education section with your most recent, highest degree at the top. If you have a university degree, mark just that. Going back to high school is unnecessary.

Each entry in your resume education section should include the following information:

• Type of Degree (Master’s, Bachelor’s)
• Name of Your Major/Minor
• Your School’s Name, City, and Country
• Dates for Both Start and Graduation (Month, Year), or Expected Graduation Date

If you’re starting out, it may be wise to put some effort into this area. It’s a great place to list any potential extracurricular activities, relevant coursework, publications, etc. If your work experience section isn’t too impressive, this part of a resume is where you can shine!

See the examples:

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Bachelor of Science in General Engineering

August 2018 – May 2022

Relevant Coursework:

• Engineering Design and Graphics: Focus on CAD software and engineering drawing standards.
• Mechanics of Materials: Study of stress, strain, and deformation of materials under various loads.
• Thermodynamics: Principles of energy transfer, heat engines, and refrigeration cycles.
• Fluid Mechanics: Analysis of fluid flow, pressure, and forces in engineering applications.

Projects:

• Senior Design Project: Automated Sorting System
• Developed a fully automated sorting system for recyclable materials.
• Utilized CAD software to design mechanical components and integrated sensors for material identification.
• Coordinated with a team of four to prototype and test the system, achieving a 95% sorting accuracy rate.
• 3D Printing and Design Internship Project at SpaceQ
• Designed and printed custom components for aerospace applications using advanced 3D printing techniques.
• Collaborated with mechanical engineers to optimize design for manufacturability and performance.
• Successfully reduced the weight of a critical component by 20% while maintaining structural integrity.

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Bachelor of Science in General Engineering

August 2018 – May 2022

GPA: 3.35

The first sample of this resume section is as good as a couple of years of work experience. On the other hand, the second doesn’t show anything and makes a mistake of mentioning GPA, when it’s under 3.5.

5. Resume Skills

The skills section on a resume may appear insignificant, but it’s vital. Job listings always have many skills in them, whether hidden in their description or sitting in plain sight under “job requirements.” We call them resume keywords. And the skills resume section is the best place to show the recruiter that you have all the qualities they are looking for!

Sometimes you may come across resume templates that separate the skills section into two separate skill categories for a resume. While you should include a mix of hard and soft skills on your resume, don’t split them into separate sections. It’s a common mistake in which people want to put at least ten skills in each skills' category on their resume, going above the recommended resume length. The best way to create a skills resume section is to list them as short bullet points. Also, try to include 8-10 skills total in this section.

So, your skills resume section should look something like that:

Resume Sections Example—Skills

Skills

• SEO
• Storytelling
• Visual design
• Copywriting
• Creative thinking
• Communication
• MS Office
• Agile project management
• Networking
• Digital Marketing

Those were the top 5 key sections of your resume. Now, I’ll tell you about bonus sections.

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Additional Sections on a Resume

Before adding additional sections, ensure they enrich your resume rather than dilute its value. For example, if the job listing says fluency in French and German is beneficial, add a languages section and show your expertise if you know them. Similarly, if you know neither of these languages, omit this resume section and don’t mention it.

So, what popular resume sections can you use? Let’s briefly go through some of them.

1. Languages Section on Resume

Additional languages on a resume can be very beneficial. Even if the job offer doesn’t specifically list any languages, employers often look positively at applicants who know multiple languages. So don’t hesitate to show your language abilities.

Here’s what this resume section may look like:

Resume Section Example—-Languages

• American English—ILR 5 (Native/Bilingual)
• Spanish—ILR 5 (Native/Bilingual)
• French Canadian—ILR 3 Certified

• American English
• Spanish
• French Canadian

Expert Hint: Remember always to provide a level of proficiency. There is a huge difference between being able to hold a conversation and working using a specific language.

2. Hobbies and Interests Section on a Resume

This section is more tricky than it seems. The hobbies and interests on a resume can say a lot about you, and they may also corroborate your previously mentioned skills. If you mentioned in your resume that you’re a very patient person, you could confirm it here by listing painting as one of your hobbies.

But don’t mention any irrelevant or controversial hobbies. And if you’re not sure what hobbies you could include, see our article on good hobbies and interests for a resume.

Resume Sections—Hobbies Example

• VR and AR development
• Robotics and automation
• Drone building and piloting

3. Certificates and Awards Resume Sections

In practically every working field, there are certifications to be earned. These can show in which areas you’re exceptionally proficient and showcase the scope of your knowledge. Having recognizable certifications on a resume can significantly boost your chances of getting a job.

Awards are a bit less common, and they can be anything from “Employee of the Month”, up to military service honors. So, only include these resume sections if your certifications and awards apply to the job you’re pursuing.

Sections of a Resume—Certifications

• Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA), Dassault Systèmes, June 2022
• OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Certification, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), March 2021
• Certified Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals (CAM-F), SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), September 2020

• Certified SolidWorks Associate
• Certified Engineering Technician
• OSHA General Industry Certification

Expert Hint: Not every course ends with a certificate. If you attended some courses like that and want to show it, create a ‘Courses’ resume section.

4. Publications Section on a Resume

Publications on a resume are a great way to show your expert knowledge. Not everyone can boast that they have any articles published, which means you’ll really stand out from the crowd if you do! But remember not to go overboard with them. Instead, list only a couple of the most relevant and prominent ones.

When it comes to formatting, follow this template for magazines and web-based publications:

[“Publication Title”], [Where it Was Published], [Month and Year]

Books are a bit more complicated than that, use an APA format or an MLP one.

Sections of a Resume—Publications

• “Automated Sorting System for Recyclable Materials”, Journal of Environmental Engineering, March 2022
• “Optimizing 3D Printing Techniques for Aerospace Applications”, International Journal of Additive Manufacturing, December 2021
• “Advancements in CAD/CNC Design for Efficient Manufacturing”, Mechanical Engineering Review, June 2021
• “Stress Analysis of Materials Under Variable Loads”, Journal of Applied Mechanics, September 2020

• Featured in Journal of Environmental Engineering
• Featured in Mechanical Engineering Review

5. Associations and Memberships Resume Section

Maybe you’re an active member of an organization with a history of expertise in the industry. If so, why not highlight it in a membership resume section? You should format your memberships in this way:

[Organization Name], [Your Title in the Organization]

And under that, list some relevant achievements and contributions. For these, follow the same style as when writing your work experience section.

Resume Sections—Membership Examples

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Member

• Organized and led a workshop on advanced CAD techniques, attended by over 50 students and professionals.

Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Volunteer Engineer

• Contributed to the design and implementation of a sustainable water filtration system for a rural community, improving access to clean water for over 200 residents.

• Volunteer Engineer
• ASME Member

6. References Section for a Resume

References on a resume are a unique section. Do you know how on LinkedIn, you can write references under someone’s profile? This works the same on a resume. If an industry expert vouches for you and agrees to you putting their name and email address on a resume, go for it. Some names will get you instant recognition. Use the following format if you decide to include references.

[Reference’s First & Last Name]

[Their Professional Title]

[Name of Their Company]

[Company Street Address]

[Company City, State & Zip Code]

[Reference’s Work Phone Number]

[Reference’s Work Email Address]

7. Volunteering Experience Resume Category

Volunteer work on a resume is especially beneficial for employees with little to no experience. It can show your hard work, dedication, and compassion. And most importantly of all, even if you didn’t work for money, you still worked. And work is experience. Some of which can be very relevant and wow the recruiter. For the volunteering resume section, use the same format as you did with the work experience resume category.

Resume Sections Examples—Volunteering

• Coached a team of 12-15 year-olds, focusing on developing their technical skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
• Organized and led weekly training sessions and seasonal tournaments, resulting in improved team performance and increased participation.
• Mentored young athletes, providing guidance on both soccer and personal development, fostering a positive and supportive environment.

Riverton Soccer League, Volunteer Soccer Coach

Volunteer Soccer Coach

• Coaching kids
• Tournament training

8. Conferences Section on a Resume

The art of public speaking is a rare one. Add to that the knowledge that’s expert enough for you to be a speaker at a conference, and you have yourself a fantastic achievement. To write a conference resume section, use a layout similar to publications:

[“Presentation Title”], [Event Name], [City], [Month and Year]

Resume Section Sample—Conferences

• “Advancements in Neural Network Optimization,” International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), Vienna, July 2021
• “Applications of Deep Learning in Image Recognition,” IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), Los Angeles, June 2020
• “Scalable Machine Learning for Big Data,” NeurIPS Conference, Vancouver, December 2019

• Presented at conferences in Vienna, Los Angeles, and Vancouver on various subjects related to machine learning.

9. Extracurricular Activities Category on a Resume

Treat this as an “everything else” section. When putting extracurricular activities on a resume, you should first decide whether they are relevant enough. Then, depending on the activities, either write them as a bullet list or, if you have some specific achievement to show, use the tried and tested work experience format. This section can include sports clubs, student organization memberships, abroad studies, or fundraisers.

And since that was a lot to remember, here’s a handy infographic to make it a bit more digestible:

How to Order Sections on a Resume

When writing a resume, you most likely fall under one of three categories, each slightly impacting the way you should order your resume sections:

1. You’re writing a resume as an experienced candidate.
2. You’re putting together your first resume with no experience.
3. Or, you’re writing a career change resume.

With these three cases in mind, let’s see how you should order your resume. Let’s start with the standard resume outline for someone with a couple of years of experience already.

Order of Sections on an Experienced Resume

1. Contact Details
2. Professional Summary
3. Experience
4. Education
5. Skills
6. Relevant Additional Sections

There are two primary things to consider in this case. The first one is the use of a professional summary. The second is the placement of the experience section on the resume. Why are these important? Let’s look at the structure of an entry-level resume to compare.

Order of Sections on a Resume With No Experience

1. Contact Details
2. Career Objective
3. Education Section
4. Relevant Experience / Internships
5. Extra-Curricular Activities
6. Skills
7. Hobbies and Interests

Do you see the differences? This time, the professional summary has changed into a career objective, and the education section is put before the experience section. So, why is that the case?

It’s simple: when you don’t have any experience or your experience is minimal and barely relevant, you need to show the recruiter something else that you have. And that thing is usually your education. Of course, if you have relevant experience, you should showcase it in every resume format.

And what about the career objective? That also has a lot to do with your lack of experience. Although it’s in the same place on a resume as a professional summary, so the order doesn’t change, it should be written differently, with another goal in mind.

Also, I recommend adding a hobbies and interests section right after your skills for inexperienced resumes. This allows you to confirm your skills by showing the recruiter your relevant passions. As a more experienced employee, you might want to add different resume sections there, such as publications, or received awards.

Order of Sections on a Resume for Career Change

1. Contact Details
2. Career Objective
3. Relevant Experience 
4. (Optional) Additional Experience
5. Education
6. Skills
7. Extra Sections

The thing with changing a career is that you may have had a lot of experience, but most of it could be irrelevant to the position you’re currently pursuing. And you need to adapt to it by slightly altering the professional resume format.

That’s why you should opt for the professional objective (rather than the summary) and follow it up with your relevant experience. This way, you’ll show the recruiter your motivation and back it up with examples. Also, you may consider including an additional experience resume section where you can put things indirectly related to the job you want to get.

And just like in the previous cases, let relevance guide your choice of what additional resume sections to include.

Expert Hint: Changing careers can be stressful—I’ve been there myself. That’s why we have a great guide specifically for writing a resume for a career change.

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Key Points

The most important sections of a resume you need to include are:

• Contact Details
• Resume Profile
• Professional Experience
• Education
• Skills

There are also a lot of optional sections you can pull from to enhance your resume even further. These include certifications, known languages, publications, interests, and more.

Do you have any questions? Would you like to share your observations on resume sections and their order? I’d love to hear from you! Please give me a shout-out in the comments below.