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8 Sections to Include in your Resume and How to Write them

A strong resume has clear sections that recruiters and ATS can follow. Here are 8 sections to include and how to write them.

  1. Contact: Name, phone, email, city/state (optional), LinkedIn (optional). One to two lines at the top.
  2. Summary: 2–4 lines that state your role type, experience, and key strengths. Tailor to the job.
  3. Experience: Jobs in reverse chronological order. For each: company, title, dates, 2–5 bullets with strong verbs and outcomes.
  4. Education: Degree, school, year. Add GPA if strong; include relevant coursework or honors if helpful.
  5. Skills: Technical and soft skills that match the job. Group by category. List only what you can discuss.
  6. Certifications (if relevant): List certs with name, issuing body, and date or expiration.
  7. Projects (if relevant): For tech or creative roles, list projects with name, technologies, and brief description.
  8. Volunteer or other (optional): Brief section if it adds value. Same format as experience.

Order can vary. Put the most relevant sections higher. Use clear headings so ATS and recruiters can parse easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What sections should a resume have?
    Contact, summary, experience, education, skills. Add certifications, projects, or volunteer sections when relevant.
  • In what order should resume sections appear?
    Usually: contact, summary, experience, education, skills. Put the most relevant sections higher for the role.
  • How do I write the experience section?
    List jobs in reverse order. For each: company, title, dates, 2–5 bullets with strong verbs and outcomes.
  • Should I include a summary on my resume?
    Yes. A 2–4 line summary tailored to the job helps recruiters see your value quickly.