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Definitive Guide on What to include in a Resume

Knowing what to include in your resume helps you build a complete, professional document. Here is a definitive guide.

Must-Have

  • Contact info: Name, phone, email. Optionally city/state and LinkedIn.
  • Summary: 2–4 lines tailored to the role. State your value and key strengths.
  • Experience: Jobs in reverse order with company, title, dates, and 2–5 bullets per job. Strong verbs and outcomes.
  • Education: Degree, school, year. Add GPA if strong; include certifications if relevant.
  • Skills: Relevant technical and soft skills. Match the job description.

Optional but Valuable

  • Certifications: When relevant to the role.
  • Projects: For tech or creative roles.
  • Volunteer or activities: When they show skills or fill gaps.
  • Languages: When relevant to the job.

Do Not Include

Age, date of birth, photo (in U.S.), marital status, religion, full references (provide when asked). Avoid anything that could introduce bias or is not relevant to the role.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What must be on a resume?
    Contact info, summary, experience (with bullets), education, and skills. These are the core sections.
  • What should I not include in a resume?
    Do not include age, photo (in U.S.), marital status, religion, or full reference details. Avoid irrelevant or biased content.
  • How many sections should a resume have?
    At least five: contact, summary, experience, education, skills. Add certifications, projects, or volunteer when relevant.
  • What is the most important part of a resume?
    Experience with strong, quantified bullets is often the most important. Summary and skills also matter for ATS and recruiters.