Your resume is a document with a specific structure that recruiters and ATS systems expect. Understanding what goes in each section and in what order can significantly improve your chances of landing an interview. Here's a complete breakdown of every resume section.
While you can customize the order slightly, this is the standard layout that works best for most job seekers:
This should include your full name, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn profile URL, and optionally your city and state. Keep it clean and minimal. Do not include your full street address, photo, or personal social media links.
A 2-4 sentence snapshot of your experience and value proposition. Think of it as your personal brand statement. For writing help, see How to Write a Resume Summary That Gets Noticed.
List your most relevant hard skills and technical competencies. Group related skills together. This section has become increasingly important with skills-based hiring on the rise.
This is the most important section. For each role, include:
Focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities. Use numbers and metrics whenever possible.
List your degrees in reverse chronological order. Include the institution name, degree type, and graduation year. Add GPA and honors only if you're a recent graduate.
For entry-level advice, see Entry-Level Resume Guide With No Experience.
Certifications: Especially important in regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and IT.
Languages: List proficiency levels (e.g., "Fluent," "Professional Working").
Volunteer Work: Shows community involvement and fills experience gaps.
Projects: Significant academic, open-source, or side projects.
Publications/Presentations: Essential for academic and research roles.
Skip the "References Available Upon Request" line, your photo, your age, your GPA (unless you're a new grad), and any outdated technology skills.
For more on length and formatting, see Ideal Resume Length: How Many Pages? and What to Include in a Resume in 2026.
YoureHyred's resume builder provides expert guidance for every section. Each field includes examples, prompts, and tips to help you write compelling content that gets results. Start structuring your resume the right way today.
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