A resume is a short argument, not an autobiography. The order of sections should make the argument easy to follow: who you are, what you offer, what you have done, and what supports it.
These defaults work for most US professional applications. Adjust them when your strongest evidence sits elsewhere.
Key takeaways
- Put contact details and your strongest evidence near the top.
- Use standard headings so parsers and recruiters can navigate.
- Lead with experience for experienced candidates; lead with education or projects for students.
- Keep skills specific and relevant.
- Use the same section order throughout the document.
Header
Your name, city and state, email, phone, and one relevant link. You do not need a full street address. Use a professional email and a phone number you answer. Keep the header as plain text.
Summary
Two or three lines that state your role, level, domain, and strongest evidence. Avoid an objective statement about what you want; write about what you offer. Example: "Customer support specialist with six years in SaaS, including Zendesk administration and a 96% CSAT across 1,200 accounts."
Skills
Use a short, specific list of tools, platforms, and hard skills that appear in the job post and are true for you. Group them if helpful: Support tools, Analysis, Languages. Do not use progress bars or rating dots.
Experience
Use reverse-chronological entries with job title, employer, location, dates, and 3-6 bullets for recent relevant roles. Older roles can have fewer bullets. Start each bullet with an action verb and include evidence where you can.
Education, projects, and certifications
For experienced candidates, education can sit below experience. For students and career changers, a relevant project or certification may deserve more prominence. Include the institution, credential, and date; add honors only when they are meaningful.
When to change the order
If you are a student, lead with education and relevant projects. If you are changing fields, lead with a targeted summary and a skills section that shows the bridge. If you have a long employment gap, lead with the most relevant recent work or training rather than an apology.
Frequently asked questions
Should skills come before experience?
It depends. A skills section near the top helps keyword scanning and career changers. Experienced candidates often put experience first because it carries the strongest evidence.
Do I need a summary?
It is optional, but a focused three-line summary can help a recruiter understand your target and level quickly. Avoid generic filler.
Where do certifications go?
Put them near education or in a dedicated Certifications section. Include the full credential name and date if it is current.
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