What Should a Resume Include Plus 10 Tips for Writing an Effective Resume

Hightlights

1. A strong resume clearly showcases skills, experience, and career goals, helping job seekers stand out to employers.
2. Make resumes ATS-friendly, include relevant details, use clear language, and tailor each resume to the job role.
3. Professional resumes should have contact info, a summary, work experience, education, skills, and optional sections.
4. First-job resumes focus on education, skills, projects, volunteering, and concise objectives to impress employers.
5. Even without experience, use a functional format, highlight achievements, and keep summaries short and targeted.

A strong resume is the first step toward getting noticed by employers. It clearly shows your skills, experience, and career goals in a simple format. However, many job seekers struggle to decide what details matter most. That is why understanding what should a resume include is so essential.

In this article, we will outline the essential sections of a resume and provide practical writing tips. Whether you are applying through a job search website or searching for jobs hiring immediately, this guide will help you create a resume that stands out and gets results.

How to Write Resume for Job 10 Effective Tips

Writing a strong resume takes more than listing your experience. It requires clear structure, relevant details, and careful wording.

Below are practical tips to help you enhance your resume and increase your chances of being noticed.

1. Make Your Resume ATS Friendly

First, it is essential to understand how employers review applications today. Many companies rely on an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to filter candidates. Therefore, use standard headings, simple formatting, and keywords exactly as written in the job description.

2. Include Only Relevant Information

Next, focus on details that match the job you want. Recruiters look for precise alignment with the role. As a result, remove unrelated experience and keep content directly connected to the position.

3. Update Your Resume for Each Job

Every role has different requirements and expectations. A general resume often misses key details. For this reason, adjust your skills and experience to match the job description better.

4. Keep It Simple and Professional

A clean design helps employers quickly read your resume. Complicated layouts can distract from your content. Use a simple structure, a readable font, and limit your resume to one or two pages.

5. Use Clear and Active Language

The way you describe your work matters. Strong wording helps your achievements stand out. That is why using powerful verbs like achieved, completed, or secured makes your experience more impactful.

6. Follow a Chronological Format

Hiring managers typically expect to see your most recent work first. This makes your career path easier to follow. Because of this, list your most recent experience and education at the top.

7. Make Your Contact Details Easy to Find

Even a great resume fails if employers cannot reach you. Clear contact information is essential. So, place your phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile at the top of the page.

8. Highlight Achievements Instead of Duties

Job responsibilities often look similar across resumes. Results show your actual value. For that reason, focus on what you achieved and include numbers when possible.

9. Add Optional Sections When Relevant

Extra details can strengthen your resume if they support the role. Not every section fits every job. However, certifications, volunteer work, or languages can help you stand out when relevant.

10. Proofread Before Submitting

Small mistakes can leave a bad impression. Accuracy shows professionalism. Finally, review your resume carefully and have someone else review it before submitting your application.

What to Put On a Professional Resume?

A professional resume highlights your experience, skills, and achievements in a clear and concise way. Here’s what to include to make it stand out:

1. Contact Information: Please include your full name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile URL.
2. Professional summary: A brief section showcasing your key skills, experience, and career goals.
3. Work experience: List relevant positions with accomplishments, responsibilities, and measurable results.
4. Education: Include degrees, institutions, dates, and honors if applicable.
5. Skills: Focus on technical and role-specific skills that match the job requirements.
6. Optional sections: Add certifications, awards, languages, or volunteer work to strengthen your profile.
7. Keep it clean and concise: Use a professional layout, clear headings, and avoid clutter for easy reading.

What to Put On a Resume for First Job?

Starting your career is easier with a clear and focused resume. Even without experience, the right sections help employers see your potential and help you find your first job and stay at your first job.

To make your first job resume effective and stand out to recruiters, follow these essential tips:

1. Choose the correct resume format: Use a reverse-chronological format to highlight your education and recent activities clearly.
2. Add accurate contact details: Include your name, email, phone number, city, and country. Add LinkedIn if relevant.
3. Write a clear resume objective: Briefly state your skills, goals, and interest in the role in 2–3 short lines.
4. List education in detail: Mention your degree, institution, dates, GPA if strong, and relevant courses.
5. Replace experience with projects: Add internships, academic projects, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities.
6. Highlight job-related skills: Focus on technical and role-specific skills that match the job description.
7. Include optional sections if useful: Certifications, languages, awards, or volunteering can add value.
8. Keep it one page: A one-page resume is ideal for first-time job seekers.
9. Review resume examples: Use first-job resume samples to improve structure and clarity.

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What to Put On a Resume With No Experience?

If you don’t have work experience yet, don’t worry. Everyone starts somewhere. You can still create a strong resume for your first job by focusing on skills, education, and other relevant experiences:

1. Use a skills-focused resume format: A functional resume emphasizes your abilities rather than work history.
2. Include other experiences: Highlight volunteering, personal projects, or extracurricular activities to demonstrate what you’ve learned.
3. Expand your education section: Feature necessary coursework, projects, or achievements from school that showcase your capabilities.
4. Lean into your skills: Focus on your strengths to make a resume that stands out even without prior professional experience.

What Should I Include in My Resume Summary?

Your resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume that highlights your key skills, experience, and career goals. Here’s what to include to make it effective:

1. Professional title or role: Start with your current or target job title to show your focus.
2. Key skills and strengths: Mention 2–3 main skills that are relevant to the job.
3. Experience highlights: Include a brief note on your most relevant achievements or responsibilities.
4. Career goals or objectives: Show your motivation and how you plan to contribute to the company.
5. Keep it concise: Limit your summary to 2–4 sentences so it’s easy for recruiters to read quickly.

Summary

A resume should clearly show your qualifications, so knowing what should a resume include is essential. Key sections are contact information, professional summary, skills, education, and work experience. Following practical tips helps first-job seekers, candidates with no experience, and professionals create a clear, effective resume that stands out to employers.

FAQ

What Should a Resume Include for a First Job?

A first-job resume should focus on education, key skills, projects, and volunteer experience. Adding a clear objective highlights your career goals and potential to employers.

How Long Should a Resume Be?

A resume should be one to two pages long. Include only the most relevant skills, achievements, and experiences that match the job requirements.

What Is the Purpose of a Resume Summary?

A resume summary provides a concise overview of your skills, experience, and career objectives. It helps recruiters immediately see why you are a strong candidate.