Resume-writing 101 (sample resumes included)
Whether you're a recent graduate applying for your first job or a workforce veteran who has held the same job for years, you may need some help – or a helpful reminder – of what a resume should look like and what should be included.
To start, there are a few different resume formats to consider: chronological, functional and a combination of both. For this article, we're referencing chronological, which is the most commonly used format.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to resume writing. It's always important to customize your resume to fit your experience, as well as the industry and job description.
Now that we've gotten those disclaimers out of the way, here's a rundown of what to include in your resume – section by section – along with some industry-specific samples.
Contact information
The header of your resume is where you should include your basic contact information: name, address, phone number (the number you can most easily be reached at), and email address. Depending on your industry, you may want to also include links or addresses to your Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and/or Instagram profiles.
Professional summary
A professional summary is a concise, one- to two-sentence overview of your skills and work experience. This is often most beneficial for experienced workers, because it's a way to recap your diverse capabilities at the top of your resume. Keep it brief,sticking to short sentences and short words where possible. Here's one example: Marketing professional with more than 10 years of experience in online, interactive marketing and advertising in a B2B capacity.
Education and training
If you've just graduated, it's OK to include your GPA and any coursework relevant to the position. If you're a few years out of college, ditch that info and keep it simple, listing the college you attended and its location, the degree(s) you graduated with and years attended (you can omit that last part if you're concerned about ageism). Also add any additional schooling or certifications received, especially if you've attained skills that will help you be successful on the job.
Resume examples
Now that you know what should go in your resume, here are some industry-specific examples to inspire you.
