Whether you’re writing your first document or refreshing a seasoned one, understanding the outline of a resume ensures your application is clear, compelling, and well‑organized. Below you’ll find a structured walkthrough covering essential sections, format choices, and customizations for different experience levels.
Why start with a solid outline
A well‑defined outline acts as a blueprint. It helps you
- ensure you’ve included all core sections,
- arrange information in a logical order,
- customize content efficiently for different job applications. Guidance recommends that a resume include “all the standard resume sections” such as header, summary/objective, experience, education, and skills. Likewise, establishing structure up front frees you to focus on content quality rather than layout.
Choose the right format
Before filling in your outline, pick a format that suits your background:
- Chronological — Lists work experience from most recent backwards. Ideal for steady career progression.
- Functional — Focuses on skills rather than job history. Useful if you’re switching careers or have employment gaps.
- Combination — Blends skills and experience to highlight both. Good for showcasing both depth and breadth.
Core sections of your resume outline
Here’s a recommended order and description of each section to include in your outline of a resume.
1. Contact Information
- Full name
- Phone number and professional email
- City & state (optional full address depending on culture/region)
- Optional: LinkedIn URL, portfolio/website link Indeed calls this the first actionable section: “Start by creating a section to detail your contact information.” Include this at the very top so readers can quickly identify you.
2. Summary or Objective Statement
- Summary: 2‑3 sentences that highlight your years of experience, top skills, and key achievements if you have substantial work history.
- Objective: 2‑3 sentences geared toward your career goals and what you bring, if you’re early in your career or changing fields. LiveCareer notes: “Opt for a resume objective if you lack work experience.” Make this section tailored to the job you’re applying for rather than generic.
3. Professional Experience (or Relevant Experience)
- List jobs in reverse‑chronological order (most recent first) if using chronological or combination format.
- For each job: job title, company name, location, dates of employment. Then 3‑5 bullet points with action verbs, what you did, how you did it, and ideally quantifiable outcome.
- If you’re entry‑level or shifting careers: you may rename this section Relevant Experience and include internships, volunteer projects, extracurriculars.
4. Skills
- A concise list of key competencies (hard skills + soft skills) relevant to the target role.
- If applicable, consider grouping by category (e.g., Technical Skills | Interpersonal Skills). Indeed suggests separating into categories for clarity.
5. Education
- Degree(s) earned, institution name, location, graduation date (optional depending on recency/role).
- For recent graduates: you may include GPA, relevant coursework, honors. For more experienced professionals: you may shorten this section.
6. Optional Additional Sections
Include these only if they add value relative to the role:
- Certifications & Licenses
- Awards & Honors
- Volunteer Work / Community Involvement
- Languages
- Professional Affiliations
- Projects / Relevant Coursework BeamJobs lists these as “optional…but could help you stand out.”
Example Outline Template
Here’s a clean outline you can adapt when writing your own:
[CONTACT INFORMATION]
Name | Email | Phone | City, State | LinkedIn/Portfolio (optional)
[SUMMARY OR OBJECTIVE]
Short 2‑3 sentences focused on you + what you bring + role you seek
[SKILLS]
- Skill 1 • Skill 2 • Skill 3 • Skill 4
(Maybe group: Technical Skills / Interpersonal Skills)
[PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE]
Job Title | Company Name | City, State | Dates
- Action verb + what you did + how/impact/result
- …
Earlier Job Title | Company | Location | Dates - …
[EDUCATION]
Degree, Major | Institution – City, State | Year
(If recent: include GPA/honors)
[ADDITIONAL SECTIONS – optional]
- Certifications: CertName, Org – Year
- Awards: AwardName – Year
- Languages: Language (proficiency)
- Volunteering: Role, Organization – Year
Tips for making the outline work for you
- Start by drafting this outline in a plain document: filling in each placeholder with your details.
- Then tailor it to each job: highlight skills/achievements that align with the job description. Indeed emphasizes this tailoring step.
- Use consistent formatting and clear headings so a reader (or Applicant Tracking System) can scan quickly.
- Focus on accomplishments rather than just duties. Use measurable results when possible. Columbia University Center advice: “Use action verbs, be specific, use the STAR method, and answer ‘what, how, and why’.”
Why this structure matters
A resume is an advertisement for your professional story. As the University of Illinois notes: it “outlines your experiences and skills … and should highlight your strongest assets.”
By using the outline of a resume described above, you provide recruiters with a logical flow: who you are → what you’ve done → what you can bring. That clarity and organization increases your chances of making a strong impression.
Conclusion
Crafting a thoughtful outline of a resume before you dive into formatting and populating content gives you a roadmap rather than starting with a blank page. Use the sections above as your backbone, fill in your data, then tailor for each application.
When you’re ready for the next step—writing strong bullet points, refining wording, or aligning your resume with specific job postings—consider also generating a tailored cover letter. And if you’d like help with that, remember you can start with an AI‑powered solution at https://letterlab.io.