What to Include on Your Resume

Information to include on your resume. 

Contact Information

At the top of your resume, include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile or personal website (if applicable). Use a professional email address.

Example:

              123-456-7890                         linkedin.com/in/bettybuckeye             bettybuckeye@example.com

Objective or Summary (Optional)

An objective or summary is a brief statement about your career goals and what you aim to achieve. This section is optional, but can provide focus.

Example:
Objective: Aspiring marketing professional seeking an internship to apply my skills in social media management and content creation.

Education

List your educational background in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the institution, degree, major, and graduation date. You should only include information from schools from which you received a degree or certificate.

If you are early in your college career, having high school information on your resume is fine. As you gain more experience, you will eventually remove your high school information.

Example:
The Ohio State University
Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor in Journalism            Expected Graduation: May 2025

Experience

List your experiences in reverse chronological order. Your most recent experience is listed first within each section. Include all experiences that demonstrate your qualifications for the position. Skills can be gained anywhere: jobs, internships, research positions, volunteer work, clubs, and student organizations.

Detail your work experience, including internships, part-time jobs, and relevant volunteer work. Use bullet points to highlight your responsibilities and achievements. Start with action verbs and be specific about your contributions. Be mindful of the job description for the position for which you are applying. Make sure you are highlighting the skills and experiences that align with the job qualifications.

Questions to ask yourself to help you write about your experience:

• What did I learn?
• What did I accomplish?
• What skills did I develop?
• Did I have extra responsibilities such as supervising, training, coordinating, and data management?

Use the Winning Formula: Action Verb + Subject + Outcome, Results, Accomplishments

Example:

• Analyzed socialized healthcare and presented findings at a national conference.
• Researched healthcare outcome disparities by socioeconomic status and presented findings to policymakers.
• Wrote a paper comparing U.S. key health indicators to other first-world countries and presented findings to a panel.

Example:
Marketing Intern, ABC Company.             Columbus, OH                             June 2023 – August 2023

•  Managed social media accounts, increasing followers by 20%.
• Assisted in the creation of marketing materials for a new product launch.
• Conducted market research to support the development of marketing strategies.

Skills

List relevant skills, including technical skills, languages, and transferable skills. Be honest and avoid overstating your abilities.
Example:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud
• Experienced in social media management (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Fluent in Spanish
• Strong communication and teamwork skills

Activities and Leadership

Include extracurricular activities, clubs, and leadership positions. Emphasize roles that demonstrate your initiative and leadership abilities.

Example:
President, Student Marketing Association                               August 2022 – Present

• Organized workshops and guest lectures for over 100 members.
• Coordinated with local businesses for sponsorship and collaboration.

Honors and Awards

List any academic honors, scholarships, or awards you have received.

Example:
Dean’s List, Fall 2022 – Spring 2023
Recipient, XYZ Scholarship for Academic Excellence, 2023

Formatting Tips

• Keep your resume to one page.
• Use a clean, professional font such as Times New Roman or Arial.
• Maintain consistent formatting with clear headings and bullet points.
• Save and send your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting.

Proofread

Carefully proofread your resume to ensure there are no errors. Consider asking a friend, family member, or career advisor to review it as well.

Final Tips:

• Tailor your resume for each job application, highlighting the most relevant experiences and skills.
• Be concise and focus on quantifiable achievements.
• Use keywords from the job description to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

By following these guidelines, you can create a strong resume that effectively highlights your qualifications and helps you stand out to potential employers.