What Should a Resume Include?

Your resume is more than just a list of your previous jobs, tasks and responsibilities; it’s your opportunity to tell your professional story and showcase the value you bring. If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while or are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of updating your resume, don’t worry - you’re not alone! Below we are breaking down what the perfect resume should include to give you confidence and help you stand out to potential employers.

1. A Strong Opening: Contact Information

At the top of your resume, clearly list your contact details - name, location, phone number and email address. Consider including a professional title underneath your name that aligns with the role you’re applying for (eg. Meg Harrison – Business Development Manager). But remember, no need for overkill. Skip the excessive personal details like your date of birth. Simple, clean, and professional is the way to go!

Key Tip:

• Use a professional email address (preferably one with your name), and avoid anything too casual (like crazycatlady88@gmail.com). A small detail like this sets the right tone.

2. A Powerful Professional Summary

Your resume’s professional summary should feel like your elevator pitch - a concise, compelling snapshot of who you are professionally. Focus on your years of relevant experience, transferable skills and career highlights that align with the role you’re targeting.

For example:
‘Experienced Human Resources Specialist with 8 years in employee relations and talent acquisition, eager to apply expertise in building high-performance teams and a positive workplace culture with [Company Name].’

Key Tip:

• If you’ve had a career break, use this section to explain your readiness and passion for the role, focusing on what you can bring to the table rather than what you’ve missed.

3. Key Skills Section

Many applicants forget to highlight their skills, but this is an essential part of a perfect resume. Whether it’s technical skills, transferrable (soft) skills, or industry-specific abilities, listing them underneath your Professional Summary gives employers a quick glance at what you bring to the table.

For example, if you’ve been in a long-term role and feel nervous about your transferable skills, remember that leadership, communication, project management, and even emotional intelligence are highly valued.

Key Tip:

• Always tailor your skills section to the key criteria in the job description. If the role asks for project management skills or proficiency in a particular software or program, make sure those are some of the first skills listed.

4. Tailored Work Experience

When it comes to your professional experience, less is more. Focus on quality, not quantity. List only the jobs that are recent (the past 10-15 years) and relevant to the position you’re applying for. Make sure to emphasise your key achievements in each role, not just your duties.

Instead of writing:
‘Responsible for managing social media accounts’

Say:
‘Increased social media engagement by 45% in 6 months, driving website traffic and managing new customer acquisition.’

Key Tip:

• Use action verbs to demonstrate what you achieved, such as ‘led,’ ‘executed’, ‘managed,’ ‘developed,’ or ‘improved.’ This shows that you’re proactive and results-driven.

5. Education and Professional Development

Your education section is particularly important when your qualifications are directly related to the job. Include your degree(s), the institution(s) you attended, and the years you studied. If you are concerned about the potential for age-related bias in the hiring process, you can leave off the years you studied.

If you’ve been in your career for a while or perhaps you don’t hold any formal qualifications, you may be able to include relevant certifications, courses, workshops, and seminars. It shows that you’re committed to staying updated in your field.

Key Tip:

• If you’ve taken online courses or completed certifications during a career break, list them here. It demonstrates that you’ve used your time productively and are serious about your professional growth.

6. Volunteering and Community Involvement

Don’t overlook the power of volunteering, especially if you’re looking to make a career change and it relates to the industry in which you’re applying for jobs.

For example:
‘Led a fundraising campaign that raised $10,000 for local charities, coordinating a team of 15 volunteers to execute events and support campaign objectives’.

If you are applying for jobs in the not-for-profit sector, fundraising or event management areas, this volunteer experience could be seen as extremely valuable by a potential employer.

Key Tip:

• Highlight relevant volunteer experience that showcases your skills, especially if you’ve had a career gap or are looking to make a career change. This demonstrates that your spare time is filled with meaningful and skill-building activities.

7. Achievements and Metrics

A perfect resume should emphasise measurable accomplishments. Quantifying your successes shows employers that you’re results-oriented and capable of making a tangible impact.

For example:
‘Improved customer retention by 30% through targeted marketing campaigns including [xyz].’

Key Tip:

• Metrics are memorable. Hiring managers are more likely to remember candidates who provide clear, quantifiable results.

8. Formatting and Design

Appearance also matters. A cluttered, overly designed resume can overwhelm the reader, so it’s important to strike a balance between professional and visually appealing. Use clean, easy-to-read fonts, plenty of white space, and bullet points to break up text. Keep it designed in a single column layout, and nice and succinct. Ideally it should be no longer than two pages unless you have extensive leadership or strategic experience.

Key Tip:

• Use bold subheadings and bullet points to break up chunks of text and make your resume easy to skim, as recruiters and hiring managers often spend only seconds reviewing each one.

9. Tailor It to Each Job

Lastly, the perfect resume isn’t one-size-fits-all. Tailor your resume to each job application by tweaking your professional summary, skills, experience, and achievements to match the job description. This shows that you’ve taken the time to understand the role and why you’re a great fit.

If you need expert help in customising your resume for specific roles, consider a professional resume writer to ensure it aligns with industry standards and stands out to employers."

Key Tip:

• Use keywords and key themes from the job ad to help your resume comply with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – software that many companies use to screen applications.

To learn more about optimising your resume for ATS, see my previous blog post here: How To Optimise Your Resume For ATS.

There’s more to just following these steps to create the perfect resume. Remember, confidence is key. If you believe in yourself, your experiences, skills and abilities, it will shine through in your resume and throughout the rest of the hiring process.

Still think you need help creating a new resume that will ensure you stand out? Reach out for a consultation today.