8 Things You Must Include in your Resume

Writing a resume is an important step in the application process for entry-level jobs, internships, and other post-secondary opportunities. It can often feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re just starting out.

Luckily, there are several elements that can help frame your resume in the best possible light for employers and recruiters while also conveying your skills and abilities.

You might feel confused if you are making a resume for the first time, but no worries, we are here to help you out today. Here’s a list of 8 things you must include in your resume that can have a positive impact on the hiring manager.

Education

It’s great to list your education, but it’s even better when you highlight specific accomplishments.

For example, if you received an award for being the best accounting major that year or have some notable extracurricular activities then you should include that information on your resume.

Also including these things on your resume will give your application some more weight in comparison to other applicants.
Also read: Snapchat Planets: Order & Meaning Explained (Complete Guide!)

Achievements

You might not think that your achievements are very important, but the hiring manager will most likely appreciate knowing what you’ve accomplished or how many positions you have held in the past.

A good way of doing this is by adding a ‘Summary of Skills‘ section where you can include all these things. This section should include any technical skills, languages, specific work experiences, and anything else that’s relevant to the job description.

Tip – You can easily create a resume for yourself using resume builders. It gives you lots of templates and customization features. Some resume builders are paid, but if you want a free method, you can use google docs or MS word.

Work Experience

This is probably the most important part of your resume if you’re looking for an internship or entry-level job. You need to show some experience so it makes sense why they’d hire you over another applicant.

This is why you should list all of your past positions, the responsibilities for each one, and any special projects that you worked on.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to include a ‘Skills’ section at the end of your work history where you can highlight some of those technical skills that were mentioned above. You can also include hobbies or other activities that pertain to the job description here as well. Just make sure they are relevant.
Also read: 20+ Best Omegle Alternatives, Apps Like Omegle To Chat With Random Peoples

References

References are not always necessary on a resume, but if you have them available to provide additional information about your skills and abilities then it’s probably best to include them.

Having references available will show the employer that you’re confident enough in your past work experience that you can vouch for others who know what it’s like to work with you.

If possible, choose people who are in the same industry as the hiring manager so they can give more insight into what you’re all about.

Formatting Matters

Formatting is important when writing a resume because it helps break up large blocks of text and make everything easier to read.

There are many different ways to format a resume like chronological or functional formats, but no matter which one you decide to use, you need to make sure that your contact information is easily accessible.

Additionally, it is typically a good idea to stick with commonly used fonts like Arial or Times New Roman when formatting your resume.

They are common and easy for employers to read. There are other fonts that can be more aesthetically pleasing, but the last thing you want in this situation is for them not to be able to clearly understand what is on your resume.
Also read: 10 Best AI Video Generators In 2024 (Free & Paid)

Experience (if any)

Did you have a job on the side while in school? How about an internship or volunteer work? You need to make sure that those experiences are listed on your resume if they relate to the job you want.

You also need to make sure that all of your past work experiences are listed in reverse chronological order (most recent at the top). This will demonstrate how much professional experience you have and make it easier for employers to see how long you’ve been doing what you do.

Additionally, if there are any notable accomplishments or awards that were given for these positions then make sure to highlight them. If not, don’t worry about it too much because having an internship is always better than not having one at all.

Lastly, try not to go overboard with extra activities outside of work unless they are related to the position that you’re applying for.

For example, if a company is looking for someone who has good communication skills then you should include any awards or activities that have to do with public speaking. Just make sure they are relevant, otherwise, it might be best just to leave them off the resume.

Objective

While not all resumes need an objective, some people prefer to include one because it lets the hiring manager know exactly what type of position they are applying for.

There’s no right or wrong way to write your objective, but make sure it is tailored specifically for this job and shows how your past experiences will lead to success in this role.

Also, try not to repeat the company name in your objective if possible; instead, focus on finding ways that your experience can benefit their company in particular.
Also read: Top 5 Automation Tools to Streamline Workflows for Busy IT Teams

Skills

Some people prefer to have a ‘skills’ section on their resume just after the objective. This is an excellent way to let hiring managers know what kind of technical skills you have that are relevant to this position.

For example, if you’re applying for a job that requires knowledge about Microsoft Word then you should list ‘Microsoft Word’, ‘Microsoft Excel‘, etc. in your description of skills.

This will make it easier for them to find keywords they might be searching for when looking through resumes. If possible, try to include some superlatives like “proficient” or “advanced” in front of certain words so employers can see how good you are at using them.

We hope these tips were helpful and that you now feel much more confident about the information you want to include on your resume.
Also read: 12 BEST Vocabulary Apps For Adults In 2024

In conclusion

These were the eight most important things to be included in a resume, other than the contact information. You can skip some sections if it is not required for your resume and work on the rest. With that being said, we conclude this guide here.

Rajesh Jhamb

Rajesh Jhamb has over 7 years of client Digital Marketing experience and has helped corporations such as Bitdefender, NordVPN, Ning, ExpressVPN and countless others use the web to drive online visibility and generate leads.

Follow us :