3 key takeaways
You control how employers see your value. And the parts of a resume make or break your chances of getting employers to see that value—quickly and clearly.
Modern resumes demand more than task lists, they showcase achievements and impact throughout each component. Strong resume parts? They’re what turn qualifications into evidence of your expertise and skills.
This guide breaks down each essential parts of a resume and shows you exactly how to optimize them for your target roles.
Need to create a resume with all the right parts? Teal's AI Resume Builder has every element you need (for free!).
Why you need different parts of a resume
A resume is more than a list of experiences. And each part serves a distinct strategic purpose. Contact details ensure employers can reach you, while a professional summary hooks their interest with relevant achievements. Other sections validate your expertise, prove your impact with concrete results, and help recruiters find you in ATS systems. Together, these carefully crafted elements guide hiring managers through your professional story—from first glance to interview decision.
Parts of a resume
The essential parts you put on a resume work together to present your qualifications clearly and convincingly.
The 7 parts of a resume are:
- Contact Information
- Target Title
- Professional Summary
- Work Experience
- Education
- Certifications
- Skills
Here’s what they look like together:
These components also work together differently for each application. While a software developer's details might emphasize technical skills and project outcomes, a sales manager's resume components highlight revenue growth and team leadership.
Let's explore how each element functions in today's job market, starting with the foundation of every application—your contact information.
Skip the structure stress
Teal's AI Resume Builder has every part of a resume you need—plus optional ones—and lets you rename or customize each one to match your unique experience.
Instead of wrestling with formatting and placement (and wondering if you have every part you need), focus on what matters: showcasing your achievements.
Contact Information
Your contact information opens your resume. Place it prominently at the top. Include:
- Full name: Use your official name, not nicknames
- Professional email: [email protected] works best
- Location: City and state only
- LinkedIn URL: Full profile link, customized to remove number strings
- Portfolio or website: Only if relevant to your target role
Make every detail easy to read and click. Skip outdated resume elements like your street address or multiple phone numbers. Recruiters need to reach you quickly—give them exactly what they need, nothing more or unnecessary.
Pro Tip: Test every link before sending your resume. Nothing kills momentum faster than a broken portfolio URL or mistyped email address.
Target Title
Position your target title directly below your contact information. This key resume component tells recruiters exactly what role you’re applying for. (It’s also one of the first things they’ll search for in Applicant Tracking Systems).
Match your target title to the job you want, not just titles you've held—including updating it for each application to mirror their specific job posting language as closely as possible.
A target title should:
- Mirror the exact job posting title when possible
- Reflect your career level accurately
- Use industry-standard terminology
Examples:
Content Writer applying for a senior role → "Senior Content Strategist"
Marketing Manager seeking growth → "Marketing Director"
Sales Representative targeting new industry → "Technology Sales Executive"
Professional Summary
Your resume summary packs immediate proof of your value into 3-5 powerful sentences or bullet points. Instead of a resume objective or resume objective statement, the focus of this part of your resume is strictly on what you have to offer—not what you hope to do or your goals. Place your resume summary directly under your target title to grab attention quickly.
A strong professional summary includes:
- Years of relevant experience
- Key skills that match the job
- Specific achievements with numbers
- Industry expertiseCareer progression
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Work Experience
Your Work Experience is a core resume component that needs specific achievements, not just task lists. Organize your experience in reverse chronological order, placing your most recent role first.
Include for each position:
- Company name (add brief description for lesser-known organizations)
- Your exact job title
- Location or "Remote"
- Employment dates (month/year)
- 3-5 achievement-focused bullet points
Pro Tip: Each bullet should connect what you did to measurable business impact. Focus on numbers, percentages, revenue, savings, or user growth that demonstrate your value.
Education
Keep education straightforward and relevant. This part of a resume typically stays consistent across applications (but may need adjustment if the role specifies certain educational requirements).
Place education after work experience unless you're a recent graduate or career changer, then it can be moved up higher and incorporate projects or coursework as a focus. In traditional situations, let your most compelling qualifications lead your resume.
Starting with your highest level of education, include:
- Degree name and major
- University name
- Graduation date
Example:
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
University of Texas at Austin
May 2022
Certifications
Strengthen your resume with relevant credentials that align with your target role's requirements. Current certifications prove your commitment to professional growth and validate specific skill sets. Keep this section focused by removing outdated credentials.
List certifications with:
- Official certification name
- Issuing organization
- Date earned
- Expiration date (if applicable)
- License number (if relevant to your field)
Skills
Your skills component ties your entire resume together. Instead of a simple list, group skills strategically to show both breadth and depth of expertise. Present skills that appear in job descriptions near the top of their relevant category to show immediate alignment with role requirements.
Organize skills by categories like:
- Technical abilities
- Industry knowledge
- Software proficiency
- Professional competencies
- Languages (if relevant)
Optional parts of a resume
Not every resume needs every part. The optional resume sections below can help to strengthen your value prop (but only when they support your qualifications and applications).
Projects
Transform side work, school projects, in-depth work assignments, or personal initiatives into proof of your capabilities.
Perfect for:
- Career changers showcasing relevant work
- Recent graduates with limited experience
- Professionals highlighting specific achievements
- Side work that proves key skills
Volunteering and Leadership
Demonstrate leadership and transferable skills through community impact.
Include when:
- Demonstrating management experience
- Filling employment gaps
- Showing community involvement
- Highlighting transferable skills
Awards and Scholarships
Validate your expertise with concrete recognition of your achievements.
Add if they:
- Directly relate to your target role
- Show industry recognition
- Prove subject matter expertise
- Demonstrate measurable success
Publications
Establish your authority and expertise through published work.
Include when:
- Your work appears in industry publications
- You're quoted as a subject matter expert
- Your research advances your field
- Your content demonstrates thought leadership
Pro Tip: Format these optional components like your work experience section—focus on achievements and measurable results, not just descriptions. If you need some help organizing the details, a resume worksheet can also help you keep everything straight.
Resume parts that get results
The right parts of a resume can transform your job search success. Each component, from contact details to optional publications, works together to prove your value to employers. Focus on achievements, customize components for each role, and keep every element focused on your target position.
Ready to build a resume that showcases your best qualifications? Skip the formatting headaches and second-guessing and focus on what matters. Teal's Resume Builder helps you organize and optimize every part of your resume for maximum impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 P's of a resume?
The 5 P's of a resume are Presentation, Precision, Professionalism, Personalization, and Proof. Presentation ensures your resume looks polished and easy to read, while precision emphasizes concise, targeted language. Professionalism reflects your tone and format, personalization tailors the resume to the role, and proof showcases measurable achievements and skills to validate your value.
What are the 7 main crucial contents in a resume?
The 7 essential parts of a resume are:
Contact Information (name, email, location, LinkedIn, and portfolio if applicable).
Target Title (specific job title you’re applying for).
Professional Summary (brief highlight of skills, achievements, and experience).
Work Experience (roles, responsibilities, and measurable achievements).
Education (degrees, schools, and graduation dates).
Certifications (relevant credentials).
Skills (organized into categories like technical, software, or professional abilities).
What are the three main parts of a resume?
The three main parts of a resume are:
Contact Information – Your name, email, location, and LinkedIn profile.
Professional Summary – A concise overview of your skills and achievements.
Work Experience – Your employment history with quantifiable achievements.
