CV Templates >> Simple Resumes >> What to Put on a Resume

Key resume sections job candidates must put on a resume

- Personal Information - Education Background - Skills - Employment history - Keywords

Some resumes can be all over the place, and employers or recruiters in most companies will not be impressed with a poorly presented resume and irrelevant experience. One glance at a poorly-written resume can cost you a chance of even getting interviewed for your dream job-- especially when the competition is fierce for an interview. So, what do you really need to put on your resume? Let’s find out. 

Personal Information

Your contact details should include your full name, phone number and email address. Make sure you do not use an unprofessional email address on your CV. You don’t necessarily need to put your home address, your city location will do. You can also include a smart front-facing photo of yourself to stand out. Plus, make sure the photo is recent. Do not put other personal information, such as your national insurance number and other sensitive information.

Educational Background

Make sure you put in your education history, and academic achievements but your level of education does not have to go as far back as a secondary school unless if it is relevant. If you attended a prestigious school, then you may want to include that on your CV. 

Skills

Make sure you include a list of key skills including soft and technical skills and tools you are proficient in, and again, make sure it is relevant to the job title you are trying to land. 

Soft skills are attributes and characteristics that employers also look for in the selection process these are relatable skills to fit the organisation's ethos such as team working attributes, adaptability, or leadership skills.

5 Soft skills to consider:

- Teamwork

- Adaptability 

- Leadership

- Time Management

- Initiative

Technical Skills or transferable skills is an attribute specific to a job-related task if you have a skill that is specialised and can add value to the job or relevant to that position it would be favourable to list it.

Employment History

The employment history is also a key section so let’s say you are a nurse or a nursing student, trying to land a job as a nursing assistant. Only put relevant work experience. Especially If your resume is long, you don’t need to put in a job you worked when you were in college or irrelevant to your job experience-- with the example used with a nurse CV unless you think it is related to your nursing career goals then it is advisable to add relevant experience to your employment history. 

Keywords

Most recruiters look for the relevant keyword skills related to the job opening. Applying for a job means you have to invest in understanding what relevant skills are required of job candidates. Do some keyword research and understand the experience level required for the job title. This will help you understand the keywords and key terms to put on a resume.