The right resume format and section order help a hiring manager find your best results in seconds. A clear layout also keeps your resume easy to read for people and for the software many employers use.
This guide explains the 3 resume formats, the sections to include and the best order. It also gives 3 examples for common jobs and a free builder with three starting points. Make your own, then print it or copy it. The examples are for people with work experience.
The people, employers and numbers in these examples are fictional. Replace them with your own true information.
3 Resume Formats and When to Use Each
| Format | How it is built | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse-chronological | Lists work history from the newest job back | Steady experience in a related field, and the most widely used format | It does not hide gaps or unrelated jobs |
| Combination | Gives skills and work history about equal weight | Specialized skills backed by a clear career history, or mid-career changes | Longer to organize well |
| Functional | Leads with skills and areas of expertise, with brief work history | Career changers, gaps or non-standard histories | Some employers see it as disorganized or incomplete |
Resume Sections and What to Include
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Contact information | Full name, phone, professional email, city and state, and a profile link if it helps. Leave off your full street address |
| Summary | Two to four statements with your job title, years of experience and top strengths. Recruiters generally prefer a summary over an objective when you have experience |
| Selected achievements | Three results with numbers right under your summary. This is this page’s own layout choice |
| Work experience | Employer, location, title and dates, newest first, with bullets that focus on results |
| Education | Degree, school and graduation year, highest degree first. Monster notes you can omit graduation dates |
| Certifications | Licenses and certificates that fit the job |
| Skills | Five to 10 skills the job requires, strongest first, using words from the posting |
| Optional sections | Volunteer work, awards, languages and associations. Add hobbies only if they show relevant skills or fit |
Best Section Order for Your Situation
Sources differ on the exact order, so treat this as a guide and choose the order that shows your strongest proof first.
| Your situation | Section order |
|---|---|
| Experienced in the same field (reverse-chronological) | Contact, summary, selected achievements, experience, education, certifications, skills. This page’s layout, based on Indeed’s experienced order |
| Specialized skills (combination) | Contact, summary, skills, work experience, education |
| Career change | Contact, summary, work experience, education, skills, with skills and results that connect to the new job |
| Returning to work (functional or combination) | Lead with a skills section, then work experience and education |
3 Resume Examples
Quick jump: Customer serviceRegistered nurseAdministrative assistantFree resume format builder
Reverse-Chronological Customer Service Resume Example
Charlotte, NC | (555) 010-1701 | sarah.mitchell@email.com
SUMMARY
Customer Service Representative who brings 8 years of solving problems for about 60 customers a day with a 95% satisfaction score. Skilled in clear communication, account records and first-call resolution, and trusted by customers and teammates to keep every conversation calm and productive.
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
• Resolved 92% of customer issues on the first contact
• Earned a 95% customer satisfaction score across about 60 contacts a day
• Coached 6 new representatives a year on systems and call quality
EXPERIENCE
Customer Service Representative, Summit Insurance Group, Charlotte, NC | 2021 to present
• Handle about 60 calls and chats a day with a 95% customer satisfaction score
• Resolve 92% of issues on the first contact
• Cut average call time from 9 minutes to 7 minutes with a quick-answer guide
• Update about 40 customer records a day with 99% accuracy
• Coach 6 new representatives a year on systems and call quality
Call Center Agent, Brightline Communications, Raleigh, NC | 2018 to 2021
• Answered about 70 calls a day and kept hold times under 2 minutes
• Ranked in the top 3 for quality on a team of 25 for 4 quarters
• Resolved 85% of billing questions on the first call
• Logged every call in the system with 98% accuracy
• Covered 20 extra shifts during peak seasons
EDUCATION
Associate Degree in Business | 2018
CERTIFICATIONS
Customer Service Certificate | 2025
Microsoft Office Specialist | 2026
First Aid and CPR | 2025
SKILLS
Customer service | Clear communication | Problem solving | Account records | Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace | Reliability | Coaching
Reverse-Chronological Registered Nurse Resume Example
Denver, CO | (555) 010-1702 | nicole.harris@email.com
SUMMARY
Registered Nurse who brings 9 years of safe, steady care on busy medical-surgical units. Skilled in medication safety, patient teaching, charting and teamwork, with a record of higher patient satisfaction and accurate documentation.
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
• Raised patient satisfaction on a 32-bed unit from 86% to 94% in 18 months
• Kept charting errors under 1% across about 6 patients a shift
• Precepted 4 new nurses a year
EXPERIENCE
Registered Nurse, Mercy Valley Hospital, Denver, CO | 2020 to present
• Care for 5 to 6 patients a shift on a 32-bed medical-surgical unit
• Raised patient satisfaction on the unit from 86% to 94% in 18 months
• Give about 30 medications a shift and complete 100% of required safety checks
• Chart about 6 patients a shift with documentation errors under 1%
• Precept 4 new nurses a year
Registered Nurse, Lakeside Community Hospital, Aurora, CO | 2017 to 2020
• Cared for 6 patients a shift on a 28-bed unit
• Cut patient falls by 15% through hourly rounding
• Taught discharge instructions to about 15 patients and families a week
• Joined about 12 rapid-response calls and helped stabilize patients
• Covered 25 extra shifts during flu season
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 2017
CERTIFICATIONS
Basic Life Support (BLS) | 2025
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) | 2025
Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification | 2024
SKILLS
Patient care | Medication safety | Charting | Patient teaching | Teamwork | Time management | Attention to detail
Reverse-Chronological Administrative Assistant Resume Example
Columbus, OH | (555) 010-1703 | kevin.walker@email.com
SUMMARY
Administrative Assistant who brings 8 years of keeping busy offices organized for executives and teams. Skilled in scheduling, reporting, invoices and records, with a record of accurate work and on-time results.
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
• Managed calendars and travel for 6 executives with fewer than 2 conflicts a month
• Processed about 80 invoices a month with 99% accuracy
• Cut document search time by 40% with a new filing system
EXPERIENCE
Administrative Assistant, Greenfield Financial Services, Columbus, OH | 2021 to present
• Manage calendars and travel for 6 executives
• Schedule about 25 meetings a week with fewer than 2 conflicts a month
• Prepare about 10 reports and presentations a month in Excel and PowerPoint
• Process about 80 invoices a month with 99% accuracy
• Train 3 new assistants a year
Office Assistant, Riverside Law Office, Dayton, OH | 2018 to 2021
• Answered about 50 calls a day and sent each to the right person
• Filed and scanned about 200 documents a week with 99% accuracy
• Cut document search time by 40% with a new filing system
• Ordered supplies for 30 staff and cut costs by 10%
• Covered the front desk on 25 extra days
EDUCATION
Associate Degree in Office Administration | 2018
CERTIFICATIONS
Administrative Professional Certificate | 2025
Microsoft Office Specialist, Excel | 2026
First Aid and CPR | 2025
SKILLS
Scheduling | Calendar management | Invoices | Reports | Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace | Record keeping | Accuracy
Free Resume Format Builder
Step 1. Which strength should lead?
Step 2. Tap the skills you really have. They appear in your resume.
Step 3. Match the posting.
Replace the sample name, dates, numbers and employer details with your own true information, and use words from the job posting where they are true for you.
Step 4. Click any text in the resume below and type or modify to make it yours.
SARAH MITCHELL
Charlotte, NC | (555) 010-1701 | sarah.mitchell@email.com
NICOLE HARRIS
Denver, CO | (555) 010-1702 | nicole.harris@email.com
KEVIN WALKER
Columbus, OH | (555) 010-1703 | kevin.walker@email.com
Summary
Dedicated professional who brings 8 years of solving problems for about 60 customers a day with a 95% satisfaction score. Skilled in clear communication, accurate records and quick resolution, and trusted by customers and teammates to keep every conversation calm and productive.
Dedicated professional who brings 9 years of steady, accurate work in a fast-paced setting. Skilled in documentation, quality checks, teaching others and teamwork, with a record of fewer errors and strong results.
Dedicated professional who brings 8 years of keeping busy teams organized and on schedule. Skilled in planning, reporting, records and training, with a record of accurate work and on-time results.
Selected Achievements
- Resolved 92% of customer issues on the first contact
- Earned a 95% customer satisfaction score across about 60 contacts a day
- Coached 6 new team members a year on systems and quality
- Cut errors by 40% in four months with a new checklist
- Kept documentation errors under 1% across about 6 cases a shift
- Trained 4 new team members a year
- Kept calendars and projects on schedule for a team of 6 with fewer than 2 conflicts a month
- Processed about 80 invoices a month with 99% accuracy
- Cut document search time by 40% with a new filing system
Experience
Team Member, Summit Group, Charlotte, NC | 2021 to present
- Handle about 60 calls and chats a day with a 95% customer satisfaction score
- Resolve 92% of issues on the first contact
- Cut average handling time from 9 minutes to 7 minutes with a quick-answer guide
- Update about 40 customer records a day with 99% accuracy
- Coach 6 new team members a year on systems and quality
Associate, Brightline Services, Raleigh, NC | 2018 to 2021
- Answered about 70 calls a day and kept hold times under 2 minutes
- Ranked in the top 3 for quality on a team of 25 for 4 quarters
- Resolved 85% of billing questions on the first call
- Logged every contact in the system with 98% accuracy
- Covered 20 extra shifts during peak seasons
Team Member, Mercy Valley Group, Denver, CO | 2020 to present
- Handle about 6 cases a shift in a fast-paced team of 32
- Cut errors by 40% in four months with a new checklist
- Complete 100% of required safety and quality checks
- Document about 6 cases a shift with errors under 1%
- Train 4 new team members a year
Associate, Lakeside Services, Aurora, CO | 2017 to 2020
- Handled 6 cases a shift on a team of 28
- Cut repeat issues by 15% through hourly check-ins
- Taught new procedures to about 15 people a week
- Joined about 12 urgent response calls and helped resolve issues quickly
- Covered 25 extra shifts during peak season
Team Member, Greenfield Group, Columbus, OH | 2021 to present
- Keep calendars and projects on schedule for a team of 6
- Schedule about 25 meetings a week with fewer than 2 conflicts a month
- Prepare about 10 reports and presentations a month in Excel and PowerPoint
- Process about 80 invoices a month with 99% accuracy
- Train 3 new team members a year
Associate, Riverside Office, Dayton, OH | 2018 to 2021
- Answered about 50 calls a day and sent each to the right person
- Filed and scanned about 200 documents a week with 99% accuracy
- Cut document search time by 40% with a new filing system
- Ordered supplies for 30 staff and cut costs by 10%
- Covered the front desk on 25 extra days
Education
Associate Degree in Business | 2018
Associate Degree in Business | 2017
Associate Degree in Business Administration | 2018
Certifications
- Professional Certificate in Customer Service | 2025
- Microsoft Office Specialist | 2026
- First Aid and CPR | 2025
- Professional Certificate in Quality Management | 2025
- Microsoft Office Specialist | 2026
- First Aid and CPR | 2025
- Professional Certificate in Project Coordination | 2025
- Microsoft Office Specialist, Excel | 2026
- First Aid and CPR | 2025
Skills
- Clear communication
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Accuracy
- Record keeping
- Customer focus
- Scheduling
- Training others
- Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
- Reliability
- Attention to detail
To save your resume: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the resume prints. To copy it, select the text inside the resume and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Resume Layout Rules
| Part of the layout | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fonts and sizes | Arial, Helvetica or Times New Roman, 10 to 12 points for body text and 14 to 16 for headings |
| Margins and spacing | One-inch margins and single spacing |
| Length | One page for under 10 years of experience, two pages for more seasoned professionals |
| Columns, photos and tables | Use one column with standard headings and avoid photos, graphics and tables |
| Bullets | Keep them short and clear, with a result in most of them |
| Tailoring | Adjust the order and keywords to each job posting |
| Updates | Refresh your resume every six to 12 months or when you gain new skills |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Burying your best results. Put a short summary and your top achievements first.
- Mixing formats. Choose one and keep it consistent.
- Fancy layouts. Use one column and standard headings.
- Too long. Keep to one or two pages.
- Typos. Proofread twice.
Resume Format Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. Your resume is ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best resume format?
For steady experience in a related field, Indeed says the reverse-chronological format often works well. It is the most widely used because employers know it and it shows career progression.
When should I use a functional resume?
Indeed suggests it for career changers, people returning to work and non-standard work histories. Some employers see it as disorganized, so use it with care.
What is a combination resume?
It gives skills and work experience about equal weight. Indeed says it suits people with specialized skills backed by a clear career history.
What sections must a resume have?
Contact information, a summary, work experience, education and skills. Indeed and Monster both list these as the standard sections.
What order should resume sections go in?
It depends on your format and career stage. Sources differ, so this page uses a summary, three selected achievements, experience, education, certifications and skills.
How long should a resume be?
Monster advises one page for under 10 years of experience, and two pages for more seasoned professionals.
What font and margins should I use?
Monster suggests Arial, Helvetica or Times New Roman, 10 to 12 point body text, one-inch margins and single spacing.
Should I use a summary or an objective?
If you have experience, Indeed advises a summary. Monster says recruiters generally prefer a summary.
Should I list hobbies?
Only if they show relevant skills or fit, as Monster advises. Indeed lists them as optional.
How often should I update my resume?
Monster suggests every six to 12 months, or whenever you gain new skills or experience.
Conclusion
Pick the format that fits your career, use the standard sections and lead with your best results. Keep the layout simple and tailor it to each job. Use the builder above to make your resume today.
Related Reading
- Resume writing trends
- What is a skills-based resume
- What to include in a resume career highlights section
- Resume preparation tips
Sources: Indeed Career Guide, Resume Format Guide (With Examples); How to Organize Sections of a Resume; Chronological vs Functional Resumes. Monster, How to Organize Resume Sections. The example resumes, people, employers and numbers are fictional.
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