Created by CakeA resume/CV outline is a structural draft you create before completing your professional resume. A resume/CV outline provides you with a framework to work with all different aspects of your job qualifications, such as experience, skills, education, and more.
A resume/CV outline helps you organize your resume in logical order. Use this order as a basis to personalize your resume, either changing fonts, designing your resume, or incorporating different formats. Creating a solid job resume outline is the first step to writing a job-winning resume.
This article will show you a step-to-step guide on how to create a basic resume outline, how to use a resume outline, what are the key sections to include in a job resume outline. Read until the end to see different resume outline examples for different professions.
TABLEOFCONTENTS6 Steps to Use a Resume Outline Crafting a Professional Resume6 Resume Outline Samples for Reference6 Key Sections in a Resume OutlineResume Outline Examples for Different Roles6 Steps to Use aResume Outline Crafting a Professional ResumeHere is the step-by-step guide to creating a basic resume outline:
1. Write down all your previous experiences and skills.
The first step in writing a simple resume outline is to brainstorm and list out everything that could potentially be included in a resume. Write down both related or unrelated ones. Professional achievements, hard or soft skills, or side projects that you’ve accomplished are among the essentials.
2. Decide which experiences and skills to include in your resume (by referring to the job description).
Next, choose the experiences and skills that are more significant. By referring to the job description, you make a resume outline that includes the most related experiences to catch the manager’s eyes.
3. Decide on a resume outline format that is suitable to use.
There are three commonly used resume formats to use in your job resume outline: chronological resume format, skill-based (functional) resume, and combinational resume format.
For experienced applicants, a chronological resume format is suitable.If you have little experience but plenty of skills that make you a qualified candidate, use a skill-based format.If you have a handful of skills and experiences, use a combinational format.
4. Choose a template for your resume outline that suits your style.
Based on the company’s or your style, choose a resume template that is easy to read or aesthetically pleasing. Using a template ensures that your resume has a suitable font size, font style, layout, and spacing. These elements make your resume outline and content easier to skim through and absorb.
5. Fill in all information according to the resume outline.
Finally, all you need to do is follow the resume outline and fill in the information. Make sure to tailor the content to match perfectly with the job description. Your resume outline should make your resume clear and easy to fill the content.
6. Proofread your resume.
Before you send out your resume, find someone or proofread yourself. Keep your resume typo-free and have no grammar mistakes.
Resume Outline Samples for ReferenceHere are the most common sections of a simple resume outline:
1. Resume HeaderFirst Name, Last nameYour Professional Title
[Email][Phone number][Address][LinkedIn URL][Personal Website]
2. Profile Statement/Resume SummaryResume SummarySkilled [Professional Title] with [# of years] years of experience in [Industry]. Seeking to exercise [relevant skills] to fulfill my role as a [Job position]. Passionate worker focusing on generating value and achieving goals for [Company’s Name].
3. Work ExperienceMost Recent Job Position Company’s Name | Start Date – End Date | Location
Create a bulleted list with 2-4 accomplishments or descriptions.Use quantifiable (add numbers to) results to make them persuasive.
Earlier Job PositionCompany’s Name | Start Date – End Date | Location
List any relevant accomplishments from an earlier job.Assuming you no longer perform this job, make sure you use past tense verbs to describe this experience.
4. EducationYour Major, Degree NameUniversity, Location / Start Date – End DateAwards, honors, or GPA (if above 3.5)
5. Skills Certifications
List any relevant hard and soft skills and certifications.Refer to the job description and list the most related ones upfront.Be specific: list the software names and other tools, as well as your level of proficiency.
6. Additional sections (optional)
Add additional information that could be attractive.For example, include your languages skills, publications, volunteer experience, or relevant hobbies.6 Key Sections in a Resume OutlineHere are common sections of a simple resume outline:Resume HeaderProfile Statement/Resume SummaryWork ExperienceEducationSkills CertificationsAdditional sections (optional)
Resume Header
Resume header is the first thing in your job resume outline. Here is what you need in the resume heading outline:
First and last name
Professional Job TitlePhone numberEmail addressLinkedIn profile (optional)Personal website (optional)
Check out the resume header example below:Diane Murphy
Graphic Designer
101-555-0123
[email protected]
linkedin.com/in/dianemurphy101/
1378 Cunningham Court, Clarkston, Michigan, 48346
💡Tip: This section does not necessarily help you land your job, but it includes the essential basic information, so make sure there are no mistakes.
Profile Statement/Resume SummaryA profile statement, or resume summary in your resume outline, is a short paragraph that encapsulates your professional history. The summary section in your resume outline highlights your previous achievements and key qualifications that make you an ideal candidate.
Check out this example paragraph of a resume profile statement."Creative
graphic design professional with 5+ years of experience in creating brand values for companies. Nominated in the 2020 Type Director Club award for Identity/Branding. Eager to join Riverside Creative as a senior
graphic designer to leverage versatile skills and generate a robust portfolio for the studio."
💡Tip: Refer to the applying job’s description and use similar phrasing to make your resume Applicant-Tracking-System friendly.
Work ExperienceHere’s the real substance of your resume outline that you make an impression on the hiring managers.Include these elements in your professional work experience of your job resume outline:Current and previous job positionCompany’s nameDates in the positionCity, state, or countryBulleted list of achievements or tasks to curate the wordings
Check out the work experience section of a resume example below.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Graphic DesignerOne and Another Studio, SeattleJan 2018 - Jan 2021
Managed a team of 3 junior
graphic designers and interns to produce social media marketing content.New York Type Directors Club’s Identity/Branding Award winner for a project for client Jellico.Contributed to the company’s 20% income by maintaining robust relationships with clients and launching the studio’s interactive website.
Graphic Designer AssistantNON-Creative, SeattleMay 2016 - Dec 2018
Led 15 rebranding design projects that contributed to an average 25% increase in brand awareness.Worked with banks, governments, and companies to attract young segments and launched 20k worth of design projects.
💡Tip: Be specific when describing your achievements. Use numbers to make your impact more specific. Describe how you solved a problem to make a difference by how much or how many.
EducationRemember to include education in a basic resume outline. Many job listings require a minimum education. List these elements in your job resume outline:Degree MajorUniversity Name, Location, and (expected) graduated dateAwards, Honors, GPA
Take a look at this education section on a resume example. EDUCATIONRhode Island School of Design, ProvidenceBFA in
Graphic Design |June 2016GPA 3.8
Completed courses in: Digital Marketing, Photography Videography.International Student Association 2014 Committee: Head of Design Team.
💡Tip: For college students writing first resumes, consider adding relevant coursework.
Skills CertificationsYour dream company is looking for specific talents. Add skills in your resume outline to show them you have the exact skills they are looking for. Certifications are also hard proof of your extraordinary skills.Use a bullet-point list or categorize your skills in your professional resume outline:Skill Set 1Skill 1SkillSkills Set 2Skill 1Skill 2
Here’s an example of a skill section on a resume.
SKILLS
Graphic Design SkillsPhotoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Procreatep5.js, ProcessingDesign strategy planningAnimation and Video editingPremiere, After EffectsPhotographySoft SkillsCommunicationActive listeningRapport building
💡Tip: The skills you list should be precise: list “After Effects” instead of “ Motion
Graphic”
Additional sections (optional)
Highlight your uniqueness by including some of these extra sections in your resume outline.
1. Volunteer WorkVolunteer work shows your personality and passion for helping others, definitely a plus to include in your job resume outline. VOLUNTEER WORKFood Rescue Providence,
Graphic Design Volunteer
Creative food rescue awareness campaign that reached 25k local residents to successfully raise attention.
2. ProjectsPerhaps you were a freelancer or have accomplished a side-project with a team. When writing a resume outline, big or small projects that are related to the job position are no doubt remarkable experiences. Add these projects to your job resume outline.
Take a look at this example.
PROJECTSAirbnb design system case study, 2018Role: UI
Designer Lead in a team of three
Analyze brand design systems throughout multiple platforms and identify 3 major accessibility issues on smartphones.Proposed design solution and launched testing to validate the outcome.
3. PublicationsPublications are robust proof of your substantial knowledge on a subject. Experience in submitting a paper or publishing a book are ideal materials for your professional resume outline.
Here’s an example of publications on a resume. PUBLICATIONS
“User Experience and visual representations”, Hachette, 2020.Joslin, P. and Murphy, D., “Meditating with Javascript: Motion Metaphors in life”, HCI International 2019.
4. Hobbies InterestsWhether or not to list hobbies in your job resume outline depends on the level of relevance. If your hobbies are related to the job you’re applying for, they can help you stand out from other applicants. Nevertheless, you should take the level of formality into consideration to avoid being too casual when writing a professional resume outline.You can list hobbies and examples on a resume as illustrated in the example below. HOBBIES INTERESTS
PhotographySculpture creatingSwimming (Red Cross Lifeguard Certificate)
Resume Outline Examples for Different RolesBefore you write a professional resume outline, don’t forget to refer to the following resume outline examples and their structure.
Remember to organize the sections on your own resume outline based on your job:College student resume outlineProfessional resume outlineResume outline for high school students
College student resume outlineAs a college student, you might have limited professional achievements. Nevertheless, you can highlight other sections in your resume outline to make up for lack of experience.Resume HeadingsNameProfessional Job TitlePhone numberEmail addressLinkedIn profile (optional)Personal website (optional)Resume objective (Optional)Short and brief paragraph with 2-4 sentences that describe your professional goal.EducationDegreeMajorConcentration or minorStart and graduation dateAwards and honorsGPARelevant coursesRelated ExperienceIntern ExperienceCompany nameCity and stateStart and end dateJob dutiesCollege ProjectsCourse nameDuration of projectYour role, project summary, and outcomeSkills or certificationsHard skills (Technical skills)Soft skillsCertification nameExtracurricular ActivitiesActivity or Student club NameStart and end dateYour role, activity summary, and achievementsVolunteering ExperienceOrganization name and locationStart and end dateVolunteer responsibilities
Professional resume outlineFor professionals who have 4+ years of experience or more, the work experience section is going to be your job resume outline’s main section.Resume HeadingsNameProfessional Job TitlePhone numberEmail addressLinkedIn profile (optional)Personal website (optional)Resume summaryShort and brief paragraph with 2-4 sentences that presents your most outstanding and relevant work performances.Work experienceMost Recent Job PositionCompany’s Name / Start Date – End Date / LocationAccomplishment 1Accomplishment 2Accomplishment 3Earlier Job PositionCompany’s Name / Start Date – End Date / LocationAccomplishment 1Accomplishment 2Accomplishment 3Skills or certificationsHard skills (Technical skills)Soft skillsCertification nameEducationMajor and DegreeEnd dateAdditional sectionAwardsProfessional affiliationsPublicationsLanguage
Resume outline for high school studentsFor any high school students looking for their first job, here’s how your resume outline should be.
Resume HeadingsNameProfessional Job TitlePhone numberEmail addressLinkedIn profile (optional)Personal website (optional)Resume objective (Optional)Short and brief paragraph with 2-4 sentences that describe your professional goalEducationFor high school students looking for a first job, here’s how to outline your resume education section:School name and locationStart and expected graduation dateGPA, notable achievements, or courseworkRelated ExperienceSchool club activitiesStudent contestsSkills or certificationsHard skills (Technical skills)Soft skillsCertification nameVolunteering ExperienceOrganization name and locationStart and end dateVolunteer responsibilitiesInterestsRelated interests or hobbies that could be helpful for the job
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Create Resume--- Originally written by Wu Chao Min ---