Resume outline
A simple resume outline helps design an initial impression and eliminates second-guessing. Moreover, the outline should be an amalgamation of your experience, achievements, and skills. Inherently, a good resume outline provides you with the opportunity to customize your resume in various ways without compromising on its impact. There are many subtle reasons involved in choosing the best resume formats for your career path.
Resume outlines can assist you in organizing your skills and achievements and deciding exactly what to put on your resume. For instance, if you are applying for a sales role, your resume outline could include the following:
• Skills – Top targeted keywords including hard and soft skills
• Notable Achievements in Sales
• Related Experience – Choose the most compelling and the most relevant roles for the job description you are applying for.
Some top targeted keywords in sales include:
– Negotiation
– Prospecting
– Closing
– Account management
– Business development
– Cold calling
Notable achievements:
Generated $1 million in revenue over the course of three years through prospecting and cold calling.
Related Experience:
Won multiple sales awards throughout my career, including “Top Salesperson of the Year” and “Salesperson of the Month.” Achieved consistently high revenue targets year after year. Led a team of 10 sales representatives, managing their performance and coaching them to achieve success in our fast–paced, competitive sales environment. Trained new hires on best practices and sales techniques, helping our team consistently hit or exceed monthly targets. Experienced in working with both B2B and B2C clients, developing strong relationships and delivering excellent customer service. Strong strategic thinker with a focus on results who is focused on achieving sales targets and driving revenue growth
The above example outlines the most important aspects of your skillset which you need to communicate to the hiring manager within seconds. The first function of a resume outline is finding the balance between paragraphs and bullets and between your soft skills and technical skills. Read on to see our resume outline example, and learn about each individual section so you can easily write your own.
Fact: an attractive resume increases your chance of landing the job.
Also a fact: attractive doesn’t just mean showcasing your achievements. It means thoughtful design that fits your industry.
It is important for people to know how they can highlight their skills in the best possible manner.
This guide will show you:
- How to outline resumes from top to bottom, step by step.
- Easy resume outline examples to create the best resumes for every stage of your career.
- How to make an outline for a resume that will land you more interviews.
- Tips and examples of how to create the best resume outline templates.
What is a resume outline?
A resume outline is an information layout you prepare when writing the resume. The outline on the resume identifies the items you must include in your work experience, educational skills, and profile section for your job description.
A resume is not just a list of experiences, but rather it’s a summary of your career to date which highlights your successes and matches your targeted job.
An outline consists of several categories and each category highlights different skills and information about a person. This process is designed in such a way that you get a good overview of the work done by an individual.
See also 5 Best Executive Resume Templates
Here are my top picks for the best executive level resume templates to use this year. Classic Executive Resume Format. Minimalist Executive Resume Format.
Resume Outline Example
Here’s a breakdown of the most common sections included in a resume outline:
Header Section –
Branding Title
Job Title is the position you are pursuing, not necessarily the job title you hold currently.
Tailor your job title to exactly match what the employer is seeking in the job description. Is it CTO or CIO? Is it VP of Operation or Director of Operations. Be exact and target each role you desire separately.
Branding Statement
A Resume Headline is a phrase that highlights your value as a candidate. This is not a resume objective. To best describe yourself in a phrase, follow a simple exercise. Write at least ten to twenty adjectives that describe you. Then shortlist the top three that are also mentioned in the job description. For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, some adjectives that describe you might be: accurate, detail-oriented, reliable, etc. However, the job description might also mention qualities such as ‘team player’ or ‘ability to work under pressure’. In this case, you would want to use those phrases as your Resume Headline. When it comes to job search progress, your resume headline is a great way to measure it. This is especially true if you’re applying for jobs that are a good match for your skills and experience. By tailoring your resume headline to each position, you’re showing employers that you understand the requirements of the job and have the skills necessary to succeed in it. Additionally, a strong resume headline can help you stand out from other candidates and increase your chances of getting an interview.
A Branding Statement is a very brief phrase of 15 words or less. It highlights your most relevant expertise and skills. If you choose to include a branding statement, you can elaborate on your skills and experiences in a resume summary statement just below it. t can be used in your resume, or alongside a resume summary statement to provide more detail about your qualifications. By focusing on the key skills and experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, you can better demonstrate how you can contribute value as an employee and give yourself an edge over other candidates.
By focusing on the key skills and experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, you can better demonstrate how you can contribute value as an employee and give yourself an edge over other candidates.
Accurate and Detailed-Oriented Accountant
Award-Winning Accountant
Accurate, Detail-Oriented, and Reliable
Accurate and Detail-Oriented Accounting Professional Engineer
Accomplished software engineer with experience in web development, mobile app development, and big data.
Summary Statement
A resume summary statement is a personalized section consisting of skills, achievements, experience, and traits relevant to the job you’re applying for.
A resume summary statement is a personalized section consisting of skills, achievements, experience, and traits relevant to the job you’re applying for.. It can be used in addition to or in place of a resume headline, and is typically placed at the top of your resume.
To craft a strong resume summary statement, start by identifying your key skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the position. You can then use these as the foundation for your statement, highlighting your qualifications and contributions in a way that is relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a marketing manager, you might include skills such as strategic planning, budgeting, and creative thinking in your resume summary statement. Additionally, be sure to focus on quantifiable achievements that demonstrate the value you’ve added in previous roles. By doing this, you can give employers a better sense of the contributions you’re capable of making in the role you’re applying for. For example, if you’ve managed a team of 10 people and increased their sales by 30% over the course of a year, this is something that will likely stand out to hiring managers.
For example:
Award-winning marketing professional with over 5 years of experience in developing and executing successful campaigns across a variety of industries. Proven track record of increasing brand awareness and driving revenue growth. Strong strategic planning and budgeting skills, as well as creative thinking capabilities.
Strategic thinker with a focus on results who can contribute value in a fast-paced environment. Proven ability to lead and manage teams, resulting in an increase in sales by 30% over the course of a year.
Expert in developing and executing marketing plans that increase revenue and market share. Proven track record of driving customer engagement and building brand loyalty through creative campaigns and collaborative partnerships.
2. Top Skills Keyword Section
See also Executive Resume Examples: How-To-Guide & Expert Tips for C-Level Resumes [What Works in 2024]
3. Work or Relevant Experience
it is important that professionals choose their most relevant work experience for their resumes. Relevant work experience is any previous work in the same field as the job you’re applying for.
Most Recent Job Title
Employer Name / Location / Start Date – End Date
- You can include a bulleted list of your accomplishments
- Make sure you quantify (add numbers to) these bullet points
4. Education
Degree Name / Major
University, Location | Start Date – End Date
5. Skills and Certifications
- List your relevant skills and certifications
- Include a range of hard skills and soft skills
- Be as specific as possible. Mention the actual names of software or tools you’re able to use
6. Additional Resume Section
- Here’s where you can add any other relevant information
- For example, this section could be for any of the following: publications, languages, volunteer experience, or relevant hobbies
Why do you need a resume outline?
People can write their resumes in different ways and in different formats, but Resume Outline Ideas can be a good tool when it comes to highlighting the important skills and achievements of an individual.
Writing a resume is a tough task. You need to be very careful and specific since it is the first impression that will be created by you as an individual.
In order to create a good resume, you need to follow some basic steps which will highlight your skills and experiences in the best possible manner. This process can prove to be beneficial for people who are looking to find a job in the corporate sector or people on the lookout for their first job.
How to write a resume outline?
It is important to know why you need a resume outline before knowing how you can write it. The right way of writing this Resume Outline can be decided only after knowing your targeted job. You need to look for good resume outline ideas that will help you write the best possible outline for yourself.
Have a look at resume examples from iCareerSolutions which can act as helpful guidelines when it comes to writing your own resume.
Creative Resume Outline Ideas
1) Professional Summary with Career Achievements
This creative resume outline idea will help you to highlight your career achievements and skills which are related to the job that you are targeting. This is where your past experiences, skills and knowledge will be highlighted in order to grab the attention of the recruiter quickly.
Therefore, I wanted to really clarify his unique perspective and emphasize the value he places on leadership in the very first line of his introduction. Directly beneath the summary paragraph, I added a powerful achievement list to highlight his incredible, yet varied accomplishments.
2) Right Career at the Right Time
When you decide to write your resume outline, it is important that you understand what kind of job interests you and where do you see yourself in the future. Once you have decided this, it will become much easier for you to highlight the relevant skills in order to grab the attention of the recruiter quickly.
3) My Achievements story
Many people are not aware of how they can highlight their achievements in the best possible manner. They have to write down every achievement, big or small that they have made till now since it is important for employers to know why you are the best person for them.
During our consult, he naturally gravitated toward setting the stage for his contributions and approach within the context of what was going on at the time (at all levels—city, state, and nation). This led to my decision to open each role with brief descriptors, as these bits of context were critical to the reader’s understanding of what he did and what he achieved.
4) My Growth Story
It is important for employers to know how you have grown throughout your career, especially in terms of skills and knowledge. So, it is important for people to highlight their personal growth story while writing a resume. This process will help employers understand what you are capable of doing i.e. how you have grown as an individual.
5) Work Experience Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid-Career Professionals
People often find it difficult to write their resumes and that is why they need creative resume outline ideas to help them with the same. If you need some good examples, keeping the following things in mind can prove to be helpful:
– Keep your resume outline simple and punch the key skills that you possess
– Mention where you worked, what projects you took up, what successes you had, and how much responsibility were you given in each project.
6) Combination Resume Outline Ideas for Entry Level and Mid Career Professionals
If you need some creative resume outline ideas, a combination of the above-mentioned resume outline ideas can be a good choice. You can mention your personal growth as well as work experience in order to create a better impression on employers.
7) Career Experiences Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid-Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, you can add your international work experiences along with the career achievements that you have made in order to impress employers.
8) Career History Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid-Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one has to mention their educational qualifications as well as work experience. This will help employers understand why you have been selected for a particular job.
9) Life-Work Balance Resume Outline Ideas for Entry Level and Mid Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one can mention their hobbies along with the work experience that they gained over the years. This will help employers understand if you can balance your life as well as a job.
10) My Strengths Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one can mention their strengths along with the career experiences that they have gained over the years. This will help employers understand what you are capable of doing as well as show them how much you can contribute to the organization.
11) My Achievements Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one can highlight their career growth as well as work achievements over a period of time. This will help employers understand what you are capable of doing as well as give them a brief idea about your personality.
12) My Work History Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one can talk about their work experience in chronological order in order to help employers understand if they have the right skill set that they are looking for. A chronological pattern also helps employers to know about your career growth.
13) My Skills Resume Outline Ideas for Entry-Level and Mid Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one can list down their skills as well as work experience to highlight what they are capable of doing as a professional. This will help employers understand if you have the right skill set that they are looking for.
14) My Career Resume Outline Ideas for Senior Executives
In this type of resume outline, one can highlight their career growth over the years. This will help employers understand what you are capable of doing as well as give them a brief idea about your personality.
15) Personal Profile Resume Outline Ideas for Senior Executives
This type of resume outline is more like an introduction to who you are, what makes you unique and how will you be an asset to the company. This type of outline is ideal for senior executives who have already gained enough experience in their respective fields.
16) My Experience Resume Outline Ideas for Senior Executives
In this type of resume outline, one can highlight their work experience as well as educational qualifications to help employers understand what you are capable of doing. This will help employers understand what you are capable of doing as well as show them how much you can contribute to the organization.
17) My Career Achievements Resume Outline Ideas for Senior Executives
This type of resume outline helps senior executives gain an edge over others in order to get their dream job. One has to list down their career achievements and credentials in this type of resume outline. This will help employers understand what one is capable of doing as well as show them how focused and determined you are to achieve your dreams.
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18) My Education Resume Outline Ideas for Senior Executives
This type of resume outline helps senior executives gain an edge over others by highlighting their educational qualifications. One has to list down their educational qualifications and work experience in this type of resume outline. This will help employers understand what you are capable of doing as well as show them that you have the right credentials that they are looking for.
19) My Accomplishments Resume Outline Ideas for Mid Career Professionals
In this type of resume outline, one can talk about their achievements along with the work experience that they have gained over the years. This will help employers understand what you are capable of doing as well as show them how much you can contribute to the organization.
20) My Philosophy Resume Outline Ideas for Board of Directors
This type of resume outline is more of a self-introduction where one has to talk about their personality, what they stand for and why they are an asset to the organization. This type of resume outline helps board members gain an edge over others in order to get their dream job. 
Related Article: Best Resume Templates and Examples
There are many different types of resume outlines that you can use to help you get your dream job. It is important to choose the right type of outline that will showcase your skills and experience in the best way possible. We have provided 20 different types of resume outlines that you can use to help you get started. Which one will you choose?=>If you are having difficulty choosing the right type of resume outline, let me know. I am more than happy to help you out. I want to make sure that you stand out from the crowd and get the job that you deserve.
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