Last updated: 11th Feb 2026
I’ve seen thousands of resumes during my professional career. Most were terrible. One of the most common mistakes I see is candidates failing to include key sections on their resumes.
Conversely, other candidates sabotage their job search prospects by adding sections that add noise – not insights.
Let me show you what sections recruiters expect to see on your resume in 2026.
You will be tempted to go to Canva and download a resume template that looks nothing like what I’m about to show you.
Canva designers are incentivised to create wacky, “cool”, “different” resume designs that are packed with useless facts, info-graphics and tables.
Important!
The best resumes are like the best accountants. They’re restrained and cautious. The opposite of ostentatious.
Unless you work in the creative industry, I recommend keeping your wild, creative streak out of your resume layout. Stick to the sections below for optimal job search results.
1. The Header Section.
The header section must contain your:
- Name.
- Title.
- Headline.
- Contact Details (phone, email, LinkedIn URL).
That’s it. No DOB. No marital status. No physical address. No age.
Your title and headline are arguably the most important parts of the header – because they aren’t just raw facts – they’re positioning statements.
Expert Tip.
Spend the most time on your headline. Use it to call out your value proposition, the industry you specialise in or your cornerstone strength.
2. The Profile Summary Section.
“I’m a results-driven, dynamic manager with 15 years of experience in the Oil and Gas industry”.
Gah.
Yawn.
Next.
When I was working as a recruiter at Julia Ross (back in 2010, ha – I’m getting old), my eyes would glaze over at the sight of these tropes, and I’d swiftly click the trash icon.
Most jobseekers treat the profile section (aka “About Me” section) of their resume as a throwaway section. They pack it full of corporate nonsense, fluff and buzzwords that even they can’t understand.
(Related: How To Write The Resume Profile Section).
Their complacency is your opportunity.
An employer isn’t just trying to fill a role. They have a business problem to solve.
Figure out what that problem is – and use the resume profile section to paint yourself as the solution. Spotlight some of your achievements. Explain what you stand for. And let your personality shine a little.
Did You Know?
Back in the day, “Resume Objectives” were all the rage. Instead of a profile, candidates would write ponderous paragraphs about their grandiose career plans. But now this practice is obsolete – and never used.
3. The Employment Snapshot Section.
The employment summary section sits on the front page of your resume.
Its purpose is to give the reader an at-a-glance overview of your background. It doesn’t need to cover your entire career – just the most recent 3-4 roles.
Expert Tip.
If your resume template has two columns, you can stash this section into the smaller column (as you see in the example above.
4. The Key Achievements Section.
Key achievements are all the rage right now. This section sits at the bottom of the first page.
In the past, this spot would contain a “Key Skills” section, which – in theory – gave the reader a high-level look into your strengths.
People would pack the section with empty terms like “Corporate Mergers” and “Financial Analysis”.
Later, when ATS came on the scene, people started packing this section with even more generic terms – in hopes of convincing the robot software that they are the right fit for the role.
But a more elegant method – especially for senior roles – is to use this section to spotlight your “greatest hits”. Make sure they’re quantified and strictly aligned to your value proposition.
Oh, and do your best to weave the keywords into the achievements.
5. The Professional Experience Section.
This section is usually at the top of page 2.
This is where your rubber hits the proverbial road.
Notice how the section starts with a description of your mandate. This important detail offers the recruiter context – into your role, the organisation, and the challenges it faced when you were hired.
Next, it explains your responsibilities.
Finally, it unpacks your achievements.
These are front-loaded with quantifiable metrics and provide insight into the impact you had on the business.
Important!
Start this section with your most recent role, and work backwards. In other words, follow the reverse-chronological order.
6. The Education Section.
Almost a wrap. The education section is usually last – except a short quip at the end where you mention that “references are available upon request”.
No need to brag about the high school you went to – unless this is your first resume. The more senior you are, the more substantial entries in this section should be.
And this is it!
Irene
