Professional resume guide

How to organize your resume and what content to include

In today’s highly competitive job market, your resume plays a critical role in helping you secure interviews and ultimately land your ideal role. It is your personal marketing tool – a concise, achievements-focused document that speaks on your behalf. As a professional, you may have written countless job descriptions, but crafting your own resume requires a different approach. It should highlight your impact, commercial value, and career progression in a way that resonates with hiring managers and recruiters.

Resume layout and formatting

Your resume should be clean, easy to read, and professionally formatted. Use a standard font such as Arial or Calibri, and avoid excessive styling or graphics. Structure your resume in the following order:

• Contact information
• Professional summary (optional but recommended)
• Education and certifications
• Employment history (reverse chronological order)
• Skills and technical proficiencies
• Interests (optional)

Use bold text for company names and job titles, and underline dates for clarity. Ensure consistent formatting throughout and proofread carefully for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Contact information

Include your full name, phone number, email address, and city/state of residence. You may also add a link to your LinkedIn profile if it is up to date and includes recommendations or endorsements.

Professional summary

A brief summary at the top of your resume can help frame your experience and career goals. Focus on your core strengths, years of experience, and areas of specialization. Tailor this section to the role you are applying for.

Employment history

List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. For each position, include:

• Job title
• Company name and location
• Dates of employment (month and year)
• A brief description of the company if it is not widely known
• Key responsibilities and achievements

Give the most space to your current or most recent role. Use bullet points to highlight accomplishments and quantify results wherever possible. For example:

• Reduced time-to-hire by 30% through implementation of a new applicant tracking system
• Led a management development initiative resulting in a 15% increase in employee engagement
• Managed a $2M HR budget and achieved 10% cost savings through vendor renegotiations

Avoid leaving unexplained gaps in your employment history. If you took time off for personal reasons, education, or travel, be prepared to discuss this during the interview.

Commercial impact and metrics

Hiring managers want to see how your work has contributed to business outcomes. Include metrics such as:

• Budget size
• Headcount managed
• Cost savings
• Retention rates
• Time-to-fill and cost-per-hire
• ROI from training or development programs

If you are in a generalist role, highlight your contributions to performance improvement, employee engagement, and strategic initiatives. If you are in talent acquisition, include data on direct hires, sourcing channels, and recruitment efficiency.

Skills and technical proficiencies

Include a section that lists relevant skills and tools, such as:

• HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors)
• Payroll systems
• Performance management tools
• Compliance and labor law knowledge
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Data analysis and reporting

Only include technical jargon if it is relevant to the role and commonly understood in your industry.

Education and certifications

List your degrees, certifications, and any relevant continuing education. Include:

• Degree name and major
• Institution name and location
• Graduation year
• Certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR, SPHR)

If you are currently pursuing a certification, note the expected completion date.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Do not include salary information on your resume
• Do not list reasons for leaving previous roles
• Do not exaggerate or misrepresent your experience
• Do not use overly casual language or formatting
• Do not leave unexplained gaps in employment

Be honest, concise, and focused on your achievements. Your resume should reflect your professionalism and readiness for the next step in your career.

How SR Staffing can help

If you would like personalized support in building a resume that positions you for success in the job market, we are here to help. Our consultants specialize in HR and treasury recruitment and can provide tailored advice to help you stand out.