11 Must-Have Elements for a Modern Resume (With Examples) - 2024

Two words that frustrate when it comes to resume writing? “It depends.” Cue the collective sigh.

It's the common answer to many resume writing questions, because well… It does! On what? Your work experience, the job you want, your unique blend of skills, market obstacles and the list goes on. 

While there isn’t an official rule book, there are modern resume writing principles to follow that'll fish your resume out of the aughts and into the present day to open the door to your next opportunity. Here are 11 must-have elements for a high-performing resume and how to defeat the frenemy duo of blinking cursor and blank page.

The Purpose of Your Resume

Your resume is a marketing document and it’s selling you. You heard me. It’s not an exhaustive list or career autobiography, but a curation of your career experience in a way that matters to your target employer. It’s about your impact, value and how you uniquely do your work. Exchange your lifeless file for a document that exudes your unique promise of value…and wins you interviews!

That’s the role of your resume, isn’t it? To whet the appetite of the reader (aka hiring manager) to pick up the phone and invite you in to learn more. Your resume doesn’t tell the whole story but captivates their attention so they crave something more.

The Best Resume Format

The Ladders conducted two recruiter eye-tracking studies in 2012 and 2018 unveiling that at first glance recruiters scan your resume rather than read it. The lesson? No one is sitting down with your file like their favorite book. But their eyeballs do take a capital E or F path with their scan lasting between 6 – 7.4 seconds! So, ensure your name, education, companies you’ve worked for, job titles and start/end dates can easily be spotted because that’s what they’re looking for. 

While two-column resume formats may seem to hit all the modern notes, stick to a one-column design, to keep the readers’ eyes from crossing. And pack a potent punch of value before the fold.

The Top Third of Your Resume

The top third of your resume is the trailer before the movie. If your readers don't read any further, they’ll know who you are, the role you’re applying to and what you uniquely bring to the table. The rest of the document backs up these career claims.

Contact Information

The purpose of a resume is to initiate a conversation…for your career. So, make it easy for the employer to initiate one. Make your contact details easy to spot. No need to supply your full address anymore. Not one candidate is getting a job offer via snail mail anymore. And it leads to bias since your front doorstep is a quick Google search away.

One piece of information you may not be listing is your LinkedIn profile URL. Customize it (free) from LinkedIn and consider your LinkedIn profile the perfect partner for your business communication of a resume. Candidates who listed their LinkedIn URL (that led to a robust profile) on their resume were 71% more likely to land an interview than those who didn’t, according to a 2019 ResumeGo study. 

Career Headline

Your headline is the billboard telling the reader loud and clear about the job you are applying to. If you’ve never held the job title, you could precede the role title with Career Target or Poised for.

Personal Branding Statement

In the past, objective statements were the initial salutation of a resume. Not anymore. Instead of describing what you want (I’m seeking…”, “My passion is…”) tell employers how you are the solution to their problems.

Personal branding is how you showcase your prized skills, talents, and gifts to give employers a complete picture of everything you have to offer. Greet your reader with a catchy statement(s) in the top third of your resume describing your unique promise of value as it relates to your target role. Share:

• What sets you apart from the pack. 

• The benefits you bring to the table. 

• How you can uniquely solve a company’s needs or problems. 

A good show and tell is always welcome in this section. Tell who you are and show the impact you’ve made. 

Keyword List

A keyword list is the overlap of your signature expertise and the skills the employer is after for the target role. No need to spoil valuable real estate with a long list of buzzwords without context. A quick, two-liner list is enough to share skills that employers are begging for. Find additional tips on how to pull that language lever in your resume in 13 Hot Tips to Sweet Talk Employers.

Professional Experience in Your Resume

Your experience section is at the heart of your document. It outlines the companies you worked for, roles you held and contributions you made in each. This section takes various forms, but know it isn’t restricted only to professional work. “Related Experience” is a common heading for those returning to work to lump volunteer and paid experience together for a compelling narrative.

Uniform format

Allow your impact to pop off the page in a uniform format. This means the eye can focus on your contributions because it knows how to digest the information throughout your file. Uniform formatting is the scaffolding that allows your content to shine.

Summary of role

This is where you describe your role: Your duties, level of authority and responsible for’s (without saying it that way, of course). You give context by quantifying budgets, delineating key stakeholders and direct (or indirect reports). 

Resist the urge to copy and paste your job description. Because have you read yours lately? Does it excite you? Does it make you want to jump up and make a phone call? No. A job description can make any exciting role seem bland or boring. So, keep it punchy and the writing lean. And heaven forbid, interesting!

Impact-Driven Bullet Points

Bullet points are for impact. Job duties belong in the role summary (see above). So, replace any role responsibilities with career wins (and unique contributions) in your bullets. 

A good bullet point addresses the challenge in front of you, the strategy undertaken and the result. Then, here’s the trick: Flip your results to the front of the bullet point and lead with it. That grabs the eyeballs! 

Similar Role Groupings

This tactic is for my contractors and freelancers. It also works well for those who hold similar positions and need the writing space or to construct a more cohesive narrative. While this can look a variety of ways, consider grouping like roles together.

Education & Certification in Your Resume

There's always an education section. It can also include professional training and development, licensure and certifications. Name the heading accordingly.

When building your resume, write from the bottom up. You’ll make progress with quick writing wins and fill your confidence bucket as you move through to the top third.

Additional Sections in Your Resume

If you’re a hungry high achiever, your wins aren’t contained to the office. If it makes sense, showcase your engagement and leadership across community organizations, professional affiliations and boards of directors. Here are a few section headings (but not limited to) to consider:

• Board Leadership (or Board Membership)

• Industry Leadership

• Community Engagement

• Professional Affiliations & Leadership

Color & Design in Your Resume

You’re the boss of the reader’s eye. Direct the reader to the elements of your career story that you want to highlight. Color and design elements (shading, bold and borders) help you do that. 

The digital viewing experience is imperative. Smart color and design choices will enhance your content, not detract from it. Read Color Me Convinced: 5 Resume Branding Tips to Dye for to Land Ideal Work on how to do it well.

While there’s no official rule book to follow (or throw out), these resume best practices will get you noticed in today’s job market. Remember: You’re in charge of the sizzle and story. Bring it!