Resume Order

The order of the information in your resume makes a significant impact on its effectiveness. The top of the first page will be read the most closely. Often the reader will only scan the remainder of the resume. This makes it essential to convey the most important information at the top.

A hiring manager might have two or three requirements for a position that a job seeker must have. The other requirements may have some flexibility, but the two or three most important often cannot be compromised. When the hiring manager looks at a stack of resumes, these key requirements are the focus.

To ensure that you don't get rejected for a position that you are qualified to do, you need to highlight these requirements at the top of your resume. The challenge many job seekers face is knowing what highlight at the top.

Recent College Graduates

When you graduate, a company will hire you for your potential, not your experience. This makes it essential to highlight your education. A good order for a recent college graduate's resume would be:

• Education

• Skills

• Work Experience

• Activities

Professionals in a Technical Field

Technical fields often prioritize technical skills over all over attributes. When you write your resume, you should emphasize the skills that are most critical to the position. A good order for a resume would be:

• Technical Skills

• Work Experience

• Education

• Other Skills

Professionals in Non-Technical Fields

In a non-technical field, your experience and ability to do a job is most important. This information should be emphasized first. A good order for a resume would be:

• Work Experience

• Education

• Skills

Over the course of your career, the order of your resume will change. I see resumes from experienced professionals that keep the same information at the top of the resumes.  This is a mistake.  Continue to revise your resume to emphasize the most important information to the hiring manager.