Anatomy of a resume example
A resume should include five critical sections — contact information, career summary or objective statement, work experience, education and skills — plus a handful of optional sections depending on your career history and aspirations.
All great resume examples include the following sections:
Resume examples by industry and job title
Administrative resume examples
For those who enjoy keeping a meticulous schedule, our administrative resume samples will help you highlight your ability to coordinate, prioritize and organize schedules, information and people.
Banking resume samples
Are you brilliant when it comes to numbers, spreadsheets and charts? We have many resume examples to apply for a job in the financial industry so you can draft your own resume with the utmost confidence.
Business operations resume examples
Put your creative, analytical and problem-solving skills front and center to land a job in business operations. These sample resumes will show you how to take your application to the next level!
Construction resume samples
Job seekers looking for work in construction need to build a structurally sound resume. These simple resume examples will help you highlight skills like reading blueprints and controlling costs.
Education resume samples
No matter what you do in the education field, our examples of resumes will show you how to emphasize your skills, from problem-solving and critical thinking to communication and classroom management.
Engineering resume examples
Bring your analytical and critical thinking skills to life with an exceptional, next-level engineering resume. These professional resume samples will act as a blueprint for creating a job-winning document.
Entertainment resume samples
Whether you want to be behind the scenes or center stage, you need a solid entertainment resume as your calling card. These example resumes will give you an advantage over the considerable competition.
Hospitality resume examples
Regardless of the role you play in the hospitality industry, let each sample resume be your guide to emphasizing your customer service skills, flexibility and adaptability so you shine.
Human resources resume samples
You need a resume so good you wouldn’t hesitate to hire yourself. Each example resume will give you ideas for crafting a human resources resume that’s strong enough to bypass even the toughest ATS.
Insurance resume examples
Insurance brokers, agents and adjusters need a resume that will help them stand out from other qualified candidates. Increase your chances of getting a callback by using our examples of resumes.
Law resume samples
Whether you’re a legal secretary, paralegal or legal intern, our good resume examples will guarantee you fill out your resume sections in compliance with the job description — and land the job you’re seeking.
Marketing resume examples
For a marketing guru, your most valuable product is yourself. Use these samples of resumes to learn how to best promote your impeccable communications skills, CRM acumen and innovative mindset.
Medical resume samples
We have the best resume examples for medical industry workers who want to learn how to showcase their technical know-how, certifications, soft skills and professional achievements in the best light.
Nursing resume examples
The competitive field of nursing demands a resume that grabs the attention of prospective employers. Luckily, we have a variety of great, keyword-rich nursing resume samples for you to examine.
Sales resume samples
Give prospective employers a sales pitch they’ll never forget and seal the deal on the job. Whether you’re a sales representative, manager or telemarketing agent, we have the perfect resume example for you.
Other popular resume examples
- Accountant
- Analyst
- Apartment leasing consultant
- Art
- Biotech
- Business operations
- Chemistry
- Coach
- Computer software tester
- Consultant
- Corporate trainer
- Customer service
- Cybersecurity manager
- Driving
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Resume examples by format
Resumes come in three formats — chronological, functional and combination. Check out the examples below to see which format would be best for your career situation.
Example of a chronological resume
Chronological resumes are the most common. As you can see in the example, this format puts work experience at the forefront, listing roles in reverse-chronological order.
This sample is great for candidates who:
Have a steady work history
Show a clear career progression
Have already worked multiple jobs
Example of a functional resume
Functional resumes de-emphasize work history in favor of skills and achievements. Also known as “skills-based” resumes, this format highlights your practical ability to perform the job.
This type of resume is great for applicants who:
Are looking for their first job.
Have significant gaps in experience.
Are hoping to change careers.
Example of a combination resume
The combination resume, also known as the hybrid resume, gives equal weight to work experience and skills, showing employers the link between the two.
Hybrid resumes are perfect for job seekers who:
Are returning to the workforce after a short break.
Want to emphasize certain skills.
Possess at least one year of experience.
8 benefits of using a sample resume for a job application
A good resume example will help you:
- Avoid common mistakes when writing.
- Showcase your most relevant skills.
- Highlight your measurable achievements in your work history section.
- Customize your resume for each job and fill out all sections appropriately.
- Understand how to use a professional summary versus a resume objective.
- Choose the appropriate structure based on your experience.
- Format your document properly.
- Create a resume quickly and easily using our builder.
FAQ
Avoid copying from resume samples. Your resume must reflect what makes you uniquely qualified and should speak directly to the company and the position. You’re bound to get rejected otherwise.
Look at the job description closely to find keywords for your resume. Notice which skills and other qualifications in the job requirements match yours. If the employer lists “nice to have” credentials, then add those too because they will help you stand out even more. But be honest! Only choose words that genuinely reflect your employment history and skill set — chances are hiring managers will ask for details should you get an interview. Plus, your employer will expect you to put those qualifications to use if you get the job. Once you have a substantial list of keywords to use, study an example of a resume for guidance on how to place them in your resume sections.
Your resume format can help you work around a career change or a gap in your resume work history section. The functional resume format, for instance, works well for job seekers with employment gaps because it emphasizes resume skills over experience. It makes your qualifications clear to prospective employers before noticing inconsistencies in your job history.
Another way to address job changes or gaps when writing a resume is to explain them in a cover letter. In about three sentences or less, explain what you learned from your experience in a way that assures the hiring manager that you learned from it (if it’s a gap) or why you feel a new job path is right for you (if you seek a career change).
There are many ways to build a resume that stands out, but pay particular attention to the following six:
Start with a professional resume example that matches your industry and desired job.
Use the correct resume format and design for your industry and goals.
Add quantifiable achievements, such as “Delivered an average of 45 meals per day on time and efficiently while maintaining excellent customer service.”
Use keywords from the job description without overdoing them.
Write a three-sentence professional resume summary or resume objective explaining who you are and what you can do for the prospective employer.
Proofread it so that it's error-free!
Yes! You should always send a cover letter with your resume when you apply for a job unless explicitly told not to hand one in. Not only will it help you stand out but it’s also your chance to introduce yourself to the employer, explain any possible red flags on your resume (such as many short-term jobs) and show your personality. Plus, it lets you convey your enthusiasm for the job and tell the employer exactly why you want to work for them. We have many excellent cover letter examples to help you get started.
More resources
Check out our rich library of free articles to learn how to create resumes that wow employers.
