Resume Outline: What Is It All About?

Sometimes, writing a job-winning resume is tough. You may get lost in the amount of information that you have and forget to include some important facts. In such a case, a resume outline can help you stick to the topic, highlighting critical achievements and key career accomplishments. It may look like additional work to do, but it’s definitely worth spending extra time on an outline when it’s an interview that is at stake.

With the help of affordable professional resume writers you'll have it perfect, professional and promoted. Let professionals power your resume performance.

‍
Is always ready to help you with any task and in any case. So if you have trouble with the resume outline or have any other issues, don’t be shy and ask for professional resume help here and there.

‍

What Is a Resume Outline?

An outline for resume is a detailed plan of the information to be included in each of its sections. To make sure one covers all achievements that make them stand out from the crowd, it’s recommended to start off writing with an outline resume.

In other words, to write a resume, begin with planning what your professional profile should look like. A great outline includes all the sections that you plan to include and lists statements that you want to communicate to your potential employer, recruiters, and hiring managers.

How to Create the Best Resume Outline

If you decided to begin with creating an outline of a resume, be ready that it may take some time. You need to define what information is relevant and how you plan to cover it in the resume. This is what an outline is for.

An outline is a perfect guide for crafting a bot-beating and professional resume. All you need to create an outline is to structure your key ideas before getting to write a resume.

Personal Details & Contacts

An outline of resume includes contact information and personal details. These are needed to make sure interested recruiters can contact you as a candidate. However, do not exaggerate with communication details. Mentioning your city, email, and cell phone number is enough. Do not include personal details such as marital status or religious affiliation.

Here are the examples of how contact details should and shouldn’t appear on a professional resume outline:

CORRECT ✅

Diane Smith

El Paso, TX, 656-908-6754, dianesmith@email.com

INCORRECT ❌

Diane Smith

El Paso, TX, 656-908-6754, dianesmith@email.com

Married with two children, Follower of Christ

Additional Information

The only additional information a person can add to a resume outline and its contact details section is a link to their website, portfolio, or blog. It’s a good idea to connect your resume with your LinkedIn account or direct recruiters to a place where they can check your works and credentials. 

Heading Component of Outline for Resume

The heading component of a job resume outline must include the title of the desired position, job-related skills, and qualifications, and explain why a person decided to seek a position in the field. A recruiter should understand what this candidate already achieved and what their ambitions are.

Here are a few resume outline examples:

CORRECT ✅

Looking for a position of a Sales Associate to apply communication and customer service skills and boost sales, leading the store to rank first in the chain.

INCORRECT ❌

The targeted role is Sales Associate

Resume Summary

A good resume outline includes a resume summary that helps connect the candidate’s past with targeted job description requirements. In other words, the goal is to communicate your ideas about your role in business to a potential employer.

CORRECT ✅

Accomplished sales professional with years of expertise driving sales and boosting store performance utilizing various marketing tricks and techniques to attract customers.

INCORRECT ❌

A sales professional who can sell well and hopes for a rewarding career with regular working hours and high pay.

Resume Objective

A resume objective also plays a decent role in an outline for a resume. You need to explain how your areas of expertise meet the position requirements if you want to land a job. An objective is especially critical for career changers or people with huge unexplained career gaps.

CORRECT ✅

Looking for a position of a Sales Associate to assist customers in choosing products that meet their preferences while growing sales volumes for the employer.

INCORRECT  ❌

I want to work as a Sales Associate to earn money and sell goods to people.

Professional Experience

The professional experience section should also be included in your resume outline sample. In this part, one should talk about their achievements to demonstrate to a hiring manager how experienced they are. It’s essential to include experiences that are relevant to the targeted role.

CORRECT ✅

Sales Assistant at Water’s Bay

• Greeted visitors and provided them with information concerning requested products and services.
• Grew sales by 11% and became a top sales assistant in the region.

INCORRECT ❌

Sales Assistant at Water’s Bay

• Demonstrated goods and explained functions and features offered to the customers.

College Student Resume Outline

College students may not have enough experience to fill out this section of a resume outline for high school students. They, however, may include jobs that are not related to the duties in the targeted position. For them, it’s important that they had some responsibilities and performed them to the best of their abilities.

CORRECT ✅

Pet Sitter (Self-Employed)

• Assisted neighbors with their pets while they were on vacation or business trips.
• Ensured pets’ safety and wellbeing, regularly checking on them and making sure they had enough activities, food, and sleep.

INCORRECT ❌

Pet Sitter (Self-Employed)

• Babysat neighbors’ cats and dogs.

Don't forget about a cover letter! 77% of recruiters said they would give preference to a job candidate who sent a cover letter. Do it yourself (look for professional cover letter examples on Skillhub) or skill up your resume with the help of our best cover letter writing service over there.  

Education Part

An outline format resume should also talk about education. If you have a college or university degree, make sure to include this information. If not, add training sessions, courses, and certifications that can make your resume stand out.

You can also discuss education in your resume cover letter outline. A resume format requires this information to be condensed. You, however, can be more descriptive in your cover letter.

CORRECT ✅

University of California at Berkeley

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing

• Dean’s List
• Maggy Ross Scholarship Recipient
• Futuro Organization Member
• Food for Smile Volunteer

INCORRECT ❌

University of California at Berkeley (attended)

Learn more on how to list education section on a resume.

Skills Part of a Resume Outline

A great sample resume outline should also include skills and areas of expertise. One needs to analyze what abilities in their arsenal make them unique and apt to do the job. Start by listing your fields of knowledge. Also, do not forget capabilities that highlight your uniqueness.

Here are right and wrong examples of skills in the outline of a resume format:

CORRECT ✅

Communication, analytical skills, critical thinking, leadership, sales and marketing, CRM, customer relationship building, active listening, organizational skills, targeting, social media, digital marketing, transaction processing, English & Spanish.

INCORRECT ❌

Dancing, cooking, reading, knitting, painting, listening to music, gardening, watching movies, language learning.

Look at more resume skills examples.

Additional Sections of a Resume Outline

A good idea would be to add extra sections to a basic resume outline if they are relevant to the targeted goal. For example, volunteer work with homeless people will benefit social worker’s resumes a lot.

Here are possible additional sections to a resume outline that one should consider:

• Language skills
• Volunteer service
• Custom projects
• Training & Courses

Look at more resume examples outline here.

Resume Outline Template

Below is an example of a general resume outline for a sales industry specialist with several professional achievements. Pay attention to the sample before you get started with your outline creation.

Diane Smith

El Paso, TX, 656-908-6754, dianesmith@email.com

SUMMARY

Accomplished sales professional with years of expertise driving sales and boosting store performance utilizing various marketing tricks and techniques to attract customers.

OBJECTIVE

Looking for a position of a Sales Associate to apply communication and customer service skills and boost sales, leading the store to rank first in the chain.

EXPERIENCE

Sales Assistant at Water’s Bay

• Greeted visitors and provided them with information concerning requested products and services.
• Grew sales by 11% and became a top sales assistant in the region.

EDUCATION

University of California at Berkeley

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing

• Dean’s List
• Maggy Ross Scholarship Recipient
• Futuro Organization Member
• Food for Smile Volunteer

SKILLS

Communication, analytical skills, critical thinking, sales and marketing, CRM, customer relationship building, active listening, organizational skills, targeting, social media, digital marketing, transaction processing, English & Spanish

LANGUAGES

English & Spanish

The Bottom Line

Writing a work resume outline is optional. If you can craft a winning resume with no backup, go ahead. A professional resume outline, however, helps to order your thoughts and focus on the most important sections.

If you are looking for a job with a reputable organization, we definitely recommend starting your resume with an outline. A great outline for resume example is available on our website if you are not sure how to structure it.

Anyway, writing a resume, as well as its outline, is a time-consuming effort. If you feel lost, SkillHub is always ready to have your back and help you.

Still, have questions about resume outline? Learn more at Career Hub.