ATS Resume Sections: Order, Structure, and What to Include

Building the Perfect Resume Architecture for ATS Success

Creating a resume that effectively navigates Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) isn’t just about listing your job history. The architecture of your resume plays a crucial role in how ATS parses your information, directly influencing your chances of landing that coveted interview. This guide will help you understand the essential sections to include, how to prioritize them, and the specific content that will maximize your visibility to hiring managers.

Why Section Structure Matters

ATS software scans resumes for specific section patterns to efficiently extract and categorize information. A well-structured resume offers several advantages:

• Correct Database Fields: ATS recognizes your information in the right fields, making it easier for recruiters to locate.
• Minimized Parsing Errors: Proper structure mitigates the risk of your information being overlooked or miscategorized.
• Improved Search and Ranking: ATS algorithms favor resumes that conform to standard formatting, enhancing your visibility.

Neglecting proper structure can lead to critical information being missed. Let’s dive into the essential sections of your resume.

The Core Resume Sections

1. Contact Information (Required - Always First)

What to Include:

• Full name (largest text on the page)
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• City and State (full address optional)
• LinkedIn URL (strongly recommended)
• Portfolio URL (if applicable)

Formatting Tips:

• Keep contact information in the main body, not in the header or footer.
• Use a simple, stacked format or one-line layout for clarity.
• Avoid icons; spell out or use standard formats.
• Hyperlink URLs if submitting digitally.

What to Exclude:

• Personal details like age or marital status.
• Full street address—city and state generally suffice.
• Multiple phone numbers or unprofessional email addresses.

2. Professional Summary (Highly Recommended - Second Position)

Purpose: Your elevator pitch. This section provides a snapshot of your qualifications and career focus—prime real estate for keywords.

Ideal Length: 3-5 sentences or 50-100 words.

What to Include:

• Years of experience and professional identity
• Key skills and areas of expertise
• Notable achievements or specializations
• Alignment with the target role

Example:
"Results-driven Marketing Manager with 8+ years of experience in digital marketing, brand strategy, and team leadership. Proven track record of increasing engagement metrics by over 60% through data-driven campaign optimization. Expertise in marketing automation, SEO/SEM, and cross-functional collaboration."

Alternative Names ATS Recognize:

• Summary
• Professional Summary
• Executive Summary
• Career Summary
• Profile

3. Work Experience (Required - Third Position)

This section is the most critical for most applications.

Structure each entry as follows:
Job Title
Company Name | City, State | Month Year - Month Year (or Present)

• Start each bullet with an action verb.
• Include quantified accomplishments with metrics.
• Highlight relevant skills demonstrated.

Formatting Tips:

• Use reverse chronological order (most recent first).
• Include 3-6 bullet points per position.
• Focus on achievements rather than mere duties.
• Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., “Increased sales by 20% in Q2”).

What ATS Extracts:

• Job titles (compared to the target position).
• Company names (which can factor into scoring).
• Employment dates (to check for gaps or tenure).
• Keywords within descriptions.

Section Name Alternatives:

• Work Experience
• Professional Experience
• Experience
• Employment History
• Work History

4. Education (Required - Flexible Position)

For Experienced Professionals: Place after Work Experience.
For Recent Graduates: May place before Work Experience.

What to Include:

• Degree type and major (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Computer Science)
• Institution name
• Graduation year (or expected graduation)
• Relevant honors, GPA (if notable), activities

Structure:
Degree, Major
University Name, City, State | Graduation Year

• Relevant honors, achievements, or activities (optional).

For Multiple Degrees: List in reverse chronological order.

What to Exclude:

• High school information (unless you are a recent graduate).
• GPA below 3.5 (generally speaking).
• Dates that could reveal age concerns.

5. Skills (Highly Recommended - After Experience/Education)

Purpose: This section provides a scannable list of competencies that ATS can easily match.

Organization Options:

Option 1 - Categorized:
Technical Skills: Python, SQL, Tableau, Excel
Tools: Salesforce, JIRA, HubSpot, Google Analytics
Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Six Sigma

Option 2 - Single List:
Skills: Python, SQL, Tableau, Salesforce, Agile, Project Management, Data Analysis

Best Practices:

• List skills mentioned in the job description.
• Include both hard and soft skills.
• Use industry-standard terminology.
• Include both acronyms and spelled-out versions for technical terms.

What to Avoid:

• Subjective skill ratings or bars.
• Overly generic skills (e.g., “hardworking”).
• Outdated technologies.
• Skills you cannot demonstrate in an interview.

Optional Sections

Include these sections when relevant to your background or the position:

Certifications

Place prominently if certifications are required or highly valued for the role.

Structure:
Certification Name, Issuing Organization | Year Obtained (or Expiration Date)

Example:
PMP (Project Management Professional), PMI | 2023
AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Amazon | 2024

Projects

Valuable for tech roles, career changers, or to showcase specific work.

Structure:
Project Name | Technologies Used | Date

• Description of the project and your contribution.
• Quantified results or impact.

Publications

Relevant for academic, research, or thought leadership positions.

Volunteer Experience

Helpful when it demonstrates relevant skills or fills employment gaps.

Professional Affiliations

Memberships in industry organizations can signal professional engagement.

Languages

Include if relevant to the position or company.

Format:
Languages: Spanish (Native), French (Professional Proficiency), German (Conversational)

Sections to Avoid or Use Carefully

• Objective Statement: This has been replaced by the Professional Summary in modern resumes. Objectives focus on what you want; summaries focus on what you offer.
• References: "References available upon request" is unnecessary. Provide references when asked.
• Hobbies/Interests: Generally unnecessary unless directly relevant to the role or company culture.
• Personal Information: Avoid details such as age, marital status, religious affiliation, or photos (standard in some countries but not in the U.S.).

Section Ordering by Career Stage

Recent Graduates

1. Contact Information
2. Education
3. Projects or Internships
4. Skills
5. Work Experience (if any)
6. Activities/Volunteer Work

Mid-Career Professionals

1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary
3. Work Experience
4. Skills
5. Education
6. Certifications

Senior Executives

1. Contact Information
2. Executive Summary
3. Professional Experience
4. Board Positions/Affiliations (if applicable)
5. Education
6. Certifications/Awards

Career Changers

1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary (emphasize transferable skills)
3. Relevant Skills
4. Work Experience (highlight transferable aspects)
5. Education/Relevant Training
6. Projects/Portfolio

How Section Headers Affect Parsing

ATS looks for recognizable section headers to categorize information. Use standard names:

Recognized Headers:

• Experience, Work Experience, Professional Experience
• Education, Academic Background
• Skills, Technical Skills, Core Competencies
• Certifications, Credentials, Licenses

Problematic Headers:

• "Where I've Made an Impact" (Experience)
• "My Educational Journey" (Education)
• "What I Bring" (Skills)

Testing Your Structure

1. Does each section have a clear, standard header?
2. Is information logically organized?
3. Are the most important qualifications easy to find?
4. Does the order match your career stage?
5. Can you quickly locate any specific piece of information?

How Jobfolio Structures Your Resume

Jobfolio's templates utilize ATS-optimized section structures tailored to your career stage and industry. Our system ensures proper header naming, logical ordering, and appropriate content in each section—while giving you the flexibility to customize for specific applications. Create Your Resume with our expert templates today!

Conclusion

Resume structure is not arbitrary—it directly affects how well ATS processes your application and how easily humans navigate your qualifications. By using standard sections with recognizable headers, ordering them appropriately for your situation, and ensuring each section contains relevant, well-formatted content, you can boost your chances of advancing through every stage of the hiring process.

A well-structured resume pleases both technology and humans, increasing your chances of landing that interview. Don’t leave your success to chance; leverage the power of a well-organized resume.

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For further refinement, check your resume with our ATS Checker to ensure it meets the latest standards and optimizes your chances for success.