12 Resume Headings That Get You Noticed

If you're refreshing your resume, start with your resume headings. They’re not just organizational tools—they guide the hiring manager’s attention to what matters most. For job seekers aiming to build an effective resume, using the right headings can make the difference between getting noticed and getting missed. Let’s walk through the 12 resume headings that deserve a spot on your resume page.

What Are Resume Headings? (And Why They Matter More Than You Think)

Resume headings are the signposts of your entire resume. They break your information into clear, readable chunks—like “Work Experience,” “Education,” or “Skills”—so a hiring manager can find what they need fast. In a world where resumes are skimmed in seconds, strong section headings help your most relevant details stand out immediately.

A resume header, for example, is not just your name at the top. It includes your contact information and sometimes your job title or professional profile. That’s different from the rest of your resume sections, which label the main content areas. Together, these headings shape the flow of your resume. They guide both human readers and applicant tracking systems through your career story.

Not everything on a resume deserves a heading. A single bullet point doesn't need its own label. Neither does a design element. Good resume headings highlight meaningful content. Optional resume sections like “Volunteer Work” or “Certifications” should only appear if they add value to the job you’re targeting. If it helps a hiring manager understand why you’re qualified, it earns its spot. If not, it’s clutter.

The 12 Most Effective Resume Headings (With When to Use Them)

The right resume headings make your content easier to navigate, more relevant to the role, and cleaner in format. These are the essential resume sections modern job seekers should use, whether you’re starting with a blank resume template or improving your current resume format.

1. Contact Information

This heading sits in the resume header and includes your full name, phone number, email, and any relevant links like LinkedIn or a portfolio. It’s for making it easy to contact you—nothing more, nothing less. Label it as “Contact Information” or skip the heading entirely and format it cleanly at the top.

2. Resume Summary or Objective

Use this section to quickly define your job title, professional summary, or career goals. Summaries work best for experienced professionals; objectives are better for entry-level roles or career pivots. Label it as “Summary,” “Professional Summary,” or “Career Objective.”

3. Work Experience

This is your work history, written in reverse chronological order. It shows your job titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Use it if you have any employment history at all. Label options include “Work Experience,” “Employment History,” or “Professional Experience.”

4. Education

List your academic background, degrees, schools, and graduation dates. Include this section if you’re a recent grad or if the education is relevant to the job. You can label it “Education,” “Education and Training,” or “Academic Background.”

5. Skills

Your skills section should highlight a mix of hard skills, soft skills, and technical skills relevant to the role. Use it to quickly show what you’re good at. Label it “Skills,” “Technical Skills,” or “Key Skills.”

6. Certifications or Training

This heading is for credentials that support your qualifications—whether it’s a PMP, Salesforce certification, or workshop series. Use it when your certifications show job-readiness or industry relevance. Label it “Certifications,” “Training,” or “Professional Development.”

7. Projects

Use this to showcase project management experience, side projects, or student work that demonstrates relevant skills. Especially helpful for freelancers, career changers, and recent grads. Label it “Projects,” “Key Projects,” or “Selected Work.”

8. Volunteer Experience

This is for unpaid roles that build relevant experience or show your initiative. Great for early-career job seekers or when the volunteer work closely aligns with the job. Label it “Volunteer Work,” “Volunteer Experience,” or “Community Involvement.”

9. Awards or Achievements

Use this to highlight academic achievements or standout professional wins. Include it when your accolades help position you as a strong candidate. Label it “Awards,” “Achievements,” or “Honors.”

10. Publications or Speaking Engagements

If you’ve written, presented, or contributed publicly in a way that supports your professional brand, include it. Especially relevant in academic, tech, or leadership roles. Label it “Publications,” “Speaking,” or “Public Work.”

11. Languages

This section shows language fluency that could be relevant to global roles, client-facing jobs, or specialized industries. Use it only if language skills add value. Label it “Languages” or “Language Skills.”

12. Additional Info (only when it earns its place)

Use this section for relevant information that doesn’t fit elsewhere, like security clearances, citizenship, or relocation preferences. Only include it if it’s relevant to the job posting. Label it “Additional Information” or skip the heading if the content is light.

How to Write Resume Headings

Your resume headings don’t just organize content—they determine whether your resume gets noticed or ignored. Here’s how to write and format each heading so it’s both clear to hiring managers and compatible with applicant tracking systems.

Use plain, keyword-friendly language

Label each section in a way that matches the language in job descriptions. Resume headings like “Work Experience” or “Skills” are simple but powerful because they align with relevant keywords that employers and ATS tools are scanning for. Avoid trying to be creative with headings like “What I’ve Done” or “My Toolbox.” Clarity always wins.

Format for clarity and ATS compatibility

Make sure your resume is formatted correctly for an ATS-friendly resume. Use a clean layout with standard fonts, avoid text boxes, and never place headings in headers or footers. Consistent formatting is key—keep heading sizes, spacing, and alignment uniform throughout. If you’re not confident in your layout, a resume builder can help keep everything structured and easy to scan.

Match heading order to your story

Don’t just follow a generic template. The order of your resume sections should reflect your career progression. A recent grad might lead with education, while an experienced professional should prioritize work experience. Use reverse chronological order within each section to show your most recent and relevant roles first.

Avoid filler or irrelevant sections

Not every resume needs every section. Skip optional sections that don’t add relevant information. If you don’t have any certifications, don’t force a “Certifications” heading. Keep your resume headings tight, purposeful, and focused on what actually supports your fit for the role.

Make headings scannable at a glance

Hiring managers skim. Make sure your resume headings stand out with bold font and clear spacing. Use a clean resume format that separates each section visually and supports a professional appearance. A strong layout helps key details jump off the page, especially when decision-makers are moving fast.

Tailoring Your Resume Headings for Your Career Stage

The right resume headings depend on where you are in your career. Heading order and emphasis should change based on your experience level and what employers need to see first. Here’s how to adjust your resume for the stage you’re in.

Recent grads

If you're just starting out, lead with the education section. It's often your strongest asset. Follow that with a clean skills section that highlights relevant skills, especially those gained from internships, coursework, or part-time roles. Add a brief resume objective to clarify what kind of opportunity you're looking for. Include academic achievements or student projects if they align with the role.

Career changers

For career changers, the focus shifts to transferable experience. Use headings like "Projects" or "Certifications" to bring forward relevant work, even if it wasn’t from a traditional job. A strong resume objective can help connect the dots between your past and your next move. Lean on optional sections to showcase training or project management experience that aligns with the role you're targeting.

Senior professionals

If you're an experienced professional, your work history should lead. Use resume headings like “Professional Experience” or “Employment History” and format them in reverse chronological order. This is where your career speaks for itself. Focus on measurable results and scope. Skip the fluff and let your professional experience drive the story.

Remote job seekers

For those pursuing a remote job, lean into headings that show self-direction. Emphasize projects, tools you’ve used, or an asynchronous collaboration experience. Hiring managers in remote environments look for clear proof of independent work. Headings that highlight project management, tech fluency, and communication tools are key for this stage of the job search.

Conclusion

Your resume headings are more than section titles—they’re your first impression. When written with clarity and intention, they help hiring managers grasp your strengths in seconds. Whether you're building from scratch or refining your format, the right words in the right places can move your job search forward faster. And if you need help getting your resume organized and ready to send, consider signing up for Huntr today to build a smart, effective resume without starting from a blank page.