How to Write a Resume Heading (With Template and Examples)

Resume headings are titles that summarise the content of different sections within your resume. For example, the section that outlines your skills may have a heading of 'professional skills'. Understanding how to write headings can help you create a resume that employers may notice. In this article, we discuss the answer to the question 'what is a resume heading?' and explore some of the relevant information you can include in your resume.

What is a resume heading?

A resume heading helps keep your document organised. Each section of your resume usually has a professional header to describe what's included in that area. The heading typically relates to the content of a section. If you have information detailing your education, you may have a heading of 'academic achievements'. Using resume headers can help you display your qualifications, skills, experience and goals in a clear and informative writing structure.

Depending on your experience and qualifications, you may only use a few headings. If you have just finished high school and are entering the working industry for the first time, you may have yet to gain work experience or qualifications. In this case, you may consider focusing your headings on personality and educational achievements.

Related: 6 Universal Rules for Resume Writing

How to write headings on a resume

Below, you can find a step-by-step guide on how to write headings on a resume:

1. Contact information

The first content of your resume is usually your contact information. The first point of information can be your full name, then your phone number, email address, website, if applicable, and address. Contact information doesn't typically require a heading, but it can often be the best way to start your resume. Once you write your contact information, you can start adding in some professional resume headers.

2. Summary

Your objective summary is the first resume header you might include in your resume. An objective summary is essentially your goals for the job you may be applying for. If you're applying for an entry-level position, you may consider using an objective summary to express your intent to learn and gain new skills. You may also use 'professional summary' as your first heading if you have extensive work experience and qualifications. Potential employers may have more interest in your achievements than your goals.

Related: What To Write in a Resume Profile (With Steps and Tips)

3. Work or education background

Following your objective or professional summary, you may include a resume header that relates to your work or educational background. If you have minimal work experience, you may consider having an education heading before you use a work experience heading. When discussing work experience, you can include your job title, duration of employment and typical responsibilities. Your educational background refers to any studies you've completed, such as a bachelor's degree or certification.

4. Relevant skills

After your objective, work and education headings, you can discuss your skills that are relevant to the career. Some resume headers you may use for your skills section include 'professional skills' and 'relevant skills'. You may have a variety of skills that relate to your chosen career, such as organisation and communication. If you're applying for the role of an office administrator without work experience, it's usually important to highlight any soft skills you have that may relate to the role.

5. Additional achievements

The final heading you can use in your resume relates to your formal recognitions, awards and professional accolades. It may be best to include your achievements that relate to the career you're applying for. Awards and formal recognition of your achievements can highlight your commitment and passion for the industry. If this section is not applicable, you may leave it out.

Related: How to Make a Resume

Heading examples for your resume

There is a wide variety of headers you may use. Some headers can have a similar meaning, but one or the other may be more applicable to your resume. For example, if you're discussing your experience in the military, you can use the heading of 'work experience', but 'military experience' may be a more relevant heading. Below you can find some good resume header examples:

Headings for a resume objective

Below you can find some of the headings that may be relevant when discussing your objective summary:

• Career goals

• Professional objective

• Summary

• Objective

• Career objective

• Professional summary

• Personal statement

Headings for work experience

Below you can discover some alternative headings that may be relevant when discussing your work experience:

• Work background

• Employment history

• Work history

• Internship

• Professional employment

• Military service

• Professional experience

• Employment

Headings for education

Below you can discover some of the different headings you may use when discussing your educational achievements:

• Academic experience

• Educational achievements

• Apprenticeship

• Internship

• Certifications

• Qualifications

Headings for skills

Below are some of the headings that may apply to your resume when discussing your relevant skills:

• Professional skills

• Skills and expertise

• Relative skills

• Soft skills

• Technical skills

• Administrative skills

• Job skills

Related: Example of a Simple Resume That Can Get You Hired

Resume template with headers

Once you have your headings, you can then begin to add information under those headers. When displaying your work experience, qualifications and skills, it can be a good idea to use bullet point formatting. Bullet points help to clearly outline information on your resume. Before you submit your job application, consider reviewing your resume to ensure the sections relate to their corresponding headers. Below you can find a resume template with helpful tips to help you create a resume:

[Full name]
[Street address]
[Email address]
[Phone number]

Objective
[In this section you may briefly outline your main qualifications, experience or goals. The objective is usually only one to two sentences long. If you don't have a qualification or related work experience, you may focus this section on your goals and motivations for the chosen career]

Work experience
[Company and location]
[Job title and duration]
[Bullet points of job responsibilities]

[Company and location]
[Job title and duration]
[Bullet points of job responsibilities]

Education
[School name and location]
[Name of program or degree and duration]

[School name and location]
[Name of program or degree and time period]

Skills
[Under the skills heading, you can include your skills that may relate to the chosen career. These can include soft skills such as effective communication and reliability]

Example resumes

Here are a few examples to help you see how to use headers on your resume:

Example one

Below, you can find an example resume that outlines the general information that you can include when applying for a career as an office administrator:

Julie Smith
42 Bulb Street
Stapleton, NSW 2134
+61 3 1234 5678
Smith@email.com.au

Professional summary
Motivated office administrator with 3+ years of experience in administrative roles. Organised and motivated professional with a certification in management software.

Work experience
Office administrator
Bruce Street Finance, Stapleton
February 2018-present

• preparing presentations and weekly reports

• organising monthly supplies

• completing stock takes and audits on office equipment and supplies

• reviewing performance documents

• liaising with clients

• preparing financial reports

• operating Microsoft management software

• arranging interviews and follow up calls for clients

• preparing budget and financial data for investors and clients

Office administrator
Construction Co, Stapleton
June 2017-December 2017

• answering phones and scheduling client appointments

• providing reception and administrative support for construction services

• updating client records through the virtual database

• following up with client requests for quotes

• organising construction documents

• filing building blueprints

• communicating with government and local shire council members

• coordinating handover for clients

Certifications
Administration Training Association
New South Wales
January 2015 - July 2015

• Certificate in Management Software

Office Training Group
New South Wales
July 2016 - December 2016

• Certificate in Office Administration

Skills

• using modern management software

• organising office operations

• operating Microsoft office programs

• taking phone calls and contacting clients

• implementing filing systems

• assisting office procedures

• purchasing office equipment

Example two

Below, you can find an example resume that uses some different headers and outlines the skills and experience that you may include when applying for a career as a cabinet maker:

Emily Melvin

42 Wood Street
Stapleton, NSW 2134
+61 3 1234 5678
Melvin@email.com.au

Objective
Passionate cabinet maker with 6+ years of experience in woodworking roles. Eager to work at a professional business where I can expand my cabinet making skills and knowledge.

Work history
Cabinet maker
Bruce Street Wood Works, Stapleton
February 2018-present

• selecting and preparing wood, raw timber and manufactured boards

• manufacturing individual pieces of timber to form a final product

• installing cabinets in homes

• fabricating doors, windows, draws and shelves

• fitting hinges and locks to windows and doors

• repairing damaged timber and wooden cabinetry

• designing interior projects

• interpreting build designs

Cabinet maker
Cabinetry Co, Stapleton
June 2017-December 2017

• trimming and glueing of multiple wooden pieces

• interpreting design specifications

• operating advanced 3D woodworking machinery

• operating hand tools such as drills, jigsaws and sanders

• adding fine details to wooden features

• ordering and transporting materials

• providing quotes for clients

Qualifications

Woodwork Apprenticeship Association
New South Wales
January 2012 - January 2015

• Certificate III in Cabinet Making

Cabinet Specialist Training
New South Wales
July 2015 - December 2016

• Certificate IV in Furniture Making

Professional skills

• using modelling software

• organising workshop operations

• operating advanced woodworking machinery

• taking phone calls and contacting clients

• implementing safety systems

• assisting woodwork design procedures

• operating a variety of power tools

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.