My Account

You control your data

We and our partners use cookies to provide you with our services and, depending on your settings, gather analytics and marketing data. Find more information on our Cookie Policy. Tap “Cookie Settings” to set preferences. To accept all cookies, click “Accept All”.

Settings Accept

Cookie settings

Click on the types of cookies below to learn more about them and customize your experience on our Site. You may freely give, refuse or withdraw your consent. Keep in mind that disabling cookies may affect your experience on the Site. For more information, please visit our Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

Choose type of cookies to accept

Analytics

These cookies allow us to analyze our performance to offer you a better experience of creating resumes and cover letters. Analytics related cookies used on our Site are not used by Us for the purpose of identifying who you are or to send you targeted advertising. For example, we may use cookies/tracking technologies for analytics related purposes to determine the number of visitors to our Site, identify how visitors move around the Site and, in particular, which pages they visit. This allows us to improve our Site and our services.

Performance and Personalization

These cookies give you access to a customized experience of our products. Personalization cookies are also used to deliver content, including ads, relevant to your interests on our Site and third-party sites based on how you interact with our advertisements or content as well as track the content you access (including video viewing). We may also collect password information from you when you log in, as well as computer and/or connection information. During some visits, we may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, download errors, time spent on certain pages and page interaction information.

Advertising

These cookies are placed by third-party companies to deliver targeted content based on relevant topics that are of interest to you. And allow you to better interact with social media platforms such as Facebook.

Necessary

These cookies are essential for the Site's performance and for you to be able to use its features. For example, essential cookies include: cookies dropped to provide the service, maintain your account, provide builder access, payment pages, create IDs for your documents and store your consents.

To see a detailed list of cookies, click here.

Save preferences
What Is a Resume (Definition, Purpose & Key Elements)

What Is a Resume (Definition, Purpose & Key Elements)

Learn about what is a resume, the purpose of it and how it can help your job search. The more informed you are, the better the outcome will be.

As seen in:

Your resume is an essential item in your job application and an absolute go-to for recruiters to get to know you as a potential candidate. However, it may seem overwhelming to grasp immediately if this is your first job search.

 

Learn what a resume is exactly and what it aims at, along with what information it requires to be complete and job-winning.

 

You’ll discover:

  • What is a resume.
  • What is resume purpose in a job search.
  • An example of a resume to understand what kind of details you need to include.
  • Four types of resumes and the difference between them.

 

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

 

Create your resume now

 

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

 

Learn more about application documents from our other guides:

 

What Is a Resume for a Job

 

A resume (also spelled résumé) is a formal document presenting your career background and skills. Usually, along with a cover letter, it’s created to help you land a new job. A traditional resume includes a professional summary, work history, education, and skills sections.

Pro Tip: In the US, you can use two types of documents to apply for a job. One of them is a resume. The other is a CV. The significant difference between them is the purpose. You use resumes to apply for traditional jobs, like accounting, IT, or communications. But you use a CV for academic applications, like research positions, fellowships, or grants.

Pro Tip #2: In the UK, a CV means exactly the same as a resume for Americans. 

What Is the Purpose of a Resume

 

The purpose of a resume is to introduce yourself to employers, present your qualifications, and secure an interview. Writing a resume aims to showcase your experience, education, and skills in a standardized format that is easy for recruiters to read.

 

Resume Example

 

Here’s what a resume generally looks like:

 

what is resume example

Want to learn how to create a resume like the one above? Fantastic! Read about it here: How to Make a Resume in 9 Simple Steps.

Types of Resumes

 

There are four types of resumes, and they are:

 

  • Reverse-chronological resume: a classic format known to most recruiters and your best choice in most situations. It puts your recent or current experience upfront and promotes your proudest achievements going back in time.
  • Functional resume: a format that focuses on skills rather than work history. It’s ideal for career changers and those with gaps in employment.
  • Combination resume: a hybrid of chronological and functional resume formats (the most flexible). It begins with a summary of skills, then proceeds to the most relevant experience moments.
  • Targeted resume: a resume written for a specific position. Create it by matching the resume keywords referring to skills, qualifications, qualities, and responsibilities listed in the job description. Targeting your resume for a specific job is what truly makes a good resume.

Choose the format that will help you best advertise yourself to the recruiter. Read more: Best Resume Format

Key Elements to Include on a Resume

 

See what the key sections of a resume are and what to put in your resume:

 

 

Those resume sections are more than necessary. But you can also list others depending on the job your resume is targeting. Consider adding extra information to your resume as well: 

 

 

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

 

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Key Takeaway

 

Here’s a recap of what you should know before sending your resume to a future employer:

 

  • Your resume is a marketing document. It’s used to make a favorable impression on the recruiter.
  • Treat your resume as a summary of your work experience, education, and skills. Be concise and list only key career wins. Plus, be relevant.
  • Make your resume aesthetically pleasing. Use the best formatting rules.
  • Respect your reader, proofread your resume, and make it high-quality.

 

What do you think about the resume definition above? Does this brief overview answer your resume questions? Give me a shout in the comments!

 

About Zety’s Editorial Process

 

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Rate my article: what is resume
Average: 4.39 (77 votes)
Thank you for voting
Emilia Mucha
Emilia is a career expert sharing all kinds of job hunting advice. At Zety, she writes dedicated guides that help readers create job-winning resumes and cover letters.

Similar articles