The value of an example is the shape: what to lead with, what to group, and what to cut. The skeletons below use placeholders only — no real people or invented results.
Who this guide is for
- Job seekers unsure how to structure a resume
- Career changers re-framing existing experience
- Anyone adapting one resume to different roles
Example structures by stage
Entry-level / student
[Name] — [target role]
[email] · [location] · [link]
Summary: [1–2 lines: focus, strengths, what you want to do]
Education: [degree, institution, dates, relevant coursework]
Projects / experience: [2–4 bullets framed as outcomes]
Skills: [role-relevant, specific]
Lead with education and projects; frame coursework and internships as outcomes.
Experienced professional
[Name] — [role]
Summary: [2 lines: domain, scope, signature strengths]
Experience: [role, org, dates] — 3–5 outcome bullets, most impactful first
Skills / tools: [role-relevant]
Education: [brief]
Lead with experience and outcomes; keep education brief.
Career change
[Name] — [new target role]
Summary: [bridge: what transfers and why you’re moving]
Relevant experience: [reframed bullets emphasising transferable outcomes]
Other experience: [condensed]
Skills: [mapped to the new role]
Lead with a bridging summary; reframe past work around transferable outcomes.
Manager / leadership
[Name] — [leadership role]
Summary: [scope: team size, remit, outcomes]
Experience: [outcomes and scale, not task lists]
Leadership impact: [what changed under your direction]
Skills: [strategic + functional]
Emphasise scope and outcomes over task descriptions.
Common mistakes
- Copying an example verbatim instead of adapting structure
- Listing tasks instead of outcomes
- One generic resume for every role
- Burying the most relevant experience below the fold
- Decorative formatting that obscures the content
Practical checklist
A quick, copy-friendly checklist.
☐ Structure chosen for your career stage
☐ Most relevant experience first
☐ Bullets written as outcomes
☐ Tailored to the specific role
☐ Clean, readable formatting
☐ No copied identities or invented results
For informational purposes only. Resume and CV expectations vary by employer, country, role and applicant-tracking system. This is general educational guidance, not a guarantee of interviews or hiring outcomes — adapt it to the specific role and market.