Key Sections to Include in a CV

As a recruiter for top tech companies, I’ve reviewed 1,000+ resumes. You only need to get these 5 sections right to land 6-figure interviews. 1. Positioning Statement Forget the generic “motivated team player” summary. Your top section should tell me in 3 lines: - Who you are - What kind of problems you solve - Where you’ve done it Example: “Backend engineer with 4 years of experience scaling infra at early-stage startups. Shipped distributed systems handling 50M+ requests/day. Currently focused on latency, observability, and developer experience.” If this section is clear, I’ll keep reading.  If it’s vague, I won’t. 2. Experience (But Structured Like a Case Study) Instead of dumping tasks, each role should answer: - What were you hired to do? - What did you actually build or own? - What changed because of your work? Bullet points should reflect results, not responsibilities. Redesigned caching logic → reduced API latency by 47% across 3 services. Led incident response for system outage → cut recovery time by 60%. That’s what hiring managers remember. 3. Company/Team Context Especially if you worked at a large company, give 1 line of context. “Worked on the Ads ML Infrastructure team at Meta, supporting $XXB in annual revenue.” It helps recruiters understand the scale and environment — fast. 4. Projects Section (Optional, but powerful) For newer engineers or people transitioning into tech, 1-2 serious projects can carry a resume. But only if you show real thinking and impact. Instead of: Built a web app using React and Node. Try: Built a budgeting tool used by 800+ users; integrated Stripe and Plaid APIs, reduced error rate to <0.3%. Show that you didn’t just code, you shipped. 5. Skills That Support the Story Don’t list everything you’ve ever touched. List the tools, stacks, and domains that match what you’re applying for. And reinforce them in your bullet points. “Python” in your skills section means nothing if your experience doesn’t prove you’ve used it in real scenarios. Your resume's job isn’t to tell your life story. It’s to get you in the room. If yours isn’t built to convert, it’s time to rethink it. Repost if this helped. P.S. Follow me if you are a job seeker in the U.S.  I talk about resumes, job search, interview preparation, and more. 

Quick resume checklist for transitioning service members 👇 If you're working on your resume this weekend and wondering what to include, here’s a structured checklist to get you started: ✅ 1. Contact Information Your full name (no ranks or military titles) Phone number & professional email (no .mil emails!) LinkedIn profile link (if applicable) Location (City, State, optional, but helpful) Security Clearance (if active, list it under contact info) ✅ 2. Strong Summary Section 3–5 sentences highlighting your most relevant skills and experience Tailor it to the job you’re applying for Think of it as your quick “elevator pitch” to hiring managers ✅ 3. Top Skills / Technical Skills Section List key skills relevant to your target job Avoid vague terms like “Leadership”, be specific (e.g., “Project Management, Risk Analysis, Agile Methodologies”) If you list technical skills, ensure they match what the job requires ✅ 4. Experience Section Use civilian-friendly job titles (e.g., “Operations Manager” instead of “Company Commander”) Include company/branch, job title, and dates (Month/Year – Month/Year) Focus on accomplishments, not just duties Use bullet points with metrics (e.g., “Reduced project completion time by 25% by implementing a new tracking system”) Highlight how you’ve executed the skills listed in your skills section ✅ 5. Education / Certifications / Training List degrees, certifications (PMP, Security+, Lean Six Sigma, etc.), and relevant training If applicable, include military education (civilianized – e.g., “Leadership & Management Training” instead of “Senior Enlisted Academy”) ✅ 6. Additional Relevant Sections (if applicable) Volunteer Experience (especially if it relates to your industry) Internships Publications, Awards, or Speaking Engagements Links to Portfolios, Projects, or Personal Websites 🔹 Pro Tip: Keep it 2 pages max (unless you’re applying for a federal job). Your resume is a marketing document, not your full service record! **** Before some angry trolls comes at met over the length of the CORPORATE resume, yes the corporate resume can be 3 even 4+ pages if going for more senior roles or academic roles that want to see your research and publications; it just depends on the industry, role, and story you are trying to tell. Otherwise, 2 pages is the sweet spot for most roles. So simmer down and get off my lawn trolls. Go for a walk or something instead of ruining your Saturday fighting with complete strangers acting like a keyboard ninja. Need help? Drop a comment, message me, or book a time on my Calendly (link is in my profile). Maloney out! ✌

🔹 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻! Ever feel like you're drowning in conflicting resume advice? 😅 Let’s break it down with some real talk from reviewing and writing 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 of resumes: 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽: Your resume needs the essentials—Contact Information, Experience, Education, and Skills. These are your resume's foundation. 2️⃣ 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿-𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀: Depending on your career goals and current situation, consider adding Certifications, Affiliations, Projects, Volunteer Work, or Leadership roles. These extras can be especially helpful if you're switching careers, early in your career, or re-entering the workforce after a break. 3️⃣ 𝗕𝘆𝗲-𝗕𝘆𝗲, 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Objectives are out. Instead, grab attention with a Professional Summary, Career Snapshot, or Executive Profile. (P.S. this is not a mandatory section, but can help provide instant credibility and set the stage for the remainder of the review of your resume.) 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲: 🔹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 / 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 / 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁: [Years of experience] [Your field/role] with [core areas of expertise]. Proven track record of [major achievement/track record]. Successfully [additional achievements/impact]. Recognized for [additional accomplishments or unique value]. Example: "Director of Finance with over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, investment management, and strategic financial planning. Expertise in financial analysis, risk management, and team leadership. Proven track record of managing a $500 million portfolio, achieving consistent annual returns, and driving organizational profitability through data-driven decision-making and innovative financial strategies." 🔍 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆: It’s crucial to understand the standards in your field. Do a quick Google search, join industry groups, and talk to your network to get the inside scoop. This helps you focus on the most relevant skills and experiences, making your resume a standout! 💼 Your resume is more than a list of jobs—it's your professional story. Let it reflect your unique journey and the value you bring! What’s the best resume tip you've picked up? #resume #resumewriting #jobsearch