Additional information

As you’ve likely noticed, there can be a lot of flexibility in how you order your résumé sections. It is up to you which sections and associated headings you decide to include on your résumé.

It’s important to consider which contributions are most relevant to the target position as well as expectations and norms around formatting for your target industry.

Below is a listing of other résumé sections and associated heading options to consider. This is merely a selection of some of the more common sections/headings, but there are many others that may be appropriate for you:

• Begin by listing organized activities; state role (e.g., member, president), name of organization, location, and dates; organize entries in reverse chronological order; and state if you were elected or appointed to any positions.

• Next, list general interest or hobbies. General interests or hobbies do not require dates, but your most relevant activities may be best expressed through bulleted statements.

  • If you have many interests, consider including those that are most relevant to the job to which you are applying (e.g., fitness-related interests for a job in a health-oriented field).

  • You may also wish to include hobbies that show you are well-rounded or that indicate transferable skills such as teamwork or leadership; be specific: consider adding more detail beyond general references such as music, reading.

Consider creating one or more sections to highlight strengths in particular areas:

• List similar proficiencies together (e.g., for computer proficiency: hardware, software, languages) in columns or as bullet points.

• Consider describing level of proficiency (e.g., proficient, working knowledge.)

• If including dates (e.g., for certifications), list them in reverse chronological order.

• Include under summary of qualifications if highly relevant and there is not enough to merit a separate section.

• State the name of the award, name of the institution making the award and the year received.

• Include important awards from both university and high school (if significant and relevant) in reverse chronological order.

• Explain the criteria of the award if it is not implicit in the award’s title.

• Can also be included in education section.

• List current, relevant memberships and include dates to demonstrate length of membership.

• Include under summary of qualifications if highly relevant and there is not enough to merit a separate section.

If you are proficient in several languages and this skill is relevant, consider creating a “languages spoken” section:

• List languages in which you are fluent (other than English).

• Specify your verbal and/or written competency level.

• Include under summary of qualifications if highly relevant and there is not enough to merit a separate section.

• List in the discipline-appropriate bibliographic format publications that would interest the reader. If your list is lengthy, consider including only relevant publications, using the heading “Selected Publications”.

  • If there is insufficient space to list all relevant publications, add “Additional publications available upon request” as part of a point or as a footer at the end of your résumé, and consider adding those publications to your LinkedIn profile. While a complete list of publications may be required for a curriculum vitae (CV), a résumé typically only includes the most relevant to the target position (2-3).

• Include and appropriately label work that has been published, has been submitted for publication or is in progress.

• List papers or reports you presented as a guest speaker.

• For more information visit WCC Resources – University of Waterloo.

• You may choose to create this section as a sub-heading or as a bullet point under the education section.

• If the title does not indicate a project's scope and relevance, use a few words or bullet points to describe it.

• Résumé formats

• Functional résumé template

• Action verbs

Centre for Career Development, University of Waterloo. (n.d.). Apply/Interview. Retrieved July 5, 2024, from https://careerhub.uwaterloo.ca/sections/Marketing/marketing_LandingPage.html  

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https://www.prweb.com/releases/71-of-hiring-decision-makers-agree-social-media-is-effective-for-screening-applicants-815808007.html  

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WIL601: Module 5. [Course]. University of Waterloo. 

PD1: Career Fundamentals. [Course]. University of Waterloo. 

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