Parsing & Formatting3 min read

Resume Section Order for ATS: The Optimal Arrangement for Maximum Score

The order of sections on your resume affects both ATS parsing accuracy and how effectively the recruiter absorbs your qualifications. While there's no single 'correct' order, certain arrangements consistently produce better ATS scores and stronger human impressions.

How Section Order Affects ATS

ATS parsers process your resume from top to bottom. While the parser should correctly categorize sections regardless of order (using heading detection), placing keyword-rich sections earlier ensures they're processed first.

Some ATS configurations give a slight weight boost to content that appears in the first half of the resume. This means your most important keywords should appear early—in your summary and first experience entry—rather than buried in later sections.

The professional summary section is particularly valuable because it appears at the top and can contain a concentrated collection of keywords. A well-crafted summary can account for 10-15% of your total keyword matches.

Sections to Always Include

Every ATS resume should include at minimum: Contact Information, Work Experience (or equivalent), Education, and Skills. These four sections provide the core data points that ATS scoring algorithms evaluate.

A Professional Summary is highly recommended as it provides a keyword-rich introduction that boosts your overall match score. Certifications should be included if you have any relevant to your field.

Optional but valuable sections include: Projects (for tech roles), Publications (for academic roles), Volunteer Experience, Languages, and Awards. Include these when they add relevant keywords or qualifications.

Pro Tips

1

Lead with your strongest, most keyword-rich section after the contact info and summary

2

Always include a Professional Summary—it's prime keyword real estate

3

Place your Skills section near the top (after Summary or after Experience) for maximum visibility

4

Include all four core sections: Contact Info, Experience, Education, Skills

5

Tailor section order to your career stage: experience-first for veterans, education-first for new grads

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Burying the Skills section at the very bottom of the resume

Leading with a lengthy education section when you have strong work experience

Not including a Professional Summary, missing valuable keyword space

Including irrelevant sections (hobbies, references) that take space from important content

Frequently Asked Questions

Should Skills come before or after Experience?
For highly technical roles where specific skills are critical (software engineering, data science), placing Skills before Experience can boost ATS visibility. For roles where experience narratives matter more (management, consulting), Experience before Skills is preferred.
Can I skip the Education section?
If you have 10+ years of relevant experience, you can minimize Education to just degree, institution, and year. However, don't skip it entirely—some ATS configurations require education data for scoring.
Where should certifications go?
Place certifications in a dedicated section after Skills, or incorporate them into your Skills section. For roles where a specific certification is required (PMP, CPA, RN), you can mention it in your Summary as well for early visibility.

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