The order of sections in your resume affects both ATS parsing accuracy and how quickly recruiters find the most relevant information. While ATS systems technically scan the entire document, section ordering influences how parsed information is categorized and prioritized.
For experienced professionals (2+ years), the proven order is: 1. Contact Information (name, phone, email, LinkedIn — always first), 2. Professional Summary (keyword-rich overview), 3. Core Competencies (skill grid for keyword coverage), 4. Work Experience (reverse-chronological, most important section), 5. Education (brief, after experience), 6. Certifications (relevant and recent), 7. Additional sections as needed (publications, volunteer work, languages).
For freshers (0-2 years), adjust to: 1. Contact Information, 2. Resume Objective, 3. Education (your primary credential), 4. Technical Skills (keyword-heavy section), 5. Projects (substitute for work experience), 6. Internships (if applicable), 7. Certifications, 8. Extracurricular Activities.
Why this order matters: ATS parsers are trained on millions of resumes and expect certain sections in certain positions. When your Contact Info is at the top, the parser correctly extracts your name and phone number. When Work Experience follows a standard heading and appears before Education (for experienced candidates), the parser correctly categorizes your job history. Non-standard ordering — like putting Education before Experience for a 10-year veteran — can cause the ATS to miscategorize your experience or lower your relevance score.