Resume Headings Done Right: Formatting, Alternative Titles & Best Practices

Hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan resumes fast, so your section headings need to be clear and structured to maintain the readability of your document.

However, many job seekers make mistakes like using vague, inconsistent, or overly creative section titles that confuse both people and software.

To fail-proof your application, you need to properly format your resume sections and place them in the right order. Whether you're a recent grad or a seasoned pro, this guide will show you which headings to use, how to name your sections effectively, and the best ATS-friendly alternatives.

Why you need headings on your resume

Clear resume section headings are more than just labels—they structure your resume, making it easier for both hiring managers and ATS to read and process.

Beyond ATS optimization, properly named sections improve readability for recruiters. They often skim resumes in seconds, jumping directly to sections like Skills or Work Experience. Traditional, well-placed titles act as signposts that help them find what they need fast.

What headings should be on a resume?

Every resume should include a core set of sections that organize information logically.

These are the sections found in most American resumes. Depending on your career level and industry, you may also want to include additional elements such as:

• Projects
• Volunteer Work
• Awards & Recognitions
• Languages
• Publications

This guide isn’t about how to create resume sections—we cover that in a separate post. Instead, we’ll focus on how to name them correctly so they don’t hurt your chances with recruiters or ATS.

Let’s dive in.

How to choose the right section titles

As mentioned earlier, your resume section names should be clear and easy to skim. But that doesn’t mean every resume has to look the same.

For example, if you’re in a creative field, you can slightly customize your section titles—Published Work for writers or Exhibitions for artists. Just be sure to balance originality with clarity so recruiters and ATS can still navigate your resume easily.

Now, let’s break down each standard resume part and explore the best ATS-friendly naming options.

Resume header

The top third of your resume doesn’t have a formal title, but it contains key contact details that help hiring managers reach you. You might wonder why we’re discussing this section at all when it doesn’t even feature the word “header.”

So, your resume header should include:

• Your full name (no abbreviations, except for middle names)
• Professional headline (your job title and area of expertise aligned with your target role)
• Email address and phone number (no fancy nicknames like funboy1990)
• Location (city and state are enough)
• LinkedIn profile or personal website (framed as a clickable link)
• A photo only when specifically requested or relevant to your profession

Here’s an example of an ATS-friendly header:

Let’s move on to a section that often sparks debate—your resume profile.

Resume summary or objective—should you name it at all?

Job seekers often ask themselves, ”Should I label it as Summary or Objective Statement, or skip the heading entirely?”

Professional resume writing standards generally advise against naming this section. Instead, they recommend using a strong headline that immediately highlights your expertise.

However, modern resume builders always include a section title, which can’t be removed—you can change it, but you can’t leave it blank.

So, the choice comes down to how you’re creating your resume. Do you lead with a bold headline, or do you stick with a clearly labeled Summary section? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on what works best for you.

Here are some strong alternative titles for the profile section, grouped by career level. The choice matters because objective statements are typically used by junior candidates, while summaries are the standard for professionals with three or more years of experience.

Your goal here is to choose an option that remains clear and professional. Avoid titles like About me or My Journey in Marketing—stick to industry-standard phrasing that ATS and recruiters recognize.

Work experience headings

Your work experience section is the backbone of your resume, spotlighting your career progression and accomplishments. While Experience is the norm, there are a few alternative titles that are acceptable—depending on your career stage and industry.

Of course, structuring your experience section matters even more than what you name it.

Here are the basics:

• Start with your job title at the top.
• On a new line, list the company name and location.
• Include your dates of employment in MM/YYYY format or use Present for ongoing roles.
• Optionally, add a brief job description highlighting your key contributions.
• Use three to five bullet points to emphasize achievements with clear, quantifiable results.

Adding an Earlier Experience section

For professionals with extensive careers, listing every job in full detail can make a resume unnecessarily long. That’s where Earlier Experience or Prior Experience comes in—these headings allow you to keep your most recent and relevant roles in focus while still acknowledging your earlier career history.

When to use these headings:

• If you have 10+ years of experience and need to prioritize recent roles.
• When early-level jobs aren’t directly relevant to your current role but still show career progression.
• If you want to avoid age bias while maintaining a complete work history.

How to structure it:

• List just the job titles, company names, and years of employment—no bullet points needed.
• If an older role is still relevant, consider summarizing key achievements in one or two lines instead of removing it completely.

Resume skills section—choosing the right heading

The skills section is one of the trickiest parts of a resume. Many inexperienced job seekers list every skill they can think of, assuming a longer list looks more impressive.

In reality, a concise, well-structured skills section is far more effective.

To create a better targeted resume, use keywords directly from the job description and choose a section heading that aligns with your industry and expertise.

Ways to label your skills section

Depending on your industry and role, consider these alternative section titles:

From here, you can further organize your skills into more specific groups.

Organizing skills into categories

For technical or specialized roles, we often see a tech skills section that’s divided into subcategories, making them even easier to scan.

This is how these look when created in Enhancv’s resume builder.

For IT and engineering:

For marketing and business roles:

The best resume skills are practical, measurable, and developed through training and experience. That’s why soft skills rarely have a dedicated section—instead, they should be woven into the content with concrete examples of how you’ve applied them.

For example, a core competencies section at the top of your resume is a great way to highlight both technical skills and transferable strengths like leadership, teamwork, or problem-solving, ensuring they align with the role you’re targeting.

How to name your education section

For most professionals, Education is the standard and best title for this section. It’s clear, ATS-friendly, and widely recognized by recruiters.

However, in academic, research, and scientific fields, a more specific title might be necessary to emphasize qualifications, research contributions, or specialized training.

If you have both formal education and industry certifications, you might want to split them into two sections—Education and Certifications.

Let’s take a closer look at the latter and how it can help keep your resume more organized.

Certifications on a resume—alternative titles

While Certifications is the most ATS-friendly and widely recognized section heading, you can adjust it based on your industry and resume format.

In the certifications section, avoid generic titles like My Achievements. (This might refer to something else, like specific work achievements, but not necessarily getting certified.) Recruiters expect clear, standardized section names for easy scanning.

Additional sections

While the standard section titles work for most resumes, you can adjust them based on your industry and the content you want to highlight.

Here are common additional resume sections and their alternative names:

Your resume should always align with the job requirements, both in content and structure. (While you might enjoy horseback riding in your free time, unless you're applying for an equestrian-related role, including a hobbies section won’t add value to your resume.)

That said, creative headings can work in specific cases, particularly in creative industries like design, marketing, or media. So when does it make sense to step outside the traditional format?

Let’s explore.

When is a creative heading acceptable?

While ATS-friendly section titles are the safest choice for most job applications, there are situations where unique headings can work without hurting your chances.

• Submitting a resume in person: If you're handing your resume directly to a hiring manager, ATS screening isn’t a concern. You have more flexibility to adjust headings as long as they remain clear.
• Applying to small businesses or startups: Many startups and small companies don’t use ATS and value individuality. An original heading can make your resume stand out if it still conveys the right information.
• Creative professions: Industries like acting, music, fashion, and art have their own resume standards. Section titles such as Performances, Exhibitions, or Published Work are expected.
• Non-traditional resume formats: If you're using a visual or infographic resume, standard headings might not fit the format. Just ensure recruiters can still quickly find key details.

Even in these cases, clarity is key. A well-structured resume with recognizable headings ensures that hiring managers can quickly scan and understand your qualifications.

Best practices for formatting resume headings

Follow these tips to ensure your headings enhance, rather than hinder, your application.

Once your resume sections are properly named and formatted, the last step is to proofread and ensure everything is clear, professional, and error-free.

Final readability checklist

Even a small mistake—like a typo in your contact details—can sometimes cost you an opportunity.

So, before you press Send:

• Check for typos in contact details: A wrong digit in your phone number or an email typo can make you unreachable.
• Preview your resume on different devices: Open it on a desktop, tablet, and mobile to ensure it remains legible and well-structured. PDF files are the best option to keep your resume intact.
• Test readability with a recruiter or friend: Get feedback from someone who can provide an objective perspective.
• Ensure all section headings are consistent: Double-check font, size, capitalization, and spacing to maintain a polished look.
• Use a resume checker: If you’re using a resume builder like Enhancv, take advantage of its built-in ATS checker to ensure ATS optimization and professional presentation before you submit.

Conclusion

Choosing clear, standard section headings makes your resume easier to read and improves your chances of making it past initial screenings. When structuring your resume, keep your headings aligned with the job description and skip vague or overly creative titles. The goal is to create a resume that stands out for the right reasons—clarity, relevance, and professionalism.