What to Put on a Resume: Complete 2026 Checklist
Everything you need to include on a resume in 2026 — required sections, optional extras, what to cut, and where AI skills and projects fit in.
Updated April 25, 20267 min readWritten by the MatchResume.ai team
Try MatchResume FreeKey takeaways
- Six sections are non-negotiable; everything else is optional and earns its place by strengthening fit for the specific role.
- In 2026, a Projects section and an AI Tools category in Skills are both expected on tech resumes — not optional.
- Photos, hobbies, references, and full home addresses are outdated on US and Canadian resumes and waste space that proof needs.
The Six Required Sections
Every resume needs these six sections regardless of industry, level, or format. Missing any one of them creates a gap that a recruiter will notice immediately.
| Section | What Goes In It |
|---|---|
| Contact | Name, email, phone, LinkedIn URL, city/state (no full address) |
| Summary | 2–3 sentences: role target, years of experience, top differentiator |
| Work Experience | Reverse-chronological jobs with achievement bullets |
| Education | Degree, school, graduation year (GPA optional) |
| Skills | Grouped technical and domain skills, AI tools |
| Projects | 1–3 shipped projects with stack and outcome (tech roles) |
Optional Sections Worth Adding
These sections strengthen specific applications but are not universally needed. Add one only if it closes a gap or adds proof the main sections can't carry.
- Certifications — valuable for cloud, data, security, and finance roles
- Open Source Contributions — strong signal for engineering roles
- Publications / Talks — relevant for research, developer relations, or thought-leader roles
- Languages — include if the role or company is multilingual
- Volunteer Work — include if it's recent and directly relevant to the target role
What to Leave Off in 2026
These items either consume space without adding signal, raise privacy concerns, or are simply no longer expected.
- ✓Full home address (city + state is enough)
- ✓Photo or headshot (US, Canada, UK — not standard)
- ✓Age, date of birth, marital status
- ✓'References available on request' (assumed)
- ✓High school diploma (once you have a degree)
- ✓Outdated skills: Microsoft Word, basic HTML, Slack
- ✓Hobbies unrelated to the role
- ✓GPA older than 3 years
Where AI Skills and Projects Fit in 2026
Two additions have become expected on tech resumes that didn't exist in earlier checklists: a dedicated AI Tools category inside Skills, and a Projects section for shipped AI work.
Skills section — before vs after
Before
Skills: Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git, Docker, AWS
After
Languages: Python, TypeScript, SQL Frameworks: React, FastAPI AI Dev Tools: Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor Cloud: AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), Docker
A Projects section entry should follow the format: project name → tech stack (including AI tools used) → one-line outcome → live link or GitHub URL.
Tailoring the Checklist to Your Career Stage
Which sections to emphasize depends on where you are in your career, not a universal formula.
| Stage | Lead with | De-emphasize |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (0–2 yrs) | Projects, Education, Skills | Work experience length |
| Mid-level (3–7 yrs) | Work Experience, Skills, Projects | Education details |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | Work Experience, Summary, Skills | GPA, early-career jobs |
| Career change | Summary (reframe), Skills, Projects | Unrelated job details |
Complete 2026 Resume Sections Checklist
- ✓Contact section with name, email, phone, LinkedIn, city/state
- ✓Professional summary (2–3 lines, targeted to role)
- ✓Work experience in reverse chronological order with achievement bullets
- ✓Education with degree, school, graduation year
- ✓Skills grouped by category (Languages, Frameworks, AI Tools, Cloud)
- ✓Projects section with stack + outcome + link (tech roles)
- ✓Certifications if relevant to the target role
- ✓No photo, no full address, no references line
- ✓Consistent formatting: same font, dates aligned, no tables in ATS submissions
FAQ
Do I need a summary on my resume?
If you have 3+ years of experience, yes. A strong summary is the first thing a recruiter reads. For entry-level candidates, a one-sentence objective is acceptable in place of a summary.
Should I put my GPA on my resume?
Only if you graduated within the last 2–3 years and your GPA is 3.5 or above. Remove it after that; work experience becomes the primary signal.
How do I decide which optional sections to include?
Include an optional section only if it answers a question a hiring manager at this specific company would otherwise have — or adds proof that doesn't fit naturally in experience or skills.
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