general resume

General Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

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How To Write a General Resume

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If your job search is fairly open-ended, you may wish to create a general resume to use for many opportunities. But the danger of this approach is it can make your resume not just broad but unfocused. When a resume doesn’t focus on employers’ hiring needs, it usually fails to persuade them to call you for an interview.

You don’t need a crystal-clear idea of your target job to write a focused and effective “general” resume. In fact, you don’t need to know your target industry, company size, or even job title. But do identify two or three core strengths (such as customer relations or talent retention) you want to apply in your next position. With those strengths established, you can give your resume the focus it needs while keeping your overall presentation broad enough to find jobs in many areas.

The following tips and examples will show you how to highlight your core strengths in each section of your resume so it gets you interviews for your next job.

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

1. Write a brief summary of your general qualifications

In a brief paragraph or bulleted list at the top of your resume, catch hiring managers’ attention by giving three to five key reasons you can excel in your target work areas. These reasons may include your general work style, years of experience, a signature achievement, or an advanced degree or certification. (Note, most job seekers find it easier to write their profile last.)

Entry-Level Profile Example

Sales Consultant with 3+ years of retail experience. Foster strong revenue growth and repeat business by providing top-quality service experiences. Highly attuned to the unique needs and requests of each customer. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.

Mid-Career Profile Example

Collaborative Project Manager with 7+ years of experience. Skilled at preparing clear budget estimates and pinpointing best ways to avoid cost overruns. Experience using software and cloud-based applications to track projects and control costs. Project Management Professional (PMP). Master of Business Administration.

2. Outline your general experience in a compelling list

Use the experience section to give examples of your success in your target work areas – this helps hiring managers see how you’d apply your strengths and add value to their organization.

For each job in your recent work history , brainstorm your duties and achievements on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, identify and copy the most relevant details into your resume. You can do this by reviewing your notes one by one, always addressing the same question: Does this overlap with the kind of work you’d like to do in your next job? If yes, copy it in. If not, leave it out. Don’t worry if this method causes you to omit a lot of work information. The point here isn’t to give a comprehensive account of your experience but a focused one relating to the core strengths you’ve identified.

Also, consider omitting product- or industry-specific details from your work history. This helps lift your related experience out of its original work setting, so it can speak to various others. For instance, say you’re targeting sales jobs and are open to working in a different market or industry. By leaving out details on the products you sell, you can avoid getting pigeonholed and keep attention on the transferable sales skills you’ve gained.

Mid-Career Professional Experience Example

Construction Project Manager ,  Smithson Development Company, Los Angeles, CA  | July 2015 to Present

• Oversee construction projects worth $3M on average
• Coordinate internal resources and outside consultants to ensure timely project completion
• Manage any changes to project scope, schedule, and budget
• Forge strong relationships with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders
• Established new system for separate tracking of project next steps and client appointments. Measure led to better internal communications and a more seamless customer experience

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Senior Auditor,  PMG International, New York, NY | December 2012 to Present

• Develop audit programs to carefully assess risks and legal requirements for key organization activities
• Write and present regular audit reports to senior management
• Plan yearly audits for domestic and international office locations
• Streamlined the internal audit process, cutting yearly costs by $95K

3. Add general education and certifications

View the education and certifications sections as a chance to show your relevant knowledge base. Consider including details like your college major, minor, or coursework if they relate to the core strengths you’d like to apply in your next job. In addition, you could give a brief description of any relevant but lesser-known certifications or training programs you’ve done and would now like to draw on.

Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note, optional template areas appear in [brackets].

Degree Name — [Major, Minor], School Name, City, ST or online | [Year]

[#.# GPA] | [Academic Honors]

[Select Coursework]

Master of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley | 2015

Certification

Certification Name or Title , [Awarding Organization] | [Year]

[Description]

Certified Associate in Project Management, Project Management Institute | 2015

4. List key general skills and proficiencies

Add a key skills section to show the different ways you can contribute to your target job. Aim for variety, covering both hard and soft skills, as well as any technical programs you’re versed in and would like to use. Below are some common skills and keywords to consider for this section of your resume:

How To Pick the Best General Resume Template

For most job seekers, a clear and straightforward resume template is best. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font , and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template complies with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by employers to screen resumes.

General Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Cameron Malfara 123 Windermere Rd., Seattle, WA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 |  [email protected]

Career Highlights

Retail Sales Consultant,  RPW Apparel Inc., Seattle, WA | September 2019 to Present

• Member of a 12-person sales team ranked #4 out of 14 store locations in region
• Direct visitors to their desired clothing and accessories and answer various product questions
• Clarify customer needs and offer personalized product suggestions
• Earned a near-perfect service score (98%) on customer surveys in 2020 and 2021

Graduate Roosevelt High School, Seattle, WA

Fluency in Spanish

• Client Satisfaction & Retention
• Consultative Sales Methods
• Customer Service & Relations
• Revenue & Profit Growth
• Team Collaboration

Kariann White, MBA (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]  | Pasadena, CA 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example

• Budgeting & Cost Accounting
• Client Relations Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Project Management Software
• Stakeholder Relations Management
• Targeted Resource Allocation
• Team Leadership & Motivation
• Work Planning & Scheduling

Professional Experience

Project Manager Assistant ,  Lee Consulting Company, Pasadena, CA  | May 2013 to July 2015

• Delivered proposals, answered client calls, and reviewed invoices
• Responded to RFPs by gathering estimates and other documentation
• Ordered and routed project materials to the appropriate manager
• Entered project expenses into accounting system

Master of Business Administration ,  University of California, Berkeley  | 2015

Bachelor of Computer Science ,  Caltech Pasadena, CA  | 2013

Certified Associate in Project Management ,  Project Management Institute  | 2015

Wikus Taylor (123) 456-7890 |  [email protected]  | 567 Main Street, New York, NY 12345

Internal Auditor  with 15+ years of experience at midsize and large organizations. Skilled at analyzing business structures, procedures, and information and taking corrective action as needed. Provide valuable solutions to help organizations meet goals and continually hone processes. Master of Business Administration.

Junior Auditor,  H & H Technologies, New York, NY | July 2006 to November 2012

• Audited key business operations and wrote detailed reports
• Traveled to international offices to evaluate regulatory compliance
• Analyzed financial relationships and reported any unusual findings to senior auditor
• Regularly inspected all accounting books and practices

New York University, New York, NY

• Master of Business Administration 
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Accounting
• Business Data Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance
• Reporting & Documentation
• Risk Management & Mitigation

Frequently Asked Questions: General Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for general resumes -.

One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong verb. Action verbs keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the dynamic nature of your experience. The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your resume:

How do you align your general resume with a job posting? -

First, look closely at the job post text and highlight words that are repeated, emphasized, or otherwise seem important. Compare these highlighted phrases to the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then seek ways to align your resume language with the job post while not copying phrases or misstating your background.

For example, if the company seeks someone collaborative, emphasize that aspect of your experience in your profile with a line like “Thrive in collaborative work settings.” Or say the company has many non-English speaking customers. Focus on your foreign language skills both in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document.

Also, consider adding brief descriptions of the places you’ve worked in [brackets] right next to or below the company name. Company descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the one who posted the job. For example, maybe you’ve worked for companies of a similar size or industry. Or maybe you’ve worked at organizations with an aligned mission or leadership philosophy. By weaving these details into your descriptions, you can make your resume more relevant to the job opening at hand.

What is the best general resume format? -

Most job seekers should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)

By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. As a result, you can present yourself clearly and strategically. With this format, you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can make an informed decision to call you for an interview.

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Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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General resume examples & templates

An effective general resume is the first step in highlighting your many strengths and showing an employer that you’re a dynamic candidate with a strong work ethic. A general resume offers an overview of your most relevant experiences and conveys a wide variety of skills and traits that make you a great candidate.

While most resume writing advice states that you should tailor your resume for each individual job that you apply for, sometimes a general resume is the base that allows you to apply to many similar jobs quickly. A general resume can also serve as a starting point, allowing you to customize your experience quicker than if you were creating a new resume from scratch.

Resume.io is here to help. With 350+ resume examples and writing guides, we’re an expert resource for job seekers in all fields and stages of their careers. In this writing guide, along with our adaptable general resume example, we’ll show you how to create a solid general resume that can serve a variety of purposes. Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is a general resume?

• How to write a general resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a general resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

A general resume is the basic job search document that most employers will request to evaluate candidates’ strengths and experiences. More specifically, a general resume is one that can be used for a wide variety of job openings or other purposes. Unlike a resume created specifically for one position, a general resume gives an overview of the candidate’s employment history, skills, and educational background – even if these experiences span different positions, industries, or types of employment.

A general resume is often a good choice for students or entry-level job seekers who are looking to land their first work experience as it allows them to list a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, volunteer work, and hobbies. It also makes it easier to quickly apply to a wide variety of jobs. 

How to write a general resume

The very first step in writing your general resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Because your resume is not tailored to one specific position, it will need a clear organizational structure to keep the hiring manager interested and help them find the information they are looking for. Use common section headers like “Education” or “Skills” to make sure there is no confusion about the experience you’re listing. 

Should I create a general resume?

Yes! Everyone should create a general resume as a starting point to capture their skills and experiences. However, not everyone should submit their general resume. For career professionals and those with specialized skills, it’s important to tailor your resume to the specific job and employer you are applying to. In fact, a general resume can actually hurt your chances of landing the interview as an employer may take a general resume to mean a lack of experience or interest in their company.

Choosing the best resume format for a general resume

One advantage of a general resume is that it offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing a resume format. The best option is the one that highlights your experiences and skills in the most flattering way. For candidates with at least a few previous jobs and an educational background to show, the reverse chronological resume format is often the best choice as it features an employment history section where you can list previous positions in the way employers expect to see them.

If you’re a student or first-time job seeker, you may opt for the functional resume format which allows you to focus more on soft skills or personality traits like organization, work ethic, and time management. The hybrid resume format combines the two previous types and is ideal for freelancers or those in creative or independent fields.

Resume header

The resume header is the place to capture your name, contact details, and any relevant social media accounts to give the hiring manager a way to get in touch with and learn more about you. In some countries and fields, a professional headshot is also included in the header. We recommend checking the best practices in the country where you plan to work. In the U.S. and Canada, for example, headshots in resume headers are discouraged as they can lead to discrimination in hiring.

Resume summary example

The resume summary is an overview of your experiences and education to date. The purpose of the summary is to introduce the hiring manager to who you are and your objectives when applying to the position. While the summary is useful in many circumstances, it’s particularly relevant for general resumes because it allows you to explain your background, motivation, and top skills. You can also share a bit of your (professional) personality. A charming and thoughtful summary is a great way to stand out, especially among other entry-level candidates. Check out the summary from our adaptable resume example below.

Hardworking and enthusiastic Office Generalist seeking to utilize my exceptional administrative and office skills to benefit the next team I join. Adept in multitasking and effectively prioritizing tasks to streamline processes and achieve success.

Get more insight into creating a great summary in our other related resume samples that may be of interest to applicants writing general resumes. Make sure to check out our career change resume sample, summer job resume example, and student resume sample.

Employment history sample

The employment history section makes up the bulk of your resume – and with good reason. This is usually the section that attracts the hiring manager’s attention first. You’ll want to list your work experiences starting with the most recent and working backward through the past ten years (or as much as you have). Make sure to include the job title, employer’s name, location, and dates worked for each entry. Then add 3-5 bullet points that showcase your responsibilities, duties, skills, and accomplishments. See our adaptable employment history resume sample for more insight.

Human Resources Assistant at Belltown Recruiters, New York Oct 2019 - Present

• Perform a variety of administrative tasks to assist daily operations in the Human Resources Department.
• Assist with recruiting and on-boarding processes,
• including the dissemination of letters/resources related to
• company policies and procedures.
• Assist with the maintenance of up-to-date HR file
• maintenance and employee documentation.
• Answer frequently asked questions from applicants and
• employees relative to policies, benefits, etc.
• Provide support with the planning and execution of special
• events, such as organization-wide meetings, holiday parties, etc.   

Office Generalist at Lewis & Leopold, New York Jul 2016 - Aug 2019

• Welcomed visitors and directed them to the relevant office/personnel.
• Worked to address any HR-related requests and questions.
• Generated ad-hoc reports as requested.
• Effectively coordinated and managed appointments,
• meetings, and conference room schedules.
• Assist with the maintenance of office facilities, spaces, and
• Utilized excellent organizational skills to benefit office
• processes and staff productivity.

Be specific

It sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s important to make sure your general resume is specific enough to convince the hiring manager of your abilities. Numbers, statistics, details, and other pieces of concrete information show the employer what you’ve accomplished in the past and what you can offer their company in the future. An employment history section with numbers and details is more likely to stand out in the hiring manager’s mind.

CV skills example

The skills section of your CV may seem like a simple list, but it’s important to spend some time carefully choosing the skills that you include here. For a general resume, you may want to show off a wide variety of hard and soft skills (meaning technical abilities like Excel or fluent Spanish versus personality traits like time management and a strong work ethic.) If you only have a short amount of time to customize your general resume, make sure to focus on this section by placing important abilities from the job description into your skills list. See how this is done in our general resume sample.

• Ability to Work Under Pressure
• Interpersonal Communication
• Human Resources Management
• Administrative Support
• Office Organization Adaptability
• Knowledge of MS Office

General resume education example

Job seekers creating general resumes come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, so it’s important to note that this section can be modified to your needs. The basic information for any education entry is considered to be the name of the degree or diploma, the school name, the dates attended, and the location. In the U.S., including a GPA (if it’s 3.0 or higher) is common practice for high school and college students. You may also create bullet points under the entry to include any accolades like school awards or leadership positions. See our education resume example below.

Bachelor of Science in Communications, New York Hunter College Jul 2012 - May 2016

• Graduated with High Honors.

Resume layout and design

The layout and design of your resume play a very important role in how the hiring manager perceives you. If you are applying to many positions at once, a neutral color scheme is usually the best choice as it conveys professionalism and a serious tone. Make sure to stick with consistent font styles and sizes throughout your resume to keep your layout looking organized and sharp.

One of the easiest ways to create a winning design is by using a professional resume template. General resumes can be created quickly and easily using simple templates and builder tools that allow you to restructure your resume as your experience grows.

Key takeaways for a general resume

• A general resume is a useful tool for students and first-time job seekers, as well as a great starting point for career professionals.
• While a general resume can help streamline the application process, it’s also important to know when to take some time to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying to.
• Choose the resume structure that best suits your needs and experiences.
• Don’t forget the power of a professionally-designed layout – see our resume sample to get started.

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