Blog > How to Write a Winning Resume in 2026

As a job seeker, you want to write an attention-grabbing resume that would help you get noticed by recruiters and other decision-makers. This article discusses the basics of writing a winning resume. It covers the purpose of a resume, what elements should be included in a good resume, and how long it should be. We also talk about sending the resume and give you an idea about using resume templates.

In Sri Lanka, we use the two terms resume and CV interchangeably. But they carry different meanings. For purposes of convenience, we too use the terms interchangeably in Resume.lk.

What is a Resume?

Your resume is a formal document that you create as a job applicant. Your resume itemizes your qualifications for the position you are applying for.

What is included in a resume?

A well-structured resume must contain several essential elements that give the reader a comprehensive overview of your qualifications, experiences, and skills. These key elements help potential employers to quickly assess how suitable you are for the position applied for.

These essential elements contribute to a complete resume, although some are optional. To be on the safe side, take time to complete each element in your resume.

Contact Information

Include your full name, phone number, working email address, and postal address including city, state, and country. Accuracy is important here (as it is everywhere in your resume). Make sure this information is accurate and up to date.

Resume Summary or Objective

The resume summary is a short statement placed at the beginning of your resume. It must summarize your career goals, key qualifications for the position, and what you can bring to the job role. This may be optional, but we recommend including one because that indicates a thoughtful disposition. It is a great tool for highlighting your focus on the job you are applying for.

Professional Experience

List your work history with the most recent jobs first (in reverse chronological order). For each position listed include the following, ideally as bullet points:

• Job title
• Company name
• Location
• Dates of employment
• Key responsibilities
• Accomplishments

Education

Give details of your educational background. Include degrees, institutions, graduation dates, and if there are any relevant certifications or honors.

This section too should be in reverse chronological order with the most recent or highest level of education listed on top.

Skills

The skills section of your resume is another opportunity for you to shine. Keep the job you are applying for in mind and highlight your technical and soft skills. Typically, you can draw better attention to your skill sets by presenting them in a dedicated skills section. Sometimes, especially when potential employers offer a specified format that does not have room for relevant skills, you may integrate your skills throughout your resume. For example, you may list relevant skills under the different positions you have held.

For more guidance, check the Resume.lk article on How to List Skill Levels in Your Resume.

Achievements and Accomplishments

The achievements and accomplishments section is optional in a resume. But, at Resume.lk, we recommend that you take the time to complete it because it offers you another opportunity to shine through.

As with skills, you may use a dedicated section for listing out your achievements and accomplishments or integrate them throughout your resume alongside various job roles to emphasize quantifiable accomplishments. For example, you may include sales figures, project outcomes, and other significant contributions that help you stand out as an accomplished and successful candidate for the job.

Professional Associations or Memberships

Listing professional associations and memberships in your resume is optional. But we urge you to take time to fill this in. List down various professional organizations you belong to, especially if they are directly relevant to the job.

Examples:

• If you are applying for a job in the financial sector, your membership as a Chartered Global Management Accountant, ACCA or a Chartered Accountant is directly relevant.
• If you are applying for a job in the logistics and supply chain area, your membership in the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport would serve you well.
• People seeking jobs in sales or fundraising can show they have access to an extensive professional network by listing memberships with voluntary organizations such as the Lions Clubs International, Rotary Clubs, or Junior Chamber International.

Certifications and Training

Where applicable, list any certifications, licenses, or specialized training you have received that are relevant to the job. Each item should be listed with the issuing organizations and the dates.

Publications or Presentations

This is also optional and you can use it if applicable. Any books, articles you have published in journals or newspapers and other fora, reports you have written, and presentations you have made can be included in the publications and presentations section. Be sure to include publication dates, forums, and other relevant details.

Example: If you are a scientist with multiple research publications, you cannot possibly fit them all in your resume. List the most impactful in your resume and refer the reader to your Google Scholar profile or your page on your academic institution's website. You may also publish this list on a personal website or blog and give a link to it.

Resume.lk offers templates for quickly, easily, and affordably creating your own personal website.

Language Proficiencies

List any languages you are proficient in, with your level of proficiency. You may mention your proficiency in written and spoken language. For example, saying you are "Fluent in Mandarin/Sinhala/Spanish" indicates that you are able to read, write, and speak in that language.

Volunteer Work or Community Involvement

Although this section is optional, we at Resume.lk and most job coaches recommend including your volunteer work, community involvements, non-profit projects, and passion projects in your resume because that helps potential employers get a complete picture of the person you are. They are an indication of your commitment and character.

References

Typically it is not necessary to include references on your resume. However, be sure to mention that you can provide references upon request, preferably in your cover letter. Talk to your references and get their permission to include them and be ready to provide them promptly when requested by potential employers.

Social Profiles

It is best practice to include your professional profile on LinkedIn or GitHub where relevant. Typically your LinkedIn profile will come up in a search first, before social profiles. You may also include your social media profiles or not mention them altogether. However, if you are including them, make sure they are up-to-date and professional. It is a good idea to avoid information and posts that may make hiring managers believe you are unsuitable for the position. If this happens, you will not be the first. Many thousands of individuals have had job offers retracted due to unsuitable social media posts.

How long should your resume be?

Best practice is to keep your resume short, limiting it to one or two pages. Job coaches in the United States recommend this approach. In Britain, and in some other parts of the world, potential employers and recruiters expect a more detailed document in a somewhat different format called a curriculum vitae, or CV for short. See our articles on creating a winning CV.

In instances where listing relevant details can make your resume longer—such for people with many research publications or presentations—mention the most impactful ones and then indicate that the rest are available elsewhere. You can post the list in its entirety in your LinkedIn profile, for example. You may also give a link to your academic profile, Google Scholar page, personal website, or blog where the entire list is available.

What is the best way to send a resume?

You can send your resume to potential employers by email or include it in an online application. Make sure you send a format that is acceptable to the organization. If they ask for a copy in the post, send it that way, by snail mail or courier.

Some employers may set up times for walk-in interviews. Then take a printed copy of your resume with you and have your digital copy available as well.

Send a Resume with a Cover Letter

Your resume should be accompanied by a customized cover letter, whether you are sending it via snail mail or email. Your cover letter needs to be tailored specifically for each job/position, and for each organization. It must express your interest in the specific job and draw the reader’s attention to the most relevant specifics in your resume that would make you a great candidate for the job vacancy.

If you are submitting an online application, you may not necessarily have the opportunity to send a cover letter. However, if there is a message box that you can fill in, you can make that message a brief cover letter.

If you are applying for a lot of jobs and tailoring the cover letter takes a lot of time, invest that time anyway. If you skip this step and avoid sending a cover letter or sending your resume without a tailored cover letter, you are giving up a great opportunity to highlight your winning points to the potential employer. At Resume.lk, we consider the time you spend on tailoring a cover letter to be a truly worthwhile investment.

How Resume Templates Make a Difference

Resume templates are useful because they allow you to quickly fill in your data instead of having to bother with formatting and other basics each time you have to complete a resume. But the resume template you choose matters. Keep these points in mind when choosing a resume template so that you stand a good chance of becoming noticed and shortlisted for an interview.

Use Formats Employers Request

It is important to follow employer instructions on how to forward a resume. Different organizations may have different requirements. Sticking to their application instructions shows that you are a thoughtful, considerate person. There is no point in trying to be creative or unique if your resume gets thrown out as a result. In this matter, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Choose an ATS-Friendly Template

Many companies these days use applicant tracking systems (ATS) in their recruitment processes. They may put all the resumes through an ATS process in order to help shortlist candidates and do it quickly and efficiently. Your resume needs to be in an ATS-friendly format so that the software can read and summarize all the key elements and keywords in your resume.

The danger of using a more visual-based resume is that, while it looks pleasing to the eye of a human, it may not necessarily help you with companies that use ATS software.

Check Out the Free Resume Templates from Resume.lk

All Resume.lk resume templates are ATS-friendly. Use them in your job search to ensure your application receives the attention you deserve.

Want to Know More About Resume Basics?

• 14 Things You Must Consider When Writing Your Resume
• How First Time Job Seekers Can Write a Resume with No Experience
• 30 Powerful Job-Related Words to Use in Your Resume