How to Write an Informational Resume

by Fred Pinnegar, Resume Coach and Professional Writer

Occasionally you may be asked for a copy of your resume by people who want information about your background and experience. For example, the person who introduces you before you make a presentation at a professional conference may ask for a resume, a news reporter may want a copy, or a professional recruiter may solicit one. The main difference between this type of resume and the other resumes is the absence of a job objective section. Resumes based on job titles or work histories are usually the most useful in such instances.

Steps to create an informational resume:

  1. Identification. Provide complete information at the top to identify yourself. Include name, address, phone number, and e-mail, as well as a fax number, if you have one. Symmetrically balance the information and make your name stand out by using a slightly larger font than you use for the other major headings.
  2. Education. If your education or degree is a central aspect of your professional identity, make it the first section of the resume. Provide information on all degrees you have earned by identifying the degree and major field, where you earned the degree, and when it was awarded. Include specific coursework taken, if applicable.
  3. Work Experience. Organize your work experience by listing the job or professional titles you have held. List them in inverse chronological order, and only list those jobs that are most relevant. Provide the name and location of the company and dates of employment. Then, itemize your most important responsibilities, skills, duties, and achievements.
  1. Activities. This section may include extracurricular activities participated in during college or it can list current activities that demonstrate your leadership, sociability, and energy level outside of the workplace.
  2. Honors. Itemize awards and recognitions you have received and remarkable personal achievements.
  3. Language. List languages you know besides English (or the dominant language of the country in which you reside). Indicate your degree of proficiency (good, fair, excellent, near-native) in reading, writing, and speaking.
  4. Publications. List titles of articles, book chapters, or books you have published. For articles, include the name of the journal in which the article appeared, as well as the volume number, date, and inclusive pages. For books, provide the publisher's name, the place of publication, and the publication year.
  5. Professional, community, or service organizations. List relevant associations and the length of your membership.
  6. Interests and Personal Information. Include information about your personal background or attributes only if it is relevant in the given situation. For example, a reporter or the individual introducing you may want to know something about your family life.