How to write an attractive skills and accomplishments heading for your resume

Modern resume documents are full of headings–that is, short titles or statements that tell readers of the resume what each section is about. Few headings are as important as the ones above the resume sections that list your skills and accomplishments. If you’re not sure what these should look like, read this guide for tips on how to make attractive skill and accomplishment headings for your resume.

The sections in this blog cover the following topics:

• Why resume headings are important

• Resume heading format tips

• Example skills/accomplishments resume headings

Why do resume headings matter?

Some say the most important part of a novel is the opening line, which must grab a reader’s interest and encourage them to read more. This storytelling principle also applies to the opening or branding statements of professional resumes. Job recruiters, after all, must sort through dozens of job applications and resume documents in order to find the best candidate for the job opening they’re trying to fill. If your resume’s headings don’t immediately catch a recruiter’s eye, they might pass your documents over entirely.

A well-written resume heading highlights skills and accomplishments that show your worth, grabs a recruiter’s attention, and encourages them to give your resume the full readthrough it deserves. But what does a good resume heading look like, and how can you write one that properly describes your background? 

How should you format resume headings?

Theoretically, designing a heading for your resume’s skills/accomplishment section should be simple; just type out the title “skills and accomplishments” and you’re done. In practice, though, you should put thought into how you format your skill and accomplishment headings so that they’re easily spotted when recruiters scan your resume.

Most resume document formats use large size text for their section headings so they stand out more; if you’re using a word processor like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you can automatically adjust the text size of your skills/accomplishments heading by switching it to “Heading 1,” “Heading 2,” or “Heading 3” (for reference, the heading above this blog section is Heading 2). To give your resume its own unique touch, experiment with bolding or changing the color of each heading’s text to see what looks good on the page.

How should you update resume headings for specific jobs?

Each job has its own specific skill requirements. Whenever you apply to a new job opening, think about tweaking your resume’s skill section and its heading to better match what the job’s recruiters will be interested in. If you're applying to a computer programming job, for example, you could split your resume’s skills section into two separate sections–one with the heading “technical skills,” the other with a heading titled “soft skills” or “additional skills.”

You should also think about adjusting the heading for your resume’s award or accomplishments section each time you apply to a new job opening. For instance, if you’re applying to a management position, you can place specific past accomplishments into a section with a title along the lines of “leadership accomplishments.”

Sample skills and accomplishment headings for your resume

If you’re designing a skills section for your resume, one of the titles below might be the perfect heading to add to your document:

• Key Skills

• Core Competencies

• Proficiencies

• Areas of Expertise

• Specialties

If you’re not sure what heading to give to to your resume’s accomplishments section, also consider using the keywords in the following titles:

• Awards & Achievements

• Career Highlights

• Special Accomplishments

• Noteworthy Achievements

• Landmark Projects

Need help formatting your resume? Explore a variety of styles in our Resume Builder!

Key takeaways

1. To grab the interest of recruiters, make sure your resumes skills and accomplishment sections have attractive headings 

2. Every heading in your resume should have a large size, easy-to-read font, and a color/thickness that is aesthetically pleasing.

3. When you’re updating your resume for a new job application, think about changing the headings of your skills/accomplishment sections or giving those sections subcategories with headings that have new keywords.