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How to List Projects on a Resume (with Examples)

10 min read · Updated on February 23, 2024

Projects on your resume can prove you have what it takes to succeed

You've likely heard a few catchphrases related to resume writing. Things like “show, don't tell” and “be an achiever, not a doer.”  One of the most effective ways to put these principles into action is by including projects on your resume. But how exactly do you list projects on a resume, and why are they so important?

You've come to the right place. Here, you'll learn how to list projects on your resume in a way that catches the eye of hiring managers and helps you to stand out from the competition. 

It doesn't matter if you're fresh out of college or have a decade of experience under your belt; including projects on your resume can significantly enhance your chances of landing your dream job.

Your old resume may have been a list of work experiences, but your new resume will outshine the competition and win you the interviews you seek. 

Projects vs work experience

Depending on where you're at in your career, it can be tough to separate projects from actual work experience, especially if you're a freelancer or regularly tackle projects as a part of your job. While both are exceedingly valuable in telling your career story, you have to be a bit discerning to determine which is more important. 

Obviously, you gain experience from working at jobs and completing projects, but listing projects separately can help you to highlight specific skills that might get lost when you explain work you did in a previous job. 

The main differences can be summarized as: 

Projects are concise and specific

Work history provides a broader view of your career trajectory

At the end of the day, you must pick the things you want to include on your resume with the aim of balancing your knowledge and skills with what's being called for in the job description. Relevancy and tailoring your resume are critical, allowing prospective employers to see what you have to offer their team. 

Why listing projects can be good for you

When you're trying to prove to an employer that you're an achiever rather than a doer, having a project or two to back up your claims can do wonders for your candidacy. Not only do projects on your resume have the ability to demonstrate relevant skills, but they also allow you to showcase initiative and accomplishments. 

In the context of standing out from the crowd, projects on your resume can add depth to your experience to paint a more well-rounded and comprehensive picture of what you bring to the table for the new employer. One thing that a lot of people miss is that you can also use projects on your resume to fill in any experience gaps that may be present. 

Types of projects you can highlight on your resume

While the projects you list on your resume are as unique as you are, there are some common types. Knowing what type of project you're going to list on your resume will help you to determine if the project is relevant and can also guide you in knowing where on your resume to list it. 

There are four basic types.

This is any project you've done in your position with a company. It was probably part of your job description, but it could've also been something you were called on to do outside of your day-to-day role. Perhaps you led a team to launch a new product or created a new process for doing something that saved time and money. Work projects are good to have on your resume because they demonstrate that you're the type of person to go above and beyond to achieve an objective. 

2. Academic

These are projects that you complete in a classroom or educational setting. You'll definitely need to include academic projects if you're fresh out of college and have little to no work history or relevant professional experience. Academic projects for your resume can be anything from conducting a research study and writing a thesis or dissertation to developing a software application as part of a class project. Including academic projects on your resume gives you a chance to highlight relevant skills and prove to a future employer that you have a passion for learning and development. After all, continuous improvement is a highly sought-after skill. 

3. Personal

Sometimes, you get bored at home and decide you want to build a personal website or create a blog. There have even been folks who've created apps that work with their smart home devices to automate activities. It doesn't matter that these are personal projects, if you find that your resume is lacking particular skills or achievements you can use these projects on your resume to round out your candidacy. That said, adding a personal project to your resume should be a last resort. 

4. Freelance

'Tis the time we live in – a lot of people work as independent contractors or freelance. It's a great way to fill in employment gaps or have some income if you're on a sabbatical . The most common freelance projects center around things like graphic design, marketing, tech, and writing. These types of projects can be valuable additions to your resume. 

How to add projects to your resume

Since you want to keep your resume relevant to the job you're applying for, the first step is to create a list of projects from your history and compare them to what employers need. 

Analyze the job description to dissect out the keywords and phrases. Once you have that list, compare it to the skills and achievements you can talk about with each project. Beyond picking the right project to match the job, you also have to consider space.

Bear these guidelines in mind:

Pick projects for your resume that match the job description

Pick projects that allow you to keep your resume on the right number of pages

The final step is to properly format the project entries in their respective sections. 

Where to include projects on your resume

For the most part, you'll format a project listing the same way you would a work history listing. The only difference is that you may not have a company to list indicating where you did the project. If you can't list the client or location associated with the project, don't let that stop you from adding it. 

As you would expect, work projects would be listed in the Professional Experience section, academic projects are best suited in the Education section, and some projects may even merit having their own special section. 

What does all of that look like? Let's take a look.

Projects in their own section 

For the most part, your resume should have at least five sections:

Contact information

Profile (which contains your title and summary paragraph)

Work history

You can also add an entirely new section called “Projects,” “Selected Projects,” “Relevant Projects,” or “Academic Projects.” 

Depending on how hard you have to lean on those projects to wow a hiring manager will be the deciding factor on whether you place this new section above or below “Professional Experience.” If you really need them to make your candidacy, then put them above. If you want them on there just to give the hiring manager one more glimpse into what you can do, then put them below. 

Example of projects in their own section

You should create a title for the section and then list each project with relevant bullet points that call out things you achieved in working on that project. It's also appropriate to put the dates you were working on each project. 

Selected Projects

Post Evaluation Platinum LEED Office Building | 04/2022 - 10/2022

Used advanced knowledge of Occupant Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Survey benchmarks and performed literature review / precedent studies to present data-driven solutions regarding visual and thermal comfort. 

Authored and presented findings related to underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system analysis. 

Integrated Façade Simulator: Hybrid Reality Simulations for Assessing Human Façade Interaction | 09/2020 - 05/2021

Created a novel integrated hybrid system that simulated a multi-sensory environment and observed participants and the impact of environmental stimuli for sensation, perception of comfort, and energy consumption. 

Projects in the experience section

If you're one of those people who get chosen by a boss to work on a project or if you've spent a significant time as an independent contractor , then it's probably going to serve you best to include projects within the “Professional Experience” section of your resume. 

Example of projects in the experience section

Format it like you would any other position within your experience section, including the name of the company, the dates you were employed, your position title, and some achievement bullets. Then, beneath those achievement bullets for your job, add “Noted Projects” and talk about the project as separate from what you accomplished as an employee. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

XYZ Company | Location 05/2015 to Present

Senior Biologist

Achievement bullet #1

Achievement bullet #2

Achievement bullet #3

Noted Projects:

Major Development Plan and Infrastructure Project – 03/2019 - 06/2021

Monitored site conditions to ensure the protection of sensitive species, including California gnatcatcher, cactus wren, least Bell's vireo, arroyo chub, arroyo toad, and general nesting birds.

Oversaw end-to-end project management processes, including scoping, planning, timelines, delivery, execution, and status reporting. 

Subdivision Development Project – 04/2013 - 01/2017

Directed biological resource protection initiatives for a 180-acre development project, resulting in approximately 475 acres of preserved, restored, and enhanced habitats. 

Conducted protocol and non-protocol environmental impact surveys for 3 years, in the wake of a widespread wildfire, to assess gnatcatcher habitat, population density, and movement. 

Projects in the education section

It can be hard to craft a resume when you've just graduated college and have no real experience to show future employers. Fortunately, you can lean on things you did at school to inject experiences, achievements, and skills into your resume. You just write an expanded education section. 

Relate reading: How to List Education on Your Resume (with Examples)

Example of projects in the education section

Whether you're listing your GPA or relevant coursework, you can always add some college projects to your resume education section if you need to prove your salt to a new company. 

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Finance, | State University – Location (Expected May 2024)

Coursework : Current Economic Problems, Macroeconomics, Accounting Principles, Money and Capital Markets, Business Statistics, Spreadsheet Modeling in Finance, Global Financial Markets

Academic projects

Secured funding for a non-fungible token (NFT) from State University's Board of Trustees and generated a 100% return on investment (ROI). 

Placed in the top 10% of a financial modeling competition. Analyzed comparative values over time to predict future performance and identified a portfolio of stocks that were graded and ranked in terms of profit and loss and accuracy of predictions. 

Projects on your resume win interviews

Remember that the main goal of your resume is to win interviews. Adding projects can be just the thing that makes you stand out from the crowd of job seekers. Use projects wisely, though. Leverage them to boost your skills, enhance your achievements, and inject necessary keywords into your resume that align with what the job description asks for in a new employee. 

Once you get all of that written, we'll give it a once-over for you with a free resume review . After all, it's always good to get expert, objective feedback on your resume. 

Recommended reading:

Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

Ask Amanda: How Do I List Self-Employment & Freelance Work On My Resume?

47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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How to List Projects on a Resume

Not sure if your project is resume-worthy? Check out our guide on when, where, and how to include projects on your resume.

3 years ago   •   8 min read

You might not have a projects section on your resume — and that’s okay. Including projects on your resume is entirely optional, but it can be a good idea if you’ve completed any personal or educational projects that highlight transferable skills or are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Should you include projects on a resume?

There is a place for both personal and educational projects on your resume. Projects might be particularly relevant if:

You have a lot of freelance or contract work

If some (or all) of your work has been project-based, your resume should highlight this — not hide it. By using a project-based format for your work experience, you can keep the focus squarely on your accomplishments without cluttering up your resume.

You're a student

Current students or recent graduates can use university projects to highlight your relevant skills in a more practical setting. Educational projects might include projects you completed at university, during further education, or as part of a professional or career change program. It doesn’t include regular coursework, unless it was particularly outstanding (ie. award-winning).

You're changing careers

If most of your paid experience is in a different role or industry, projects can help demonstrate your competence with a more relevant skill set. This is especially true if you’re trying to break into a highly specialized or technical field. For roles involving software development, coding, or data analysis, a few relevant projects may even be more worthy of inclusion on your resume than a lot of work experience in a different industry. If this is your situation, consider dropping some of your older or less relevant work experience in favor of a dedicated projects section that can highlight your hands-on experience with specific technical skills.

I’d recommend uploading your resume to the tool below to check if you’ve listed your projects the right way. It’ll let you know if your projects section highlights relevant work experience, accomplishments and skills.

You lack relevant work experience

Some Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or other types of resume screening will automatically reject candidates who lack certain skills or keywords. To get around this, you can use projects as a way to legitimately include skills that are required by the job listing if you have no other way of demonstrating them. Again, this can be particularly important if you’re trying to break into a technical field, so it’s worth taking the time to develop those hands-on skills before you start applying.

If you’re not sure which technical skills are required by the job you’re applying for, use the skills search tool below to find the right ones.

If you've decided to include projects on your resume, keep scrolling for step-by-step guides with templates you can copy and paste.

How to feature projects on your resume

So, you’ve decided to include one or two well-chosen projects on your resume — but how do you format them? Here are a few practical examples you can follow.

In your work experience section

When: If your paid work was project-based, including freelance , consulting, and contract work.

How: List key accomplishments underneath individual projects.

• List your employer, staffing agency, or consulting firm (it's fine to create one if you were freelancing).
• List your job title. If you were self-employed, give yourself a standard job title.
• List the dates of employment.
• Add a short blurb describing the nature of your work.
• Include 3-6 bullet points detailing your most relevant accomplishments, starting with an action verb and include hard numbers and metrics.
• Use a resume checker to score your bullet points and give you personalized feedback.
• Read our tips on how to list contract work and self-employment on a resume .

Here's a template for listing projects in your work experience section:

YOUR NAME CONSULTING SERVICES, Columbus, OH Independent SEO Consultant (Jun 2017 – Present) Developed strategic insights for seven medium-large companies ($5M+/year) to improve SEO, web traffic and conversions. Revamped and implemented new websites for four companies. Selected Projects Name of project - 1-3 bullet points in the format [Action Verb] [Accomplishment] [Metric], e.g. Growth Strategy for Travel Agency - Spearheaded a major pricing restructure by redirecting focus on consumer willingness to pay instead of product cost; implemented a three-tiered pricing model which increased average sale 35% and margin 12%

This example shows how a project-based resume can emphasize your key skills and achievements.

In a dedicated projects section

When: If you have the space for it on your resume and you have one or more significant projects you want to make a focal point.

How: Think of a projects section like a mini work experience section.

• List the project name at the top, like you would an employer.
• List your specific role in the project as your job title.
• Use bullet points to highlight the hard skills you used. Remember to begin each bullet point with an action verb.
• Use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your role whenever possible.
• Include a link to your online portfolio (if applicable).

Here's a template for formatting a separate projects section:

PROJECTS Project Name | Developer , Feb 2019 GitHub link: [link] - Designed the overall architecture of the editor using React.JS, with XYZ integration to allow real-time collaboration - Set up multiple authentication methods, including Google OAuth, magic link and Shibboleth SSO

This is an example of how a standard project might look on your resume.

This is another example that explicitly demonstrates your skills and expertise. It includes relevant keywords, which will help your resume get past any ATS and allows employers to see that you’re qualified at a glance. It also uses hard numbers to good effect, showcasing not only what you accomplished but also the impact it had on the overall project.

If your projects demonstrate hands-on experience with specific programming languages or other practical skills, use your projects section to link to an online portfolio. Hiring managers in fields like software development, graphic design , and writing will want to see examples of your actual work whenever possible, since that’s the best way to see your skills firsthand and judge whether they’re a good fit.

In your education section

When: If you're a current student or recent graduate without a lot of relevant work experience. You should especially consider including projects in your education section if you completed a specific pre-professional program, like an MBA.

How: Pin your education section to the top of your resume to keep it front and center.

• Title your section 'Education.'
• List your education as normal, including the university you attended, degree attained, and date of graduation (this last one is optional).
• Include a 'Projects' subheading (optional).
• Include 1-2 bullet points briefly outlining what the project was.
• Start with an action verb to describe what you did and use numbers to quantify the results.
• For more tips on how to make your education section stand out to hiring managers, check out our guide on how to list education on your resume .

Here's a template for listing projects in your education section:

EDUCATION Resume Worded University, San Francisco, CA | May 2010 Master of Business Administration Candidate; Major in Business Analytics - Built and launched Android app, Resume Worded, in team of 3; gained over 10,000 users in 6 months

This example shows how including projects can explicitly demonstrate your achievements, even if your degree is your only relevant experience in that field.

In an additional section

When: For personal projects, especially if you don’t have the real estate to dedicate to a significant projects section.

How: At the bottom of your resume, or on the side if you prefer a two-column format.

• Title your section 'Additional Projects' or 'Other.'
• If you're using a general 'Other' section including skills, etc. add a 'Projects' subheading.
• List each project briefly in 1-2 lines, including what you did and what the results were.
• (Optional) List the date of completion or duration of the project.

Here's a template for listing projects in an additional section:

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS - Aggregated, cleansed and combined data from 10+ public data sources to create a Tableau dashboard of inflation rates over the past 10 years (January 2021) - Another project (optional)

This example demonstrates how you don’t need to dedicate a large amount of space to a project for it to be worthwhile including.

Do’s and don’ts for projects on your resume

• Use projects to demonstrate hard skills. Technical skills like programming, proficiency with specific software programs, or experience with social media marketing are all appropriate skills you may want to highlight.
• Tailor the projects to the specific job you’re applying for . Not every project is relevant to every role, and not every single task within a specific project is related to all roles either — be selective about what you include.
• Use hard numbers and metrics whenever you can. If you attended a coding boot camp, mention the specific programming languages you learned. If you used Facebook ads to sell your craft projects, state how much you were able to improve sales. Always be specific about what you achieved, not just what you did.
• Don't use projects for soft skills like communication or leadership. These skills are easy for anyone to claim and difficult to quantify, so you’ll want to use more relevant examples of how you’ve demonstrated these in a professional setting.
• Don't include projects in your regular work experience section. No matter how hard you’ve worked on them, they lack the accountability and oversight that paid work experience requires, so don’t try to frame them as something they aren’t.
• Don't include projects just to bulk up your resume. Only include them if they’re truly relevant to the role and will strengthen your candidacy.
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• How to list projects on resumes?

People are more likely to believe in your potential when you’ve already demonstrated it in the past.

And recruiters are no different. If you want to make your resume all the more compelling and impressive, listing projects on your resume is the way to go.

Although you can’t exactly demonstrate your projects in action while applying for jobs, you can allow your resume to speak for it and give a chance to the recruiters to see your true potential.

Listing projects on resumes is especially helpful for job seekers who are fresh graduates lacking in professional experience and also for people who are switching their career trajectory.

Read on to get clarity on the following FAQs about listing projects on resumes:

• Why should you list projects on resumes?
• When should you list projects on resume?
• What type of projects should you list on a resume?

Importance of Listing Projects on Resumes

The primary idea behind listing projects on resumes is to put yourself forward as the best candidate for the position.

• By listing projects on your resume, you let employers see your skills, experience, achievements, and capability of executing tasks efficiently.

And of course, if you’ve been a part of or led a key project in your past roles, why wouldn’t you want to show it off and benefit from your efforts by showcasing it in your resume?

In fact, the same set of skills that you used to complete a past project may be the exact skill set that your next employer may be looking for.

Therefore, when the recruiters see these projects in your resume, it automatically doubles up your chances of getting shortlisted for interviews.

Also, listing projects on resumes serve as a proven track record of your efficiency, teamwork, leadership skills, and project management skills.

Also read: How to build an impressive IT project manager resume

When Should You List Projects on Resume?

Although listing projects on resumes can prove beneficial for any type of candidate, it is especially essential for the following groups of applicants:

Freelancers

Since most of the work done by IT freelancers is project-based, highlighting projects in your resume becomes crucial.

Given the fact students and fresh graduates don't have professional work experience to include in their resumes, including academic projects can be a game-changer.

List the volunteer projects that you may have been a part of or any of your academic projects.

Career Switchers

If you are making a career switch to the IT industry but don't have professional experience, listing independent projects in your resume will increase your chances of impressing the recruiters.

You can list the GitHub or Kaggle projects that you've worked independently on, in your resume.

How to Include Projects on Resumes?

Now that you see the importance of listing projects on resumes, the question that stands is, how to describe projects on resumes?

First things first, it’s important to ensure that you are listing the projects under the right section of your resume.

Meaning, if you are a fresher or a recent college graduate, the college projects on your resume can go under the education section or the volunteer section.

As for professionals with experience, projects can be listed in the professional experience section of your resume.

Regardless of the project placement, here are some guidelines you can follow to list projects on resumes:

Identify the Skills You Need to Highlight

Now, the relevance of the projects you include in your resume is crucial.

Throughout your career, you may have been a part of various projects. However, you need to identify the most suitable ones and the ones which fit well with the role you’re applying for.

The projects you choose to list in your resume must showcase the exact skills the employer is looking for. After all, isn’t that the whole point of listing projects on resumes?

You can understand the requirements of the recruiters by going through the job listing.

Ensure that you tailor the choice of your projects according to the job description of the different companies you are applying to.

Also read: What skills to put on a resume

Focus on Your Achievements and Use Figures

While you are listing projects on resumes, it is important to focus on your achievements and use figures to talk about the same.

For instance, if you led a team of software developers and testers to work on an application upgrade to increase the user base, ensure to mention the exact number or percentage increase in the user base that you achieved with the upgrade.

This way, employers can envision you as a valuable addition to their company workforce.

Call Attention to Key Details

Since the length of an ideal resume is only a page long, you can’t possibly include the entire how, when, and why details about the project in your resume.

Thus, you must only include details that are pivotal to exhibit the skills which the particular employer requires.

The key details of a project can include the strength of the team you led, the budget, scope, revenue generated, cost saved, clients increased, and so on.

For example, you can write:

“Led a team of 20+ software developers to design and implement OAuth2 based functionality as part of ensuring 100% data security for users.”

Link Your Online Portfolio

What better way than to let your projects speak for themselves right?

Linking your online portfolio while listing projects on resumes will allow recruiters to get a deeper insight into your skills and experience.

Providing proof and examples of your work will add weight to your resume and impress the recruiters even more.

Just ensure that your online portfolio is up-to-date and polished.

Also read: How to highlight GitHub projects on resume

Choose the Correct Section

As stated earlier, you can list projects on resumes under different sections (professional experience or education section) depending on whether you are a fresher or a professional with past experience.

Also, if you belong to the IT industry, you might have quite a number of projects under your belt.

Therefore candidates who have multiple key projects relevant to the job description can list their project under a separate project section in their resumes.

Also read: What are the best programming projects to put on resume?

Types of Projects on Resumes

You can add a variety of projects to your resume as long as they stand relevant to the description of the job you’re applying to.

Given below are 3 types of projects you can add to your resume:

Work Projects on Resumes

As the name suggests, work projects are projects that you undertake professionally while working for clients and companies.

Therefore these types of projects go under the professional experience section of your resume.

Here are some examples of listing work projects on resumes:

• Coordinated with IT team to develop a mobile and web-based data tracking application and closed $1.2 worth of deal
• Designed 10+ mock apps for collecting feedback from selected users as part of improving user experience
• Created 20+ cross-platform apps by utilizing C# in Xamarin Studio as per clients' requirements
• Formulated UI testing procedures to identify malfunctions and debugged apps before launch to optimize performance
• Developed 5+ android applications in an agile environment by deploying JavaScript and C++

Academic Projects on Resumes

If you are a recent grad, it makes sense to add academic projects that showcase the skills related to the role you’re targeting in your resume.

These academic projects can go under the education section or volunteer section of your resume and demonstrate the targeted soft skills, if not technical skills relevant to the job description.

Take a look at these examples of projects on resumes:

• Assisted in creating a group chat application using Java Platform SE 7 with additional functionalities for a group project
• Published a research paper on data modeling with a focus on its use for analyzing data requirements for the business processes
• Led the software department’s student exchange program to facilitate student-faculty coordination for departmental initiatives

Personal Projects on Resumes

Personal projects can also be a great addition to your resumes. Provided it is relevant to the job description.

Personal projects can be listed under the volunteer section or a stand-alone section titled “personal projects”, and is ideal for candidates who lack professional experience.

• Conducted door-to-door surveys while spearheading an awareness campaign for volunteer work
• Rendered assistance in the software testing phases for a college group project

Also read: How to draft a job winning project engineer resume

Concluding Points

• If you want to make your resume all the more compelling and impressive, listing projects on your resume is the ideal way to achieve the same.
• Listing projects on resumes serve as a proven track record of your efficiency, teamwork, leadership skills, and project management skills.
• List projects on resumes in suitable sections and ensure that it demonstrates the skills that the employer requires.
• Consider adding a link to your online portfolio and highlighting your achievements by using figures.
• You can add work, academic and personal projects to your resume, provided it stands relevant to the role you are applying for.

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Projects on Your Resume: How to Include Them the Right Way

When it comes to crafting a resume that stands out from the crowd, listing your work experience and educational background are just the basics. One way to make your resume more competitive is by including relevant projects that showcase your skills and capabilities.

Projects on a resume can refer to any work you have completed that goes beyond your day-to-day responsibilities. This could include special initiatives, team collaborations, independent research or creative endeavors that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and innovation.

Importance of Projects on Resume

By listing projects on your resume, you can demonstrate your practical experience and accomplishments that extend beyond your job function. Projects can show your proactive approach to learning, your ability to execute on a plan, and your creativity. Additionally, listing popular projects that relate to your field can help attract potential employers who are looking for candidates with a specific set of skills and experience.

When you list your projects on the resume, do not forget to add details of the positive outcome that you achieved from the project. For example, if you worked on a team to reduce customer complaints by 15%, be sure to include this information. Write your descriptions of the project in a clear and concise manner so the reader can easily understand your accomplishments.

Incorporating projects into your resume provides a great opportunity to showcase your problem-solving abilities and demonstrate your potential as a strong candidate for the job you aspire to. So, whether you are a seasoned professional or a job seeker looking to break into a new career, including relevant projects on your resume is the right way.

Types of Projects to Include on Resume

When it comes to crafting a resume, including projects can be a great way to showcase your skills and accomplishments. However, not all projects are created equal. Here are four types of projects you should consider including on your resume:

Professional Projects

Highlighting projects that you’ve worked on during your time in the workforce is a great way to demonstrate your expertise and value as a potential employee. Professional projects can include anything from leading a team to completing a major project or implementing a new strategy. These types of projects show prospective employers that you have relevant experience and can be trusted to deliver results.

Academic Projects

While academic projects may not seem as relevant as professional projects, they can still demonstrate your ability to work independently and apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. You can showcase academic projects by including class projects, research papers, or even independent studies. Highlighting these academic projects can show potential employers that you are a well-rounded individual with valuable skills.

Personal Projects

Personal projects are the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your creativity and passion outside of work or school. They can also show potential employers that you are self-motivated and interested in continuously developing your skills. Personal projects can include anything from starting a blog to developing a mobile app. Highlighting these types of projects can demonstrate your ability to think outside of the box and take initiative.

Volunteer Projects

Volunteer projects allow you to give back to your community while also developing your skills. Whether you are volunteering at a local nonprofit or organizing a charity event, these types of projects demonstrate your dedication to making a positive impact. Highlighting volunteer projects on your resume shows potential employers that you have a strong work ethic and are committed to making a difference.

Including projects on your resume can be a great way to stand out from the pack and showcase your skills and accomplishments. By focusing on these four types of projects – professional, academic, personal, and volunteer – you can create a well-rounded resume that demonstrates your expertise and potential value to prospective employers.

Selecting Relevant Projects

One of the most critical factors that employers consider when reviewing resumes is the relevance of job experiences and projects to the position being applied for. As such, job seekers should be mindful of including only relevant projects on their resumes. In this section, we’ll discuss three essential aspects of selecting relevant projects:

Identifying Required Skills

To identify the relevant projects to include in your resume, you must first understand the critical skills required for the job position. Carefully analyze the job description and identify the required technical and soft skills. Once you have this information, you should compare it with your project experiences to determine which ones showcase your proficiency in those skills.

For example, if the job position requires proficiency in a particular programming language, you should ensure that the project you highlight on your resume demonstrates your expertise in that language. This will demonstrate to the employer that you have the necessary skills to perform the job effectively.

Matching Projects with Job Position

After identifying the required skills, the next step is to match relevant projects with the job position. This involves carefully selecting projects that align with the job description and showcase your skills and experiences. You should focus on projects that demonstrate your abilities in areas that are relevant to the job position.

For example, if the job description requires proficiency in project management, you may want to highlight a project you worked on where you had to manage a team to achieve deliverables within a specific timeline. This will demonstrate to the employer that you not only possess the necessary skills but also have the experience to apply those skills in a real work environment.

Achievements and Goals in Projects

A strong resume not only showcases your skills and experiences but also highlights your achievements and goals in each project. By including your achievements in each project, you demonstrate to the employer that you have a record of delivering results that make an impact.

For example, if the project you worked on involved implementing a new software system, you can highlight how this improved the efficiency of the team or company. This allows the employer to see the value of your work and the potential value you can bring to the organization.

Selecting relevant projects is a critical step when crafting your resume. By identifying the required skills, matching projects with the job position, and emphasizing your achievements and goals in each project, you can demonstrate to the employer that you have the necessary skills and experiences to excel in the desired role.

How to List Projects on Resume

When it comes to listing projects on your resume, it is important to provide clear and concise information about each project you have worked on. This section will cover the four essential elements to include when describing your projects on your resume: project title and description, duration and date of completion, roles and responsibilities, and impact and results.

Project Title and Description

Begin each project by specifying its title and providing a brief description of the work you did. This will give the employer a quick idea of what the project was about and how you contributed to its success.

For example:

Project Title:  Marketing Campaign for Product Launch

Description:  Led a team of three to create and implement a marketing campaign to drive awareness and sales for a new product launch.

Duration and Date of Completion

Employers want to know how long you worked on each project, so be sure to include the duration and completion date for every project you list on your resume.

Duration:  6 months

Completion Date:  January 2021

Roles and Responsibilities

Clearly outlining your roles and responsibilities is vital when describing a project on your resume. This will help demonstrate your skills and highlight your contributions to the project.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Conducted market research to identify target audience and develop messaging strategy
• Created a project plan and timeline to ensure the campaign was delivered on time and within budget
• Designed and executed email marketing and social media campaigns to support the product launch
• Coordinated with product team to ensure consistency between marketing messaging and product features

Impact and Results

Lastly, make sure to include the impact and results of each project. What were the goals of the project and did you achieve them? Be specific about the outcomes and highlight any metrics that demonstrate the success of the project.

Impact and Results:

• Increased product sales by 25% during the first month of launch
• Grew social media following by 15% and engagement by 20% during the campaign
• Obtained coverage in multiple media outlets, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic

Listing your projects on your resume is an excellent way to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements. By including the four essential elements, project title and description, duration and date of completion, roles and responsibilities, and impact and results, you can impress potential employers and stand out from the competition.

Formatting and Styling Project Section

When it comes to organizing projects on your resume, it’s important to ensure that they are clear, concise, and easy to read. Here are some tips for formatting and styling the project section of your resume to make it stand out.

Organizing Projects on Resume

Start by organizing your projects in reverse chronological order, listing your most recent project first. This makes it easier for the hiring manager to see your most recent work and gauge your current skillset.

Next, give each project its own section, and include the following information:

• Project title
• Brief description of the project
• Role(s) you played on the project team
• Dates of the project
• Contact information for the project manager or supervisor

Using Bullet Points and Action Verbs

Bullet points are your best friend when it comes to making your projects section easy to read. Use them to highlight the key tasks and responsibilities you had on each project. Be sure to start each bullet point with an action verb to showcase your skills and accomplishments.

For example, instead of saying “Worked on a website redesign project,” say “Developed wireframes and mockups for website redesign project, resulting in a 25% increase in user engagement.”

Showcasing Projects with Metrics and Results

Employers want to see results, so be sure to include metrics whenever possible. This could include stats like the number of users impacted, revenue generated, or cost savings achieved.

For example, instead of saying “Developed a new marketing campaign,” say “Developed and implemented a new marketing campaign that resulted in a 15% increase in lead generation and a 10% increase in conversions.”

Highlighting Projects with Bold and Italics

Finally, use bold and italics to make certain aspects of your projects section stand out. This could include the project title or your specific role and responsibilities.

For example, you could bold your project titles to make them more prominent, and italicize your role or specific accomplishments within the bullet points to draw attention to them.

By following these tips for formatting and styling your projects section, you can ensure that it stands out and showcases your skills and accomplishments in the best possible way.

Example Project Sections

When it comes to including projects on your resume, it’s essential to highlight your accomplishments effectively. Depending on your role, you may want to approach this section differently to showcase your skills and experience accurately. Here are some examples of project sections for various positions:

Sample Project Section for Managerial Position

As a manager, you’re expected to lead by example and accomplish team goals. Your project section should offer a comprehensive view of your leadership and management skills. Here are some tips for crafting a project section for a managerial position:

• Highlight any successful projects you led or coordinated that resulted in significant business outcomes. This may include increased profits, higher customer satisfaction rates, improved productivity, etc.
• Emphasize your ability to manage a team effectively. Indicate how you implemented processes that boosted team efficiency, facilitated communication amongst team members, and led to better team morale.
• Showcase your project management skills, including your ability to manage timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful project delivery.

Example of a project section for a managerial position:

Project Manager, XYZ company, 2017-2020

• Coordinated and successfully delivered a digital transformation project resulting in the implementation of new automated tools which decreased processing time by 30%.
• Implemented a project management methodology for the IT department, leading to an 89% on-time delivery rate.
• Developed a leadership development program resulting in 80% of team members receiving promotions to management positions.

Sample Project Section for Entry-Level Position

As an entry-level candidate, you may not have a lot of professional experience to draw on. Highlighting your projects, however, can demonstrate your passion and potential, as well as your ability to learn and contribute to projects. Here are some tips for crafting a project section for an entry-level position:

• Focus on projects from internships, volunteer positions or relevant coursework – especially those that demonstrate your passion for the industry, willingness to collaborate with a team or showcase your problem-solving ability.
• Quantify your results. Use numbers and statistics to show how your effort translated into meaningful outcomes.
• Describe how you contributed to the project team, what your part of the deliverables was, and what you learned from the experience.

Example of a project section for an entry-level position:

Marketing Events Coordinator Intern, ABC Company, Spring Semester 2020

• Facilitated the coordination of the annual Women in Tech conference, with over 1,000 attendees, resulting in a 15% increase in participant satisfaction.
• Conducted market research and provided recommendations which were included in the company’s new product launch strategy.
• Collaborated with the graphic design team to develop creative assets resulting in 30% more engagement in social media.

Sample Project Section for Senior-Level Position

As a senior-level candidate, you’re expected to demonstrate extensive experience and expertise in your field. Your project section should showcase the breadth and depth of your accomplishments, highlighting your strategic impact and leadership.

Here are some tips for crafting a project section for a senior-level position:

• Focus on high-impact projects that have made a significant difference to the organization.
• Highlight projects that have driven revenue growth, cost savings, process improvements, or other measurable outcomes.
• Highlight your strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
• Describe projects where you developed and executed strategic initiatives, implemented innovative solutions, or led organizational change.
• Demonstrate your ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional teams.
• Showcase projects where you successfully partnered with stakeholders from different departments and achieved collective goals.
• Quantify the results and impact of your projects.
• Use metrics, percentages, and tangible achievements to illustrate the scope and success of your initiatives.

Example of a project section for a senior-level position:

Director of Sales, XYZ Company, 2015-2021

• Led a sales transformation initiative that resulted in a 25% increase in annual revenue within two years.
• Implemented a customer relationship management (CRM) system, streamlining sales processes and improving sales team productivity by 20%.
• Developed and executed a market expansion strategy, leading to a 40% increase in market share and a presence in three new international markets.
• Led a cross-functional team in the successful launch of a new product line, generating $10 million in revenue in the first year.

Remember to customize the project section based on your specific achievements, industry, and job requirements. Focus on projects that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for and highlight the skills and expertise that make you a strong candidate. Use concise bullet points to clearly communicate the project details, outcomes, and your role in the success of each project.

Explaining Projects in Resume

When it comes to including projects on your resume, it’s not enough to simply list them. You need to effectively explain the project and its relevance to the job you’re applying for. Here are some key ways to explain your projects on your resume:

Describing Quantitative and Qualitative Results

Employers want to see concrete results from your projects. Therefore, it’s important to describe both the quantitative (numbers, measurements, etc.) and qualitative (improvements, successes, etc.) outcomes of your work. For example, instead of simply stating that you led a website redesign project, explain that the project led to a 25% increase in user engagement and a 15% increase in page views.

Emphasizing Transferable Skills

While the specific project you worked on may not be directly relevant to the job you’re applying for, the skills you used during that project likely are. Emphasize these transferable skills in your resume to show how your previous experience makes you a strong candidate for the job. For example, if you worked on a complex data analysis project, highlight your skills in data management, problem-solving, and communication.

Sharing Success Stories and Lessons Learned

Your projects can also be a great opportunity to share success stories and lessons learned with potential employers. Use specific examples of how you overcame project challenges and achieved success to demonstrate your problem-solving and leadership abilities. This can also show your ability to adapt and learn from mistakes, which can be a valuable asset to any team.

Parsing Technical Jargon

Projects can often involve technical jargon or industry-specific terms that may not be familiar to everyone. It’s important to describe your projects in a way that is clear and understandable to everyone, not just those in your field. Explain any technical terms or acronyms and use language that is straightforward and easy to understand.

Effectively explaining your projects on your resume is about more than just listing them. By describing outcomes, emphasizing transferable skills, sharing success stories, and using accessible language, you can show potential employers the value of your past experience and make a strong case for your candidacy.

Addressing Gaps and Inaccuracies in Projects

When it comes to including projects on your resume, one of the most important things to consider is accuracy. It’s essential to ensure that the information you present is honest, truthful, and representative of your skills and achievements. However, it’s not always straightforward to capture every detail of a project in a resume. There may be gaps in your knowledge or information, or you may be uncertain about certain terms or acronyms used in the project. In these cases, it’s crucial to address these gaps and inaccuracies in a meaningful way.

Explaining Challenges and Obstacles

Sometimes, projects can pose significant challenges and obstacles that can impact the outcome. It’s essential to acknowledge these hurdles and explain how you overcame them. This will help demonstrate your problem-solving skills and your ability to navigate complex situations. Don’t shy away from discussing any difficult or challenging aspects of the project. Instead, provide a brief explanation of the issue and how you addressed it. This will showcase your resilience and ability to work well under pressure.

Clarifying Ambiguous Terms and Acronyms

Projects can often use specific terms and acronyms that may not be immediately clear to readers. If you’re unsure about a term or acronym, it’s essential to clarify it within the resume. You don’t want the reader to be confused or misunderstand the project’s purpose or outcome because of a lack of understanding of specific terminology. Consider providing a brief explanation of the term or acronym within parentheses or in a separate bullet point under the project description.

Providing Relevant Context and Background

To paint a complete picture of the project, it’s important to provide relevant context and background information. This may include providing details on the project’s purpose, goals, target audience, and key stakeholders. By including this information, you can showcase your understanding of the project’s broader context and the role you played in achieving the project’s objectives.

Avoiding Misrepresentations and Fabrications

While it’s important to present a comprehensive and accurate view of the project, it’s equally important to avoid misrepresentations and fabrications. Lying or exaggerating about your role or achievements can damage your credibility and harm your reputation. Make sure that the information you present is true and verifiable. If you’re uncertain about a specific fact or detail, leave it out or find a way to address the gap in your knowledge honestly.

Accurately presenting your projects on your resume requires attention to detail and a commitment to honesty. By addressing gaps and inaccuracies in a meaningful way, you can showcase your skills and achievements while maintaining your credibility and professionalism. Remember that including projects on your resume isn’t just about showcasing your abilities – it’s about demonstrating your integrity and respect for the reader’s time and attention.

Using Projects in Cover Letter or Portfolio

When applying for a job, it is essential to showcase your skills and achievements through projects that you have worked on. Including these projects in your application materials can provide context for your potential employer on your accomplishments and level of expertise. Here are some tips on how to use projects effectively in your cover letter and portfolio.

Referencing Projects in Application Materials

In your cover letter, you should mention one or two of your most impressive projects and what you gained from them. You should make sure to talk about how your experience on this project directly correlates with the job you are applying for. This can show that you have experience in that area and can bring value to the company. Additionally, mentioning specific projects in your resume or application can help set you apart from other candidates and can give potential employers a better understanding of your work style and capabilities.

Expanding on Projects in Portfolio or Website

Your portfolio or website is a great place to showcase your projects in more detail. You can include project timelines, your role on the project, and any specific deliverables that you were responsible for creating. Additionally, you can include pictures, videos, and other multimedia to visually represent your work. This can help potential employers better understand the scope of the project and what you contributed.

Relating Projects to Company or Industry

When discussing your projects in your cover letter or portfolio, it’s important to relate them to the company or industry you are applying to. If you can show that your past projects align with their values or industry, it can give you an advantage in the application process. You can also demonstrate how your experience on previous projects can be an asset to the company, and potentially lead to new projects or initiatives that would benefit both parties.

Including your projects in your application materials can help set you apart as a candidate and showcase your skills and accomplishments. By referencing these projects in your cover letter and expanding on them in your portfolio or website, you can highlight your most impressive work and provide details on your involvement. Additionally, by relating your projects to the company or industry you are applying to, you can demonstrate how your experience can benefit the company and potentially lead to new opportunities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Project Section

When it comes to your resume, including your project section can be a great way to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers. However, there are some common mistakes that you should avoid in order to make the most out of this section.

Overloading Resume with Too Many Projects

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is overloading your resume with too many projects. While it may be tempting to list every single project that you’ve ever worked on, it’s important to remember that quality is better than quantity. Instead, try to focus on a few projects that showcase your skills and experience in the best possible way.

Focusing on Unrelated or Outdated Projects

Another mistake to avoid is focusing on unrelated or outdated projects. This can be a red flag for potential employers, as they may question your ability to prioritize and select the most relevant projects. Instead, try to choose projects that are relevant to your current career goals and demonstrate your ability to tackle real-world challenges.

Copying and Pasting Job Description

Avoid the mistake of copying and pasting job descriptions when describing your projects. This can give the impression that you lack creativity and initiative. Instead, use clear and concise language to describe your role and contributions to the project. Highlight your unique achievements and make sure to use active verbs to showcase your impact.

Neglecting Soft Skills and Personal Attributes

Lastly, avoid neglecting soft skills and personal attributes in your project section. While it’s important to highlight your technical skills, it’s also important to showcase your interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team. This can include things like communication, problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration. By highlighting these skills, you can demonstrate your ability to make valuable contributions to any project team.

Including your project section on your resume is an opportunity to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can make the most out of this section and demonstrate your ability to tackle real-world challenges.

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How to List Projects on a Resume: A Concise Approach

In This Guide:

What are the benefits of listing projects on a resume, types of projects to include on your resume, how to list projects on a resume, how to avoid sounding boastful, how can i talk about a confidential project on a resume, how many projects should i include in a resume, summary & key takeaways: how to list projects on your resume.

You want to list projects on your resume, but you’ve got no idea how to do it?

Keep reading and you will learn:

• What are the benefits of listing projects on your resume
• What types of projects should you include on your resume
• How to list projects on your resume
• How to avoid sounding boastful
• How to talk about a confidential project on your resume
• How many projects should you include on your resume

If you want to save some time, you should definitely check out our Resume Builder .

But if you really want to really dig into the issue of listing projects on your resume, just keep reading.

Let’s dive in.

Why should I include projects on my resume, how would that help me?

The main goal of listing projects on your resume is to show potential employers that you have gained skills, experience and professional achievements that fit perfectly into their role.

What is important to do when listing your projects, is to highlight hands-on examples of how you applied your capabilities to find solutions.

Describing your experiences in the projects can also show potential employers if your character would be compatible with the company.

What is more, you can use these highlights to show that you have leadership skills, project management expertise and the ability to take initiative.

If you play your cards right, potential employers will start to picture you in a position that requires you to use the skill set you have gained in your previous projects.

There are a few types of projects you can include on your resume.

Keep in mind that whatever project you list, should apply to the job you are applying for. Its purpose is to increase your chances, so choose wisely.

We are going to take a look at the three most common types of projects that you can list on your resume:

Work projects

Your relevant work experience always works in your favour.

The way you can strengthen its effect and catch the recruiter’s eye is to list projects from your previous places of work on your resume.

Keep in mind that you should only highlight projects and accomplishments that show a set of skills relevant to the position you are applying for.

Personal projects

Another way to go is to list personal projects that show skills and personality traits that your potential employer might be looking for.

The project can be anything from community service and volunteering, to a personal project such as a blog.

Personal projects can make a really powerful impression on potential employers. They show that you take personal initiatives that develop your skills and personality traits.

When you have little or no work experience, personal projects can make an excelent addition to your resume.

Academic projects

The third main project type you can include in your resume are academic projects.

These projects can greatly highlight the skills and competencies relevant to a position you are applying for.

Academic projects can show your technical expertise or demonstrate soft skills such as teamwork and leadership.

Don’t hesitate to include any of these three types of projects on your resume. They can only work in your favour.

When listing projects on your resume, your best choice would be to write them below a job description as accomplishments.

Another way to go is to list them in a separate section. You can name it Projects, Academic Projects or Personal Projects, depending on their type.

If your projects are Academic, it’s better to list them in the education section on your resume.

If your projects are the strongest thing in your resume, we advise you to create a project-based resume.

Let’s take a look at all these scenarios.

Project-Based Resumes for Freelancers

When you are a freelancer, you will need a slightly different approach to building your resume.

A reverse chronological format works perfectly for most resumes.

It makes your resume easy to read by recruiters and it shows them if your experience is relevant in no time.

But when you are building a project-based resume, this format will probably not work so well.

As a freelancer, you probably work on lots of projects, and in many cases, the last one in reverse chronological order would not be suitable for the position you are applying for.

The actual problem arises because of the fact that recruiters have to look through lots of resumes every day.

That’s why a recruiter only spends about 7 seconds on a single resume, so chances are that a freelancer with a standard reverse chronological format resume would not be noticed.

The best way around that is to remove your work experience section, and replace it with Projects section.

Make sure you include details for every project in the section. That includes an overview of the project, time and numerical results/achievements.

Here is an awesome example of what you need to do for every project on your resume:

Adding Projects to a Resume—Traditional Employment

Even if you are not a freelancer, you might feel like you should include some of your side projects.

Don’t hesitate, but list them.

Projects are a great addition to traditional employment types of resumes as well.

What you need to do if you have extensive experience, is to create a separate section for your projects only.

Recruiters love extra sections. Having an extra section for your projects can only work in your favour.

As projects are not the main strength of your resume, you need to keep the project description brief.

Here is one example to get you going:

Key Projects

Spearheaded a cost-cutting project achieving a $50,000 dollar annual saving by replacing paper towels with hand dryers in all bathroom facilities as National Operations Manager with Redbridge Systems.

Adding School, College and Academic Projects to Your Education Section

If you recently graduated high school or college, or you are still studying, you might find it difficult to write your resume.

What you can do in this situation is list School, College and Academic Projects on your resume.

By shifting the focus from the lack of work experience to the projects and the skills you have gained from them, you can easily get some bonus points with the recruiter.

Here is an example of how to include project, such as volunteer work, on your resume:

There is also a slight risk, that listing projects on your resume might sound rather boastful.

In order to avoid that moment, you might want to stick to the advice of keeping it simple.

What you need to mention is an overview of the project, time and numerical results/achievements.

When you are using a confidential project on your resume to land a new job, caution is advisable.

It’s one thing to list a project on your resume when it has already gone public, but mentioning a confidential project is a good way to wreck your chances of getting the job.

Keep in mind that no employer wants an employee who would be willing to share a confidential project on a document that any stranger could potentially see.

You might think that you would be safe if you leave out most of the information.

However, the truth is that the recruiter may feel like it would be right to call your former employer and tell them that you are leaking confidential information.

Your week would probably not improve from there on, especially if you have a confidentiality agreement signed in the past.

So, all in all, you should focus on your public projects and accomplishments. Doing so will make your life much less complicated.

You should consider including a link to your online portfolio, website or blog if you have any.

This would encourage the hiring manager to review your projects in greater detail, and allow them to see the skill set you have acquired while working on the projects.

You should also focus on the projects that present your skill set in the best light,

What you need to do is list only a few important projects on your resume. If you have more to show the potential employer, you should definitely include a professional portfolio.

So, all in all, in most cases it is a good idea to include projects on your resume.

No matter if your projects come from former work, high school, college, or if they are personal, they can only work in your favour.

The key points you need to take out at the end of the day are:

• If you are a freelancer, you might want to consider building a project-based resume, instead of using a reverse-chronological format
• If you have some additional projects to your work experience, you should include them in your Work Experience or Education sections. If you have more projects, consider creating a separate section for your projects only.
• If you have too many projects you want to mention on your resume, consider mentioning the most important ones and include a link to a professional portfolio
• If you have worked on a confidential project, better leave it out of your resume

So, there you go, you are ready to get your resume to the next step.

Include the projects you have worked on and get the interview for your dream job.

*** What are your thoughts? Did you list your projects on your resume? Give us a shout out in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

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Electronic Resumes: How to Include a Cover Letter

How to write a resume, cover letter & list of references, how to generalize a resume.

• Do Previous Jobs on a Resume Have to Be Chronological?
• How to Make a Resume Reference Page

It's good to keep your resume up to date, even if you're not actively seeking another job. As the employment website Indeed explains, a resume should focus on your most recent skills and experiences. Indeed recommends you review your resume twice a year to add the most current information and delete items that are no longer relevant.

Importance of Updating Your Resume

If you've been in your current job for a while, it's easy to forget about your resume. It did its job in landing your present position, and you may wonder why bother updating it if you're not planning on making any changes. Some organizations regularly ask employees for updated resumes; they may need them for project proposals and grant applications.

You might be happy in your present job, but you never know when a new opportunity will come along. Whether it is with your current company or another organization altogether, you want to be ready to begin the application process as soon as possible.

Career Updates

Your resume should reflect your current job title, skills and work experience. Have you been promoted, or has your job title changed? What about new skills you've acquired, either on the job or through formal training? Include both in-house professional development and outside seminars, workshops and academic courses that are relevant to your job. Update your list of awards and certifications as applicable. Briefly detail any new responsibilities and achievements associated with your job description.

Out With the Old

An eye-tracking study reported by HR Dive reveals that recruiters look at resumes for an average of 7 seconds before deciding whether to read further. This startling statistic emphasizes the need to make every word count when writing or updating a resume. In general, your work history should go back no more than 10 years, so delete jobs you had in the distant past, particularly when they're no longer relevant to your current position. If you've earned a college degree since you last updated your resume, remove "high school diploma," as that's assumed after you acquire a postsecondary education.

Technology changes rapidly, so make sure any computer hardware and software references are up to date. Likewise, eliminate the mention of a skill that is no longer in use, such as shorthand.

Follow the Trends

The employment website Monster warns that the appearance of a resume goes out of style just as your wardrobe does. When looking online at resume examples, check to see when the website was last updated. If you're looking at sample resumes created even five years ago, you're not current with what today's human resources professionals want to see.

The objective field is no longer in use. Replace it with a brief, descriptive headline such as "Admin Assistant with Fortune 500 Experience." Underneath that, write an opening summary that highlights your strongest attributes.

​ Example: ​

​ Experienced administrative assistant with 4+ years working for a major software company. Excellent knowledge of business practices and terminology. Detail-oriented professional with outstanding work ethic. ​

Look online at current job announcements for your field. Note the buzzwords employers use and the qualifications they seek. Your resume should use current terminology and reflect current practices and standards.

Don't waste space by writing "References Available Upon Request." Any employer will ask for them, and any prospective employee would provide them. Use the extra line to add to your skills or qualifications instead.

Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Monster cites a Society for Human Resources Management study that reports 84 percent of employers recruit via social media. Nearly half of employers surveyed use social networks and search engines. Update your resume by deleting your physical address. Use the space for URLs to a personal website, blog and social media pages, provided they are relevant to your professional life.

• Indeed: Guide to Updating Your Resume
• Monster: Tips to Keep Your Resume Updated
• HR Dive: Eye Tracking Study Shows Recruiters Look at Resumes for 7 Seconds

Denise Dayton is a a freelance writer who specializes in business, education and technology. She has written for eHow.com, Library Journal, The Searcher, Bureau of Education and Research, and corporate clients.

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Work Experience on a Resume - How to List It Right

Imagine you’re a hiring manager who goes through countless resumes on the daily.

What’s the first thing you look at?

If your guess was work experience, then you’re right.

And if you spot a few relevant keywords in their work experience section, then you’re more likely to continue reading about their background, contact information, and so on.

The most important thing hiring managers want to know is whether you can do the job you’re applying for, and that’s where the work experience section of your resume comes in.

So how do you make your work experience do the heavy lifting?

Don’t worry! Our article is here to help.

We’re going to cover:

• What Information Your Work Experience Section Needs

How to Format Work Experience on Your Resume

• 11 Real-Life Examples of Work Experience on a Resume

Let’s get started.

What to Include in Your Work Experience Section

The work experience section is the most important part of your resume.

This is the section that gives hiring managers a look at your professional journey so far, including your skills and achievements, and it’s the section they base their hiring decisions on the most.

Your work history can show how likely you are to excel at the job, how committed you are to career growth , and what industry know-how you ought to have.

This section is going to look different depending on your career level, how recent your work experience is, and what the job you're applying for is.

Let’s look at what information employers expect from your work experience section:

• Job Title/Position . Add this at the top of each work experience entry. You want the hiring manager to know at a glance that you have relevant work experience for the job, so use the actual job title instead of any buzzwords.
• Company Name. Include the name of the employer. Sometimes, if the employer isn’t well-known, you might want to describe the company in a sentence or two to give the hiring manager context.
• Location. The general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked, is more than enough information.
• Employment Dates. Write down the approximate timeframe of your employment. There’s no need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Responsibilities and Achievements. The core of each work experience entry is what you achieved while you were there. List your responsibilities and achievements in bullet points instead of paragraphs to make them easier to read. Use 5-6 bullet points for newer job entries and 2-3 for older ones.

Here’s an example of a work experience section that includes all of the above:

Want to know more about other resume sections? Learn how to write a resume with our detailed guide!

You know what to include in your work experience section, so let’s talk about how to include it.

First things first - your work experience section should always follow a reverse chronological order . Add your latest work experience at the very top, and work your way backward.

Hiring managers aren’t interested in what you did ten years ago. Instead, they’d rather know what you’ve been up to right before applying for this specific job.

That being said, if you have a lot of experience, you shouldn’t include every single job you’ve ever had.

Your resume is supposed to be one page long , so feel free to omit any summer gigs or part-time jobs to free up space. It’s also extremely important that your work experience is easy to find and that the information is well-structured and readable.

Here’s an example of how to format your work experience section:

Making Your Work Experience Stand Out

Now that you know how to list your work experience, you need to describe it in a way that makes you stand out from other candidates.

We’ve divided this process into several steps, starting with:

#1. List Achievements Instead of Responsibilities

Too many resumes focus on the day-to-day tasks in the work experience section.

The thing is, hiring managers already know what those responsibilities are. They’re the ones who write the job ads, so you won’t impress them by telling them you did just what they would expect you to do.

For example, if you’re a QA engineer, your responsibilities could include:

• Identifying software bugs.
• Ensuring test coverage for all features.
• Making detailed reports on product quality.

These same responsibilities show up in 99% of QA engineer resumes out there.

So, if you want to stand out from the crowd, you want to focus on your most impressive achievements instead. Show the hiring manager how you helped your previous employer and the difference you made while you were there.

Let’s compare how the same work experience entry looks like when we use achievements and when we use responsibilities:

• Increased test coverage by 25% by implementing new automated test suites.
• Reported and triaged over 100 high-priority defects ahead of major releases.
• Executed manual test cases across web and mobile applications.
• Logged defects into bug-tracking systems as they were encountered.

But there are some fields where there aren’t that many achievements you can mention in your resume. For example, if you’re a server , serving 120+ patrons a night, or earning a lot of tips aren’t achievements that look good on your resume.

Your daily tasks probably include:

• Taking orders, serving food and beverages, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Preparing tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
• Assisting in opening and closing the restaurant, including cleaning duties and setting up for the next service.

In this case, it’s okay to focus on responsibilities instead. You can still distinguish yourself by following the rest of our tips on how to make your work experience shine.

#2. Tailor Your Work Experience to the Job

If you want your resume to go from “okay” to "outstanding," what you need to do is tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for. 

The hiring manager doesn’t need to know details about every job you’ve had or about the skills you gained in a different field. 

So, your work experience should reflect what the job requirements are. This way, you’re more likely to really catch the hiring manager’s attention and land a job interview .

Here’s an example of a well-tailored job ad:

As you can see from the picture, it’s easy to figure out what the most important requirements for the role are. 

So, to tailor your resume to this ad, you need to show how you meet every one of these job requirements.

Let’s look at an example of how the same work experience would be tailored differently according to different job ads.

Say, you were an advertising intern.

Here’s what your work experience would look like when you’re applying for a position as a social media assistant:

INTERNSHIPS

Marketing Intern

Full Picture Company

New York, NY

09/2023 - 12/2023

• Analyzed various social media platforms for trending content.
• Managed company social media accounts.
• Posted interesting content on the company's Facebook page, increasing engagement by 25%.

Pretty easy, right? Now, let’s look at what the same work experience entry would look like for a job as a content writer .

• Assisted the Marketing Manager in writing press releases and new blog posts, which increased web traffic by 25%.
• Created engaging content for email marketing campaigns and boosted newsletter subscriptions.
• Revitalized old blog posts with updated information and SEO optimization, improving organic search rankings by 30%.

The internship is still the same but this way, the experience you’re focusing on is tailored to the job you’re applying for. The hiring manager can immediately see your most important skills for the job and the value you could bring to their team.

#3. Add the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve had a lot of jobs so far, you might be wondering if they all belong on your resume.

The answer is usually no. Your full, detailed work history belongs on your CV instead of your resume .

The hiring manager only wants the most recent and relevant information, not your full life story.

So, the amount of work information your resume should include depends entirely on your level of experience.

Let’s break it down:

• No Experience. If you’re currently looking for your very first job , you simply won’t have any jobs to fill in your work experience section. In that case, we recommend skipping this section and instead focusing on any experience gained in clubs, extracurricular activities , volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-Level. When you’re applying for an entry-level job, you can list most of your work experience so far. Likely, some of it won’t be relevant, but it still shows the hiring manager that you have some work experience, and that’s better than none.
• Mid-Level. At this level, you should only mention relevant work experience. Don’t waste precious space listing old internships or jobs you had as a teenager .
• Senior-Level. You only need to list up to 15 years of relevant work experience. You might even need a two-page resume to apply for an executive position at this stage, but only if you have too much relevant work experience to fit onto a single page.

#4. Optimize for the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Before the hiring manager reads your resume, it has to make it to them.

The fact is that 70% of resumes get discarded before the hiring manager even reads them.

That’s because most companies use specialized Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) to go through hundreds of resumes and automatically filter out ones that don’t have what the hiring manager is looking for.

Unfortunately, this means that if a resume is missing a specific skill or isn’t formatted in a way that the ATS can process , it gets rejected immediately.

So, how can your work experience make the cut?

Here are a few tips:

• Don’t go over one page. The ATS can have a limit on how long a resume is allowed to be, so we recommend always sticking to a single-page resume.
• Format everything carefully. Don’t give your resume sections quirky names. Your work experience section should be titled “Work Experience,” not “The Journey So Far.” If you try being too creative, the ATS might not recognize what that section is and reject you.
• Tailor carefully to the job ad. If you want to beat the ATS, you need your resume to be as tailored to the job ad as possible. Include as many relevant keywords as you can in your work experience section. Just make sure they’re all used in a logical context since the hiring manager is supposed to read them, too.
• Keep everything in an active voice. Describe your previous jobs with clear and specific language. (E.g.: Instead of “A team of ten people was managed by me,” say “Managed a team of ten people” ).
• Use power words and action verbs. Hiring managers don’t want to hear how you “were responsible” for this or “helped with” that. Make your work experience pop by using impactful language like “spearheaded,” “designed,” “conceptualized,” and more.

Choose one of our ATS-friendly resume templates to make sure your resume passes the test.

Where to Place Work Experience on Your Resume

The work experience section should always be one of the first sections on your resume, along with the skills section.

Typically, it comes just after your resume header , so that the hiring manager can read it immediately after your resume headline .

If you are using the reverse-chronological resume format, work experience should go at the top of your resume. This way, hiring managers can quickly evaluate your qualifications based on your most recent roles.

However, if you’re using a different resume format, such as functional or combination resume formats, you can make an exception. These resume formats emphasize skills over work history, so you could move your work experience further down, towards the middle of your resume.

Recent graduates are another exception to this rule

Suppose you’re a student with minimal professional experience. In that case, you can put your education section on top instead of your work experience section to emphasize your academic achievements and show that you’re ready to put your knowledge to good use.

Want to learn about the other popular resume formats ? Check out this article to see which one is right for you.

Complimentary Resume Sections

While your work experience might be the single most important section of your resume, at the end of the day, it works in sync with the rest of it.

Other resume sections , like your resume summary or certifications, can show the hiring manager how experienced you are and how much industry know-how you bring to the table.

So, here are a few other resume sections that come into play if you want to back up your work experience and increase your chances of getting an interview:

#1. Resume Summary

A resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant skills and achievements related to the job.

In 2-3 simple sentences, a good resume summary tells the hiring manager:

• Your years of experience in that type of role.
• Your top qualifications or impressive accomplishments.
• What kind of responsibilities you’re familiar with.
• What your motivation for the position is.

By summarizing the core of your work experience upfront, your resume summary lets the hiring manager know what they can expect from the rest of your resume. So, when done well, an eye-catching resume summary can make you stand out from the crowd.

Here’s an example of a resume summary:

Another important section is devoted to your most important skills.

The skills section lets you list abilities that supplement your work experience, and it should be divided into two categories:

• Hard Skills. These include technical skills, tools, and specific knowledge that’s directly applicable to the role.
• Soft Skills. These can be personality traits or interpersonal skills that demonstrate how you work with others and how well you’d fit into the company’s team.

Along with your work history, the skills section helps employers quickly evaluate your credentials and relevant expertise for the position. While your work experience highlights skills in context, the skills section provides an easy-to-reference summary.

Make sure the skills you list on your resume align with what the employer is looking for. Use the job description as a reference to pinpoint the keywords you should add to your resume .

Here’s an example of a skills section on a resume:

#3. Certificates

Professional certificates and coursework can show your commitment to continuous learning and honing your skills.

Listing certificates on your resume allows you to showcase specialized knowledge and skills that might not be evident from your work experience.

For example, say you’re applying for a position as an SEO content marketer.

If you’re experienced in digital marketing but don’t have formal work experience with SEO, that could be a problem. However, listing a certificate from an SEO course can tell the hiring manager that you have the necessary knowledge to take on the role.

Relevant certificates can provide evidence of your advanced skills, industry expertise, or any other necessary qualifications for the role. They can back up your skills and distinguish you from other candidates with similar work experience.

Depending on the context, any certificates you have can either be listed in the education section or a dedicated resume section.

If the certificates are more recent and different from your formal education, we recommend listing them separately. Here’s an example:

#4. Personal Projects

One of the best ways to show your passion and dedication is through your projects.

Hiring managers love candidates who do cool stuff in their spare time.

If any personal passion project you’ve been working on is relevant to the role you’re applying for, make sure to add it to your resume. It can back up the skills and experience on your resume, and help you stand out from other applicants.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an animator , any published flash animation videos on YouTube are a great addition to your resume.

However, personal projects should only be listed if they’re relevant. If you’re looking for a job as an architect , your incredible cosplay sewing abilities just won’t cut it.

Here’s an example of a personal projects section:

11 Real-Life Examples

Not sure how to list work experience for your field?

Check out the practical work experience in these resume examples for different professions:

#1. Marketing Executive Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a marketing executive resume here.

#2. Teacher Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a teacher resume here.

#3. Cashier Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a cashier resume here.

#4. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#5. Career Change Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a career change resume here.

#6. Illustrator Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an illustrator resume here.

#7. Esthetician Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an esthetician resume here.

#8. Stay-at-Home Parent Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a stay-at-home parent resume here.

#9. University Graduate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a university graduate resume here.

#10. University Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a university student resume here.

#11. High School Graduate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school graduate resume here.

Work Experience Section FAQs

Are you still wondering about something related to your resume’s work experience? Check out the answers to these popular questions about listing work experience on a resume:

#1. What If I Don’t Have Any Work Experience?

If you don’t have any work experience, there are two things you should consider: first, hiring managers don’t expect candidates for entry-level roles to have a ton of experience, so you don’t have to worry too much.

And second - there are plenty of ways to make an impressive resume even without any professional experience .

For example, if you're a recent graduate, you can focus on highlighting your education, relevant coursework or extracurricular activities.

Include any internships, volunteer roles, or student organizations that show you have the skills necessary for the job.

You can also highlight universal skills like communication , teamwork, problem-solving, and computer skills . If you use a strategic approach, your lack of work experience won’t hold you back from writing a great resume.

#2. Can I List an Internship Instead of Work Experience?

Yes, you can list internship experience on your resume instead of work experience.

Internships provide valuable on-the-job training and give you exposure to a professional work environment, so they’re always a great thing to add to your resume.

Like work experience, internships allow you to gain important skills, learn about a particular industry or role, and build accomplishments you can use to show potential future employers. 

Internships can be a vital resume section for candidates with less experience, such as students, career changers, or stay-at-home parents re-entering the workforce, since they show hiring managers you have enough relevant hands-on experience to succeed at the job.

#3. How Can I Explain an Employment Gap on My Resume?

The key to managing a gap in your work experience section is to address it briefly and positively on your resume or cover letter .

In a line or two, explain what happened and move on without dwelling on it, since employment gaps are relatively common and can happen for different reasons.

For example, if you had to take a year off to recover from a medical issue, just say so in your resume without going into details. The important thing is that you’re now better, ready to resume work, and the hiring manager knows it won’t be a problem.

If you have a short employment gap, you can probably skip the explanations. Simply list the start and end dates for each role without explaining the time in between. A couple of months between jobs is perfectly normal, and hiring managers aren’t likely to ask about it.

#4. What If My Work Experience Isn’t Relevant?

If you're applying for a job and none of your work experience is relevant, it’s a bit more complicated.

As a general rule, any work experience is better than no work experience. Most soft skills are applicable across industries, so you can focus on them in your resume.

If you’re an entry-level candidate, you might want to leverage other areas to show the hiring manager that you’re a good fit for the role.

For example, if you want to be a graphic designer but only have experience in customer service , emphasize your art education, portfolio work, and personal projects instead. If you’ve taken any more recent courses related to the field, you can list them before your work experience.

However, if you’re an experienced professional looking to change careers , things are a little different.

For a career change, you need to articulate your transferable skills and show how your previous experience can help you in this new role.

Let's say you're a sales professional interested in marketing. You could highlight skills like communication, market analysis, client relationship-building, and goal-oriented achievements that show your valuable marketing skills.

Key Takeaways

You’ve made it to the end!

Now, you’re all set to write a flawless work experience section.

But before you go, let’s recap what we talked about:

• Always list your work experience reverse-chronologically so the hiring manager can see what your most recent achievements and experiences are.
• If possible, focus on work achievements over day-to-day tasks. This way, you can immediately show the hiring manager what you’ve done for your previous team and what the value of hiring you would be.
• Carefully format your work experience so it passes the ATS and so that the hiring manager can easily read it.
• Instead of paragraphs, use bullet points to describe your previous jobs. For newer experiences, 5-6 bullets are good, but for older ones, 2-3 bullet points are enough.
• If you don’t have work experience, use this section to list your internship, volunteer experience, personal projects, or extracurricular activities. Treat them the same way you would treat work experience, and list your responsibilities and achievements in bullet points.
• Make sure the other sections in your resume complement your work experience for a flawless job application.

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How to Write Work Experience on a Resume: Examples & Tips

• April 30, 2024
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

When it comes to crafting an impressive resume, highlighting your work experience is crucial. Potential employers want to know what you’ve done in the past and how it aligns with the position you’re applying for. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively write work experience on your resume.

Table of contents

• Importance of the work experience section in a resume

What to include in work experience section

1. include relevant experiences, 2. format your work experience section, 3. write strong bullet points.

• 4. Tailoring  work experince to the job

5. Highlight transferable skills

6. quantifying your achievements, 7. be consistent, examples of work experience on a resume, common mistakes to avoid.

• Work experience section: FAQ

Importance of the work experience section in resume

The work experience section of a resume is a crucial component that showcases your past employment history and highlights the skills , knowledge, and expertise you have gained throughout your career. This section provides concrete evidence of your ability to perform specific tasks and responsibilities.

Including specific achievements and accomplishments in the work experience section can make your resume stand out . By highlighting quantifiable results, such as increased sales, cost savings, or successful projects, you demonstrate your ability to deliver tangible outcomes. These achievements provide evidence of your value and impact in previous roles, giving potential employers a glimpse into what you can bring to their organization.

The work experience section is often regarded by employers as the most crucial aspect of a resume. They read it first to quickly assess your employment history and determine if you possess the necessary experience and skills for the role you are applying for.

When creating a work experience section on your resume, there are several key elements that you should include:

• Job titles and company names.  Clearly state your job title for each role and provide the name of the company or organization where you worked
• Dates of employment.  Specify the start and end dates for each position, including the month and year
• Responsibilities and achievements.  Describe your responsibilities in concise statements, highlighting key achievements and focusing on quantifiable accomplishments and specific examples of your contributions

Maximizing your work experience section on your resume

When composing your work experience section, it’s crucial to include experiences that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. This is especially important for individuals who have a solid work history and are not seeking a major career shift. In such cases, it is customary to highlight your most recent full-time positions.

However, if you’re just starting out in the workforce, aiming to venture into a different industry, or keen on making a career pivot, it can be advantageous to incorporate unconventional experiences. These could include internships, volunteer work, freelance projects, or even personal projects that showcase your skills and adaptability.  

When it comes to formatting work experience on a resume, there are various options available. The most popular format is the chronological format, where you list your work history in reverse order, starting with your most recent job.

• Chronological Format The chronological format is great for job seekers with a steady work history. It shows your career growth and experience in an organized way. It’s perfect if you have a consistent work history without gaps or frequent job changes. Employers can quickly see your qualifications and how your skills and responsibilities have evolved over time. This format is preferred by employers because it highlights your job progression and stability.
• Functional Format The functional format prioritizes skills and experience over chronological work history. It replaces the work history section with a professional experience or accomplishments section that highlights skills developed over time. This format is ideal for those with career gaps, multiple industry or position changes, or a need to showcase specific skills for a job. It enables employers to quickly identify relevant skills and expertise.
• Hybrid Format   The hybrid format blends the best of both the chronological and functional formats, enabling you to highlight your skills and accomplishments upfront on your resume. This is followed by a chronological presentation of your work history. This format is ideal if you want to emphasize both your skills and work experience. By showcasing your key qualifications and achievements first, you provide employers with a concise overview of your abilities. Subsequently, you can offer a chronological summary of your work history, demonstrating your career growth and stability.

Read more:  What’s the Best Resume Format for 2024? [Pros vs Cons]

Use strong and concise bullet points to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role. Focus on quantifiable achievements and highlight the impact you made in previous positions. Use strong action verbs and concrete examples to showcase your abilities and the impact you’ve made. For example, instead of simply listing your job duties, emphasize the results you achieved and the value you brought to the organization

Read more:  How to Write Resume Bullet Points (+ Examples)

4. Tailoring work experince to the job

By tailoring your work experience section to each job application, you can effectively showcase the skills and achievements that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.

• Analyzing the job description This step allows you to identify the specific skills, qualifications, and experiences that the employer is seeking. By doing so, you gain insight into what to emphasize in your resume and how to align your past roles and achievements with the requirements of the job you’re applying for.
• Highlighting relevant skills and experiences After analyzing the job description, it becomes important to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position. Focus on roles where you have developed skills or achieved significant accomplishments that closely align with the job you’re applying for. By doing this, you effectively demonstrate your suitability and potential value to prospective employers.

When showcasing transferable skills in the work experience section, it is important to first identify which skills are transferable. Transferable skills are skills that you have acquired through education, internships, or previous work experiences that can be applied to different roles or industries. These skills demonstrate your ability to succeed in a job, even if your work history is not an exact match for the position at hand.

• Identify your transferable skills  When identifying transferable skills, it’s important to reflect on your previous roles and think about the skills you utilized to succeed in those positions. Did you have excellent problem-solving abilities? Were you adept at multitasking and time management? By identifying these skills, you can then demonstrate how they can be applied to future roles.
• Include transferable skills in your work experience Once you have identified your transferable skills, it’s important to incorporate them into the descriptions of your past work experiences. Be specific and provide examples of how you have utilized these skills to overcome challenges or achieve specific results in your previous roles. For instance, if you have strong analytical-thinking skills, you can mention how you used these skills to analyze data and make informed decisions that resulted in positive outcomes for your previous employers.

The example clearly demonstrates the candidate’s essential transferable skills for a project manager role, including communication, planning, and reporting.

Related:  20+ Essential Nursing Skills for Your Resume [2024]

• Highlight specific accomplishments Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, focus on specific accomplishments that demonstrate your impact. For instance, you can mention that you successfully achieved a 13% increase in sales by implementing innovative product displays and promotion strategies within the first quarter of your employment. This not only showcases your ability to drive results but also highlights your transferable skills in sales, marketing, and problem-solving.
• Utilize the C.A.R. method formula The C.A.R. method formula, which stands for Challenge, Action, and Result, is an effective way to structure your accomplishments. Start by describing the challenge or problem you encountered, then outline the specific actions you took to address it, and finally, state the results of your efforts. This approach provides context and helps the hiring manager understand the significance of your achievement. For example, you can say, “Faced with declining customer engagement, I revamped our social media strategy, resulting in a 30% increase in online followers and a 20% boost in website traffic.”
• Increased sales by 25% through the implementation of a targeted marketing campaign.
• Streamlined operations, resulting in a 35% reduction in production time and cost.
• Led a cross-functional team of 15 members to successfully launch a new product, resulting in a 15% increase in market share.

Related:  65+ Resume Accomplishment Examples

• Consistency is key when it comes to presenting your work experience section in a resume. By maintaining a consistent format, you not only showcase your attention to detail but also convey a sense of professionalism. To achieve this, make sure you use a consistent format for listing job titles, employers, and employment dates on your resume.
• Start by choosing a specific format for your job titles. For example, you can use bold or capitalized letters to make them stand out. Whatever format you choose, make sure it remains consistent across all your job entries.
• Next, list the employers in a consistent manner. This can include using the full company name or using abbreviations, but again, maintain this consistency throughout your resume.
• Lastly, ensure that the employment dates are presented consistently. You can use a month and year format (e.g., January 2020 – March 2024) or simply list the years (e.g., 2020 – 2024). Whichever format you decide on, stick to it for each job entry.

#1. Work Experience on a Resume for a Student

Student Assistant, Stuyvesant High School January 2022 – Current

• Streamlined administrative processes by developing an efficient filing system, resulting in a 30% reduction in paperwork errors and a more organized office environment.
• Assisted in the coordination and execution of a successful student-led event, attracting over 200 attendees and generating positive feedback from both students and faculty.
• Managed a budget of $4,500 for student organization activities, effectively allocating funds to support various events and initiatives throughout the academic year.

#2. Work Experience on a Resume for a Teacher

Teacher, Westminster School January 2020 – March 2024

• Improved student test scores by 15% over the course of one academic year through implementing personalized teaching strategies tailored to each student’s needs.
• Developed and implemented a project-based learning curriculum that resulted in a 20% increase in student engagement and participation.
• Implemented data-driven instructional practices, resulting in a 25% decrease in student absenteeism and an increase in overall classroom attendance

 #3. Work Experience in CV for a Business Manager

Business Manager, Unilever January 2020 – Current

• Streamlined operational processes, resulting in a 15% reduction in production costs and a 10% increase in overall productivity within the department.
• Successfully led a cross-functional team in the development and launch of a new product, which generated $1 million in sales within the first three months.
• Developed and executed a cost-saving initiative that resulted in a 30% reduction in overhead expenses, saving the company $500,000 annually.

 #4. Work Experience in CV for a Pharmacist

Pharmacist, Green Health Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased medication adherence rates by implementing a patient education program, resulting in a 20% decrease in hospital readmissions for patients with chronic conditions.
• Streamlined medication dispensing processes, reducing average wait times by 30% and increasing customer satisfaction scores by 15%.
• Implemented a medication therapy management system, resulting in a 25% reduction in medication errors and a significant improvement in patient safety outcomes.

 #5. Work Experience Resume for a Cashier

Cashier, Walmart Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased average daily sales by 15% within six months through upselling techniques and exceptional customer service, resulting in a boost in overall revenue for the store.
• Successfully resolved customer complaints and conflicts, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rating based on post-purchase surveys, showcasing strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

 #6. Work Experience Resume for a Sales Associate

Sales Associate, Morgane Le Fay Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased sales revenue by 25% within the first quarter by effectively upselling and cross-selling products to customers.
• Exceeded monthly sales targets consistently by 15%, resulting in being recognized as the top-performing sales associate for three consecutive months.
• Collaborated with the marketing team to launch a successful social media campaign, resulting in a 22% increase in online sales and brand visibility

 #7. Work Experience Resume for a Medical Assistant 

Medical assistant, Greenhouse Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased patient satisfaction scores by 15% through proactive communication and personalized care, resulting in improved patient retention and positive online reviews.
• Successfully assisted in the implementation of an electronic medical records system, resulting in a 33% reduction in administrative errors and a more efficient workflow.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive patient education program, resulting in a 20% increase in patient compliance with treatment plans and improved overall health outcomes.

To create an effective work experience section, it’s crucial to steer clear of common errors that could impede your job prospects. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Including irrelevant Information:  Make sure to only include relevant work experience and skills that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. Keep your application focused by excluding irrelevant or outdated information.
• Exaggerating or lying : It’s crucial to be honest and truthful in your resume. Exaggerating or lying about your qualifications or experience can easily be uncovered during the hiring process and can damage your credibility.
• Using clichés and buzzwords:  Avoid using clichés and overused buzzwords in your resume. Highlight specific achievements and experiences to showcase your skills.
• Poor formatting and organization : A cluttered and poorly formatted resume can be difficult to read and understand. Make your resume visually appealing and easy to navigate with clear headings, bullet points, and a consistent format.
• Neglecting to Include keywords:  Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for specific keywords. Make sure to include relevant keywords from the job description to increase your chances of getting through the initial screening process.

Crafting an effective work experience section can be challenging, especially if you are unsure about how to present your experiences or lack confidence in your writing skills. If you find yourself in this situation, consider reaching out to a professional resume writer who can provide expert guidance and help you create a compelling resume.

Resumeway’s Professional Resume Writers enhance your strengths, customize your resume for specific job needs, and effectively showcase your value to potential employers.

FAQ: Work experience section

How far back should i go in listing work experience.

When deciding how far back to go in listing work experience on your resume, it is generally recommended to include about 10–15 years of relevant work history. However, this recommendation can vary depending on your professional background and the specific job you are applying for. If you have early career accomplishments that give you more credibility, you can list them in a separate section below your work history

How  do I  deal with gaps in my work  history?

One approach is to create a new entry in your professional experience section specifically addressing the gap. You can use job titles such as “Career Break,” and include the dates it occurred. This allows you to highlight any relevant skills or experiences gained during that time. Consider using a hybrid resume format if you find it difficult to address a career break directly or if you need to describe it quickly. This format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, allowing you to highlight your skills and achievements while still including a chronological work history.

What if I have limited work experience?

If you have limited work experience, there are still ways to showcase your qualifications on your resume. Focus on highlighting relevant skills, internships, volunteer work, coursework, or projects that demonstrate your abilities and potential. Additionally, consider using a functional resume format that emphasizes your skills and accomplishments rather than a chronological format that focuses on work history.

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How to Fill an Employment Gap on Your Resume

• Vadim Revzin
• Sergei Revzin

You don’t need long-term roles to showcase your skills.

How can job candidates — especially those who are unemployed right now — address potential resume gaps and avoid them in the future?

• Try this exercise to get you started: Write down every project you’ve spent time on in between the roles currently listed on your resume or since you’ve been unemployed.
• Now, look at the descriptions of the jobs you’re interested in applying to and see if you can make any connections between your list and what the hiring managers are looking for.
• Ask yourself, “Have I gained any skills that align with the job requirements?”
• Your goal is to reframe your experiences in a way that will help employers draw a connection between the role they are trying to fill and the skills you can offer.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

There was once a time when people were expected to — slowly — climb the corporate ladder, work for one employer that paid for their insurance, and stack up a neat series of consecutive job titles on their resume. This narrative, however, is no longer realistic. A predictable, linear career path is now the exception, not the norm.

• VR Vadim Revzin is a Co-Founder of School16 , an alternative education company that develops skills for non-technical roles in tech. He is also a professor of entrepreneurship and management at New York University and co-host of a podcast called The Mentors featuring stories from successful founders and creators. He’s advised hundreds of entrepreneurs, and has been both a founder and leader across several early and growth stage startups.
• SR Sergei Revzin is a Co-Founder at School16 , an education venture that helps professionals acquire skills to break into non-technical careers in tech. Sergei is also a venture investor at the NYU Innovation Venture Fund where he leads the university’s technology investments and is the co-host of The Mentors podcast with his twin brother Vadim. He has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs all over the country through his work with Venture for America, and has been an early employee and founder at tech companies in NYC and Boston.

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
• Resume Interests Section
• Address On Resume
• Relevant Work Experience
• Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
• Education Section On Resume
• Contact Information On Resume
• Statement Of Qualifications
• How To List Publications On Resume
• Accomplishments On Resumes
• Awards On Resume
• Dean's List On Resume
• Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

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