how to write previous work experience in resume

If you’re looking for previous work experience examples for a resume or job application, and the exact steps to write your own experience section, you’re in the right place.

I’m going to walk you through:

• Why employers care about your work history and what they want to see most
• How to write your resume employment history including every piece of info to include and what format to put it in
• 3 previous work experience examples from real resumes written by  professional resume writers
• The  biggest mistakes to avoid when writing professional experience on a resume

Why Employers Care About Work Experience on Your Resume

Here’s what I’ve discovered after years of working as a recruiter…

If you have work experience (e.g. if you’re not entry-level or a recent graduate),  your recent work experience is the first place a hiring manager or recruiter looks on your resume  to see if you’re a good fit for their job.

So you want to put it front-and-center, and make sure your  bullet points  and other employment history details are GREAT.

For 95% of job seekers, there should only be a few things that come before your work history on your resume: You should put your name/contact info, a brief resume summary section , and that’s it.

After this, you should be diving right into the employment history on your resume, because it’s what employers want to see right away on your resume. 

What Should You Include in Your Resume Work Experience Section?

Your experience on a resume should include employer names, locations, dates of employment, job title held, and the professional experience you gained in the role.

You should provide detailed experience on a resume in terms of not only duties assigned and skills used, but also what you achieved and accomplished in this job.

You can do this by beginning sentences and bullet points under your work experience with verbs and power words like “Led,” “Increased,” etc.

Along with company names, locations, job titles, dates, and accomplishments, also consider including any promotions and awards you received at any previous company.

Awards and accolades are important achievements that show you’ve performed well in your career and handled the responsibilities given to you, which will excite employers.

Write your work experience in reverse chronological order, meaning that your most recent companies and job titles appear at the top and then you work downward, ending on the first role you ever held.

Formatting Your Previous Work Experience to Impress Employers

The best resume format for job seekers is the reverse chronological format , which means you should begin your experience with your most recent role on top and then work backward through your professional career.

For each position, include the job title, dates, and company name, and then describe your professional experience and achievements in that role. You can either use a brief paragraph to describe the role and then bullets, or use only bullets. However, you should not use only paragraph format when writing your work experience section.

This is a mistake that many job seekers make, and it leads to their resumes being skimmed over by recruiters and hiring managers.

Bullets do a better job of catching attention and getting an employer to closely read your experience section.

If you held multiple jobs in a company over time, list each job with its own dates and relevant experience.

It’s a huge mistake to not show each specific job title under a company, because this shows that you were promoted and advanced.

As a final step, as you write your previous work descriptions and bullet points, glance at the job description to ensure you’re covering the important skills that employers seem to want for the job you’re pursuing.

This is known as tailoring a resume.

3 Previous Work Experience Examples

Now that you know the basics of how to write the work history section of your resume, let’s look at some good employment history samples from real resumes.

I invited a couple of experts to share their resume work history examples for this section.

I’ll share two resume work experience examples from them, and then I’ll include a very simple/plain example that I’ve used in the past with a lot of success.

Resume Work Experience Example #1

You can use bold text like the example above to highlight key accomplishments on your resume. You can also use bullets, checkmarks, and other simple graphics to make sure your best work is noticed.

This resume work history also has a separate section for “Select Accomplishments”. This is a unique way to put all of your best accomplishments from each role in one place that’s likely to get noticed and read by hiring managers.

Contributed by: Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES, Career Coach at  CaffeinatedKyle.com

Resume Work Experience Example #2:

This is another employment history sample showing a great balance between attractive styling, but not going overboard and making it too “busy” or distracting.

Only one color is being used: blue ( research has shown  the color blue is calming and is associated with credibility and dependability, so it’s a good color to use). And the styling is simple enough to keep the reader’s attention on your accomplishments.

Contributed by: Virginia Franco, Founder of  Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor

Resume Work Experience Example #3:

This is a very plain format, but if you’re in a field like accounting, finance, sales, data entry, customer service, etc., it could be a good choice.

They’re going to interview you and hire you for your skills and what you’ve done for past employers, not for a fancy resume design, right? So a simple format highlights exactly what they want!

If this is a little too plain for you, I’d recommend adding some blue like the two previous examples we looked at. That’s the first change I’d make to this if I were re-doing it today (this is a resume format I’ve used very successfully in the past).

By: Biron Clark, former recruiter and Founder of  CareerSidekick.com

Grammar and Wording

Next, I’m going to share two critical tips for how to phrase and set up your work experience section to sound professional.

First, avoid talking in the first person, with phrases like, “I am a Customer Success Manager”.

Simply say “Customer Success Manager” to lead off a description of your past or current job.

Example: “Customer Success Manager leading seven support associates and…”

And next tip: When writing bullet points and paragraphs to describe your recent roles, I recommend using the past tense when it comes to your verbs.

You can see this in the resume samples above. For example, the second bullet in resume example #3 above:

“Built key ‘C’ level relationships…”

Built is a past tense verb.

This is how I recommend approaching your resume writing overall.

This sounds better when you describe job experience, versus writing, “Building” or “Build”.

So keep these small tips in mind when writing your job history and try to match the resume examples above.

Using this tone to describe past positions will impress your next prospective employer and sound professional and clear.

Colors and Design of Your Work History on a Resume

The first rule to follow when you write your employment history is to keep it simple in terms of style and formatting.

If you’re not a professional designer, your resume format should not have fancy graphics and colors. 

That’s true of  every section of your resume .

Pick one accent color at most (for example, some headers in dark blue if the rest of the text is black), one or two fonts total, and one or two header sizes.

You’ll notice all three resume employment history samples above keep colors to a minimum and focus on the content itself. That’s what you should do as well.

You want the employer’s focus to be on your past work experience, not on the styling and colors of your resume, so don’t distract them too much.

Further reading: The best colors for your resume.

Customizing These Work Experience Examples

Now, you could just copy and use one of the formats above, from the three previous work experience examples that I just gave you.

However, I also recommend adjusting it to fit your situation. I’ll explain…

Depending on how often you’ve changed jobs and how long you’ve been working, you may want to list months and years, or only years for your dates of employment.

Be strategic and decide what’s best for you. If you held a job for only a few months, it might be better just to list everything in terms of years, and not include months.

And… you can also leave a job off of your resume entirely. This is not a “work history” section of a job application where you’re required to list all previous jobs.  It’s entirely up to you what goes on your resume).

Whatever you do, stay consistent with the same formatting for every job.  That’s very important. Remember, you want this to be EASY to read for the hiring manager.

So use the work experience examples above to create your own, but also make sure you’re doing what fits your career and experience!

How Far Back Should Your Employment History Go?

My advice here is the same advice I give for how back to go with your story when they ask, “ tell me about yourself ” in an interview.

If you’ve been working for less than 8-10 years, I’d go back to the beginning of your professional work history, and try to tailor everything to be relevant to the jobs you’re pursuing now.

You might be thinking there’s nothing in common between your prior professional experience and the jobs you want now, but there’s usually an angle you can find!

Here’s an example of how you may have relevant experience in your background even if you’re an entry-level job seeker or applying to a totally new type of position:

When I was in college, I worked in customer service at Whole Foods Market. Not too glamorous, right?

But I became a supervisor, and  you’d be amazed how many interviewers asked me about this job , even after 4-5 years had passed (and for office jobs that seemed unrelated to working in a supermarket).

So don’t assume something isn’t relevant. If you showed advancement/growth, leadership, or other impressive traits, employers will love it. It’s your job to  make the bullet points impressive  and show them how it’s relevant.

Now, on the other hand, if you’ve worked more than 10 years, and/or if you are a Manager/Director, etc., consider starting your resume work history at the point you became a manager.

If you’re 45 years old and have been a Manager for 15 years, most employers aren’t going to want to look back and see how you got started as an individual contributor 20+ years ago. They’ll want to see where you started as a Manager, and how you progressed since then. So start there – how you got into your current line of work.

Where To Put Your Work History Section on Your Resume?

Short answer: If you have any work experience at all, this section is the #1 most important thing on your resume – and the first place hiring managers and recruiters look. It should be on the top half of the first page.

Don’t put your Skills section before it. No hiring manager or recruiter wants to see a general list of your skills (with no idea how recently you’ve used each skill, or how) before they see your work experience. You can read more about how to write your resume Skills section and where to list it here.

Don’t put your Education section before it, either, unless you are a Doctor or have a Ph.D. and are in a profession where this educational background is a hard requirement to obtaining any job in the field.

For everyone else, which is 95%+ of people, just put your name and contact details centered at the top of your resume, then put a one-paragraph career summary , and then go right into your work experience.

You can label the section whatever you want: Work History, Employment History, Work Experience, etc.

The point is that your resume work history should be extremely easy to find, without the hiring manager needing to scroll down or search much.

Make Sure to List Specific Accomplishments in Your Work History

With the examples above, it’s important to list accomplishments on your resume work history, not just duties/responsibilities.

There’s a big difference between saying, “I was responsible for handling 50 customer requests per day”, and saying, “I successfully responded to 50 customer requests per day, while keeping a 98% customer satisfaction rating”.

In the second one, you’re phrasing it as an accomplishment instead of simply talking about what you were responsible for or “supposed to do.” And you’re adding a great data point – 98% customer satisfaction.

Try to do this whenever possible when listing accomplishments on your resume. Keep that in mind when you copy the examples above.

If you want more help with this, detailed examples and instructions are  here .

Tailor Everything!

After using these resume work history examples to write and  format your resume , don’t forget to tailor your accomplishments and bullet points to match the job description for the role you want. This is one of the quickest ways to get noticed and get  invited to an interview .

(And if you skip this or don’t bother doing it, you’re probably going to lose out on the job to someone who did this – seriously! If you aren’t doing this, it’s a big reason  why you haven’t found a job yet ).

Here’s how to  tailor your resume for a job before applying . (<< Fastest, easiest method)

The general idea is if the top 2-3 bullet points on the job description talk about a certain skill or piece of experience, you should do everything you can to reorganize your achievements on your resume to highlight those same areas.

So do your research (the best place to start is the job description), and then re-order your bullet points to show off the exact experience they want, whenever you possibly can. Don’t make them go digging and searching for it or you run the risk they’ll move on to someone else’s resume instead.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Resume Work Experience

We’ve now looked at tips for writing your employment history, samples from real resumes, and more. I want to leave you with the mistakes to make sure you avoid when you put together your own resume work history section.

Mistake #1: Having Your Employment History Start Below the First Half of Page 1

You’ll notice in the work history samples earlier, this section starts early on the resume. Making a hiring manager or recruiter go digging in your resume to find this section is a big mistake.

Put it front and center (on the top half of page 1). You want your recent experience and achievements to be dead easy to find for any company you send your resume to.

That’s one of the best tips I can share in general: Don’t make employers go digging for your recent responsibilities and achievements on your resume. It should jump out of the page at them because it should contain a lot of content compared to other sections, and it should appear high up.

Mistake #2: Rushing Through Your Work History to Write Other Resume Sections

There’s no section on your resume more important than your employment history. You should be spending 40-50% of your time on just this section. So don’t rush through this. You only need to do it once, but it needs to be GREAT if you want to  get interviews .

Mistake #3: Not Putting Facts, Numbers, and Accomplishments

If your resume employment history is full of phrases like, “Responsible for…” then you’re missing a big opportunity to impress employers.

They want to see specific accomplishments in a past position, for example:

Led a team of 4 people to reorganize client onboarding program, resulting in a 23% increase in client retention year-over-year.

Here’s  how to write great resume bullets like this.

Mistake #4: Thinking it’s all about you and not about the employer

The average job seeker thinks their resume work history is all about them. They decide what THEY want to write, what THEY care about, etc.

That’s a backward approach, believe it or not. (Assuming you want to get more interviews).

The best way to approach writing your resume employment history is to think of the employer. Look at their job description. What are their needs? What skills do they care about?

That’s why I mentioned “tailoring” your resume in the previous section. It’s incredibly important. Don’t write your previous work experience without a few job descriptions in front of you… for the jobs you want to get!

That’s how to make sure what you’re writing will get you interviews.

Most of the mistakes above should be a review if you’ve read the entire article above. If not, go back and make sure you’ve read everything.

You only get one shot to impress employers with your resume, and  they’re looking at your previous work experience within 10 seconds of opening your resume. 

Use These Resume Work History Samples to Get More Interviews

If you follow the advice above and use the employment history templates and samples to write your own resume work history section, you’re going to get noticed by more employers and get more interviews.

It’s worth taking the extra time to do a great job on your resume experience section and ensure that you’re listing detailed achievements within your experience. Focus especially on your two or three most recent positions since that’s the experience an employer will focus on first when reviewing your career.

This one piece of your resume is sometimes all a recruiter will look at before deciding “yes” or “no” on whether they want to interview you, so it’s key to a successful job search.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), career change interview tips, resume tips and more, how much does a resume writer cost (average price and ranges), walk me through your resume: answer examples, applying for jobs out of state this resume tip can help, how long should a resume be, how to put direct and indirect reports (and other data) on your resume, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, 11 common resume mistakes to avoid, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, 1 thought on “previous work experience examples for a resume”.

I have been off working for more than a year due to family emergency. Now I am ready to get back to work. During the time when I needed to take care of my family, I took some online courses and part time classroom classes to upgrade myself and keep connected to the job market.

I want to know if I should mention this one year gap in my resume. If so, can you give me some examples how to write it will make my resume look more professional and convincing.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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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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• Career Blog

Including Previous Work Experience on Your Resume

Previous work experience is crucial on a resume because it showcases your skills, strengths, and achievements over time. Employers want to see that you have a track record of success and can bring valuable experience to their organization.

Throughout this article, we will cover various aspects of including previous work experience on your resume. This will include tips on how to format your experience, how to highlight your achievements, and common mistakes to avoid. By the end of this article, you will have a thorough understanding of the best practices for presenting your work experience on your resume.

Understanding the Role of Previous Work Experience

As a job seeker, your previous work experience is crucial to your resume. It not only shows your career trajectory but also highlights your skills and capabilities. However, not all work experience is created equal. Relevant experience is what counts the most since it directly relates to the job you’re applying for.

Importance of relevant experience

Would you hire a chef as your accountant? Probably not. It’s essential to emphasize your relevant working history rather than all experiences to appeal to the employer’s needs. If your skills directly relate to the job description’s requirements, you’ll have a better chance of landing the role.

How to highlight achievements in previous roles

It’s not enough to mention the job titles and responsibilities in your resume. Highlighting accomplishments and success stories are crucial. Did you achieve a target, solve a problem, or provide a solution that saved the company money? Numbers are an excellent way to show off your achievements. For example, “Increased sales by 50% in six months” is more impressive than “Managed sales.”

Explaining gaps in work history

Employment gaps happen, and it’s not a red flag for recruiters. With that said, you must explain these gaps adequately. Be honest and concise, explaining why you took a break, and what you did in that time. You could also mention continued learning and professional development, such as online courses or volunteering work. Remember, transparency is key.

Your previous work experience plays a crucial role in every job application process. Highlighting relevant experience and achievements is essential, but so is explaining gaps in work history. Ensure your resume gives a clear and concise picture of your professional journey.

Types of Previous Work Experience to Include

When it comes to filling out your resume, it’s important to include all relevant work experience. Not only does this help you stand out from other applicants, it also shows potential employers that you have a wide range of skills and experience.

Here are some types of previous work experience that you should consider including in your resume:

Relevant job titles

One of the most important pieces of information to include on your resume is your job title. This gives employers an idea of what you were responsible for in your previous roles, and can help them understand your areas of expertise. When listing your job titles, be as specific as possible—include the name of the company you worked for, your level within the organization, and any specific job responsibilities or achievements you had.

Transferable skills

In addition to your job titles, it’s also important to highlight any transferable skills you’ve gained throughout your career. These might include things like strong communication skills, attention to detail, project management experience, or the ability to work well in a team. Even if these skills weren’t a major part of your previous job, they can still be valuable assets in your next role.

Internships and volunteer work

Internships and volunteer work can be valuable additions to your resume, even if they weren’t paid positions. These experiences show that you’re committed to your field, and that you’ve gained hands-on experience through non-traditional means. When listing internships or volunteer work, be sure to highlight your role and any key achievements or responsibilities you had.

Freelance experience

Finally, if you’ve worked as a freelancer or consultant in the past, be sure to include this experience on your resume. This shows employers that you’re self-motivated and able to work independently, and it also highlights your ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. When listing freelance work, include the names of any clients you worked with, the types of projects you completed, and any notable achievements or results.

By including all of these types of previous work experience on your resume, you’ll be able to showcase your skills and expertise to potential employers. So don’t skimp on the details—give yourself the best possible chance of landing your dream job by highlighting all of your valuable work experience.

Formatting Your Work Experience

When it comes to structuring your work experience on your resume, there are two main formats: chronological and functional.

Chronological:  This format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backwards. This format is the most commonly used and is preferred by employers who want to see your career progression and stability.

Functional:  This format emphasizes your skills and abilities over your work experience. It is ideal for job seekers who have gaps in their employment history or have recently changed careers. In this format, you group your work experience by skill and provide examples of how you used those skills in each job.

No matter which format you choose, it is important to write effective job descriptions. Here are some tips:

• Use strong action verbs to start each bullet point, such as “managed,” “created,” or “implemented.”
• Quantify your achievements using numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts whenever possible. This provides concrete evidence of your accomplishments and helps you stand out.
• Keep your descriptions concise and focused on the impact you made in the role.
• Use industry-specific language and highlight any relevant certifications or training.

When you are quantifying your achievements, it is important to be specific and detailed. For example, instead of saying “increased sales,” you could say “increased sales by 25% in the first quarter through implementing a new marketing strategy.” Use specific numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work.

Formatting your work experience effectively can make or break your resume. Consider which format best highlights your skills and experience, and use strong, quantifiable language to showcase your achievements.

How to Tailor Your Work Experience to the Job You’re Applying For

When applying for a job, the way you present your work experience can make or break your chances of landing an interview. Tailoring your work experience to the job you’re applying for can make your application stand out from the rest.

Researching the Job and Company

Before you start tailoring your work experience, it’s essential to research the job and company you’re applying to. Look for information about the company’s culture, mission and values, and see if you can find any information about the specific role you’re applying for. This research will help you understand what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate.

Matching Your Experience to the Job Requirements

Once you have a good understanding of the job requirements, you can start matching your experience to them. Look at the job listing and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, go through your work experience and highlight the skills and experiences you have that match these requirements.

Don’t worry if you don’t have direct experience in all the areas mentioned in the job listing. Consider transferrable skills such as organizational abilities, team management, and problem-solving. Show how these skills can be applied to the requirements listed, and highlight any relevant experience in your work history.

Avoiding Irrelevant Information

When tailoring your work experience, remember to avoid irrelevant information. Keep your focus on the requirements of the job and company culture. Only include work experience that is directly relevant to the job you’re applying for.

If you have a lot of previous work experience, use your discretion in deciding what to include. Highlight those achievements that demonstrate your qualifications, skills, and experience. Be selective with what to put on your resume, and don’t include anything that can potentially hurt your chances of getting the job.

When applying for a job, tailor your work experience by researching the job and company, matching your experience to the job requirements, and avoiding irrelevant information. Doing this will help you differentiate your resume and increase your chances of securing an interview.

Including Previous Work Experience on a Resume with Limited Experience

One of the biggest challenges for individuals with limited work experience is crafting a resume that highlights their skills and potential to employers. However, there are several strategies to help job seekers make their resumes stand out, even if they don’t have a lot of previous work experience.

Focusing on transferable skills

One effective approach is to focus on transferable skills, which are abilities that can be applied in multiple work contexts. For example, if a candidate has experience working as a cashier or in a customer service role, they can highlight skills such as communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail. These skills can be relevant to many other types of jobs, such as administrative roles or sales positions.

When describing past work experiences on a resume, it’s important to focus on how the skills learned in those roles can be applied to the job being applied for. This not only demonstrates a candidate’s ability to adapt and learn quickly, but also how they can bring value to the company.

Highlighting education and coursework

For recent graduates or those entering a new industry, education and coursework can be a valuable asset to include on a resume. It shows that a candidate has invested time and effort in gaining knowledge and skills that can be relevant to the job.

If a job seeker has taken relevant courses or acquired certifications, they should be highlighted in the resume. Additionally, they should emphasize any academic projects or research that demonstrate problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity.

Relevant extracurricular activities and volunteer work

While previous work experience may be limited, there may be other activities that showcase a candidate’s skills and work ethic. Volunteering, internships, and extracurricular activities can all provide valuable experience and skills that can be highlighted on a resume.

For example, if a candidate has volunteered in a leadership position or organized events, they can demonstrate skills such as communication, organization, and leadership. This can be particularly useful for entry-level jobs where employers are looking for individuals who are willing to learn and take on responsibilities.

Job seekers should remember that previous work experience is not the only factor that employers consider when evaluating resumes. By emphasizing transferable skills, education and coursework, and other relevant experiences, candidates can effectively showcase their potential and stand out from the competition.

How to Name Your Job Titles

When it comes to choosing the right job title for your resume, it’s important to keep in mind that job titles vary from company to company and industry to industry. Therefore, it’s essential to select a title that accurately reflects your experience and responsibilities.

The following tips can help you choose the best job title for your resume:

Choosing the Right Job Title

Look at similar job postings: Browse job listings of similar positions in your industry to get an idea of what job titles are commonly used.

Use industry standard titles: Consider using industry-standard job titles that are widely recognized and understood within your field.

Highlight your expertise: If you have a unique set of skills, consider using a job title that highlights your expertise and sets you apart from other candidates.

Keep it simple and relevant: Avoid using complicated job titles that may not be easily recognizable or understood. Stick with concise and relevant titles that accurately reflect your experience and skills.

Avoiding Misleading or Inaccurate Titles

It’s important to avoid using misleading or inaccurate job titles on your resume. Doing so may discredit your professional experience and cause confusion for potential employers. Here are some tips to help you avoid inaccurate or misleading job titles:

Be honest about your responsibilities: Be truthful about your duties and accomplishments. Avoid inflating your job title to make your responsibilities seem more significant than they were.

Tailor your title to your job: If your company gave you an ambiguous job title or one that does not accurately reflect your responsibilities, try to tailor it to your actual job duties.

Avoid titles that don’t match your experience: Don’t apply for a job with a misleading or inaccurate job title that does not accurately reflect your experience.

Selecting the right job title for your resume can make a big difference in getting noticed by potential employers. Be honest about your responsibilities, highlight your expertise, and stick with relevant and concise job titles that accurately reflect your experience and skills.

Tips for Writing the Work Experience Section of Your Resume

When it comes to writing the work experience section of your resume, there are a few important tips worth keeping in mind to ensure that it is effective in impressing potential employers.

Using Action Verbs

Using strong action verbs in your resume helps to convey a sense of dynamism and enthusiasm to your prospective employers. These verbs help to paint a vivid picture of the kind of work you’ve done in the past, and can be hugely impactful in making your application stand out. Think about using verbs like “managed,” “created,” “collaborated,” and “achieved” to describe your previous work experience.

Keeping it Concise

It’s important to remember that your employer will most likely have dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes to review. As a result, it’s imperative that you keep your work experience section concise and to the point. Avoid getting bogged down in irrelevant details, and instead focus on providing a high-level summary of your most important achievements and responsibilities.

Choosing the Right Tense

When writing your work experience section, try to keep your tenses consistent throughout. If you’re currently employed, use the present tense to describe your responsibilities and achievements. If you’re writing about a previous job, use the past tense to describe what you accomplished during your time there.

Tailoring Your Experience to the Job Description

Finally, one of the most important tips to keep in mind when writing your work experience section is the importance of tailoring it to the job description. By highlighting the skills and achievements that are most relevant to the job at hand, you’re more likely to stand out to your prospective employer and make a positive impression from the get-go.

By keeping these tips in mind and writing with clarity and precision, you’ll be well on your way to creating a powerful and effective work experience section for your resume.

Balancing Multiple Previous Work Experiences

When it comes to including previous work experiences on your resume, it’s important to strike a balance between showcasing your diverse skillset and highlighting your relevant experience. This can be especially challenging if you have a varied background or have held positions in many different industries.

Organizing your resume

One of the first steps in balancing multiple previous work experiences is to organize your resume in a way that makes sense. This may include grouping similar positions together or separating them by industry. Consider using bullet points to highlight specific accomplishments or skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Prioritizing relevant experience

When deciding which experiences to prioritize on your resume, consider the job you’re applying for and the skills or qualifications they’re looking for. You’ll want to emphasize experiences that showcase your ability to meet these requirements, even if they weren’t your most recent or highest-level positions. This may mean leaving out some older experiences that are less relevant, or simply mentioning them in passing.

Highlighting positions with leadership or management

Another key consideration when balancing multiple previous work experiences is to highlight any positions that showcase your leadership or management skills. This can be especially important if you’re seeking a management or executive-level position. Be sure to note any teams or departments you oversaw, any projects you led, and any metrics you achieved in these roles. Even if you don’t have direct management experience, try to highlight any instances where you took on a leadership role or stepped up in a crisis.

Balancing multiple previous work experiences can be a challenge, but with a little planning and organization, you can showcase your diverse skillset while still emphasizing relevant experience and leadership abilities. By doing so, you’ll be able to make a strong case for why you’re the ideal candidate for the job.

Dealing With Employment Gaps

One of the challenges job seekers face is dealing with gaps in their work history. While it’s common to have gaps, it’s essential to explain them to potential employers adequately. Here are some tips for explaining gaps on your resume:

Explaining Gaps in Work History

The first step in addressing employment gaps is to explain them honestly. Provide a brief explanation of why you were out of work, such as taking time off to care for a family member or pursuing further education. Avoid making excuses, but instead, highlight any skills or experience gained during your break from work that may be relevant to the job you’re seeking.

Tips for Bridging the Gap

To bridge the gap on your resume, consider taking on freelance or short-term contract work. This could include freelance writing, consulting, or volunteering. Such work experience shows potential employers that you are proactive and willing to stay up-to-date and sharp in your field. Additionally, think about taking continuing education courses or certifications relevant to your field to demonstrate your desire to continue improving your skillset.

Another option for bridging the gap is to take on an internship or apprenticeship. While these opportunities may not pay as much or require your full-time commitment, they provide hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with professionals in your field.

How to Address Long-term Unemployment

If you’ve been out of work for an extended period due to personal circumstances, the best way to address this is to highlight your accomplishments and skills. Focus on any volunteer work, freelance projects, and other achievements during your time off. Be prepared to explain your situation in a positive way and convey your eagerness to return to the workforce. Also, list any courses or certifications you have completed to keep your skills sharp.

Dealing with employment gaps can be a challenge, but it’s important to explain them honestly and demonstrate the skills and experience gained during your break from work. Adding any freelance, volunteer work and courses or certifications to your resume, can enhance your chances of getting the job you desire.

Example of Including Previous Work Experience on a Resume

When it comes to writing a resume, highlighting your work experience is an essential component. Potential employers want to know where you worked, what you did, and how that experience relates to the job you’re applying for. In this section, we’ll provide some sample resumes that showcase different approaches to including work experience, along with tips for customizing those samples to fit your unique situation.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is the most common type of resume and is organized by listing your work experience in reverse chronological order (i.e., starting with your most recent job and working backwards). Here’s an example of a chronological resume that emphasizes the applicant’s work experience:

John Doe 123 Main Street | City, State | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]

Dedicated and results-driven professional with a proven track record of success in previous work experiences. Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with a focus on delivering high-quality results. Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Work Experience:

Sales Associate | ABC Retail Company | City, State | 2018-2021

• Assisted customers in product selection and provided exceptional customer service.
• Managed point-of-sale transactions and maintained accurate sales records.
• Collaborated with team members to achieve sales targets and promote a positive shopping experience.
• Conducted inventory management and ensured shelves were stocked and organized.

Administrative Assistant | XYZ Corporation | City, State | 2016-2018

• Provided administrative support to the executive team, including scheduling meetings, managing calendars, and handling correspondence.
• Prepared reports, presentations, and documents for internal and external communication.
• Coordinated travel arrangements and accommodations for company executives.
• Managed office supplies and maintained a clean and organized workspace.

Bachelor of Business Administration | University Name | City, State | Year

Functional Resume:

Jane Smith 123 Main Street | City, State | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]

Highly skilled professional with a strong background in various work experiences. Exceptional problem-solving and interpersonal abilities. Proficient in managing multiple tasks and prioritizing workload effectively.

Core Skills:

• Customer Service
• Sales and Marketing
• Administrative Support
• Communication and Collaboration
• Organization and Time Management

Sales Associate

• Demonstrated excellent customer service skills, ensuring customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Utilized strong sales and marketing techniques to achieve and exceed sales targets.
• Assisted with inventory management and visual merchandising to maintain an appealing store environment.

Administrative Assistant

• Provided administrative support, including calendar management, document preparation, and data entry.
• Efficiently managed office supplies and maintained an organized filing system.
• Assisted in organizing and coordinating company events and meetings.

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration | University Name | City, State | Year

Combination Resume:

Tom Jackson 123 Main Street | City, State | (555) 123-4567 | [email protected]

Dynamic professional with a diverse background in various work experiences. Strong leadership and problem-solving skills, coupled with a detail-oriented approach. Effective communication and collaboration abilities.

Sales Associate ABC Retail Company | City, State | 2018-2021

• Demonstrated exceptional customer service and product knowledge to assist customers effectively.
• Achieved and exceeded sales targets through proactive selling techniques and product recommendations.
• Collaborated with team members to create engaging displays and enhance the customer shopping experience.

Administrative Assistant XYZ Corporation | City, State | 2016-2018

• Provided administrative support to executives, managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and handling correspondence.
• Coordinated travel arrangements and managed expense reports.
• Maintained office supplies and ensured the smooth running of daily operations.

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More from ResumeHead

How to Describe Work Experience on a Resume in 2024 (Examples & Tips)

Your work experience is a summary of all your hard work, dedication and achievements over the years. Here's how to do justice to your work history.

The work experience section of a resume will be the crown jewel that demonstrates to potential employers that you have the work history to back up your credentials.

In this guide, we will provide you with in-depth coverage for how to craft the perfect work experience section to help you land more interviews and job offers. 

Here's an outline of what we'll learn:

Including Work Experience on a Resume

What to exclude from your work history, formatting your work experience section, how to list achievements and accomplishments, add more experience with relevant certifications, use strong action verbs, how to show job promotions, addressing career gaps in your work experience, how to show volunteer work and internship experience.

• How Far Back Should Your Work History Go?

Key Takeaways

For all the inside scope on each component of your resume, check out our comprehensive resume guides . 

Work experience is a major component of any successful resume.

However, it can be difficult to decipher what exactly you should be including in your work history. 

Each job applicant will have a differing amount of working experience under their belt.

The key is to not shove too much information into this section.

Instead, you will need to take the time to sit down and decide which information best highlights your strengths and gives you an advantage for a particular job opportunity.

It is important to keep in mind that you should be altering your resume to match the job description of each individual job you are applying to. 

By taking the time to re-edit your work experience section for specific applications, you will have a much greater chance of impressing hiring managers. 

In this article, we will help you craft the perfect work experience section.

Some key questions we will be answering include:

• What should you be including in your work history?
• What should you be excluding from your work history?
• How should your work experience section be formatted?

Keep reading to learn more about how you can begin optimizing your work history section.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

What Information to Include in Your Work History?

Ultimately, your work history will contain the following:

• Job Position ( e.g. "Bartender" )
• Company ( e.g. "Red Lobster" )
• Location (e.g. "Brooklyn, NY")
• Start Date - Month & Year (e.g. "October 2019")
• End Date - Month & Year (e.g. "January 2021") Note : You can list "Present" if it's your current job
• Description (responsibilities and achievements)

Here's how that looks, you can also see an example of the Yoga Instructor resume here .

Yoga Instructor, January 2018 – Present Mellow Mushroom • Nashville, TN • Taught 40+ elderly clients basic yoga moves each day • Held 4 classes a day that differ in intensity, including beginner and intermediate • Advised modifications for yoga poses to ensure proper form, to meet clients' athletic abilities • Instructed clients on breathing techniques, such as Basic Breath Awareness and Retention • Developed body-mind-spirit awareness, mental clarity and physical flexibility and strength

However, when deciding which information to include within your work experience section, there are four main principles to keep in mind:

Here is a quick breakdown of each of these crucial factors:

1) Relevancy

When writing out your work experiences, it is important to consider how relevant your previous experience is to the job you are currently applying for

Your most relevant experience should always be the most emphasized and focused on, as it will be where you showcase the skills and achievements that qualify you for the position.

For instance, let’s say you are applying for an entry-level copywriting position and you have two major examples of work experience you would like to include.

These examples are:

• Managed the front of house of a restaurant for four years.
• Worked as a journalist at a local newspaper for one year.

Even though the management position may take up a greater chunk of your professional background, your experience as a journalist is much more relevant to the field of copywriting.

Therefore, you would want to place greater emphasis on your more relevant experience. 

2) Timeliness

Let’s say you are applying for a position for which all or most of your work experience is fairly relevant with similar importance in your roles.

How do you decide which of this experience is best to include on your resume?

When listing out your relevant work experience, it is recommended to showcase your most recent experience first and work backwards from there. 

As a general rule of thumb, it is good to aim to include work experience that you have gained within the past 5 years, though trying to include examples from within the last 1 to 5 years is ideal. 

Generally, work experience older than 5 years should be included on more in-depth resumes, such as on a resume for a job applicant seeking a senior position at a company.

Additionally, the academic resume format “Curriculum Vitae” – or CV – will typically include experience that spans across an even wider timeframe. 

3) Longevity

If you have held a relevant position for a long period of time, this kind of longevity can be highly impressive to hiring managers.

Showcasing your longevity at a previous job demonstrates your ability to commit to a company long-term. 

Moreover, showcasing positions you have held for a long period of time can also be a great opportunity to emphasize any promotions you may have received.

Showing your ability to not only commit, but to grow as well can be majorly influential on the impression your resume leaves.

4) Position

Different positions you have held within a field or industry may hold greater weight than others.

While it is still important to keep relevance, timeliness, and longevity in mind, it can also be useful to showcase your higher positions on your resume.

For example, let’s say you are applying for a position as an executive administrative assistant and you have the following work experience:

• Office manager for small law firm 
• Administrative assistant for a tattoo parlor

While both positions are relevant to the job you are applying for, your role as an office manager may have had greater responsibilities compared to your assistant position. 

Check out our Human Resources Resume Example to see how the work experience section utilizes all four of the above mentioned factors. 

When you are writing your work experience section, it is important to note that you don’t want to include every job under the sun that you have ever held.

A hiring manager won’t want to read through all of that, nor are all of your experiences likely to be relevant for the job you are applying to. 

For instance, short-term jobs that you left soon after being hired may not be the best to include, as this can lead to speculation and uncertainty as to why you held the position for so short an amount of time.

If you happened to work a job that was purposefully or contractually short-term but holds a high level of relevance to the job you are currently applying for, it can be useful to include a short note explaining why you were only in the position for a limited amount of time. 

Omitting Jobs from Your Resume

There may be a variety of circumstances that may lead you to wanting to omit certain jobs from your resume.

For instance, if you were fired from your previous position, you may feel inclined to try and hide this information out of fear of it leaving a bad impression on hiring managers.

However, even jobs you were fired from should be included if they are relevant working experience

Being fired from a previous job is not an automatic deal breaker in most cases, and including that position on your resume is oftentimes preferred over leaving unexplained gaps in your employment history.

Moreover, you do not have to explicitly state on your resume that you were fired.

Should this be a topic of concern, it will likely come up in a job interview at which point you can more clearly and directly explain what happened.

Keep Your Job Descriptions Simple

A common mistake that many job applicants will make is writing descriptions of previous jobs that are too wordy or long.

Although it can be helpful to include more information about your most relevant or most recent experiences, you still want to write in clear and concise sentences that are easy to skim.

In truth, it is unlikely a hiring manager will thoroughly read your resume – especially if there are many applicants for the position.

As such, you must optimize your resume to provide information clearly and quickly.

A hiring manager should be able to gain the most valuable information with only a short read-through or skimming. 

As mentioned, you don’t want to go overboard when writing your work experience section.

Although you should aim to include the best and most relevant details, you should strive to write in short and simple sentences. 

Here is the basic format to use when structuring your work experience section:

Position, Start Date – End Date Company Name, Location ‍ • Descriptive Sentence • Descriptive Sentence • Descriptive Sentence

Alternatively, you may also want to list the company name on the first line with the position title.

This can be especially true if you worked for a well-known and easily recognized company or brand.

The formatting would then look more like this:

Position, Company Name Location, Start Date – End Date ‍ • Descriptive Sentence • Descriptive Sentence • Descriptive Sentence

There are, of course, some stylistic choices you can make to help your resume stand out.

However, sticking to this straightforward and easy to read format is key. 

Here are a couple quick examples of correct and incorrect formatting:

1) Always use bullet points for your descriptions.

Long paragraphs can be hard to read and make your work experience section look too cluttered.

Restaurant Manager, 2018 – 2020 ‍ In this position as a restaurant manager, I worked diligently to help implement new point of sales systems that greatly reduced operational costs. I also managed a staff of over 20 waiters on any given day. Of my responsibilities, I was in charge of handling customer complaints and issuing refunds. 

Restaurant Manager, 2018 – 2020 Mellow Mushroom • Nashville, TN • Hired and trained over 20 staff members . • Implemented point of sales systems that reduced operational costs by 15 percent . • Reduced customer complaints and refunds by 25 percent . 

2) Be specific as possible.

When writing your work experience descriptions, try to be as specific as possible rather than providing vague descriptions of your work accomplishments in the position. 

Junior Graphic Designer, The Coca-Cola Company Atlanta, GA • June 2017 – July 2020 • Responsible for making creative designs for the company. • Created hundreds of different designs for a variety of projects. • Worked closely with top-corporate officials. 

Junior Graphic Designer, The Coca-Cola Company Atlanta, GA • June 2017 – July 2020   • Led the design, development, and implementation of a label design project. • Designed and implemented new branding materials, including a re-design of the logo.  • Presented key deliverables to executive level stakeholders. 

In the following Content Marketing Associate resume example, you can see how Sarah has emphasized each of her bullet points with specific relevant keywords.

When it comes to listing your achievements and accomplishments on a resume , there are several considerations to keep in mind

As a general rule of thumb, your job descriptions are the best place to showcase your greatest accomplishments within a position.

For example, let’s say you worked in a sales position and raised overall sales by 10 percent .

This is the kind of specific accomplishment you will want to list within your job description. 

As previously mentioned, you will always want to be as specific as possible when listing out your achievements.

Here are some examples of how to properly list your accomplishments within your work experience section:

If you have specific data to quantify an accomplishment, always provide specific numbers rather than generalized statements.

Incorrect: ‍

Increased productivity of staff immensely over the course of the position.

Improved staff productivity rates by 30 percent , leading to a reduction of labor costs by 45 percent . 

Awards are a type of achievement that can be particularly useful to include.

Keep in mind that a hiring manager may not be familiar with company-specific awards.

Thus, you should provide enough detail to explain the importance of the award. 

Earned the Departmental MVP Award in 2019.

Earned the 2019 Departmental MVP Award for increasing productivity and efficiency rates, as well as improving cross-functionality of the department. 

Depending on the quantity of achievements you have, it may also be beneficial to create a section devoted entirely to your professional accomplishments.

The key takeaway here, however, is that job descriptions are one the most useful places to showcase your job-specific achievements. 

Although certifications may not be direct work experience, they often times are major indicators to employers of how qualified the candidate is for a position.

To earn a certification, you will typically be required to complete an accredited course successfully.

It can be tempting to include every certification you have ever earned on your resume as a way to help add some extra detail and interest.

However, when you are including certifications you should still be keeping relevancy as your top priority.

As such, only the most relevant certifications should be showcased. For instance, let’s say you have a CPR and First Aid certification.

If you are applying to become a school nurse, these kinds of certifications are not only important but are likely required.

Comparatively, if you are applying to a position as a content writer, these certifications hold no relevance. 

If you have earned a certification as a result of working a previous job, then you would likely want to include that certification in that specific job description.

Otherwise, your certifications may be better suited in their own devoted section.

Additionally, working to earn relevant certifications that you can list in tandem with your work experience section can help you to greatly stand out from other job applicants.

Here is a quick list of a few well-known certifications that would be useful to include on a resume:

• PMP: PMP is a Project Manager certification and is given to professionals with a four-year degree, a minimum of three years of project management experience, and the successful completion of the PMP exam and hour requirements. 
• NCLEX-RN: The NCLEX certification is the required certification for nursing professionals put forth by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 
• PHR: The PHR certification stands for Professional in Human Resources and is earned through successful completion of an exam upon confirmation of eligibility. 
• SERVSAFE: ServSafe certifications are used in the restaurant industry to certify that kitchen and waitstaff are following all proper food and drink protocols. 

For more information on how to best show certifications, check out our guide on listing certifications on a resume.

When you are writing your resume, you want the words you use to engage the person who is reading it.

Chances are that the hiring manager reading your resume will read hundreds of other resumes that all contain similar words, verbs, and phrases. 

When choosing which words to use in your resume, it is important to remember that you don’t want to tell the employer why you are a great candidate.

Instead, you want to use the words to show the employer why you are the best candidate. 

This is where strong action verbs come in.

In your job descriptions, rather than saying something boring like “ managed a staff of 50+ members ” —  instead use a stronger action verb such as “ delegated ” or “ directed .”

Here are a couple quick tips for using strong action verbs on your resume:

1) Always lead with your action verb

Don’t bury your action verbs or make them difficult to spot.

Start your sentences with a powerful action verb instead.

I helped senior executives with important administrative tasks.

Assisted senior executives with administrative tasks, including managing travel schedules and optimizing file organization systems. 

2) Make it contextual and supporting

While it is important to use action verbs, don’t just use any word that comes to mind.

The words you use should make sense in the context of how they are being used to describe a job. 

Prohibited operational costs from exceeding budgetary restrictions.

Maintained low operational costs according to budgetary restrictions. 

Though both of these statements essentially say the same thing, the latter is much more clear and better represents your professional achievement. 

For more ideas on which action verbs to include on your resume, check out our list of 350+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Effective.  

If you have worked in a previous job for a longer period of time, chances are you have received a promotion or two along the way.

Keeping track of these promotions and showing your professionals growth is essential. 

There are a couple different ways to show promotions within a job description.

When showcasing different roles you have held within the same job or company, it is important to list your highest position first and work backwards from there.

As an example, let’s look at two different ways a job candidate could list their promotion from office assistant to office manager on a resume:

1) Stacking job promotions

Use stacked positions to show your growth over time, with the most recent and highest position at the top.

Office Assistant, Tennessee Valley Authority Nashville, TN • January 2015 – January 2016 ‍ • Promoted to current position of Office Manager in 2016.

Office Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority • January 2016 – November 2020 Office Assistant , Tennessee Valley Authority • January 2015 – 2016

This kind of stacked formatting is an easy way to show you growth within a company without having to detail each position.

This is a good format option for when you want to focus solely on the highest position you earned.

2) Listing job promotions as separate entries

This format is useful if you served in each position for several years with different responsibilities in each. 

Office Assistant and Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority January 2015 – November 2020

Office Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority January 2016 – November 2020 • Job Description & Achievements Office Assistant, Tennessee Valley Authority January 2015 – January 2016 • Job Description & Achievements

The choice to format promotions as two separate entries should be reserved for instances where most or all of your work experience has been in different positions within the same company

Otherwise, the stacked format allows you to feature other work experiences with different employers as well. 

In some cases, a job applicant may not have very much relevant work experience or they may have large career gaps.

If this is the case for you, it can be useful to consider utilizing different resume formats to help fill in those gaps. 

The worst thing you can do is try to hide these career gaps from hiring managers.

These are the types of details they will be looking out for, and signs of deception are likely to get your resume thrown out immediately.

Instead, you should consider the different resume formats that may be better suited to showcasing your skills rather than your experience.

Here are the three main types of resume formats and how we'd rate them from best to worst for addressing career gaps:

1) Functional (best)

Functional formatted resumes focus more on skills and unpaid experiences, making them well suited for applicants without a strong work history.

2) Hybrid/Combination (good)

Hybrid resumes will combine elements of both reverse-chronological and functional resumes, making them good to use when you have career gaps. 

3) Reverse-Chronological (worst)

‍ This format focuses on making the work experience section the main component of the resume so it won't be the best choice for you.

Though having limited work experience or large career gaps can certainly make the resume writing process more difficult, it is by no means impossible to create an effective resume in spite of this.

Check out our guide for writing a resume with no work experience for more advice on how to create a resume when you have limited experience or career gaps.

For some applicants, especially those who may still be in school or are recent graduates, you may lack paid working experience but have several good examples of volunteer work and internships. 

Generally speaking, your internship experiences can go in your work experience section, as these are still technically professional experiences you applied for and earned based on your academic credentials.

Volunteer work, comparatively, should often be listed in a separate section as this is not typically considered “professional experience.”

Nonetheless, volunteer work can still hold a good amount of value, especially if it is directed related to the job you are applying for.

For instance, an IT professional may have volunteered their time to work on a not-for-profit software development project.

Though this experience was unpaid, it provided the applicant with experience working directly with software developers.

This kind of experience will still be crucial to share with potential employers. 

Consider an Alternative Format

If your work experience is limited to internships and volunteer work, this may be another good opportunity to utilize the functional or hybrid resume formats.

This will allow you to showcase the unpaid experience you have, while also sharing the focus with other sections such as skills and academic accomplishments. 

How Far Back Should Your Work History Go?

We’ve covered the importance of timeliness and longevity when deciding which previous jobs to include in your work experience section.

The reality of how far back you should go ultimately depends on the position you are applying for.

For applicants who are applying to entry-level or lower-level jobs, keeping your work experience section concise and focusing on jobs you have worked in the past 1 to 5 years is likely to be preferable. 

Comparatively, if you are applying for a senior-level position, or for a position in the fields of science or academia, it is recommended to showcase more of your professional background.

For instance, applicants who are seeking positions in academic fields will likely want to use a CV format which typically will cover most – if not all – of both their professional and academic background. 

Not every job is the same, nor is every applicant the same, so how much you include on your resume will depend on the situation at hand.

Luckily, there are many resources to help, such as our guide on on writing the perfect resume.

By now you should feel a much greater sense of confidence for how you should be writing and formatting your work experience on your resume.

Here are five key takeaways to remember as you embark on your resume writing journey:

1. Relevancy is Key

When listing out your work experiences, keep in mind which of your previous jobs are the most relevant to the position you are now applying for.

You don’t want to weigh down your resume with too many jobs and job descriptions, so narrowing down to the 3 – 5 most relevant experiences is key. 

Do keep in mind the other three factors we discussed as well: timeliness , longevity , and position .

You want to showcase how your prior work experiences have given you the skillsets to make you highly qualified for the job you are seeking. 

2. Show, Don’t Tell

When writing your job descriptions, avoid using statements such as “I did this” or “I accomplished this.”

Instead, word your descriptions in a way that showcase your achievements and strengths within the position.

Employers don’t want to be told what you can do because words only mean so much without the evidence to back them up.

‍ Show hiring managers what you are capable of by providing clear and quantifiable examples of how you have excelled in your previous positions. 

3. Use Strong Action Verbs

Begin each of your bullet points in your job descriptions with strong action verbs that clearly represent the action or accomplishment you are showcasing.

The use of these verbs not only helps to clarify your work experience section, but also helps emphasize key points, tasks and achievements.

However, be wary of using these verbs just for the sake of using them.

Always make sure the verbs you are choosing relate back to the statement you are making so you don't not accidentally cause any confusion.

4. Keep it Simple 

Bullet points and simple sentences are your friend. Most hiring managers are not going to read through your resume in its entirety.

Thus, having bite size and concise descriptions that effectively represent your abilities, skills, and accomplishments is key. 

5. Determine Which Format is Best for You

If your work experience is limited, you may want to consider using an alternative resume format.

To help determine which format best suits your needs, take a look at our guide for choosing the correct resume format . 

Closing Thoughts

Your relevant work experience can make or break your opportunity for landing an interview with the job of your dreams.

Figuring out the best and most concise way to list your experience is, thus, crucial. 

To learn more about how to craft the best resume possible, check out our comprehensive guides and resume templates to get started making your perfect resume today. 

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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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Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

Work Experience Section on the Resume

How to demonstrate your career trajectory

Career Expert

The experience section is the core of any resume and the most important metric for explaining your career path to employers.

Listing work experience on a resume can be a tricky task. You may have never worked in your life or have had so many past jobs that you don’t even know which you should include.

In either case, there’s a right and wrong way to create this section.

So, which parts of your professional experience should you include? Which parts should you exclude

This guide offers tips on exactly  what experience to put on a resume  and how to write a work experience section that will attract a potential employer’s attention.

How To Show Your Professional Experience On Your Resume

This core part of your resume can be titled in a variety of ways. A few common examples are:

Most employers  deem the work experience section the most vital part of your resume , as your career path is often the clearest, most efficient way to explain your skills. It lists companies you’ve worked for, industries you are familiar with, skills you have acquired, and the contributions you’ve delivered along the way.

Here are some ideas for section titles:

• Work Experience
• Professional Experience
• Relevant Experience
• Work History

Choose a title that is most appropriate for your experience. For example, students may include internships or part-time positions, which qualify as “work” experience but are not related to their target roles.

A title such as “Work Experience” or “Work History” would suffice in this case, to show that you have consistently been employed.

As a cheat code try using an  online resume builder  which includes helpful examples and practical tips for adding the experience section on your resume.

What To Include In A Resume Experience Section

It’s best to collect all of your work histories first before starting to write your experience section.

For most job seekers, their work experience will be true professional jobs/positions. But for students or recent graduates, relevant work can also include:

• Internships
• Volunteer work
• Study abroad programs
• Leaderships in clubs or community teams

Next, it is time to detail your experience. Start with your most recent position and work backward.

Each job post should include the following elements:

• Employer/company name
• Location (City, State or “remote”)
• Dates of employment
• Details of your accomplishments and contributions

Some of these details are unnecessary in functional resume layouts. For example, in cases where you may have large gaps in your job history, a functional resume layout can help downplay the scattered timeline of your employment and highlight the skills you’ve learned and will bring to the next position.

Most importantly,  each job post should include a brief paragraph , or more commonly, a bullet-point list of your responsibilities. Each position listed should prioritize your achievements and contributions to the role. Do not simply list the “responsibilities” or “daily tasks” of the job.

Include quantifiable examples of your success, as  34% of recruiters won’t consider applications that are not specific to the role ,  according to CareerBuilder .

Keep your experience section as focused as possible and only list those statements which are relevant to your target jobs.  Forbes Magazine suggests  limiting yourself to five bullet points per position.

Action verbs can significantly increase the impact your resume content has on the reader, enticing them enough to reach out for an interview. Include a variety of action verbs in each of your bullet points.

Examples of effective action verbs to use on your resume:   launched; implemented; spearheaded; coordinated; directed; increased; restructured; acquired; grew; saved; cut; identified,  etc.

How To Write The Work Experience Section On Your Resume

One of the easiest ways to capture the attention of a hiring manager is to list your professional experience in a clear, concise, and visually interesting manner.

your work experience section should always follow a reverse chronological frame, regardless of the resume format you choose ( chronological ,  combined , or  functional ).

It’s essential to know exactly how to write experience in a resume. To start,  begin with the most recent position held  and work backward in time.

How you display this information is crucial. An inconsistent, out-of-order format will only confuse the reader and earn your resume a trip to the trash bin.

As with every section on your resume, make sure to  highlight information that explains your past accomplishments , successes, contributions, and learnings.

For example, these can be:

• Customer satisfaction percentage or score
• Total sales you made
• Clients attended to

Anything that you can show you were a success will look great.

The more your past triumphs can relate to the position at hand, the better.

What Is an Example of Work Experience?

You may be wondering how one of your former positions, duties, and accomplishments should look on a resume. It’s critical to not only get the right format but  not mention too much or too little info .

Here are some  work experience examples  you can use to boost your own resume:

Senior Project Manager, XYZ Corp, San Francisco, CA — June 2018-Present

• Led a cross-functional team of 15+ members to deliver 20+ high-value projects, each with budgets exceeding $1M, on time and within budget.
• Implemented Agile project management methodologies that improved team efficiency by 30% and cut project delivery timelines by 20%.
• Negotiated contracts with key vendors, reducing project costs by 15% and strengthening strategic partnerships.
• Introduced a risk management process that identified potential issues early, reducing project delays by 25%.

Project Manager, ABC Inc, San Francisco, CA — July 2014-June 2018

• Managed 10+ mid-scale projects with budgets up to $500K, consistently meeting key performance indicators.
• Coordinated with various teams including design, engineering, and marketing, ensuring seamless collaboration.
• Implemented a new project tracking system which increased overall project visibility and improved on-time delivery by 10%.
• Conducted regular project status meetings and provided updates to stakeholders, improving communication efficiency.

Junior Project Manager, DEF Co, San Francisco, CA — August 2011-June 2014

• Assisted in the management of 15+ projects, developing key skills in stakeholder communication, budget management, and team coordination.
• Created detailed project schedules and plans, contributing to an overall 15% increase in team efficiency.
• Developed and maintained project documentation, improving record keeping and accountability.

This section has it all. It effectively uses action-oriented language to depict the individual’s responsibilities and achievements.  Each achievement is quantified  to make it tangible and impressive.

Additionally, the roles exhibit  a clear progression in skills , showing off the candidate’s career growth and capability to handle higher-level responsibilities.

Tips For Writing Your Previous Work Experience

We’ve amassed a list of easy-action tips for including your past positions on a resume to help you get started.

• Write in the present tense for your current work positions only  and past tense for all prior experiences.
• Tailor your work entries for each job,  mentioning the most relevant and appropriate experience. This may include creating one or more versions of your resume if you are targeting different career sectors.
• Explain gaps in your work history briefly.  Most reviewers appreciate additional context explaining your gap in professional work. A quick sentence is all that is needed to detail full-time parenting, study leave, traveling, family complications, relocations, etc.
• Include internships and education/professional development courses  in your resume, either in your work history or education section.
• Include voluntary or part-time work  where appropriate, especially when you have little on the job experience or are changing careers.

These tips on how to complete a work experience section on a resume should help you get started. You can also use our AI-powered suggestions in our resume builder and come up with more ideas to show off your past jobs and achievements in different ways. 

How Far Back Should Experience Go on a Resume?

If you had a  job from what feels like ages  ago you may be wondering if it’s worth adding to your resume. While there is no strict rule, it’s generally recommended to focus on the  most recent 10–15 years  of your work history.

If you have any doubts about  omitting jobs from your resume , keep the following in mind:

• Relevance:  Prioritize recent experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Focus on showcasing your current skills and qualifications.
• Career Progression:  Highlight positions that demonstrate career growth, increased responsibilities, or promotions.
• Industry Norms:  Research industry standards to gauge how far back professionals in your field typically go with their experience. Tailor your resume accordingly.
• Early Career Highlights:  If you have exceptional early experiences highly relevant to the position, include them, even if they fall outside the recommended timeframe.
• Resume Length:  Keep your resume concise and focused. Including extensive work history can result in a longer resume that may remove the impact of recent experiences.

What Do You Put on a Resume With No Experience?

Are you a recent college grad looking for your first job? Or are you changing your profession? In either case, building a resume with limited professional experience can be challenging.

However, all is not lost!

By taking advantage of any relevant experiences, high grades in related coursework, and transferable skills, you can create a compelling resume.

If you’re an entry-level candidate you should remember to add:

• Relevant coursework in your education section
• Transferable skills
• Experience with relevant duties

Internships and past jobs look great if you can find ways to relate them to the job you are applying to so don’t be scared to apply for a new position.

What you shouldn’t do is:

• Add irrelevant experiences
• Include generic statements
• Forget to mention relevant positions or courses

By adding the most relevant information and your transferable skills you can give yourself a good chance of landing an interview and a job without any experience.

How To Format The Experience Section On A Resume

You may do everything in your power to write a work experience section that wows, but if it is not formatted correctly, your resume could end up in the “no” pile. Consistency throughout your resume is key for allowing readers to digest your information quickly.

Here are a few tips to  ensure this section is formatted properly .

• Format each work entry the same.  List the details: job title, company name, location, dates of employment, and list of responsibilities.
• Use the same font throughout the resum e  and no more than two styles (i.e. one font for job titles and another font for the contextual information.
• Align each section equally in a consistent manner  (i.e. job titles and company name left-aligned and employment date ranges right-aligned)
• Align each section header the same using one font and a consistent method for implementing bold, italics, and underline  effects. This will ensure the highest level of readability.

If you have any doubts about how to format work experience on a resume you can use  handy online templates . These tools can save you lots of formatting time, as these resources usually have a preset document structure already in place.

ResumeCoach  offers a range of resume samples and an online resume maker filled with guides, advice, and extra resume help when you need it most.

Struggling with Resume Writing?

Ease the process with our templates

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How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume? [+Examples]

Your work history section is the most important part of your resume. It's also the most difficult part of your CV to address. Keep reading to find out how to properly describe your work experience on your resume. 

Because while a well-written work experience section can land you a job, a badly written one can easily sabotage your chances of getting an interview. You must know how to write it and what to include in it. 

And that's what this guide is for! It will show you:

What is a work experience section?

• Why bother writing it?
• Where to put the work experience section on your resume?
• …if you’re a student or a fresh graduate?
• …as an experienced professional?
• …if you’re an artist or creative?
• …if you’re changing careers?
• How to overcome an employment gap?
• How to address maternity leave?
• Plus some final tips and tricks

Too long, don't wanna read? Watch this 60sec video guide

The work experience section or employment history is a detailed summary of your past work experience . In other words, a comprehensible report of all jobs you’ve held in the past.

Depending on your background, you can include full-time positions, part-time jobs, temporary roles, internships, or even volunteer work.

In the work history section, you should list key information such as: 

• names of companies
• positions held
• dates of employment
• responsibilities you've held

But more importantly , it should highlight your main achievements and provide specific examples.

Side note: The experience section often goes under other names. Some people call it Employment history . Others refer to it as Work experience or Work history. All of these terms are interchangeable and all of them are correct. So you don't have to worry about picking the right one. 

Oh, and if you have a LinkedIn profile filled with all the important details, including your work experience, academic background, skills, and qualifications, you can easily  turn it into a polished resume with just one click.

Why should you include the work experience section?

We hate to use the word “important” , but…

… work experience is super important, if not a key section of your resume. 

When you think “resume ”, the work experience section is probably the first thing that comes to your mind. And you’re not alone. Based on this section employers determine whether or not you have what it takes for the job.

It provides an overview of your experience. A well-written work experience section is a crucial element because it shows that you have the necessary qualifications.

Where to put your work experience on a resume?

In most cases, your work experience section should come right after your contact info and professional summary.

But this isn't always the case. In some situations, you want to put your key skills, key achievements, or education section first.

For example, place your education first if you’re a student, fresh graduate, professional who recently went back to school, Ph.D. researcher , doctor, or another profession where the educational background is very important. Or if you’re writing an academic CV.

Generally speaking, the role and importance of your employment history section depend on where you're in your career and the type of resume you choose to write.

You can choose to write either a chronological, functional, or combination resume:

A chronological resume  

The most common resume type . 

It’s built around the employment history section. This makes it great for seasoned professionals with several years of work experience. It presents information in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent events being placed first.

Order of sections in chronological resume usually looks like this: Contact Information > Professional Summary > Work Experience > Education > Skills > Others .

A functional resume

This resume type draws attention to and puts forward your skills , accomplishments, job traits, and personal characteristics. 

It works best for fresh graduates, students, people returning to work after parental leave, and people who are changing careers — in other words — for those who might already have the skills but lack experience (or have an employment gap in their resume).

Order of sections in functional resume usually is the following: Contact Information > Professional Summary / Resume Objective > Skills / Projects > Work History / Education > Others .

A combination resume  

A combination resume contains elements of both the chronological and functional format. It does so by including your relevant skills and accomplishments first and then detailing your employment history and education. 

It's great for students, fresh graduates, or career changers who don’t really fit elsewhere. 

A combination resume also gives you a chance to order sections in a way that works best for your unique career path. You can, for instance, place the key achievement section first if there's a success that you truly want to highlight. 

How to write a work experience section?

In summary, you should begin with listing your current (or most recent job) and then continue with the previous ones. Your first job should close the section. 

The description of your most recent job position should include the following information:

• name of the company
• responsibilities and achievements

The more recent the job, the more detailed information about it you want to offer. On the other hand, you don’t really want to waste space on jobs that took place years ago. So, don’t go into too much detail. 

Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Despite that, the employment history section is probably the most difficult to write. Why though?

The answer is quick — the main challenge of describing your work experience on your resume is the sheer amount of information you have to include in this section. You have to choose wisely what to include so you won’t overwhelm the recruiter. 

Another problem arises once you stop writing it. You look back to your finished work history section and you may wonder:

Is your work experience section too short? Is it too long? Does it look somewhat chaotic? 

There’s no reason to worry though. We’ve got you. Here are some tips on how to make your job history section more orderly and appealing: 

• Use action verbs. As opposed to buzzwords, there are some powerful words you DO want to use. These include expressions such as “achieved,” “advised,” “negotiated” and others. See the pattern there? Instead of adjectives, use verbs you can support with evidence.
• Tailor it to a specific opening. Your accomplishments should match the employer’s needs and priorities. This is one of the quickest ways to get noticed and invited to an interview. Do your research and re-arrange your bullet points to show exactly the type of experience they want.
• Keywords. Reread the advertised job description and carefully pick the most important keywords. These are the words that best describe the position you’re applying for. Pack your resume with these keywords. Not only will it help you get past applicant tracking systems (ATS), but it will also leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager.
• Show your problem-solving skills . In the end, hiring managers want to know how effective are you when it comes to solving real problems. There’s no better way to prove your problem-solving ability than to briefly describe how you solved difficult problems in the past. Follow the PAR scheme: What was the Problem? What Action did you take? What was the Result?
• Quantify your past results. Managers love measurable results. A single number is often worth a thousand words. Don’t say you “increased the company’s revenue by, like, a lot”. Instead, don’t be afraid to brag about “increasing the company’s revenue by 20%.”
• Use bullet points. Bullet points help you structure your sub-sections. It also takes next to no effort on your part. Use them in combination with short paragraphs. First, describe the scope of your responsibilities, then use bullet points to list your top contributions for each job. Add 2-4 bullet points for each job.

Then, there are also common work experience section mistakes that you should avoid: 

• Don’t include the job description. Wait, what? Isn’t that the whole point? Well, no, employers usually know what the job should entail. Instead of listing what you were supposed to do, tell your potential employers what positive results you were able to bring about.
• Avoid buzzwords. Some phrases have been used so much in resumes that they became meaningless. Avoid words such as “thinking outside the box,” “creative,” or “problem solver.” These words always sound insincere. You want to inspire confidence. If you're using too many buzzwords, try to rephrase your content to make it more results-focused and skill-based.

Christy's word of advice

When it comes to the Work Experience sections, many resources say you should only highlight achievements and omit duties. What's your take on this?

“ I usually say have both. I recommend putting a few most important duties first because that's adding the context, and then the achievements. You can maybe get away just with the achievements if you're in an achievement-focused role, for instance, sales. But in general, I'd recommend having a mix — context plus impact. ” — Christy Morgan , Kickresume's Resident HR Expert

How to list work experience if you’re a student or a fresh graduate?

Naturally, you don’t have tons of experience if you’ve just finished school. Yet, being young is no obstacle. It comes down to how you present the experience you already have.

As a student or fresh graduate, you should place your work experience after the education section. Then list key skills, volunteer experience, and other voluntary sections.

Why list education first? Because your education and educational results are your strongest weapons right now.

Also, try to think of any job-relevant experience that you could put on your resume. Do you have any related experience at all when you worked as an intern? Have you done some volunteer work for a local charity? Or attended a conference? 

All of these things belong on your resume. Treat your internships and extracurricular activities as regular jobs.

These activities can showcase your motivation and skills. They also help recruiters gauge your professional aptitude. Each one of them should come with a few points that detail your responsibilities and accomplishments.

Here’s what you can include in your employment history section:

• Part-time jobs. If you’re fresh out of school (or still studying), part-time jobs are probably your primary type of experience. Even if the job isn’t super-relevant to the job you’re applying for now, there are valuable transferrable skills you’ve acquired in that job. Highlight them.
• Internships. Paid and unpaid college internships are one of the best weapons against the “experience required” line in a job posting.
• Volunteering . Most recruiters look at volunteer experience similar to paid work experience. Just because you didn’t get paid doesn’t mean you didn’t do a good job. Go ahead and list your volunteer roles as you would a full-time job. Detail the length of time you volunteered, relevant tasks you undertook, and the skills you gained through the experience.
• Extracurricular activities. If you’re applying for copywriting job, for example, recruiters will be more impressed to hear that you wrote a handful of articles for your student newspaper than that you had a summer job in a local fast-food restaurant.
• Leadership roles: Any leadership roles, even from clubs or sports teams, can demonstrate leadership skills and teamwork — both of which are highly valued by employers. 

How does this look in practice? Take a look at this fresh graduate sample below! 

How to list work experience if you’re an experienced professional?

Even if you’re an experienced professional, the hiring manager is going to put your work experience section under scrutiny. Because of that, you want to make sure your work experience section is tight.

To help employers navigate this section, list your work history in reverse chronological order. Put the most recent — and therefore the most relevant — items first.

Side tip: If you’re working a full-time job and freelancing at the same time, it’s only up to you to decide where you want to draw attention first.

Most importantly, don’t just state where you worked and what was your job title. Rather, also use 2–4 bullet points for each job to describe your duties and specific achievements. 

Here’s an example of how to do it:

Work Experience Section Example

Automotive Technician, Icahn Automotive, Rotorua, New Zealand (03/2017 – 09/2019)

• Repaired various cars and trucks. Troubleshot and diagnosed vehicles. Repaired or replaced defective parts. Ensured that everything was in compliance with the company’s high standards and clients’ needs.
• Awarded Employee of the Month for increasing customer satisfaction with provided services from 87% to 95% within one year.

Mind the length

Executives can use more than one page of their resume to present their extensive work experience. But that doesn’t mean that you should let your resume become a 700-page-long autobiography.

You may be wondering how to filter the information then. Especially if you have years of substantial experience. 

Well, as we already said earlier, if something’s recent, it also means it’s more relevant. That’s why you should describe more recent jobs in greater detail . Older ones will do with a brief description, allowing you to save some valuable space for more important details to put on your resume.

Finally, remember that you should never ever make your resume longer than two or three pages. Recruiters are busy and they can easily get overwhelmed by an overly long document. It would be sad if only this killed your chances of getting called for an interview . 

How far back should your employment history go?

Generally, it’s okay to include up to 15 years of experience, but try to avoid going further back in time than that. An exception would be a truly unique experience – such as being the one who started a successful company. 

Or, if a job requires 20 years of experience, then you should also definitely include more than 10–15 years of experience on your resume. 

However, most industries change a lot in 15 years, rendering any experience older than that obsolete.

If you have been working for less than 8-10 years, go back to the beginning of your work history and try to tailor your resume to be relevant to the job you’re applying for now.

Avoid writing about every single job you’ve ever held. This can easily overwhelm an employer and make them lose interest. Instead, only use previous work experience at least a bit related to the opportunity you want.

If you’ve worked more than 10 years as an executive, consider starting your work history at the point you became a manager. Most hiring managers don’t care what your first job was. They want to see how you progressed since you started as a manager.

How to write a work experience section if you’re an artist?

If you’re an artist, you know that your life and your job are a little different from the rest of the people. Because of that, it probably comes as no surprise that your work experience section should be different, too.

In short, as an artist, you should say goodbye to wordy descriptions and focus almost entirely on your portfolio . 

Consequently, your artist resume can be quite short and mostly focus on listing your training or education, courses you've taught, or artist residencies that you've been accepted to. 

See the sample below for what a good artist's resume should look like. Also, notice the fun creative resume template ! 

Finally, don't forget to polish up your social media profiles , as this is one of the most convenient ways of finding new clients today. Create your own website, and make sure to upload your portfolio to sites like Behance or Dribble. 

How to list experience if you’re changing careers?

If you’re pursuing a career change, your resume shouldn’t revolve entirely around your employment history. After all, that’s all in the past now. 

Instead , you should highlight your transferrable skills. You need to show how you can use the skills from your previous career in the new one.

Because of that, the hybrid resume format is the way to go.

How to do this? 

• In the employment history section, briefly outline your work history. Only mention those positions where you acquired skills that are relevant to the new position. You can also mention any relevant volunteer work.
• Try to find any keywords that relate to your experience. Look closely at the qualifications in the job description and tailor the bullet points in your work history to highlight that applicable experience.
• Focus less on the duties and more on your transferrable skills . These are any skills that you can transfer from one career to another. For example, if you have a background in journalism and want to apply for a copywriting position, the obviously shared keyword here is writing . Even though you don’t have any copywriting or marketing experience, you do have expert-level writing skills that you can use in the new field. That's a transferable skill. Try including these in your work experience section.

How to overcome an employment gap in your work history?

While many see a gap in their resume as an issue that's hard to overcome, that isn't necessarily the case. You just have to know which gaps should be addressed and which can be ignored.

If the resume gap is worth addressing, you can also learn how to give your resume gap a little “glow up.” 

Generally speaking, there are two basic criteria you need to consider when thinking about the seriousness of an employment gap on your resume: its duration and how recent it is.

• Short gaps don’t matter. Work gaps don’t generally become red flags unless they lasted for more than six months.
• Old gaps don’t matter either. Recruiters are interested in recent history and won’t investigate things that no longer have an impact on the present.

If your resume employment gaps are recent and quite long, what can you do?

• Change the way you write dates. Simply exclude months and the gap might disappear. So, instead of writing (October 2017 – August 2019), (September 2014 – January 2017) , you write (2017 – 2019), (2014 – 2017). Obviously, this technique works best for employment gaps that took place within a single calendar year.
• Consider changing the format of your resume. You should use the functional resume format. It shifts attention to your strengths and job-relevant skills rather than your work history.
• Make the most of your employment gap. Starting a business, freelancing, studying, volunteering, taking a purposeful sabbatical — all of these count as valuable experience. List these experiences along with other positions you held in the work experience section. Describe how you expanded your skillset.
• Boost your credibility with references . Ask your former employers, ex-colleagues, and other industry professionals if they’re willing to vouch for you. Include their names and contact information directly in your resume or attach an additional page to your resume.

How to address a maternity leave on your resume?

A very specific type of employment gap is maternity/parental leave. 

If you find yourself in the situation when you're trying to enter the work world after you took some time off to give birth or take care of your offspring, you may be a little worried about how to address it in your resume. 

The best thing to do is to use the functional or combination resume format , rather than chronologically list your previous work experience. 

Both formats allow you to attract the employer’s attention with your skills before addressing the elephant in the room.

Once you’ve done that, briefly mention that your career gap was due to the maternity leave. You can do it like this:

Example: How to address maternity leave in the work experience section

Maternity leave (January 2019–present)

That's it. You don't have to go into great detail. After all, you're not the first person in the world who has ever taken a parenting leave.

You just have to make sure to emphasize the work you did before you took some time off. Write about it as if it were yesterday and you still remember the details of the projects you worked on. Recall your accomplishments and the projects you're proud of from that period of your life. Time doesn’t devalue those experiences and skills that you've learned in the past.

Alternatively, if you've volunteered or completed a course during your leave, don't forget to mention it! Make sure to write about any relevant community service or voluntary work that you engaged in during your time away. Any freelancing projects or short-term gigs work as great resume enhancers.

See the example below: 

Example: How to update the work experience section after maternity leave 

During my maternity leave, I focused on maintaining and enhancing my skill set. That involved enrolling in an online course, continuing my education, and participating in a sales conference to ensure that I remained up-to-date with industry happenings.

Sales Success Summit, Boston (June 2019)

• Joining fellow sales leaders, trainers, and enablement professionals to learn expert secrets about sales and marketing.

The Art of Sales: Mastering the Selling Process (Northwestern University) – Online course (March 2019 – June 2019)

• Coursework focused on standing out in the crowd, attracting customers, and building support for initiatives within one’s company.

If you'd like more tips on how to do this, go and read our article on how to tackle maternity leave on your resume.

Final resume tips

• Don’t be afraid to use bold whenever you want to highlight important bits of information within the section.
• Include key achievements subsection. Pick the biggest achievement from each job and highlight it in a subsection. You can also write it in bold. This will catch the attention of the hiring manager in an instant.
• Keep it simple and easy to read. Don’t overdo it. Pick 1-2 colors maximum, 1-2 fonts, and 1-2 heading sizes.
• Remember it’s not only about you . It’s also about your future employer. Look at the job description again and determine what are his needs. Address these in your work experience section.

FAQ: How to describe your work experience on a resume

1. Is it ever ok to change the title of my past jobs a little bit?

While we always advise against lying on your resume, slightly altering the name of your past position shouldn't hurt you. Especially, if the name of the position didn't fit your responsibilities (which happens more often than you'd think). 

Additionally, if your boss thought they were being original but you ended up with a stupid-sounding work position name, you've also got the green light to change it in your resume.

2. What should I not include in the work history section of my resume?

• A wall of text. Always opt for bullet points.
• Too much information. Keep it brief. 
• Personal information. Your age, relationship status, or sexual orientation are all private information (and should stay that way during the recruitment).

3.   Should I include a job that I was fired from in my resume? 

Yes, if it's relevant to the prospective job position, there's no reason not to mention it. Even if you were fired (for various reasons), you've managed to get the job in the first place and you've learned some valuable skills. 

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Nikoleta Žišková in 2021 .

While we always advise against lying on your resume, slightly altering the name of your past position shouldn't hurt you. Especially, if the name of the position didn't fit your responsibilities (which happens more often than you'd think). 

• Too much information. Keep it brief. 

Yes, if it's relevant to the prospective job position, there's no reason not to mention it. Even if you were fired (for various reasons), you've managed to get the job in the first place and you've learned some valuable skills. 

As a rule of thumb, you should include your GPA if it's 3.0 or above and you're a recent graduate. If you're further along in your career, recruiters typically care more about your work experience than your academic performance.

Usually, once you have a college degree or higher, you don't need to include your high school education in your resume.

Kaja Jurčišinová

Kaja Jurcisinova is a fresh graduate and a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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How to Describe Your Work Experience Sample

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What is the work experience section for?

What accomplishments should be listed, what skills should be listed, what other details should be included, examples of work experience.

The work experience section is an important aspect of an effective resume because it showcases your skills in action and highlights your professional accomplishments. This section should be descriptive and compelling as it details your previous experience relative to the specific job you’re applying for. Learn how to describe your work experience with sample entries showcasing all the best features required for an effective work experience section.

The work experience section is where you list your most relevant previous roles to show employers your employment history and career development. This section gives hiring managers an idea of where you’ve been and how you got to this point in your career. It also enables you to describe how you performed in your previous roles and what skills and experiences set you apart from other candidates.

For each entry in your work experience section, you should include your official job title, your dates of employment, the employer’s location and a list of the key responsibilities and achievements you had. You can use bullet points when listing your responsibilities and achievements to help prospective employers quickly review and understand each entry. Having an easy-to-read and descriptive work experience section can help employers determine your suitability for the role and see what unique qualifications you have to offer.

Determining what accomplishments you should include in your job descriptions can be a challenge, but it’s best to mention accomplishments that are relevant for the job you’re applying for before other accomplishments. There’s a general rule in resume crafting in which you always want to put the most important information first, and anything that specifically and directly details how well you will fit the job you’re applying for is going to be the most important. 

Imagine you’re applying for a job as a project manager and you already have some experience in the position. To show off your accomplishments, you’ll want to begin with the biggest project you’ve successfully managed along with its results. Generally speaking, your most important accomplishment in any position should take priority within the job description.

In the most popular and useful resume formats, skills are listed in a separate section. Typically, the skills section includes a comprehensive list of all the skills you have that would be relevant to the job. Often, these skills are described using single words or phrases such as ‘leadership’ or ‘critical thinking.’ Be sure to consider all of the relevant hard and soft skills.

Since skills can be listed in their own separate section, it takes a bit of finesse to include them in your work experience section. Just remember that finesse doesn’t mean you have to be overly clever. You can mention skills directly, but you just have to tie them to a relevant accomplishment. 

To get the most out of your work experience section and make your resume stand out from other applicants, there are several factors you’ll want to include in addition to accomplishments and the application of skills. 

Here are some details you’ll want to include in your resume when possible:

• Any awards or special recognition you received as a direct result of your accomplishments or performance in a particular job
• Actual data represented by numbers and figures as demonstrated in the above samples to quantify your accomplishments
• Begin descriptions with strong and varied verbs to make each bullet point in your job experience description unique and powerful
• Use the present tense when describing ongoing responsibilities in your current job and the past tense for everything else

Be sure to include details from the most relevant professional roles you’ve had to show a hiring manager how your experience makes you uniquely suitable for the role. 

To get a better understanding of how to describe work experience, it’s helpful to have effective samples to reference. 

Here are some well-crafted examples of work experience that feature all the necessary accomplishments and skills included:

Project Manager example

Czerka Hospital, May 2014 – March 2019

• Facilitated the implementation of the Quality Training Project for all employees which cut training costs by 28% after six months
• Oversaw Supply Reorganization Project which reduced breakage costs of stockroom supplies by 71%
• Led team of 15+ people in Front End Revamp Project to design and implement a new system that decreased the frequency of reception errors by 48%
• Partnered with local area hospitals to gather data on wait times and patient satisfaction to determine areas for improvement in the Quick and Quality project and improved satisfaction by 41%

Senior Programmer example

Computech, June 2017- October  2019

• Created a tool for test automation that reduced program testing time by 48% increasing productivity across the department
• Interviewed, hired and trained over 12 junior programmers with virtually no turnover as the company increased the size of the department throughout 2018
• Collaborated with data analysis department team members to design project requirements in accordance with company goals and allotted budget
• Met with technical staff, analysts, senior executives and stakeholders in meetings to discuss the state of the company with meticulously crafted presentations featuring relevant quantitative data

Customer Service Representative example

DB Industries, January 2016 – October  2018

• Received and answered 100+ calls daily and helped customers with signing up for services and products, data retrieval, answering questions about products and canceling services
• Earned a favorable customer satisfaction rating from 93% of customers surveyed, which is 11% higher than the overall company average
• Used advanced sales tactics to persuade customers seeking to cancel their services to reconsider, which reduced the overall number of cancellations by 8% over 6 months
• Trained new employees on how to navigate the database to efficiently retrieve relevant customer information and input new data accurately and consistently

10 tips to write an impressive resume

I n the highly competitive job market, a captivating resume serves as your golden ticket to leave a lasting impact on potential employers. With the evolution of more sophisticated hiring processes, it's imperative to transcend the fundamentals and compose a resume that distinguishes you from the masses. Here are 10 expert suggestions to guide you in creating an impressive resume that effectively showcases your skills and experiences:

READ ALSO: Learn the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with these 5 free courses offered by Google

Customize your resume for each job

Tailoring your resume is paramount. Scrutinize the job description and align your resume with the specific prerequisites of each position you pursue. Spotlight the skills and experiences most pertinent to the job, underscoring your suitability for the role.

Commence with a robust summary or objective

Initiate your resume with a succinct and impactful summary or objective statement. This segment should offer a snapshot of your professional background, accentuating your key strengths and career objectives.

READ ALSO: What is career rut and how to deal with it

Opt for a clean and professional format

Ensure your resume is visually appealing and easily digestible. Adopt a clean and professional format featuring consistent fonts and bullet points. Contemplate utilizing a contemporary template to impart a polished appearance to your resume.

Highlight achievements, not just responsibilities

Rather than merely cataloguing job duties, concentrate on quantifiable achievements. Illuminate specific accomplishments, employing metrics when feasible, to demonstrate your impact in prior roles.

Prioritize relevant experience

Position the most pertinent work experience prominently in your resume. Tailor the details of each job entry to underscore how your previous roles have equipped you for the specific position you are seeking.

Spotlight key skills

Devote a dedicated section to list both hard and soft skills relevant to the job. Integrate keywords from the job description to ensure your resume successfully navigates applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Integrate professional development and certifications

Manifest your commitment to continuous improvement by incorporating relevant professional development courses, certifications, or workshops. This signifies your dedication to staying abreast of developments in your field.

Quantify your achievements

Numbers carry weight. Whenever feasible, quantify your achievements to furnish tangible evidence of your impact. Whether it involves increasing sales, reducing costs, or enhancing efficiency, numerical figures bolster credibility.

READ ALSO: Virgo, Horoscope Today, January 18, 2024: your hardworking spirit shines

Showcase volunteer work and extracurricular activities

Infuse pertinent volunteer work and extracurricular activities to underscore your commitment to community involvement and your adeptness at managing diverse responsibilities.

Proofread and edited rigorously

A polished resume reflects your meticulous attention to detail. Scrutinize your document meticulously to catch any grammatical errors or typos. Enlist the input of peers or mentors for additional perspectives on refining your resume.

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4 Resume Mistakes to Avoid When You Don’t Have Much Experience

• Irina Cozma

A good resume can set you apart and help you land that interview.

Understanding the common mistakes job candidates make on resumes, and how to overcome them, can set you apart from your competitors. The first mistake is including irrelevant work experience. Instead, only add roles that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. The second is customizing your resume. While it’s in your benefit to adjust your resume to better match the job description, over-tuning your resume for every application can be a waste of time — and end up slowing down your search. This is especially true if you’re focused on securing a particular position that has a standard job title like “marketing coordinator” or “sales associate.” The third is overdesigning your resume. Recruiters only spend a few seconds scanning it, so keep the format simple and straightforward. The fourth is coming off as a novice. For example, don’t use an ancient email address — update it to something that sounds more professional, and give your resume a specific name so it’s easier to identify.

Resumes. Love them or hate them, you will probably need one when you apply for a job. The resume has a specific tactical role to play in your search — to get you the interview. You need to make sure it checks a few boxes to do that work because, even if you take advantage of your network, sooner or later, you will need to share your resume with the hiring manager.

• Irina Cozma , Ph.D., is a career and executive coach who supports professionals to have better career adventures. She coached hundreds of Fortune 500 executives from global organizations like Salesforce, Hitachi, and Abbott. Irina also coaches startups and the Physicians MBA at the University of Tennessee. Download her free career guide to help you prepare for your next career adventure.

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