Writing your resume is a challenge. There are so many pieces and parts and only so much space to fit it all in.
One particular area many candidates find particularly daunting is the Work Experience section. It’s no wonder. This is the most important section and the one hiring managers will look to first to see if you’re a fit for their job opening.
With that in mind, how you can tackle this critical area and stand out in a sea of other candidates? Here are some tips for describing your Work Experience on your resume.
Format experience properly.
When you’re working on your resume, formatting is key to make it easy to read for the hiring manager. This includes listing your places of employment in reverse chronological order (so the most recent is first) with the job title, location and dates of employment. You can also bold or italicize the names of the companies or your job titles to make it, even more, reader-friendly.
Focus on relevant information.
Each resume you submit should be tailored for the particular company and position. That might mean editing the Work Experience section or putting the bullet points in a different order of priority. Just make sure you’re only including a highlight reel of the most pertinent information for each job and using action verbs combined with short, concise statements.
Quantify your accomplishments.
Hiring managers want to see a proven track record of results. That’s why it’s so important to bring your accomplishments to life by quantifying them. This includes numbers, dollar amounts, time saved, specific goals achieved, or awards or promotions you earned.
For instance, rather than stating you: “Trained and supervised team members,” you should state: “Trained and supervised a team of 10 customer service representatives.” The more specific and detailed you can get with your background, the better.
Vary your language.
Don’t use the same words repeatedly, like “ensured,” or “developed.” Instead, choose synonyms and vary your word choices so each job sounds fresh and different. If you’re currently still employed, use the present tense for your existing position. Use past tense for jobs you’ve held in the past. Also, avoid pronouns, like “I.”
Keep it short.
While it’s easy to include every task and accomplishment, hiring managers only spend a few moments on each resume. It’s why you should include the most important four to five points under each job title in a bullet point format.
Need more help with your Work Experience section on your resume?
Turn to the professional resume writers at ResumeSpice. We know what recruiters are looking for and how to set you apart from other candidates on paper, so you get a call for an interview. If you’re ready to learn more, call 832.930.7378 or contact us online.
