How To Write Work Experience In A Resume

The work experience section has a vital role in resumes. That’s why it needs to be error-free and look professional. Here are the best practices on how to write work experience in a resume!

When applying for a job, your resume is often the first impression a hiring manager will have of you. It’s essential to ensure that your resume is well-organized, easy to read, and showcases your best skills and experience.

This article will discuss how to write your work experience to help you stand out from the competition.

How to List Work Experience

Here are some simple yet effective tricks to write work experience in a resume.

Use a reverse chronological order for listing your work experience:

Starting with your most recent job and working backward.

This format is preferred by most hiring managers as it allows them to quickly see where you’ve worked and for how long. It also makes it easy for them to identify your most recent and relevant experience.

Emphasize the key responsibilities and achievements of your roles

Use bullet points to list your key responsibilities and achievements, and make sure they are specific and quantifiable. Highlighting your accomplishments will help the hiring manager understand the value you can bring to the company.

Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements

Using action verbs such as “managed,” “led,” “increased,” “designed,” etc. can help make your work experience more engaging and impactful. It also helps to illustrate your major responsibilities in a more active and dynamic way.

Highlight your relevant skills and qualifications

Make sure to highlight your relevant skills, qualifications, and certifications that align with the job requirements. This will make it easy for the hiring manager to see how your experience aligns with the position you’re applying for.

Modify your work experience to the specific job

Make sure that the experience and skills you highlight in your resume match the requirements of the job you’re applying for. This will help the hiring manager understand that you have the right qualifications for the role.

Keep it concise and avoid irrelevant information

Keep your work experience section concise and only include the most relevant and important information. Avoid including too much irrelevant or general information that won’t help the hiring manager understand your qualifications for the job. Stick to the most recent and relevant experience

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In resume writing, mistakes are detrimental, especially in the work experience section, because this part will play a key role in hiring managers while deciding your eligibility.

And it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can make your resume less effective.

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when adding your work experience:

Lying or exaggerating: Never lie or exaggerate your accomplishments or responsibilities on your resume. This can be easily discovered during the interview process or background check and can lead to immediate disqualification.
Being too vague: Be specific about your job duties and accomplishments. Use numbers and statistics to show the impact of your work. Instead of saying “managed a team,” say “managed a team of 10 employees.”
Not including enough information: Make sure to include all relevant work experience, even if it is not directly related to the job you are applying for. This can show that you have a diverse range of skills and experiences.
Not proofreading: Always proofread your resume to catch any spelling or grammar errors. A resume with errors can make you appear unprofessional.

How To Write A Resume With No Experience?

Creating a resume that will set you apart from the competition can be challenging if you’re applying for your first job or have limited/no work experience. However, even without work experience, there are still plenty of ways to add things or topics in the work experience section.

Here are a few things you can include in your work experience section if you don’t have any work experience:

Volunteer experience: If you’ve volunteered in the past, you can include this experience in your work experience section. Volunteer work shows that you’re a responsible and dedicated individual who is willing to give back to your community. Be sure to highlight the skills you gained through your volunteer work, such as teamwork, communication, or project management.

Internships: If you’ve completed any internships, be sure to include them in your work experience section. Even if the unpaid internship still counts as work experience and can help showcase your skills and qualifications. Be sure to highlight any specific responsibilities or projects you worked on during your internship.

Freelance or side hustle: If you’ve worked on any freelance projects or side hustles, include them in your work experience section. This shows that you’re a self-starter who can take the initiative and manage your time effectively.

Relevant coursework or projects: If you’re a recent graduate or still in school, you can include relevant coursework or projects that you’ve completed. Be sure to highlight any projects or assignments that showcase your skills and qualifications for the job you’re applying for.

Leadership and extracurricular activities: If you don’t have traditional work experience, you can still highlight your leadership experience and extracurricular activities. These include being a club, organization, or sports team member or leader.Want to know what Interests to Put on Your Resume and how to do it? Read Interests to Put on Your Resume: How & What To Add

Here is an example of what experience on a resume should look like.

Digital Marketer

XYZ agency, Yonkers, NY

2018-2022

Digital Marketer

Developed and executed digital marketing campaigns for various clients, resulting in an average increase of 15% in website traffic and 10% in conversion rates
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop project requirements and set campaign goals
Utilized various marketing tools and platforms such as Google Analytics, PPC, and SEO to track performance and make data-driven decisions
Managed and optimized the company’s social media presence, resulting in a 20% increase in engagement and followers
Implemented A/B testing and used analytics to measure campaign success and make data-driven decisions

Key achievement: Successfully led the rebranding campaign, resulting in a 30% increase in brand awareness and positive consumer sentiment.

Example of correct and wrong work experience on a resume.

Correct examples:

“Marketing Manager

XYZ Company

2015-2020.

Led a team of 5 in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in sales.

Managed a budget of $500,000 and consistently met or exceeded ROI goals.”

“Customer Service Representative

ABC Corporation

2012-2015.

Provided top-notch customer service to over 500 clients per month, resulting in a 90% satisfaction rate.

Trained and mentored new hires on company policies and procedures.”

Wrong examples:

“Marketing Manager, XYZ Company, 2015-2020. Did a lot of marketing stuff and made the company a lot of money.”

“Customer Service Representative, ABC Corporation, 2012-2015. Answered the phone and helped customers.”

The wrong examples are too general and do not provide any specific information or accomplishments. They also lack metrics or numbers to demonstrate the impact of the work done, making it difficult for the employer to understand the candidate’s level of experience.