how to write employment history in resume

Previous Work Experience Examples for a Resume

By Biron Clark

Published: February 12, 2024

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

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), are resume writers worth it, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, chronological resume: the best format (and how to write it), the 3 best colors for a resume, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, how long should a resume be, walk me through your resume: answer examples, 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.

Comments are closed.

CVs & Résumés

• Nov 19, 2021

How to Write a Résumé Employment History Section (Examples)

Your work history is one of the most important sections on a résumé. We share some critical tips that will help you write and present your experience.

Chris Leitch

Editor-in-Chief & Résumé Expert

Reviewed by Melina Theodorou

Your résumé as a whole is undoubtedly the most powerful tool in your job search arsenal, but it’s the employment history section that generates the most interest in an employer. And it’s not necessarily where you worked that matters (though working for a big company like Google can, of course, favourably impact your application) but what you’ve done in your career and how your experience matches the needs of the job that you’re applying for.

This makes writing a résumé  even scarier, but we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the work history section.

Table of contents:

Why the employment history section is important

What to include in your employment history section, where to put your employment history section, tips for writing your employment history section, employment history section examples.

Every section in your résumé  plays an important role, and each one can influence your chances of being invited for an interview .

But the employment history section, in particular, is the meat of any résumé. Indeed, while your career summary and skills section will, when done right, tell hiring managers what you bring to the table, it’s the details of your career history that provides them with concrete evidence of your capabilities.

Beyond this, your job history section also tells hiring managers:

• The tasks and tools you have experience with
• The results of your efforts — aka: the benefits you brought to previous employers
• How long you typically stay in a job
• Whether you’ve been consistently promoted

This all helps potential employers determine how responsible and employable you are and whether you’re worth the investment.

Every entry in this section should include:

• Your job title
• The name of the company
• The job’s location
• The start and end dates of your employment
• An optional company description
• A job description

The job title, usually in a bolded font, takes up the first line.

Avoid creative names for job titles, and instead use more common, familiar alternatives. This is especially important as hiring managers might not know that a ‘Numbers Guru’ means an accountant, for example.

Company name

On the next line, add the name of the company you were employed by. 

You don’t need to use the company’s official registered name here (e.g., ‘Company ABC Limited (UK)’). Instead, use the name that the general public better knows it by (e.g., ‘Company ABC’).

On the same line as the employer name, add the city and country that the job itself was based in — not where the company is registered or headquartered in. Separate the location from the employer name with a dash (– or —), slash (/) or vertical bar (|).

If it was a remote job, meanwhile, you can add ‘Remote’ in brackets immediately after the location.

Employment dates

On the same line as the employer name and location, add the start and end dates of your employment as a range. Use tab stops to align the employment dates to the right of the line.

Both start and end dates should feature the month and year (e.g., ‘November 2018–September 2019’), though feel free to abbreviate month names if space is limited (e.g., ‘Nov 2018–Sep 2019’).

Company description

As mentioned previously, adding a company description is completely optional, but it can be particularly useful for hiring managers if the company you work for is new or relatively unknown.

If you do choose to add a company description, add it immediately after the line containing the employer name, location and employment dates. Limit the description to a maximum of two lines.

Job description

Starting a new line, add three to five bullet points describing what you achieved in the position. Keep bullet points as brief as possible, typically no longer than two lines each. If space isn’t an issue, meanwhile, you can consider setting off the bulleted list with ‘Notable Achievements’ or something similar.

Avoid using uncommon symbols for bulleted lists — round bullets are the standard, but square bullets or hyphens are also acceptable. Whichever style you choose, though, be sure it’s consistent throughout your résumé.

With all this in mind, here’s what an example entry in your work history section should look like:

Where in your résumé you put this section depends on the particular résumé format you’re using which, in turn, depends on your level of experience.

Generally speaking, you should almost always use the chronological format , which places an emphasis on your work history above everything else. If you take this approach, your work history should come immediately after your career summary section or objective statement .

If you have little to no work experience, then you’ll be using the skills-based format . In this case, you should place any previous employment at the end of your résumé, after everything else.

Finally, if you’ve chosen the combination format , the employment history section should come after your career summary and skills section, and before your education section .

To help you get started with writing your career history, we’ve put together a handful of easy, actionable tips.

1. Start with your most recent experience first

Always list positions in reverse chronological order — that is to say that you should start with your most recent position first and continue backward through time. This gives hiring managers and recruiters a clear timeline of your experience.

2. Keep it relevant

Every résumé you write should be tailored to the particular job you’re applying for . This means you should only list jobs that directly relate to the vacancy. If you have additional experience that isn’t quite relevant to the job, consider listing it in a separate section entitled ‘Additional Experience’ underneath the main section.

3. Focus on achievements

Instead of providing a rundown of your day-to-day duties and responsibilities of your job, focus on what you accomplished : money you saved the company, processes you improved, awards you received, and anything else that demonstrates the results of your work. For example, rather than saying ‘Responsible for content marketing’, you could say ‘Increased monthly sales by 136% through development of effective content marketing strategies’.

4. Use action words

Start every bullet point with a powerful action verb like ‘revamped’, ‘implemented’ and ‘oversaw’. This maximizes the impact of your résumé and helps you write in the active voice, which is far more engaging than the passive voice.

If you’re writing about past jobs and previous accomplishments, use the past tense (e.g., ‘coordinated’). If you’re describing something that is currently happening, use the present continuous tense (e.g., ‘coordinating’).

5. Incorporate keywords

Read the job ad again and highlight any important words and phrases that stand out, and try to incorporate these into this section. For example, if the company is looking for someone who is familiar with specific HR software, make sure to work it in here (provided, of course, that you are familiar with the software yourself). This will help you get your application past the robots (also known as applicant tracking systems ).

Now that you know the importance of the employment history section, what it should include, where it goes and how to write it, it’s time to actually put everything you’ve learned into practice.

And these specially created top résumé examples , based on our collection of professionally designed and ATS-friendly templates , will hopefully provide you with some inspiration for crafting an effective work history section.

1. If you have extensive, uninterrupted work experience

This is what a typical employment history section looks like:

Like the United template?

Download template

2. If you took a career break

A career break should be listed in your employment history section as though it were a job — with some minor alterations. This example illustrates how to list career breaks in your résumé.

Like the Savvy template?

3. If you have gaps in your employment history

An easy way to bridge employment gaps in your résumé  is to omit months from employment dates, as demonstrated in the example below.

Like the Alternative template?

4. If you held multiple jobs at the same company

When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company (for example, you were promoted during your employment), combine them under a single entry. You can either describe your progression in the entry’s bulleted list of achievements (eg: ‘Promoted to store manager within 6 months of employment’) or, as shown here, list each position (with dates) with a clear label.

Like the Polygon template?

5. If you have additional experience

If your work history spans over 15 years, or if you held jobs that don’t directly relate to the job you’re applying for, consider listing these positions in a separate section entitled ‘Additional Experience’ underneath the main section, as shown here:

Like the Active template?

Final thoughts

When writing your job history, remember that it’s not all about you. It’s also about your future employer. Think about their needs and how your experience addresses those needs. This will, ultimately, compel hiring managers to give you a chance.

Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you with an answer!

This article is an update of an earlier version published on 31 July 2017.

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How to add employment history to your resume (examples), professional work history. resume. it's easy..

What Employers Want to See When Formatting Your Employment History

Format your resume employment history section quickly and get noticed by showing recruiters that you can be successful at the position. Make it easy for employer to read. Make it professional. Make it standout. But how?

Seems tough, but it's not - let us guide you through a quick formatting lesson on how to add your employment history to your curriculum vitae.

Let's begin with resume formatting basics.

What You Need & How to Add Previous Employment to Your CV

• Job Title/Position -   Make sure to include your job title prominently at the top of each work experience entry. This helps the HR manager quickly identify your relevant experience for the position.
• Company Name / Location / Description -   Mention the name of the employer and the location of the office where you worked or are currently working. If the company is not well-known, provide a brief description to give context to the reader.
• Dates Employed -   Specify the timeframe of your employment using the standard format of mm/yyyy. It's acceptable to provide approximate dates if you're unsure of the exact duration.
• Achievements and Responsibilities -   This section forms the core of each work experience entry. Highlight your achievements first, your  responsibilities and tasks second. Keep your writing simple, brief, and listed with bullets. We will delve deeper into the strategies for presenting this information later on.

Example of Employment Section on a Resume

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In order to enhance your application, it is important to present your work experience in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your most recent employment and gradually moving backwards through time.

Your Resume Employment History Accomplishment Statements

Having discussed the proper listing resume format of your employment, let's dive into effective techniques for showcasing your expertise, enabling you to distinguish yourself among other applicants.

One of the most common mistakes people make on their resumes is to simply listing their responsibilities in their resume employment section.

Here's the thing: in most cases, the hiring manager already knows what your responsibilities were. Let's say you were a sales manager, for instance. Your responsibilities might include:

• Sourcing and contacting potential clients via phone and email.
• Cultivating relationships with existing clients and upselling relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting leads though specific system software.

Interestingly enough, these responsibilities are pretty standard for any sales manager role. In fact, around 90% of other resumes probably mention the same things which is why you need more.

To truly make an impact, it's important to focus on highlighting your achievements. In other words, emphasize how you specifically contributed to the company's growth, exceeded quarterly quotas, and so forth.

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But it's easy to make a resume that prospective employers love following a few simple steps. Learn how to wow recruiters and hiring staff with your work history by highlighting your accomplishments.

Why accomplishments?

Your accomplishments are the most important part of your work experience and even your resume. Make sure to add your responsibilities as well. Your work experiences and accomplishments are often 75% of your resume so make sure it is outlined properly.

What Accomplishments Should Your Resume Include?

Let's start with, what is an accomplishment:.

An accomplishment is anything positive that you have achieved or something that you are proud of in the workplace. It can be something that you have designed, developed, constructed, sold, or started. It is something that can make you stand out from others in the same position.

How to Showcase Your Accomplishments: Recruiter Tips

Work tasks will always stay the same for whoever fills the job but an accomplishment is based on your own achievements. Keep your employment summaries brief and to the point while highlighting and focusing on your achievements. Your achievements will prove to the company that not only are you capable, but you will excel at the position and bring new accomplishments to the company.

Resume Accomplishment Hot-Tip: Quantifying Your Achievements (With Examples)

To show a more effective resume, you must provide the reader with proof that you are capable, but also that you will be successful at the job position. Listing your achievements is great start. Providing the value of your achievements by adding numerical value will not only make it memorable, but will impress. It will provide proof that they are looking for.

Offering precise numbers to your employment accomplishments will give a clear picture of why you are the best choice for the position.

The Value of a Number

Quantifying your resume is one of the easiest and most effective ways to showcase your abilities. Reasons to add numerical value to your resume:

• Adding specific value shows precisely your value as an employer. "Increased client acquisition" vs " managed 56% client growth through self-developed techniques" provides a clear picture of how effective you are at work.
• Numbers mean something. Precise date is more believable and lacks embellishment.
• Results-oriented. Instead of abstract guessing, presenting your bottom-line results reflects your performance in the workplace, as well as your priorities.
• Numbers are memorable. When comparing applications, providing specific numbers will outbid a resume without any value. Your chances improve greatly if you can "outnumber" your competition.

How to Add Your Resume Employment Accomplishments: The STAR Method

The STAR method is a direct and simple method of how to create an accomplishment statement with value. A statement that will provide the employer with all they need to know. The method will bring you to the next step in the hiring process.

The accomplishment statement basics: I accomplished "X" related to "Y" by doing "Z"

Situation: A problem, challenge, or obstacle that you faced in the workplace.

Task: What did you need to do to remedy the situation and what were your challenges.

Action: What did you do? Talk specifically about your involvement.

Results: What was the outcome or change that had a positive impact and show with numerical value when possible.

Skills: Describe your abilities and skills involved in having this accomplishment.

Resume Accomplishment Examples:

• Increase profits // sales
• Decrease in costs
• Sav e  time (and money)
• Take initiative in finding a solution
• Improve, create, or develop a program, product, service
• Successfully handle an emergency or crisis using critical thinking
• Increase individual or team(s) performance
• Improve clientele relations
• Receiving an award or commendation
• Improvement of profit, quality, reliability
• Set record or given performance award

I accomplished “X”, related to “Y” by doing “Z".

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Accomplishment Rules:

Your accomplishment statements will be the most important parts of your resume while providing useful referencing during an interview. Make sure to follow these simple rules when adding them to your CV.

• Always keep your strongest accomplishments towards the top of your resume.
• Your accomplishments must relate to the job position or company objectives, they must show  recruiters and future employers that you are the right person for the job.
• Keep your writing direct, concise, and clear by removing anything unrelated or already assumed.
• Keep your language as simple as possible using technical language that directly relates to the position you are applying for.
• Your language, though simple, must be powerful by using strong action words.
• Be consistent by adding or not adding periods to every bullet point.
• Do not use exclamation points.
• Keep the same tense under each employment section (past tense unless you are currently working).

That's it! You've got this! Highlighting your professional and educational accomplishments is crucial in conveying your skills and worth to potential employers. These achievements offer a tangible demonstration of your capabilities and dedication. Integrating key milestones seamlessly into your resume can significantly enhance its impact.

Alternatively, consider dedicating a distinct section to showcase additional achievements, allowing prospective employers to quickly grasp the breadth of your expertise. By strategically presenting your accomplishments, you not only demonstrate your competence but also provide insights into your commitment to achieving goals, both personally and professionally.

This comprehensive guide ensures that your resume effectively communicates the value you bring to the table, making you a standout candidate in the competitive job market. Best wishes to your application! Your employment accomplishes will soar you to the next job interview with golden wings.

Make sure you add these buzzwords to your resume and get hired by the job of your dream without even trying

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Resume Writing  - Employment History

Resume writing  -, employment history, resume writing employment history.

Resume Writing: Employment History

Lesson 6: employment history.

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Employment history

The reason a hiring manager looks at your resume is to determine whether your skills and experience are a match for his open position. Where does he look on your resume? He looks at your Employment History to see if the skills and accomplishments you list show that you will be an ideal worker.

In this lesson, you will learn which format is best for listing your employment history . You will also learn how to market your resume by focusing your history on accomplishments and measures rather than simply listing duties. Then you will craft an employment history for your own resume.

Common ways to list employment history

The No. 1 reason employers are looking at your resume is to find out if your skills and experience match their needs. How do they know what skills and experience you've had, and how can they tell if you will be an asset to their organization? They'll do it all by reading your employment history section.

You want this section to be powerful and to represent you in the best possible light. However, it also must be clear, concise, and understandable to anyone who reads it. So how can you make your employment history both powerful and concise? Let's take a look at some of the most common ways to list employment history.

Chronological

The chronological resume format lists your work history with the most recent position at the top. In the example below, Joe titled his employment history section Experience . You can use any title that makes sense for you, such as Work History or Professional Experience .

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about the chronological resume format.

Most Recent Position

Joe is using a chronological format , so he first lists his most recent job title, employer name, location, and the dates of employment. He also describes his duties in a way that makes them relevant to the position he is seeking. For example, he notes that he supervises a staff of 25 , which will give a hiring manager an understanding of his daily responsibilities.

Previous Position

Because Joe is using chronological order, his previous work experience comes next. Again, he is specific about the duties involved in this job. For example, he calculated and distributed bi-weekly payroll . Details like this can help to clarify your experience for a hiring manager.

Other Experience

Not all work experience is perfectly related. Joe did not work as a bookkeeper in the last two jobs listed on his resume. However, he focused on duties in these jobs that relate to bookkeeping . Tip: Try to find ways to make your experience relevant to the job you're applying for.

Let's take a look at the functional resume format, which lists your skills instead of detailing your work history. In the example below, Miranda has listed her skills by category, including Contracts Management and Leadership .

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about the functional resume format.

Work History

Instead of listing specific dates, Miranda has simply listed Present and Previous for her work history. Again, this can be helpful if you have gaps in your employment history.

Relevant Skills

Miranda used a functional resume because she wanted to focus on the relevant management and legal skills she can offer. This format works well if your work history is varied or has large gaps between jobs. In a case like this, a chronological resume wouldn't demonstrate her skills as clearly.

Many hiring managers dislike the functional resume because they can't use it to gauge your reliability, longevity, or how recently you used certain skills. For example, someone who created sales brochures 20 years ago may not be familiar with the software technologies used to produce a sales brochure today.

Combined: Functional and Chronological

Let's take a look at a resume that combines both the functional and chronological approach. In the example below, Jamie wanted to focus on her skills while still demonstrating a consistent work history.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about the combination resume format.

Here, Jamie has grouped her work skills into functional categories that she believes are critical for a successful teacher. She has also listed specific examples and measures where appropriate. For example, she mentions four months of field experience with elementary P.E. teachers to indicate the scope of her experience.

Jamie also highlights her consistent work history chronologically . She has listed the names of companies and the dates she worked there. She also included a simple job title that can be easily understood.

Download our Chronological Resume Template if you haven't already. If you've already started your resume template from a previous lesson, you can open that document.

You will be working only in the Experience portion of the document for this activity. Please refer to the following picture:

Replace the template text with your own information. Be sure to remove the brackets as you are replacing text.

• Rename this section , if desired, depending on the focus you are trying to achieve. You might rename it Employment History if you are trying to show a steady stream of past jobs, Experience if you are trying to emphasize the skills you used previously, or Skills if you want to focus on your skills that transfer to the job you want.
• Replace [Dates worked] with the dates of your current or most recent employment. For these dates, you can type the month and year you started and left the job. If you're still employed, type Present instead of an end date.
• Enter your employer's company name and location in the [COMPANY NAME, Location] placeholder. For the location, you can either type the city and state abbreviation or you can type Remote if you worked from home.
• Replace [Job Title] with the job title you have or had when you left this job. Make sure it is a title that is understandable to anyone who might read your resume. For example, OHC Specialist might be better explained as Claims Specialist, Occupational Health .
• Describe the job by replacing each [Description of work accomplishment or duty with measure] with a brief description of an accomplishment or job duty you had in this role. Be sure to include a measure of some sort so a hiring manager will have a more concrete idea of the scope of your experience. For example, instead of saying that as a cashier you balanced the cash drawer , explain that you regularly balanced the cash drawer with less than 1% margin of error .
• Repeat the first step for each additional job you have held. Add or delete sections as needed.
• Save the file to your computer. You will be adding more information as you progress through the following lessons.

Remember that you want each job title or description to reinforce the points you included with your summary, profile, or objective statement.

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Resume Job History: How to List Work Experience on a Resume Right

A resume job history section is the main portion of any employment application, and if you don't get it right, hiring managers will pass you by here's how to list work experience on a resume properly..

You only get one chance to make a good first impression. And your job resume is your first impression to employers looking to hire you for your dream job. If you don’t wow them here, other job seekers and candidates will reach the coveted interview before you.

You can get creative with how you organize your resume and which resume sections you choose to include . But you should always have work experience on a resume. It establishes your professional background while demonstrating the value you could bring to a potential employer.

The guide below will walk you through how to put work experience on a resume correctly , along with actionable tips and examples to guide you along. It’s arguably the most important section of your resume, so pay close attention and use the examples to start drafting your own work experience section.

Keep reading below to get started!

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Before we learn how to list job experience on a resume—

Why Include Work Experience on a Resume?

You know that you need to list your previous work experience / employment history. But have you ever stopped to think about why it’s so important? The work experience section of your resume could be the difference between getting the job or losing out to another candidate. 

Well, if you do it right, that is.

If a potential employer is reviewing your resume, they are likely going to start with your work experience section. To them, this is the most valuable way to learn about your qualifications. But what exactly are they looking for? They are looking to see that you have relevant experience, knowledge, or skills that you could bring with you to their organization. 

Related Read : How to Get a Job With No Experience (Whether In the Industry or at All)

Formatting a Work History Resume Section

When writing a resume, each section should be labeled right, and it should all have a clear, legible font. You can label your work history section as “work experience,” “job history,” “work history,” “professional history,” or “experience.”

Underneath the label, include the following components for each job you’ve had:

• Professional title
• Company name
• Company location
• Dates of employment
• Relevant responsibilities of the job
• Key achievements with numbers

As you write your resume, you can choose the exact work history resume format based on your personal preference. Usually, highlight your previous employment titles in bold or italics to let them immediately stand out to hiring managers. Many employers will see a job title and draw certain conclusions from that alone, so make sure it is easy to find.

Job history on a resume should be in reverse chronological order. Start with the most recent positions you held and then list the next most recent job, etc. If you are currently working for a company you can leave out the end date or write “present” to show that you still hold the job title.

You should include work experience within the last 10 years. If you have been working for less than 10 years, that’s okay! Include all relevant work experience you have. 

Now you have the layout for the work experience section of your resume, so it’s time to talk about content. Keep reading to learn how to write effective work history on a resume.

Related Read : How to Choose a Career

Writing Your Key Responsibilities

So, you were a sales manager at a clothing store – but what did you do? From your job title or the company you worked for, potential employers probably have an idea of what you did day-to-day at your job. But your goal is to show the hiring manager why you excelled at those tasks and added value to the organization.

You also want to use this section to highlight key knowledge or skills from previous jobs that could be used for the job you’re applying for. These are often referred to as “transferable” skills.

Typically, the key responsibilities are organized into bullet points because they are short and to the point. You’re not writing a novel, so you can skip the fluffy language and get right to the point. What did you do and why was it important? Be as specific as you can, and use the job description to help you along.

Here are a few examples of effective work history bullet points:

• Created and distributed customer satisfaction surveys to increase employee accountability
• Processed over 75 invoices a week to ensure up-to-date accounting information
• Managed a team of 4 sales associates to improve floor sales by 15%

You’ll notice that the bullet points start with an action word. Starting with your action will help you narrow your focus when talking about the job experience, and hiring managers will appreciate that.

Related Read : How to Respond to a Job Offer [Accept, Reject, or Negotiate Terms]

Here are a few examples of action words to use when drafting job experience on a resume:

• Collaborated

After you’ve picked an action word, think about how that action impacted your past work and the organization you worked for. Did it increase profit? Did it help an event run smoothly? Did it improve productivity ? Use a resume format with numbers to help show hiring managers what they want to see – that you were successful and competent throughout your work history.

Think about what value you added while you worked there and share it in a concise way. Don’t be afraid to brag about your accomplishments – your resume achievements will help you stand out. So, if you won employee of the month or had the highest sales on your team, include that as one of your bullet points!

Remember that each bullet point should be short – eliminate any unnecessary words or phrases. Each job title should have between 2 and about 6 bullet points. More than 6 bullet points can be overwhelming when a hiring manager looks at a resume work history section.

Related Read : Career Terms, Job Phrases, HR Vocabulary & Employment Words to Know

How to Include Promotions

If you were hired by a company to fill a certain role and then were promoted within the company, you can include that as part of your job experience on a resume. You can do this by listing your job titles as separate entries under work experience.

So, you would include a title such as “account assistant” along with the time you held that role and what responsibilities you had. But above that, you would include the promotion title, such as “account manager” to show that you transitioned to a more prestigious role within the company.

Potential employers like to see promotions because it shows that you excelled in a role and were ready for more responsibility, leadership, or challenges at your workplace. You can include a bullet point explaining the promotion if you feel that it adds context to your change in positions.

For example, you could include the following statement if you were promoted within the accounting department at your company:

• Met standards of excellence within accounting department earning manager status after one year

If you changed departments but were not necessarily promoted, you can still list the role separately. If you used to be part of the sales team but you moved to the creative department, list both titles and repeat the company information. You can choose whether you want to include context for why you moved departments.

Related Read : How to Turn a Passion Into a Life-Long Career

What to Do if You Don’t Have Relevant Work Experience

What if you are seeking a  job in technology  but you’ve spent the last 3 years working in fashion? Don’t panic. Plenty of people change their career paths over time, and hiring managers know this. And while it can make the job search more challenging, it’s not impossible.

Here is where you focus on those transferable skills referenced earlier. There are always creative ways to show how and why your skills would make you a good candidate for the job.

For example, if you’ve been working in fashion and want to break into the technology field, focus your work experience bullet points on how you used technology. Did you navigate a particular program to order fabrics? Or did you use accounting software to manage inventory? How did your experience in fashion prepare you to learn and use technology?

You can also include a work experience section on your resume that shows you would be a dependable employee in any field, such as communication , leadership, or creativity. Focus on all the assets and the years of experience you bring to the table and consider using a cover letter to explain why you are interested in changing  career paths .

Related Read : Hobbies and Interests on a Resume: Why and How to Include Them

Tips for Including Work Experience on a Resume

Now you know why and how to create a resume work experience section. Next, let’s review a few tips for making the job history section of your resume stand out to a potential employer.

First, choose key responsibilities wisely. You don’t have to list all the administrative tasks you completed. Instead, create one bullet point to explain that you handled all day-to-day scheduling, supply ordering, and new hire paperwork. You have a limited number of bullet points for each job – use them wisely by showing you have diverse resume skills . 

Next, create a balance between personal and group achievements. Your resume is a chance for you to shine but it’s also a place to show that you are a team player. When describing your work experience, consider including something that shows how you contributed to a team effort to accomplish a goal. 

And finally, always tailor the work section of your resume to the job description of the position you are applying for. Make sure that you include work experience that relates to the expectations of the role you are applying for, whether full-time or part-time, entry-level or executive.

Related Read : How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation: 10+ Tips, Advice & Examples

Write an Epic Resume Work Experience Section

Your dream job is waiting for you. And your resume is the key to securing it.

Follow the guidelines above on how to list work experience on a resume and instantly become a stand-out candidate.

Remember to adjust your resume for different careers depending on the job description. Highlight the most relevant, transferable knowledge and skills. Describe professional accomplishments with numbers.

Most of all, never stop learning 🙂

Check out the more Goodwall career articles to get job search hacks , cover letter advice , resume-building tips , interview help , and much more!

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How To Write a Great Resume Work History Section

The most important and valuable section of your resume is most definitely the work experience section. This is where you give details of your past jobs and your responsibilities, and it’ll probably make or break your application.

You’re going up against potentially hundreds of other candidates; if you want to get noticed you need to show what you’ve achieved , not just what you’ve done.

Here, we’re going to tell you about what your work experience section is, why employers want to see it in your resume and give you some hints and tips for making your experience section sparkle so hiring managers just won’t be able to ignore it.

What’s a Work History Section?

When you talk to an employer, they more than likely tell you that the work experience section is the most crucial part of your resume .

So they can understand where you’ve worked in the past, a recruiter is likely going to jump to the work experience section straight away.

Considering this…

Your work history section is probably the key to you getting a call back for an interview.

You need to show the potential employer that you have the right skills and experience to be competent in the role, this is what your work experience section is going to do.

That’s not the only thing…

This is where you’re able to show off your achievements in previous jobs, making you stand out from the crowd. If you can differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicants, you’re much more likely to get to the interview stage.

What Do I Put in My Resume Employment History Section?

There are a few different approaches you can take when compiling the section, but the end result will still be to have a list of your past experience that’s relevant to the role you want to land.

Your focus should be on professional experience, but…

It’s ok to add awards, accolades, voluntary work, community experience, as well as post-graduate study and research and skills, plus your college education.

This is how you get it right:

Start by gathering all of the data about each past employer and dump it all on a page. This should include the name and location of the company when you worked there, and your role, plus list some bullet points for what you did and what you were responsible for at each job. You can refine this information when you look at the job listing.

Here are the absolute essentials of what needs to go into your work history section:

• The name of the company that you were employed by;
• Where you worked; usually the city and state the company was in;
• Your position or job title if you were promoted in the job, use the final position within the company;
• The dates that you were in the job for in the format of Month/Year – Month/Year;
• A description of your responsibilities in the form of a bulleted list.

You’ll probably expand on the details in the bullets later but get this information noted down as a starting point.

When it comes to formatting, there aren’t any hard and fast rules, but you will want to use a resume template that’s eye-catching for the reader.

Pro-Tip When you’re blessed with a resume with a long work history, don’t go into details about every single job you’ve had. There’ll be too much information for your employer to take in; only list roles that are relevant to the job you’re going for.

Writing a Professional Experience Section

Keeping everything clear, concise, and easy to follow is key to writing your work experience section. Here’s a process you can follow to make sure your work history section is up to scratch:

• Pay attention to the job description and highlight the parts of the job that match your skills and abilities. Whether this is soft and hard skills , tasks you’ve done before, the educational requirements, and anything else that’s relevant to you.
• Think about the two or three most important achievements. Refer back to the keywords in the job description and come up with things you did that really made a splash in your previous jobs. Recruiters care less about your responsibilities and more about the value you’ve added to a company.
• Detail what you achieved with numbers and specifics. If at all possible, give facts, figures, and numbers to quantify the value you added in your past work.

When looking and giving specific measures for your achievements, there are three main ways you can present them:

• People : have you led a group or team? Did you make a task easier so fewer people were needed to complete it?
• Time : were there processes that you made happen faster? Did you smash a deadline? How much time did you save the company?
• Money : how much money were you able to save the company? How much revenue did you generate in a sales period?

Ready to check out some resume work history examples? Here’s how it should look in practice:

Journalist and Anchor

Daily Planet, Metropolis, OH

• Pulitzer prize-winning journalist in a regional newspaper
• Broke story of the corruption of senators, city-level money laundering, and gang activities at Metropolis docks
• Lead anchor for WGBS evening news, achieving average ratings of more than 1 million
• Innovated newsgathering procedures, ensuring first coverage of crime and justice stories across Metropolis
• Key achievement : Awarded internationally recognized journalism award, the Pulitzer Prize, leading to an increase in website traffic of 36%

It’s not just about writing what you did every day or week…

Your work experience section is going to shine when you tell the reader about your accomplishments and what made you stand out in previous jobs. Make sure you include any awards and recognition you earned too.

Always keep in mind…

Every single bullet point in your resume needs to be relevant to the job you want.

Where Does Employment History Fit in My Resume?

There are different types of resumes, and what your employment history section does and how important it depends on the style you go for.

Different stages in life call for different styles of resumes, the main ones being reverse-chronological, functional, combinational, or targeted resumes. Here’s a quick rundown of where to place your employment history in each:

To help you choose which resume format to pick , we’ve got another handy article for you.

Pro-Tip Your work history section is just one of the key elements of writing your resume. For instance, a resume objective also plays a huge role in whether your cv is successful or not. To get the full lowdown on everything you need to know about how to write a great resume objective , check out our other helpful article.

What If I Have a Poor or No Work History?

When you have a resume with poor work history, it can feel like a huge challenge to get your resume completed.

Here’s what you need to do.

• For entry-level candidates , start by making a list of all the relevant work that you’ve been paid for. You can include freelance gigs, temporary roles, internships, and other independent projects for which you received payment.
• If you’ve got no work experience , put in your list any work you’ve done, whether paid or unpaid. You can list volunteering roles, working for student organizations, and unpaid internships you’ve completed.

Pro-Tip It doesn’t matter if your work history isn’t great, you can still write a stand-out resume. Go through the job listing carefully; pick out the skills they want and the “must-have” requirements and target your accomplishments at these. Having a strong resume objective statement is going to help a lot too, here’s how to write a great resume .

Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume Work History

So far, we’ve given you all the information you need to put together a solid employment history section for your resume. But there’s plenty of room for error when writing the section too. Read on to understand what not to do in your work history section for your resume.

• Don’t start your employment history more than halfway down page one . Get your work history on to your resume early. Recruiters are looking for this information, don’t make them work for it. Keep it clear, obvious, and really easy to spot. The top half, page one; nowhere else.
• Don’t rush writing your work history so you can focus efforts elsewhere in your resume. Your work history is the most important section; don’t neglect it! 40-50% of your time should go into this section, it needs to be exceptional to get to the interview stage so don’t rush through it.
• Don’t leave out facts, numbers, stats, and accomplishments . “Responsible for…” isn’t the phrase a potential employer is looking for on your resume. Your reader wants to know exactly how you’ve added value in the past, so go for lines like “Designed and implemented a program to decrease order processing timelines, removing 12 hours from a 36-hour turnaround time”
• Don’t focus on you; your resume is for your future employer . Target your resume to what the employer wants to know about, rather than what you’re proud of. A restaurant owner wants to know the cuisines you’re experienced in, not how many calls you handled every day in your old customer service job.

Everything that goes on your resume is important, but you really should pay special attention to your work experience section. Make sure that you tailor it as close as possible to the job you’re applying for and get it in the right place and right format on your resume.

A well-written work experience section is the difference between getting an interview for the job you want and continuing the search for the next opportunity.

In brief, here’s a final rundown of the steps to writing your resume job history:

• Open with your most recent job role, and work backward from there
• List your last job title, the company name and location, and your working dates
• Give a summary of your experience in no more than five bullet points
• Make your work experience section specific to the job posting, tell them what they want to know, not what you want to tell them
• Use strong action words and give numbers, facts, and figures whenever you can

You need to show the person looking to employ you that you can give them results, you do this by showing the results you’ve produced in past work. If you can demonstrate your value they’re going to want to meet you for an interview to learn more.

It’s vital that you really show off your accomplishments and give solid examples of the value you offer to the company.

A fantastic work history is an amazing place to start, but by itself, it’s not going to be enough. To really lift your chances of landing your dream job, you need to be using one of our ready-to-use resume templates !

If you want to start creating your perfect resume instantly, just sign up for your free SweetCV account where you can create and manage multiple resumes with ease! Quick registration 👈

Unsure about what to include in a resume skills section? Not sure what’s a hard and soft skill? Learn what skills are in demand and how to format them in the resume!

How to stand out among other applicants using the power of your resume education section? What to include and what to omit? Read further for tips and examples.

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Best Resume Work History Examples to Impress Employers in 2024

When it comes to crafting a successful resume, the work history section is one of the most essential components. As a copywriter and subject matter expert, I am well-versed in the importance of showcasing your previous work experience in a way that impresses potential employers.

Your work history is a crucial element of your resume because it shows employers what kind of experience you have and what you can bring to the table. It helps hiring managers understand your career trajectory, your skills, and your accomplishments. A strong work history can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your value to the company.

The Need for a Strong Work History Section

In today’s competitive job market, a strong work history section is critical. Many employers receive hundreds of resumes for a single job opening, so it’s vital to make a good first impression. A well-crafted work history section can help capture the attention of recruiters, showcase your skills and experience, and persuade them that you’re the right fit for the job.

The Importance of a Tailored Work History Section

A tailored work history section is customized to the job you’re applying for. This means including relevant work experience, skills, and accomplishments that reflect the job requirements. This not only shows the employer that you’re attentive to detail, but it also helps you stand out as the best candidate for the position.

Traditional Work History Format

When it comes to creating a resume, the traditional work history format is one of the most widely used and recognizable methods. The traditional format presents job seekers’ career progression as a chronological list, starting with the most recent experience and working backwards.

A. Definition and Purpose of Traditional Work History Format

The purpose of a traditional work history format is to provide a clear and concise snapshot of an individual’s career history, showcasing their relevant experience and skills. This format also allows hiring managers to see how a candidate has progressed in their career over time and may help them identify valuable transferable skills.

B. The Sections of Traditional Work History Format

The traditional work history format typically includes the following sections:

Job Title and Dates of Employment: This section lists the job title, company, and dates of employment for each position held.

Job Description and Accomplishments: This section highlights the job duties and accomplishments for each position. It should focus on quantifiable achievements and use action verbs to start bullet points.

Education and Certifications: This section lists the candidate’s education and any relevant certifications they hold.

Skills: This section is optional but can provide additional insight into the candidate’s qualifications and relevant skillset.

C. Examples of Traditional Work History Format

Here is an example of a traditional work history format:

Job Title:  Marketing Manager  Employer:  ABC Company  Dates of Employment:  January 2017 – Present

• Developed and executed successful digital marketing campaigns that increased website traffic by 30%
• Managed a team of five marketing coordinators to ensure all projects were completed on time and within budget
• Conducted market research to identify industry trends and adjust marketing strategies accordingly

Education:  Bachelor of Science in Marketing XYZ University

D. Pros and Cons of Traditional Work History Format

• Widely recognized and easy for hiring managers to read
• Clearly presents career progression and relevant experience
• Emphasizes achievements and accomplishments
• May highlight gaps in employment or short tenure at previous jobs
• Limited space for creativity and personalizing the resume
• May not be suitable for candidates with a non-traditional career path

The traditional work history format continues to be a popular and effective method for presenting job candidates’ career history. However, job seekers should also consider other formats and tailor their resume to the job they are applying for.

Chronological Work History Format

The chronological work history format is a commonly used format in resumes. It lists the candidate’s work experience in a reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job and ending with the oldest one.

A. Definition and purpose of chronological work history format

The purpose of the chronological work history format is to provide a clear and concise summary of the candidate’s work experience. This format is preferred by many employers as it allows them to easily track the candidate’s progression, achievements, and career growth.

B. The sections of chronological work history format

The sections included in the chronological work history format are:

• Company name and location
• Dates of employment
• Key responsibilities and achievements
• Education and certifications

Each section should be clear and well organized, with bullet points used to highlight key accomplishments and responsibilities.

C. Examples of chronological work history format

Here is an example of a chronological work history format:

Job Title:  Marketing Manager

Company:  ABC Company, New York, NY

Dates of Employment:  January 2018 – Present

Key Responsibilities and Achievements:

• Developed and implemented marketing strategies that increased lead generation by 25%
• Managed a team of four marketing specialists and oversaw their daily activities
• Conducted market research and analyzed data to identify new trends and opportunities
• Coordinated with sales team to improve conversion rates and increase revenue

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Marketing, XYZ University
• Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification

D. Pros and cons of chronological work history format

• Allows for clear and easy tracking of career growth
• Demonstrates a strong work history with relevant experience
• Preferred by most employers
• Highlights employment gaps or frequent job changes
• Does not provide a strong focus on skills or achievements
• May not be suitable for candidates with limited work experience

The chronological work history format provides a clear and organized summary of the candidate’s work experience. However, it may not be the best option for all candidates, especially those with a varied work history or limited experience.

Functional Work History Format

When it comes to writing a winning resume, there are several formats to choose from. One of them is the functional work history format, which focuses on skills and achievements rather than job titles and chronological work experience.

A. Definition and Purpose of Functional Work History Format

The functional work history format is a type of resume that emphasizes skills and accomplishments over job titles and chronological order. The purpose of this format is to highlight your skills and experience that are relevant to the job you’re applying for and to make it easier for hiring managers to see how you can add value to their organization.

B. The Sections of Functional Work History Format

A functional work history format typically includes the following sections:

Objective or Summary Statement:  This section provides a brief overview of your skills and experience and highlights what you can bring to the table.

Key Skills and Abilities:  This section showcases your top skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Professional Experience:  Instead of listing your experience chronologically, this section focuses on your achievements and how they demonstrate your skills and abilities.

Education and Certifications:  This section highlights your educational background and any relevant certifications.

C. Examples of Functional Work History Format

Here are a few examples of how you can structure a functional work history format:

Objective: A highly motivated sales professional with 5+ years of experience in B2B sales looking to use my skills to drive sales growth for XYZ company.

Key Skills and Abilities:

• Sales strategy development
• Client relationship management
• Lead generation and qualification
• Negotiation and closing

Professional Experience:

Sales Manager, ABC Company

• Increased sales revenue by 25% in the first year through targeted lead generation and strategic pricing strategies.
• Negotiated and closed a $2M deal with a major client, resulting in a 15% increase in overall sales revenue.
• Managed a team of 5 sales representatives and provided coaching and training on sales best practices and methodologies.

Objective: An experienced project manager with a track record of successfully delivering complex projects on time and within budget looking for a challenging role in project management.

• Project planning and management
• Budgeting and resource allocation
• Risk management and mitigation
• Team leadership and collaboration

Senior Project Manager, DEF Company

• Led a team of 10 project managers and oversaw the successful delivery of 20+ complex projects with an average budget of $5M.
• Developed and implemented a risk management framework that reduced project risks by 20% and saved the company $1M in additional costs.
• Managed project budgets and resource allocation, resulting in a 15% increase in profitability for the organization.

D. Pros and Cons of Functional Work History Format

• Highlights skills and achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Provides flexibility for career changers and those with employment gaps.
• Allows customization for specific job requirements.
• Lack of chronological context.
• May raise questions about experience and career stability.
• Difficult to determine the scope and impact of previous roles.

Overall, the functional work history format can be a powerful tool for highlighting your skills and qualifications, particularly for career changers or individuals with employment gaps. However, it’s important to carefully consider the potential drawbacks and address any concerns employers may have about the lack of chronological context or the scope of your previous roles. By doing so, you can leverage the strengths of this format and present a compelling case for why you are the right candidate for the job.

Mixed Format

A. definition and purpose of mixed format.

Mixed format, also known as combination format, is a type of resume format that combines both the chronological and functional formats. This format highlights both a candidate’s work experience and relevant skills, making it well-suited for candidates who have strong work histories and valuable skills but may lack one or the other.

The purpose of a mixed format resume is to showcase a candidate’s strengths, emphasizing what they can do rather than focusing solely on where they’ve worked. It allows employers to get a better sense of a candidate’s abilities and qualifications, making it easier to determine whether they’re a good match for the position.

B. The sections of mixed format

A mixed format resume typically contains the following sections:

• Contact Information: the candidate’s name, address, phone number, and email address.
• Professional Summary/Objective: a brief statement at the beginning of the resume stating the candidate’s career goals and what they can offer to the employer.
• Skills and Accomplishments: highlights the candidate’s relevant skills and accomplishments that pertain to the job they’re applying for.
• Work Experience: lists the candidate’s work experience in reverse chronological order, including job title, company name, employment dates, and key responsibilities and achievements.
• Education: lists the candidate’s educational background, including degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework.

C. Examples of mixed format

Contact Information: John Doe 123 Main Street Anytown, USA Phone: (555) 123-4567 Email: [email protected]

Professional Summary:

Results-driven marketing professional with 7+ years of experience in brand management and digital marketing. Skilled in developing and executing strategic marketing campaigns that drive brand awareness and increase customer engagement. Seeking a challenging role to leverage my expertise in driving marketing success.

Skills and Accomplishments:

• Brand strategy development and implementation
• Digital marketing campaign management
• Social media marketing and community management
• Market research and analysis
• Strong communication and project management skills

Work Experience:

Marketing Manager, ABC Company

• Developed and executed integrated marketing campaigns that resulted in a 30% increase in brand visibility and a 20% growth in customer acquisition.
• Led a team of 5 marketing professionals, providing guidance and support in executing marketing initiatives.
• Implemented data-driven strategies and analyzed campaign performance to optimize marketing efforts and maximize ROI.

Marketing Specialist, XYZ Corporation

• Managed social media accounts, increasing follower base by 50% and engagement by 75%.
• Conducted market research to identify consumer trends and preferences, resulting in the launch of a successful product line.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent brand messaging across all marketing channels.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Anytown University

Contact Information: Jane Smith 456 Elm Street Cityville, USA Phone: (555) 987-6543 Email: [email protected]

Professional Objective:

Highly skilled software engineer with a strong background in full-stack development and experience in agile project management. Seeking a challenging role to apply my technical expertise and leadership skills in delivering innovative software solutions.

• Proficient in multiple programming languages including Java, Python, and JavaScript
• Full-stack web development using modern frameworks (e.g., Angular, React)
• Agile project management and Scrum methodologies
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills
• Collaborative team player with excellent communication abilities

Senior Software Engineer, DEF Tech

• Led the development of a new web application, resulting in a 20% increase in user engagement and improved customer satisfaction.
• Implemented automated testing procedures, reducing software bugs by 40% and enhancing overall product quality.
• Acted as Scrum Master, facilitating daily stand-ups and ensuring successful sprint delivery.

Software Developer, GHI Solutions

• Collaborated with a team of developers to create scalable web applications for enterprise clients.
• Optimized database queries and improved application performance by 30%.
• Received recognition for exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to deliver high-quality code under tight deadlines.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Cityville University

D. Pros and cons of mixed format

• Highlights both relevant skills and work experience.
• Can be tailored to the specific job and employer by emphasizing different sections.
• Provides a clear format for presenting a candidate’s abilities and qualifications.
• Requires more effort and time to create than other formats.
• May not be suitable for candidates with limited work experience.
• Can be confusing if not well-structured and concise.

A mixed format resume can be an excellent way to showcase one’s abilities and qualifications to potential employers. However, candidates must weigh the pros and cons and ensure that the format they choose is the best representation of their work history and relevant skills.

Combination Work History Format

When it comes to creating a compelling resume, there are many different formats to choose from to showcase your work history. One effective option is the combination work history format. In this section, we’ll explore the definition and purpose of this format, the sections included, and provide examples of how it can be used. We’ll also examine the pros and cons of using this approach.

A. Definition and Purpose of Combination Work History Format

The combination work history format combines elements from both the chronological and functional resume formats. It highlights both your work experience and relevant skills, making it an ideal option for job seekers with a varied work history or those looking to transition into a new career.

This format typically begins with a summary or objective statement, followed by a skills section that highlights your most relevant abilities. The work history section then follows, listing your previous experience in chronological order. This approach not only showcases your skills but also helps to emphasize your career progression and experience.

B. The Sections of Combination Work History Format

The combination work history format typically includes the following sections:

1. Summary or Objective Statement

This section provides a brief overview of your professional background and career goals. It should be tailored to the specific position and company you are applying to.

2. Skills Section

This section highlights your relevant skills, both hard and soft. These may include technical abilities, communication skills, leadership experience, and more.

3. Work History Section

This section lists your previous work experience in chronological order, starting with your most recent position. It should include company names, job titles, dates of employment, and bullet points outlining your responsibilities and accomplishments.

C. Examples of Combination Work History Format

Here are some examples of how the combination work history format can be used:

Summary: A creative marketing professional with over 5 years of experience in digital marketing and copywriting. Passionate about developing innovative campaigns that engage audiences and drive business growth.

Skills: Social media management, content creation, SEO, email marketing, data analysis, project management, communication skills.

Work History:

• Marketing Manager, XYZ Company, June 2019-Present
• Digital Marketing Specialist, ABC Agency, Jan 2017-June 2019
• Copywriter, DEF Marketing, July 2015-Jan 2017

Summary: A results-driven sales professional with experience in both B2B and B2C markets. Skilled in developing and managing long-term client relationships to drive revenue growth.

Skills: Sales strategy, client relationship management, lead generation, negotiation, public speaking, team leadership.

• Senior Account Executive, XYZ Company, May 2018-Present
• Sales Manager, ABC Inc., Jan 2016-May 2018
• Account Executive, DEF Corporation, June 2014-Jan 2016

Work History Format Based on Employment Type

As a job seeker, it’s important to understand the various types of work history formats available and how they can impact your job search.

A. Definition and Purpose of Work History Format Based on Employment Type

A work history format based on employment type is a resume format that is organized by the type of employment you have had. The purpose of this format is to highlight your experience and expertise in a specific field or industry.

B. The Sections of Work History Format Based on Employment Type

The sections of a work history format based on employment type can vary depending on the industry and job you are applying for, but they generally include:

• Employment dates

C. Examples of Work History Format Based on Employment Type

Here are a few examples of work history formats based on employment type:

• Chronological: This format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. It’s ideal for job seekers with a steady work history in one specific field.
• Functional: This format focuses on your skills and abilities rather than your work history. It’s ideal for job seekers who have gaps in their employment history or who are trying to make a career change.
• Combination: This format combines aspects of both the chronological and functional formats. It’s ideal for job seekers with a diverse work history who want to highlight their skills and experience in a specific field.

D. Pros and Cons of Work History Format Based on Employment Type

There are pros and cons to each type of work history format based on employment type. Here are a few:

• Chronological: Pros – Easy to read and understand for employers, highlights steady work history. Cons – Can be detrimental for job seekers with employment gaps or job hopping.
• Functional: Pros – Highlights skills and abilities, flexible for job seekers with diverse work history. Cons – Can be confusing for employers and may raise questions about employment history.
• Combination: Pros – Allows job seekers to highlight both skills and steady work history, flexible for diverse work history. Cons – Can be confusing for employers, requires careful organization.

Ultimately, the best work history format based on employment type for you will depend on your unique work history and career goals. By understanding the various options available and weighing the pros and cons, you can create a resume that impresses employers and helps you land your dream job.

Work History Format Based on Job Category

A. definition and purpose of work history format based on job category.

When presenting your work history in your resume, it is important to tailor it to the job you are applying for. The work history format based on job category is a way to do just that. This format focuses on highlighting the relevant experience and skills for the specific job category you are applying for, making it easier for employers to see how you fit into their organization.

B. The Sections of Work History Format Based on Job Category

The sections of the work history format based on job category may vary depending on the job category you are applying for. However, generally, the following sections are included:

Job Title and Dates of Employment

This section should include the job title you held and the dates you were employed. This gives employers a quick overview of your work experience.

Company Name and Location

The company name and location should also be included in this section. This gives employers an idea of the type of company you worked for and where it was located.

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

This section should focus on your key responsibilities and achievements in your previous roles. Make sure to highlight the skills and experiences that are relevant to the job category you are applying for.

C. Examples of Work History Format Based on Job Category

Examples of work history formats based on job categories are:

IT Job Category

• Job Title: Software Developer, June 2015 – Present
• Company Name: ABC Tech, San Francisco, CA
• Developed software applications using Java and Python
• Implemented automated testing frameworks
• Contributed to open source projects on Github

Marketing Job Category

• Job Title: Marketing Manager, January 2018 – Present
• Company Name: XYZ Inc, New York, NY
• Designed and executed successful email marketing campaigns
• Developed and implemented social media strategies
• Managed a team of five marketing professionals

D. Pros and Cons of Work History Format Based on Job Category

• Tailored to the specific job you are applying for, making it easier for employers to see your fit
• Highlights your relevant experience and skills
• Makes it easier for employers to evaluate your candidacy
• May require more time and effort to tailor your resume for each job category
• May limit the scope of your work experience if you only focus on skills relevant to the job category

The work history format based on job category can be an effective way to showcase your relevant experience and skills for the job you are applying for. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons and decide if this format is right for you.

Work History Format Based on Industry

A. definition and purpose of work history format based on industry.

The work history format based on industry refers to the structure and content of a resume’s work history section tailored to a specific industry. This format is designed to showcase the applicant’s relevant experience, skills, and achievements that are specific to the industry they are targeting. The purpose of this format is to help the applicant demonstrate their suitability for the job and stand out from the competition.

B. The Sections of Work History Format Based on Industry

The sections of work history format based on industry include:

Job Title: The job title should be relevant to the industry and specific to the role the applicant is applying for.

Company Name: The name of the company where the applicant worked should be listed, along with the dates of employment.

Job Description: A brief description of the applicant’s job duties and responsibilities should be included, highlighting their significant contributions to the organization.

Accomplishments: Specific achievements, such as awards, promotions, or successful projects, should be highlighted to demonstrate the applicant’s skills and performance in the industry.

C. Examples of Work History Format Based on Industry

Job Title: Marketing Manager Company Name: ABC Company Job Description: Developed and executed the company’s marketing strategy to increase brand awareness and revenue. Collaborated with the sales team to create targeted campaigns that resulted in a 30% increase in sales. Accomplishments: Implemented a social media campaign that increased the company’s online presence by 20%.

Job Title: Software Engineer Company Name: XYZ Corporation Job Description: Designed and developed software solutions, including front-end and back-end development. Collaborated with the QA team to ensure proper testing and implementation. Accomplishments: Successfully launched a new software product for the company, resulting in a 25% increase in revenue.

D. Pros and Cons of Work History Format Based on Industry

• Allows the applicant to focus on relevant experience and accomplishments in the industry, making them stand out from other applicants who may have a general resume.
• Demonstrates the applicant’s expertise and knowledge of the industry, showing their suitability for the position.
• Increases the chances of being called for an interview, as the resume is tailored to the specific needs of the job.
• May be time-consuming to create, as each resume needs to be tailored to the specific industry and job.
• May limit the applicant’s chances of applying for jobs in different industries or fields.
• Requires in-depth knowledge of the industry to effectively highlight the relevant experience and accomplishments.

Crafting an impressive work history section on your resume is crucial in catching the attention of potential employers. Here are some tips to make your work experience stand out:

1. Start with your most recent position

Recruiters are interested in your most recent work experience, so it’s best to begin with your current or most recent position. This will also show that you have relevant experience for the position you are applying for.

2. Use action verbs

When describing your work experience, make sure to use strong action verbs that showcase your skills and accomplishments. Examples of action verbs include “managed,” “created,” “increased,” “led,” “developed,” and “initiated.”

3. Highlight achievements, not just duties

Instead of simply listing your job duties, focus on your accomplishments and how they contributed to the company’s success. Use numbers and percentages to quantify your achievements and provide context for your impact.

4. Tailor your work history to the job

Make sure your work history aligns with the job requirements by tailoring your experiences and accomplishments to the position you are applying for. This will show the employer that you have the specific skills and experience they are seeking.

5. Keep it concise

While it’s important to highlight your achievements and experiences, make sure to keep it concise and to the point. A recruiter will quickly scan your work history section, so focus on the most relevant information and avoid including irrelevant or outdated experience.

By following these tips, you can create a work history section that shows your value and impresses potential employers.

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How to Describe Your Work History on Your Resume

A recruiter will look at a resume to decide one thing: Does this person have the experience to qualify them for this job? The difference between getting and not getting a job often lies with the work history section of your resume. This section outlines your past experiences and achievements in your previous job positions or completed projects.

Learn to describe your work history in your resume correctly to optimize your chances of landing your dream job . Give your application credibility by only including information that is valuable to an employer. Understand how to format the work history section and also be aware of what you shouldn't include in your resume.

Formatting Your Work History

Before you write your work history on a resume, it's vital to know how to format it. Formatting incorrectly can cause your resume to be unclear and confusing to a recruiter. Here are some tips for formatting the work history section of your resume correctly.

• List your Work History in Reverse Chronological Format - Your most recent position or project should go at the top of your resume and previous positions should chronologically follow underneath.
• Include the Necessary Details - Write the job title, company name, and location of employment. You should also include the month and year you started and left the position.
• Bullet Point the Impact You Made - Write 3-6 bullet points of what you accomplished while you worked at the company.
• Write in Phrases - don't begin with "I" when writing your bullet points. Instead, begin with a strong verb and write a concise phrase of what you achieved.
• Use the Correct Tense - when listing a current position, use the present tense. When listing a previous position, use past tense.
• If Experience is Limited, Include Other Details - include volunteering, extracurricular activities, and internships if you have little to no job experience.
• Have a Separate Skills Section - leave space on your resume to list one-word hard and soft skills. Focus only on your work accomplishments in your work history section.

Use these tips to get a basic idea of what your work history section may look like. Having a foundation to build from will enable you to know how to create resumes for all types of jobs that interest you. Now you have a grasp of the structure, it is time to begin thinking about the finer details of how to describe your work history.

Describing your Work History

When describing your work history, you should include experiences from the past 10-15 years. The more recent the history, the better. This shows how you are up to date with working in a certain field or industry.

The experiences you include on your resume should be tailored to the job you are applying for . Study the job description and research the company culture. If you have accomplishments that are more suited to the job than others, then prioritize them in your bullet points to send a clear message of what you're capable of.

Here are some tips for what to include in your work history bullet points:

• Focus on the Results - Instead of just speaking about the process of what you did in your job, zone in on the outcome. Offer the recruiter facts on how you specifically advanced the company you worked for.
• Use Quantitative Information - There is little a recruiter loves more than measurable data. Use quantifiable numbers to drive a bullet point home. For example, instead of writing "I helped the company grow a lot," you can say, "increased company growth by 5%."
• Note the On-Site Training - If training from a previous job has allowed you to acquire a valuable skill, then make sure to mention it. If you can bring any added value or save a company the time and resources for training you, then use it in your favor.
• Show-off Any Awards and Honors - If you were recognized and rewarded for your hard work in a previous position, it is absolutely worth writing this down on your resume. Be proud of your past performance and let the employer know about it.

Use these tips as guidance for the work history section of your resume . You may have more to write about than what is mentioned above as everyone has had different experiences. If you do, make sure the information is valuable to the employer and keep it concise.

What to Avoid Putting on Your Resume

We've discussed what you should put on your resume, now let's talk about what you should avoid. A resume must fit onto one or two pages (one is better than two) so don't waste space on the page with unnecessary information. If you have too much filler, a recruiter will dismiss your application.

Here are a few tips on what not to include in your work history section:

• What the Organization You Worked for Does - Your resume isn't about your previous company, it's about you.
• The Requirements of Your Previous Positions - Your job title will usually communicate your job requirements to an employer. Your result-focused bullet points should also give an idea of what the requirements of previous roles were.
• Filler and Buzz Words - You don't need to use words such as "I" and "the" in your resume. As well as this, buzz words such as "creative" or "dynamic" are quite meaningless in the context of a resume.
• Unimportant Facts - As mentioned earlier, prioritize your accomplishments in terms of relevance. If it doesn't relate to the job you're applying for, do you need to include it?

Describe Yourself

Once you begin writing resumes, it can quickly become tedious and boring. Keep positive, include relevant facts about your previous work history and exclude anything that is filler. Most importantly, give an employer a true reflection of yourself and your past work experience.

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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 .

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). 

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

• Too much information. Keep it brief. 

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. 

Should I include my GPA on my resume?

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.

I've already graduated. Should I still list my high school under the education section?

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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18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

By  Allison Pohle

Updated May 11, 2021 2:15 pm ET

• A résumé isn’t just a list of every job you’ve ever had. It should demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Mirror language used in the job posting so your résumé isn’t discarded by an applicant tracking system.
• Use a clean and simple format. 

Companies increasingly  rely on software  to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm. Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

1. Highlight your achievements in your résumé. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.” 

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.  

2. Customize your résumé.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.  

The same applies to your cover letter. It is your chance to provide more detail on how your experience will help you succeed in the job.  Read our cover letter guide  for how to write one that makes you stand out.

3. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate.  Read more about résumé formats here.

4. Make your contact information easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

In addition to making it easy to connect with you, it is important to your job search that you grow your network.  Read our networking guide  for tips on how to do so.

5. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says. 

6. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of  7.4 seconds.  

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. 

For additional ways to make a good impression on recruiters and headhunters, read  our guide on how to work with headhunters .

7. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

• Optimize keywords.  Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.” 
• Use a straightforward format.  Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
• Think about order.  When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title. 

8. Prioritize relevant keywords. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. 

9. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed. 

• Don’t focus on tasks.  Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
• Instead, explain what those tasks achieved.  Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
• Use metrics.  Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says. 
• Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable.  Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your  soft skills.

10. Focus on transferable skills if you lack experience.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

11. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

12. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have  gaps  on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be  prepared to talk about them in an interview . “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

13. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to  add a skills section to your résumé , outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

14. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

15. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

16. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

17. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending. 

18. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

• How to Prepare for a Job Interview
• What Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
• Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• How to Dress for a Job Interview
• How to Write a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview  
• How to Negotiate and Counter a Job Offer
• How to Negotiate Salary for a New Job: The Do’s and Don’ts
• Severance Pay: What It Is and Why You Should Negotiate a Package Before Accepting a Job

Corrections & Amplifications Ashley Watkins is a résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Write Steps LLC. (Corrected on Nov. 20)

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the November 23, 2020, print edition as '11 Résumé Tips to Help You Get Noticed

Can Employers See Your Work History? What a Background Check Covers

If you're feeling less than great about that time you impulsively walked out on your job to travel the world, or the fact that you left that one fast food gig off your resume , you might wonder, “Can an employer look up your employment history?” or “What can they find during a background check?”

You're right to think about it. It's common for employers to run background checks to verify the information on your resume and make sure they're making the right hiring choice. But what exactly does a background check entail, and how much of your work history can an employer see? We got to the bottom of things, so you can know for sure just what an employer can and can’t find out about your work history.

Looking for your next perfect role? One of these open jobs on The Muse might just be the one »

What is a background check and why does it matter?

A background check is a process used by employers, landlords, and other entities to verify a person's identity, qualifications, and history. It helps assess whether someone is suitable for a job, tenancy, or other opportunities. Basically, it involves pulling your personal information from different sources to make sure the details you’ve provided are accurate.

For employers, background checks are crucial for protecting their business and ensuring a trustworthy workplace. They verify that candidates are honest about their qualifications and work history and provide insights into a candidate's character to see if they fit the company culture and the role.

This can minimize the risk of hiring individuals who might have a history of misconduct, unreliability, or fraudulent behavior, helping protect the company's reputation, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and promote a secure work environment for all employees.

So, can an employer find my work history?

Yes, an employer can verify past employment details, such as job titles, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving. However, they typically focus on recent and relevant work history, meaning they may not check every job you've ever had.

What a hiring company might want to check

Depending on the industry and type of job you're applying for, an employer might want to verify several other components of your history:

• Identity: Confirms the candidate's basic—and more important—info using the Social Security numbers, addresses, and date of birth
• Education: Checks educational credentials, degrees earned, professional licenses or certifications, and institutions attended
• Criminal record: Searches for any criminal history, including arrests, convictions, and incarcerations
• Driving record: Checks driving history, including any traffic violations, accidents, or license suspensions (important for jobs involving driving)

What about credit and salary history?

Some employers, particularly in finance-related fields, may conduct credit checks to evaluate your financial responsibility. This is more common for positions involving money management or sensitive financial data. But employers must get your written consent before conducting a credit check.

While some employers might ask about your salary history, it's becoming less common due to legal restrictions in many U.S. states and cities. These laws aim to promote pay equity and prevent salary discrimination. It's a good idea to research local regulations to understand your rights.

How does HR verify past employment?

Employers and other entities typically use third-party background check companies to conduct background checks. These companies collect information from various sources, such as employment records, educational institutions, criminal databases, public records, and credit bureaus.

How often do employers verify work history?

Employers typically check work history during the hiring process , especially for jobs that require a high level of trust or specific qualifications. This often happens after you've made it through the initial stages and are being seriously considered for the position.

Typically, you'll need to give written consent for the background check. The information is then verified to make sure everything is accurate, and a detailed report is created and shared with the employer or the requesting party, as well as the subject of the check

Legal considerations

In the U.S., background checks must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) , which sets guidelines for how information can be collected and used. Employers must obtain written consent from candidates and provide them with a copy of the report if any adverse action is taken based on the findings.

Also, various states and cities have additional regulations governing background checks, such as banning the use of credit checks for employment or restricting inquiries about criminal history.

What information will previous employers share?

When conducting a background check, employers typically reach out to your previous employers to confirm the details you've shared about your past work experiences. That’s one of the reasons why you're often asked to provide references .

The information shared by former employers can vary, but often includes:

• Confirmation of when you started and ended your tenure at the company
• Verification of the position(s) you held
• A description of your main tasks and responsibilities
• Why you left the company, whether it was voluntary or involuntary
• Whether the company would consider rehiring you in the future

While some companies have policies to only confirm basic information like employment dates and job titles, others might provide more detailed insights, especially if you have given consent.

Remember—honesty is the best policy

Accuracy in presenting your work history on your resume and during interviews is crucial. These days, anything can be found with one simple scroll. However, you have the right to keep sensitive information private, so be clear on what information a past employer can share.

Be sure not to misrepresent your qualifications or work history, because it can damage your professional reputation and lead to negative consequences in your career. In some cases, providing false information can result in legal consequences, especially if it involves security clearances or positions that require a high level of trust.

Always ensure that your resume accurately reflects your work history and be prepared to discuss any gaps or discrepancies honestly during interviews.

How do I find my employment history for free?

You can use several methods, such as requesting a copy of your Social Security statement, which includes a summary of your earnings history. You can also review your past tax returns or W-2 forms. These documents can help you track your employment history and the employers you've worked for.

In some states, the unemployment office maintains records of your employment history if you’ve filed for unemployment benefits. Contact your state’s unemployment office for assistance.

How far back do background checks go?

The look-back period for background checks can vary, but most employers typically review the last seven to 10 years of your work history.

Will an employment background check reveal jobs not disclosed?

Most of the time, yes. Any inconsistencies between your resume and what is discovered during a background check can raise red flags and potentially disqualify you from the hiring process.

Do background checks include my education history?

Yes, many background checks also verify your educational credentials to ensure you have the qualifications you claim.

Can I refuse a background check?

Yes, but keep in mind that doing so may result in the employer withdrawing their job offer or considering your application incomplete.

Can my employer see my employment history through the SSA?

No, employers cannot directly access your employment history through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Your Social Security number can be used for verification purposes, but the detailed employment history held by the SSA is not accessible to employers without your explicit consent.

Will a minor mistake on my resume disqualify me?

Minor errors may not necessarily disqualify you, but significant discrepancies or intentional misrepresentations can lead to disqualification.

Can you correct mistakes in your employment history?

If you suspect there may be errors in your employment history, request a copy of the background check report from the employer or the background check agency. Collect any documents that can verify your correct employment history, such as pay stubs, tax records, or letters from previous employers, reach out to the agency that conducted the background check, and provide them with the necessary documentation to correct the errors.