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How Do I List 20 Years of Experience on My Resume?

7 min read · Updated on October 15, 2021

Amanda Augustine

When it comes to the length of your resume, more isn't always better — even if you have a long and accomplished career history.

Each week, TopResume's career advice expert, Amanda Augustine, tackles your questions live on Facebook . We'll be republishing those answers here. As a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and resume writer (CPRW), Amanda has been helping professionals improve their careers for over 10 years. 

In this Q&A, Amanda helps make sense of how long is too long for a resume, and what you should keep — and omit — from your resume if you're an older professional. 

She answers: 

Can I use a one-page resume for networking, even though my regular resume is three pages long? 

How do I put 20 years of experience on a resume? 

How do I showcase additional duties on your resume?

Q: Can I use a 1-page resume for networking? I was thinking of having a 1-page resume to circulate to unsolicited contacts to spark the conversation.

There was a great study done by ResumeGo where they looked at thousands of resumes and found that a two-page resume is the ideal length , regardless of years of experience. 

If you are newer to the workforce, I would always recommend a one-page resume. If you have enough information that warrants a second page, you should go for it — but you shouldn't force it, either. The same thing applies to a three-page resume. In general, I recommend a two-page resume over three pages, unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

Even at a quick glance (recruiters spend less than 10 seconds looking at your resume before making a decision) the top third of your resume needs to set the stage for everything else. That's what needs to catch the reader's eye. 

You need to have your name, your contact information, your professional title, and a short professional summary, which really is the elevator pitch for the rest of your resume. Make sure to incorporate your strengths and skills so that the recruiter has a high-level understanding of what you're about from the get-go, with your most recent experience on that front page as well. 

Overall, I think professionals are trending toward two pages instead of one because a two-page resume presents recruiters with everything they want to see. 

TopResume completed a study where we looked at self-written, DIY resumes and compared them to professionally written resumes . As part of the study, we asked recruiters different questions to understand which they were more impressed by and, more importantly, why. What's the difference? 

The professional resumes looked and read as more polished, leaving recruiters feeling more confident in the prospect of presenting these candidates to their hiring managers. We also asked the recruiters to estimate the candidates' value in the job market, and those with professionally written resumes were valued at seven percent higher than those whose were self-written. 

Anyone can make sure their resume is typo-free or grammatically correct, but we found the big differences between a professionally written resume and a DIY resume were that:

A professionally written resume presents a compelling career narrative.   Your resume tells a story . How well do you weave a story that shows your background and why you're now qualified and would make a good candidate for a certain role?

Quantifying your achievements allows you to showcase the value you could bring to a company or role. It's more than just saying that you did X, Y, and Z. What was some of the output? How did you improve efficiency? How did you make the company more money? What did you do that benefited the organization? If you missed a day of work, what wouldn't get done because you weren't there?

Q: How do I articulate 20 years of experience on my resume? 

You only want to focus on the most recent 15 years of work experience, and the amount of detail you include for each role should decrease as you go back in your career. The reality is employers are going to say, “That's great what you did 10 years ago, but what have you done recently that's relevant to what I'm hiring for?”

That's great what you did 10 years ago, but what have you done recently that's relevant to what I'm hiring for?

For someone who has a lot of experience, what I typically recommend is: In addition to having your Professional Summary and Areas of Expertise, include a Career Highlights section on the first page. A highlights section is three or five bullets that show off the headliners from your 20-year career.

Not sure how to do this? You can see how a Career Highlights section is formatted in my article about ways to improve your senior-level resume . 

Include anything that is highly brag-worthy, as well as particularly relevant to what you're pursuing today. That way, if the role does fall toward the bottom of page two, it's still getting a nod on the first page. Remember to look at each role and curate the information you're providing based on what your current goal is.

Q: How do I articulate additional duties on a resume? 

A resume is not your transcript from school where every single detail of every job you've ever held is included. Instead, a resume is a marketing document . You get to curate the content you provide, which means determining what details you want to share and what details you want to downplay or omit because they aren't relevant to your goals. 

While you may have had many responsibilities in your role, you want to focus on the responsibilities that are relevant to the role you are pursuing. When it comes to resume writing, we have soft guidelines about what this means. We can only work with the information we are given, so things get tweaked depending on what we have to work with. 

In an ideal world, assuming you're not fresh out of school or entry-level, for each job role we like to provide:

The job title

The company name, and perhaps a little bit of information about the company to give the reader context, especially if many of the employers on your resume are not self-explanatory or well-known

How long have you worked there, start date to end date

A short paragraph, maybe three to five lines, to describe your relevant roles and responsibilities 

We then save your bullet points for your bragging points. How did you help the company? How did you contribute? How can you show you're an achiever versus a doer?  

Some people say, “Well I had a 'doer' job.” Well then, ignore those words — those are just labels. Instead, it's about how you show that you were good at what you did.

It could be that you were given the best shifts, had to train the new hires, or were asked to let the new hires shadow you. It could also be that you were promoted, had a title change, or were given a bigger budget. These are all things that show you were excellent at your job, which is what a recruiter wants to know. These are the bragging points they are looking for. 

If you need to include jobs that aren't necessarily relevant but would leave a hole if not included, you still want to mention them . Just don't give them a lot of space on your resume.

Looking to update your resume but don't know where to start? Use our free resume review as a guide. 

Recommended Reading:

Between Jobs When You're Older: Is It Time for a Career Change or Early Retirement?

4 Ways to Invest in Your Career

What Is an ATS? How to Write a Resume to Beat the Bots

Related Articles:

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

Software Developer Top Needed Skills

See how your resume stacks up.

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How to Write Years of Experience on a Resume

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How many years of experience should be on a resume?

How to write years of experience on a resume, should you include all work experience on a resume, is it ok to leave jobs off your resume.

When considering how many years of experience to write on a resume, take a look at the job posting you’re applying to. The number of years you show for work experience can be a crucial indicator to the hiring manager. This article explains how you can include years of experience on your resume to accurately highlight your work history.

As a general rule, try to keep your work timeline as solid as possible and without any major gaps or holes. While companies may be interested in your work five years ago, they may not be as interested in unrelated work 25 years ago. You can make your resume more appealing by cutting less relevant experience from your work history and saving it to discuss during the in-person interview.  

Follow these steps to properly include years of work experience on your resume:

1. First, include only the essentials

When in doubt, try to keep your resume as straightforward as possible. One of the biggest problems with having 20 to 30 years of experience on a resume is that it can create a cluttered look and feel. Try to keep your resume free of this type of clutter so that a hiring manager can make their decision as easy as possible. An interesting resume that captures the attention of the reader is a resume that employers are more likely to fully read. This, in turn, makes it more likely that you get called in for an interview.

2. Second, keep the length to no longer than two pages

The ideal length for a resume is one to two pages long, which may mean you have to do some trimming to optimize your space. If you feel like you are running out of room on your application, you can try using a smaller font or removing less relevant jobs from your resume.

To minimize the space that you’re using for your resume, you can also try writing the title and dates for the positions you have worked in the past, without including multiple bullet point details about the job. You can also condense your resume by abbreviating the months for the dates of employment for each position or even listing the dates of employment on the same line as the job title separated by commas. 

3. Third, check the job posting for the required years of work experience

Consider a job posting that requires 20 years of job-related experience. In a scenario like that, you can still apply with 15 years of work-related experience. Ultimately, the reason that companies might list a requirement for someone with that many years of experience is to indicate that they’re looking to hire someone for a senior position. It’s not actually about a specific number of years.  

4. Next, keep some information for the in-person interview

If you are a more seasoned applicant who might have experience stretching beyond 10 to 15 years, you don’t necessarily need to add that older work experience to your resume. Some industries view it as irrelevant for you to share information about job experience that dates back farther than 15 years. 

You should be careful how much information you share directly on your resume so that it doesn’t seem like your skills might be outdated or that you’d be a risk to hire. This information can be kept until an in-person interview when you can mention it as a bonus to your interviewer.

5. Finally, create an impact with relevance

One of the most important keys to having an impactful resume is to include the most relevant information to the position. While it might be tempting to add everything to your resume, quality carries more impact than quantity, and taking the time to edit your previous work experience can be what ultimately helps you get hired for the position. Try to take the extra time to cut and refine the information you do put on your resume to make sure it’s presented as efficiently as possible. The effort is well worth the time, as your resume is often the first impression you give to a hiring manager.

The goal of your resume is to provide insight into why you’re the best fit for the role that you are applying for. This means that if you’ve held positions that are not relevant to the role, you might not want to highlight them in the same way as others. Whether you omit jobs entirely or condense them into title and dates (without the details), be sure to organize the information on your resume so each section is clearly defined.

When you’re considering information about relevant jobs, a good rule to follow is to list your experience without gaps in employment. For example, if you want to include a position that you held 10 years ago, then you should include job information leading up to the present. The purpose of keeping this consistency is so that a hiring manager can see that you’ve been employed consistently for the time leading up to your application. 

If you are trying to consolidate information, you can trim the jobs that are the farthest back in your work history. Showing a solid list of jobs can help indicate that you are a reliable team member. Your work history can be a hidden trait when hiring managers are looking for a candidate who remains loyal to a company over time.

Work Experience on a Resume - How to List It Right

Background Image

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

What’s the first thing you look at?

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

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

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

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

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

We’re going to cover:

  • What Information Your Work Experience Section Needs

How to Format Work Experience on Your Resume

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

Let’s get started.

resume-templates cta

What to Include in Your Work Experience Section

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

example of a work experience section

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

listing work experience on a resume

Making Your Work Experience Stand Out

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

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

#1. List Achievements Instead of Responsibilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your daily tasks probably include:

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

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

#2. Tailor Your Work Experience to the Job

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

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

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

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

Tailor Your Work Experience to the Job

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

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

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

Say, you were an advertising intern.

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

INTERNSHIPS

Marketing Intern

Full Picture Company

New York, NY

09/2023 - 12/2023

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

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

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

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

#3. Add the Right Amount of Work Experience

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

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

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

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

Let’s break it down:

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

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

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

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

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

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

ats-statistic

So, how can your work experience make the cut?

Here are a few tips:

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

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

Where to Place Work Experience on Your Resume

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

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

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

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

Recent graduates are another exception to this rule

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

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

Complimentary Resume Sections

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

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

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

#1. Resume Summary

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

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

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

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

Here’s an example of a resume summary:

example of a resume summary

Another important section is devoted to your most important skills.

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

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

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

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

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

example of a skills section on a resume

#3. Certificates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

certificates on a resume

#4. Personal Projects

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s an example of a personal projects section:

personal projects on a resume

11 Real-Life Examples

Not sure how to list work experience for your field?

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

#1. Marketing Executive Resume Example

Marketing Executive Resume Example

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

#2. Teacher Resume Example

Teacher Resume Example

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

#3. Cashier Resume Example

Cashier Resume Example

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

#4. Software Engineer Resume Example

Software Engineer Resume Example

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

#5. Career Change Resume Example

Career Change Resume Example

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

#6. Illustrator Resume Example

Illustrator Resume Example

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

#7. Esthetician Resume Example

Esthetician Resume Example

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

#8. Stay-at-Home Parent Resume Example

Stay-at-Home Parent Resume Example

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

#9. University Graduate Resume Example

University Graduate Resume Example

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

#10. University Student Resume Example

University Student Resume Example

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

#11. High School Graduate Resume Example

High School Graduate Resume Example

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

Work Experience Section FAQs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Takeaways

You’ve made it to the end!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Takeaways:

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

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

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

How To Write A Resume

How to write a resume

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

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

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

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

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

Your full name. First and last.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

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

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

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

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Resume samples

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

resume example zippia resume builder

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization
Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities
Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

header-1

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

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

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

Career Change Resume Objective.

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

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.
English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

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

Example Resume Profile.

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

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

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

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

sample resume work experience section

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

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

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

Two degrees.

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

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

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

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

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

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

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

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

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

What is the format for writing a good resume?

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

How far back should a resume go?

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

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

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

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

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

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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

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Future Focus

Mastering the art of résumé writing.

Crafting a compelling résumé is a crucial skill that can land you that perfect summer job, a coveted place in a college program or internship, and, ultimately, your dream career. Your résumé is an important marketing tool—it is the first impression you will provide to potential employers and can greatly influence whether you get invited for an interview or not.

How do you ensure that your résumé stands out among the hundreds of others in the applicant pool? Let's dive into some key strategies, focusing on what you need to know as a college student or recent graduate.

Depending on what type of job or position you’re applying for, you may need to write a particular type of résumé. Below we will explore the two most common types:

  • A chronological résumé lists your work history and achievements in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience. This type is preferred by many employers, as it showcases your career progression and growth over time. It's ideal if you have a solid work history and want to highlight your career trajectory.
  • On the other hand, a functional résumé focuses more on your skills and abilities rather than your work history. It's a great option if you're a recent graduate with limited work experience or if you're changing careers. Functional résumés allow you to emphasize your relevant skills and qualifications upfront, making it easier for employers to see your potential fit for the role.

The essential components of a well-crafted résumé are consistent across both types. When you’re writing your first draft, be sure to always include:

  • Contact information: Include your name, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn profile (if available), and any online portfolio links you have.
  • Education: List your educational background, including your degree, institution, and graduation date. If you are still in school, you can include your projected graduation date and degree.
  • Work experience: Provide details of your relevant work experience, including job titles, company names, dates of employment, and bullet points emphasizing your achievements and responsibilities.
  • Skills: Highlight both technical and soft skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
  • Certifications: Include any certifications or licenses that demonstrate your expertise in specific areas.
  • Correct formatting: Keep your résumé clean, concise, and easy to read. Use bullet points to list your accomplishments, and avoid large blocks of text. Aim to keep your résumé to one page, especially if you're a recent graduate.

Before submitting your résumé, be sure to proofread carefully for spelling and grammar—errors can create a negative impression, particularly if you are applying for a job that requires attention to detail. When possible, tailor your résumé to each job application by highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to the position.

In addition to your résumé, consider crafting a compelling cover letter to accompany your application. Although not always required, a well-written cover letter allows you to expand on your qualifications, express your enthusiasm for the position, and demonstrate why you're the ideal candidate.

Remember, your résumé is your first impression, so invest the time and effort needed to make it shine. Good luck in all your application endeavors!

Learn more about résumé writing by watching our webinar below!

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  • May 14, 2024
  • Career Coaching , Career Search , Entry-level

How to Write a Resume in 2024

It’s no secret that the job industry is competitive. Thankfully, there are lots of strategies to help you get ahead, including perfecting your LinkedIn profile and learning how to write the perfect cover letter. That said, the importance of a well written and professional resume cannot be overstated. After all, the purpose of a resume is to highlight your strengths, while differentiating you from other candidates and landing you an interview.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of tailoring your resume and targeting keywords. We’ll also review the different types of resume formats, as well as provide you with valuable resume building tips. So if you’re looking for advice on how to write a professional resume in 2024, look no further!

Complimentary Initial Consultation

Fill out this form to book your complimentary initial consultation., the importance of tailoring your resume.

resume making

For example, someone considering both private sector and public sector work, should not submit the same resume to a government customer service position and customer service position at a Fortune 500 company . Knowing what positions and industries you’d like to apply to will help you determine what strengths and skills you should highlight in your resume in order to be invited for an interview.

You’ll also want to target specific keywords listed in the job ad. This will help you rank well on an Applicant Tracking System — a hiring tool used by the majority of mid-sized to large companies.

Overall, the process of adjusting your resume by including specific keywords and highlighting different qualifications is known as “tailoring” your resume. Most seasoned professionals will have three to four “tailored resumes” at their disposal. It’s a lot of work, but well worth the effort!

Before you begin writing your resume, consider the various positions and industries you want to apply to. Depending on your interests, you’ll likely have to create several versions of your resume. This is because you’ll want to highlight certain qualifications and skills, depending on the specific job position.

Understanding the different types of resumes

To start, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of the different professional resume formats: chronological resumes, functional resumes, and hybrid resumes. A chronological resume is written in reverse chronological order and highlights past work experience; it’s also the industry standard. A functional resume is great for entry-level professionals because it highlights skills, objectives, and passion. A hybrid resume combines elements of chronological and functional resumes. Each resume format has its advantages and disadvantages. The key is to find the format that works best for you!

For more guidance on what professional resume format to choose, refer to our article, What format should I write my resume in? The different types of resume formats .

What to include in a resume in 2024:

resume building

It’s also worth noting that for the vast majority of the positions, you should adhere to the one-page rule. According to a CareerBuilder study, 17% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume. With such little time to impress the person reviewing your resume, it’s imperative you do so quickly. Maintaining your resume to exactly one page and using keywords found in the employer’s job description will help push your resume into the “yes” pile.

Now, what don’t you want to include? You don’t necessarily need to include an objectives section; your cover letter will include this information and more. You should also avoid including personal information including photographs, gender, age, and/or race. Last, refrain from including references, as the employer will request this information if it is necessary.

After you’ve selected a resume template online, you’ll need to focus on the content. Your resume should include the following sections: contact information, education, experience, skills, and awards. Some optional sections include hobbies, languages, interests, publications, volunteering, and other industry-specific information.

Contact information

The contact information section should be the focal point of your resume. Write your name in the largest font and include your phone number, email, and mailing address in a smaller font below. Be sure to use a professional email address and avoid emails with the following domains: @yahoo.com, @aol.com, @hotmail.com, and @bellsouth.net.

Your education section should include your university degree, graduation month and year, and any academic honors or accolades. Your GPA should only be included if it is required by an employer or if it will portray you as an accomplished student.

Depending on the breadth of your experience and the relevance of your education, your education section may come before or after your experience section. If your college major is tightly related to the position you’re seeking, but your experience is a bit disconnected, you should begin with your education section. If your experience better connects to the position you’re seeking, you should begin with your education section.

Work experience

The experience section of your resume is the most important section of your resume. Before writing this section, review job descriptions to curate a list of keywords to feature on your resume. This will help impress the hiring manager or recruiter. It will also help you rank well with Applicant Tracking Systems .

Now, what about the order? In general, this section should be organized in reverse chronological order. That said, if your most recent experience is unrelated to the position you’re applying to, you should organize this section based on how relevant each position is in relation to the current position you’re seeking. When drafting each experience, list the name of the company first, then your title. If your title better correlates to the title of the position you’re applying to, you should include the title first.

The work experience of your resume should be written in bullet point format. Wondering how to write good resume bullet points? To start, each bullet point should begin with an action verb that illustrates your responsibilities and achievements. Ensure that the action verbs describing your responsibilities at a former position are written in the past tense and that action verbs describing responsibilities at your current job are written in the present tense.

You’ll also want to quantify your experience and contributions wherever possible. You can do this by describing the number of customers you assisted, providing the number of employees you managed, or the dollar amount you contributed to sales for the companies you’ve worked at. Use industry-specific vocabulary whenever possible to demonstrate your experience. Lastly, avoid using pronouns (e.g. I, you, he, she).

For more tips on how to complete this section successfully, check out our article, 5 writing guidelines to follow when writing a resume .

Skills and awards

Your skills section should indicate your level of fluency in a language or experience using a variety of software systems. Be sure to list the software systems that you’ve used that are most relevant to the industries and positions you’re applying to. If you’re writing an entry-level resume, don’t be afraid to list soft job skills as well. Take a look at our article, ​​ Positive Character Traits You’ll Need In Every Workplace , for some ideas.

Other information

Depending on the job position, you may choose to include additional information like volunteering, hobbies, and publications. The hobbies/interests section could be used to humanize you as an applicant or build a connection with the hiring manager based on a common interest. You may also include any volunteer or extracurricular experience if it is related to the company’s mission or if you are applying right out of college. Last, you may include additional industry-specific achievements including publications or relevant coursework.

Key takeaways and moving forward

After you’ve drafted a resume, ensure all stylings and headings are consistent. You’ll also want to use a professional font. Consider using a graphic design platform to perfectly align dates, titles, and other information included on your resume. If you’re applying to a company with a youthful or creative culture, you may add small design elements in order to really stand out. For further guidance on how to make a resume look professional, check out some of the Best Resume Templates 2024 to help you get started. You might even be interested in trying out our free, AI-powered resume builder . After all, it can be difficult to know how to write a good resume and AI-generative tools can be a great place to start!

Perfecting your resume is a great step towards finding meaningful employment. That said, there are lots of other factors to consider. For further guidance, check out our article, 5 Typical Job Search Mistakes and How to Solve Them . You may also be interested in learning how to write a Thank You Email After an Interview and/or how to resign from a job and secure a good job reference .

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Quality Control Manager Resume Examples: Proven To Get You Hired In 2024

Hiring Manager for Quality Control Manager Roles

Jump to a template:

  • Quality Control Manager
  • QA/QC Manager
  • Quality Operations Manager
  • Quality Systems Manager

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Jump to a resource:

  • Quality Control Manager Resume Tips

Quality Control Manager Resume Template

Download in google doc, word or pdf for free. designed to pass resume screening software in 2022., quality control manager resume sample.

Quality control managers are like the gatekeepers of a product's journey from inception to the hands of the consumer. They ensure every product meets the required standards and regulations. In today's market, many companies are embracing lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, so it's key to demonstrate on your resume your knowledge and experience with these trends. Additionally, the role isn't solely about technical know-how; it requires excellent communication skills to liaise with various departments and stakeholders. Therefore, anyone drafting a resume for this role should aim to combine these dimensions seamlessly.

Resume of a Quality Control Manager showcasing relevant certifications and communication skills.

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2022

Tips to help you write your quality control manager resume in 2024,    highlight relevant certifications.

Quality control managers need to be well-versed in a myriad of regulations and standards. Therefore, you should showcase any relevant industry certifications (like a Certified Quality Engineer or Six Sigma belt) you've earned on your resume to reflect your competence.

Highlight Relevant Certifications - Quality Control Manager Resume

   Showcase Your Communication Skills

As a quality control manager, you'll be dealing with diverse teams and stakeholders across the organization. Highlight instances when you've effectively coordinated with different departments, managed client feedback, or led a team to achieve quality objectives. This can be proof of your communication and leadership abilities.

Showcase Your Communication Skills - Quality Control Manager Resume

A quality control manager is a senior-level position in which they create quality standards and manage the quality control team. They will provide directions to quality control technicians and ensure everyone follows quality benchmarks. They are involved in every phase of the manufacturing process to make sure products are ready for distribution. To become a quality control manager, you should have a bachelor’s degree in Business, Administration, or a related field. You should also have proven experience in the manufacturing industry and showcase communication and problem-solving skills. A quality control manager must have significant attention to detail.

A quality control manager resume template that emphasizes relevant work experience

   Indicate your ability to manage a quality control team.

As a quality control manager, you must be able to deal with large teams. You should have leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills to be in this role. That’s why it is crucial to mention this trait in your quality control manager resume.

Indicate your ability to manage a quality control team. - Quality Control Manager Resume

   Show your evolution in the quality control industry.

You can also emphasize your value and transparency by showing how you escalated in the industry. Feel free to mention your success journey, including promotions, successful projects, and achievements in the quality control industry.

Show your evolution in the quality control industry. - Quality Control Manager Resume

QA/QC Manager Resume Sample

Quality operations manager resume sample, quality systems manager resume sample.

We spoke with hiring managers at companies like Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and 3M to gather their top tips for creating a Quality Control Manager resume that will get you hired. They've seen thousands of resumes throughout their careers and know exactly what they like to see on a resume, as well as what makes them quickly reject a candidate. We've compiled their advice below.

   Highlight your experience with quality management systems

Employers want to see that you have hands-on experience working with quality management systems such as ISO 9001, Six Sigma, or Lean manufacturing. Provide specific examples of how you've used these systems to improve quality control processes.

  • Implemented ISO 9001 quality management system, reducing defects by 25% and increasing customer satisfaction scores by 15%
  • Led Six Sigma project that streamlined production processes, resulting in a 20% reduction in cycle time and $500K in annual cost savings

Bullet Point Samples for Quality Control Manager

   Quantify your impact with metrics and data

When describing your quality control experience, use hard numbers and data to quantify the impact of your work. This helps employers understand the scope and significance of your contributions.

Weak, vague descriptions of your impact look like this:

  • Improved quality control processes
  • Reduced defects and increased efficiency

Instead, provide specific metrics that demonstrate your value:

  • Implemented quality control initiatives that reduced defect rate from 3.2% to 0.5%, saving the company $2.5M annually
  • Developed and executed quality assurance plan for new product launch, resulting in 99.7% first-pass yield and zero customer complaints

   Showcase your leadership and project management skills

Quality Control Managers often lead teams and oversee complex projects. Highlight any experience you have managing people, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, or driving process improvements.

Include examples like:

  • Led a team of 15 quality assurance inspectors to ensure consistent product quality across three manufacturing plants
  • Spearheaded a cross-functional project to identify and eliminate sources of defects, involving collaboration with engineering, production, and supply chain teams
  • Developed and delivered training programs on quality control best practices to over 200 employees, improving overall quality metrics by 30%

   Tailor your resume to the specific job requirements

Quality control roles can vary significantly depending on the industry and company. Carefully review the job description and tailor your resume to highlight the specific skills and experience that the employer is seeking.

For example, if the job emphasizes experience with certain quality control tools or methodologies, make sure to call out your proficiency with those specific tools:

  • Expertise in using statistical process control (SPC) software to monitor and analyze production processes
  • Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with experience leading DMAIC projects to drive continuous improvement

   Include relevant certifications and training

Quality control is a field where certifications and specialized training are highly valued. If you have any relevant certifications or have completed training programs, make sure to include them on your resume.

Some examples of valuable certifications for Quality Control Managers include:

  • ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
  • ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
  • ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification

Listing these certifications demonstrates your commitment to professional development and shows employers that you have the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a quality control role.

   Provide examples of your problem-solving skills

Quality Control Managers are often responsible for identifying and resolving complex quality issues. Use your resume to showcase your problem-solving abilities by providing concrete examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.

Investigated and resolved a persistent issue with product defects that had caused a 20% increase in customer returns. Traced the problem to a faulty machine sensor and implemented a recalibration procedure, reducing the defect rate to less than 1% and saving the company $1.2M in potential recall costs.

Examples like this demonstrate your ability to analyze problems, find root causes, and implement effective solutions - all critical skills for a successful Quality Control Manager.

Writing Your Quality Control Manager Resume: Section By Section

  summary.

A resume summary for a Quality Control Manager is an optional section that can be beneficial if you want to provide additional context about your experience and qualifications that may not be immediately evident from the rest of your resume. It's a brief overview of your most relevant skills, experience, and achievements, tailored to the specific Quality Control Manager position you're applying for.

However, it's important to note that a summary should never be used in place of a well-crafted resume that highlights your relevant experience and accomplishments. If you do choose to include a summary, make sure it adds value and doesn't simply repeat information that can be found elsewhere in your resume.

How to write a resume summary if you are applying for a Quality Control Manager resume

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Quality Control Manager resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Quality Control Manager Resume Summary Examples , or Quality Control Manager Resume Objective Examples .

1. Highlight relevant quality control experience

When writing your summary, focus on your most relevant quality control experience and how it aligns with the requirements of the job you're applying for. Consider including:

  • Years of experience in quality control roles
  • Specific industries or products you've worked with
  • Key responsibilities and achievements

Here's an example of a summary that effectively highlights relevant experience:

Quality Control Manager with 8+ years of experience in the automotive industry. Proven track record of implementing effective quality control processes that have reduced defects by 30% and increased customer satisfaction ratings by 20%. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with suppliers to ensure consistent quality standards.

2. Showcase leadership and problem-solving skills

As a Quality Control Manager, your ability to lead teams and solve complex problems is crucial. Use your summary to highlight these skills and provide specific examples of how you've applied them in past roles.

Avoid generic statements like:

  • Strong leadership skills
  • Excellent problem-solver

Instead, provide concrete examples:

  • Led a team of 15 quality control inspectors to achieve a 98% on-time delivery rate
  • Developed and implemented a new testing protocol that reduced product defects by 25%

  Experience

Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show hiring managers that you have the right experience to excel in the quality control manager role.

In this section, we'll break down each critical step to writing an effective work experience section, from using the right action verbs to quantifying your impact.

1. Lead with strong action verbs

When describing your quality control experience, choose powerful action verbs that showcase your contributions and achievements. Consider verbs like:

  • Implemented new quality control processes that reduced defect rate by 15%
  • Spearheaded root cause analysis to identify and resolve recurring quality issues
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and execute quality improvement initiatives
  • Monitored key quality metrics and generated reports for senior leadership

Avoid starting bullets with weak, passive phrases like "Responsible for" or "Tasked with". Instead, use strong verbs that emphasize your active role and ownership.

Action Verbs for Quality Control Manager

2. Quantify your quality control impact

Numbers speak louder than words. Whenever possible, quantify the results and impact of your quality control efforts. Here are some examples:

  • Reduced customer complaints by 30% through implementing enhanced quality inspection procedures
  • Achieved 99.7% product quality rating by leading a Lean Six Sigma DMAIC project
  • Saved $500K annually by identifying and eliminating sources of waste in the QC process

If you don't have exact metrics, you can still provide numerical context:

  • Led a team of 12 quality control inspectors across 3 manufacturing plants
  • Managed quality control for product lines generating $10M+ in annual revenue

3. Showcase your QC skills and expertise

Quality control managers need a robust skill set spanning technical knowledge, leadership, data analysis, and problem-solving. Highlight your most relevant and impressive skills through your work experience bullets. For example:

  • Expertise in quality control methods such as SPC, GD&T, and FMEA
  • Proficiency in quality management systems including ISO 9001, AS9100, and Six Sigma
  • Strong data analysis skills leveraging tools like Minitab and Tableau to identify trends and drive improvements

Avoid simply listing skills without context, like this:

  • Skills include quality control, Six Sigma, root cause analysis

Instead, weave your skills into your accomplishments to provide a specific context and make a stronger impact.

4. Highlight promotions and career growth

If you've advanced in your quality control career, make that trajectory obvious to hiring managers. Here are some ways to highlight your career growth:

Quality Control Manager, XYZ Manufacturing (2018-Present) Quality Control Engineer, XYZ Manufacturing (2015-2018) - Promoted to Quality Control Manager to oversee quality operations across multiple production lines - Implemented a Lean QC program as Quality Engineer, resulting in promotion to QC Manager role

By showcasing your promotions and expanded responsibilities, you demonstrate your ability to succeed and grow in the quality control function. This helps position you as a strong candidate for senior-level quality control manager roles.

  Education

Your education section is a vital part of your quality control manager resume. It shows hiring managers that you have the necessary knowledge and training to succeed in the role. Here are some tips to make your education section stand out:

How To Write An Education Section - Quality Control Manager Roles

1. List your degrees in reverse chronological order

Start with your most recent degree and work backwards. Include the name of the institution, the degree you earned, and the year you graduated. If you have multiple degrees, list them separately.

Here's an example of how to format your education section:

Master of Science in Quality Management, ABC University, 2019 Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, XYZ College, 2015

2. Highlight relevant coursework and projects

If you're a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you can use your education section to showcase relevant coursework and projects. This helps demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers.

Some examples of relevant coursework for a quality control manager might include:

  • Statistical Process Control
  • Six Sigma Methodology
  • Quality Management Systems
  • Lean Manufacturing Principles

Avoid listing basic or introductory courses that aren't directly related to quality control, such as:

  • English Composition 101
  • College Algebra
  • Introduction to Psychology

3. Include relevant certifications

If you have any certifications related to quality control or management, include them in your education section. This can help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your expertise.

Some examples of relevant certifications for a quality control manager might include:

  • Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
  • Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
  • Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)

Avoid listing certifications that aren't directly related to the role or industry, such as:

  • CPR/First Aid Certification
  • Microsoft Office Specialist

4. Keep it concise for senior-level positions

If you're a senior-level quality control manager with extensive work experience, you don't need to include as much detail in your education section. Instead, focus on your most recent and relevant degrees.

Here's an example of how a senior-level education section might look:

M.S. Quality Management, ABC University B.S. Industrial Engineering, XYZ College

Avoid listing graduation dates if you've been out of school for more than 10-15 years, as this can sometimes lead to age discrimination:

Master of Science in Quality Management, ABC University, 1985 Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, XYZ College, 1980

  Skills

Your skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume as a quality control manager. It's where you showcase your expertise and qualifications that make you the best fit for the job. In this section, you'll want to highlight both your technical skills and your soft skills that are relevant to quality control.

Here are some tips to help you write a strong skills section on your quality control manager resume:

How To Write Your Skills Section - Quality Control Manager Roles

1. Tailor your skills to the job description

When writing your skills section, it's important to tailor it to the specific job you're applying for. Read through the job description carefully and make note of any skills or qualifications that are mentioned. Then, make sure to include those skills on your resume if you have them.

For example, if the job description mentions experience with Six Sigma or ISO 9001, make sure to include those specific skills. This will help your resume get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that many companies use to filter out candidates who don't have the required skills.

Six Sigma Black Belt certified Experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems Proficient in statistical process control (SPC)

2. Focus on technical skills and tools

As a quality control manager, your technical skills and knowledge of quality control tools and techniques are critical. Make sure to highlight these skills prominently in your skills section.

Some examples of technical skills to include:

  • Quality Management Systems : Six Sigma, Lean, Kaizen, ISO 9001, ISO 14001
  • Tools : Statistical Process Control (SPC), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis, Pareto Charts, Control Charts
  • Software : Minitab, SAP QM, IQS, ETQ Reliance

By including specific technical skills and tools, you'll show employers that you have the knowledge and expertise needed to succeed in a quality control manager role.

3. Avoid outdated or irrelevant skills

While it's important to highlight your skills and experience, you also want to avoid including outdated or irrelevant skills on your resume. Stick to skills that are current and in-demand in the quality control field.

Microsoft Office Data Entry Customer Service

Instead, focus on highlighting skills that are specific to quality control and relevant to the job you're applying for, like:

Auditing Continuous Improvement Problem Solving Data Analysis

4. Quantify your skills and achievements

Whenever possible, quantify your skills and achievements to make them more impactful. For example, instead of just listing 'Six Sigma' as a skill, specify your level of expertise or any relevant projects you've completed.

Six Sigma Black Belt with 5+ years of experience leading process improvement projects Reduced defects by 35% and increased productivity by 20% through Lean Six Sigma initiatives

By quantifying your skills and achievements, you'll give employers a better understanding of the value you can bring to their organization and help your resume stand out from other candidates.

Skills For Quality Control Manager Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from Quality Control Manager job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

  • Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
  • Food Safety
  • Quality System
  • Microbiology
  • Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Quality Assurance

  • Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
  • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Skills Word Cloud For Quality Control Manager Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Quality Control Manager job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.

Top Quality Control Manager Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

How to use these skills?

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An Inventory Control Analyst resume sample showing the applicant's extensive work experience and inventory management skills

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A well-structured resume for an entry-level manufacturing engineer highlighting specific skills and experience.

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Resume Guide: Detailed Insights From Recruiters

  • Quality Control Resume Guide & Examples for 2022

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Quality Control Manager Resumes

  • Template #1: Quality Control Manager
  • Template #2: Quality Control Manager
  • Template #3: Quality Control Manager
  • Template #4: QA/QC Manager
  • Template #5: Quality Operations Manager
  • Template #6: Quality Systems Manager
  • Skills for Quality Control Manager Resumes
  • Free Quality Control Manager Resume Review
  • Other Research & Science Resumes
  • Quality Control Manager Interview Guide
  • Quality Control Manager Sample Cover Letters
  • Alternative Careers to a Quality Control Technician
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COMMENTS

  1. How Do I List 20 Years of Experience on My Resume?

    For someone who has a lot of experience, what I typically recommend is: In addition to having your Professional Summary and Areas of Expertise, include a Career Highlights section on the first page. A highlights section is three or five bullets that show off the headliners from your 20-year career.

  2. The most impressive resume I've ever seen—based on 20 years of ...

    A few years ago, however, I was surprised to find a resume that actually managed to impress me. In fact, it was one of the best resumes I had ever seen in my 20 years of hiring and interviewing ...

  3. Over 20 Years of Experience? A Guide for What to Include on Your Resume

    3) Assign consultant positions under one Job Heading. When you have worked more than 20 years, there are times that you probably consulted between jobs or opted to have that flexibility for ...

  4. How To Include Years of Experience on Your Resume

    1. Entry-level. In an entry-level resume, you can include your relevant work experience by highlighting your educational training, volunteer experience or any internships that you may have completed. You might consider positioning this section just under your introduction or career objective. Additionally, you might consider the following ...

  5. How to Write Years of Experience on a Resume

    You can also condense your resume by abbreviating the months for the dates of employment for each position or even listing the dates of employment on the same line as the job title separated by commas. 3. Third, check the job posting for the required years of work experience. Consider a job posting that requires 20 years of job-related experience.

  6. Q&A: Years of Experience on a Resume

    When listing your work experience on your resume, it's important to stay within the past 10 to 15 years of your career. For instance, if you have over 20 years' experience working in your career field, you will want to highlight only 10 to 15 years of your career. If you have work experience within different jobs and industries, though, it's ...

  7. How to write the perfect resume based on your years of experience

    Essential tips: Make the first section your professional summary. For a highly experienced candidate like Jonathan, adding a professional summary at the very top is a quick way to concisely convey ...

  8. Your Resume's Work Experience Section: A Complete Guide

    For most job seekers using a chronological or combination resume format, you should list your past jobs within your experience section (or sections) in reverse chronological order. For each item you list—full-time jobs or other types of experience—include the following: Position details: List your job title, company name, location, and ...

  9. How to List Years of Experience on a Resume (With Tips)

    How to list experience of more than 10 years on a resume. Hiring managers can also consider you for a position if you have over 10 years of work experience. Here's a three-step process to help you create an effective resume highlighting this work history: 1. Identify all required skills and experience.

  10. How to Add Work Experience to Your Resume (With Examples)

    1. Create a dedicated section for your professional experience. First, choose an appropriate title like "professional experience" or "work experience" for the section of your resume where you'll list your past jobs. For each job, include the following information: Job title. Company name.

  11. How To List Work Experience On A Resume (20+ Examples)

    1. Put it under a clear, legible heading. Make sure your work experience section is clearly visible and has its own heading. You can name this section "Work Experience", "Experience" or "Employment History". 2. Place it right under the resume summary or objective. It's best to place the experience section right under your resume ...

  12. How to Write a Resume for a Job in 2024

    3. List your name and contact information. To start writing your resume, create an eye-catching resume header that quickly highlights your contact information and job title. Your name should always be the largest element on your resume to make it stand out, so use a font size larger than 20 points.

  13. 20+ Years Experience: Creating a Resume that Highlights Your ...

    Use a two-page resume. A good rule of thumb is that each page of your resume should contain 10 years of experience. Since you have 20 or more years of experience, you can expand your resume to two pages. But if you're going to have a long resume, it should be tailored to the particular job you want and should only include relevant experience.

  14. How to Write your Work Experience on a Resume [+ Examples]

    Focus on results of your job history in the past. Only list work experience on a resume that is relevant to the job you're applying to. Stand out with strong action verbs. Get specific: use numbers, facts, and figures. Speak in the past tense when the job is complete, present when you're still doing the work.

  15. Work Experience on a Resume

    A resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant skills and achievements related to the job. In 2-3 simple sentences, a good resume summary tells the hiring manager: Your years of experience in that type of role. Your top qualifications or impressive accomplishments.

  16. How to Make a Resume in 2024: Writing Guide + Examples

    Make it distinctive to highlight your name and contact information. Organize your resume sections in the following order: summary/objective, work experience, education, skills, and extras. Use bullet points for your entries under each section. Find resume icons for each section or skip them altogether. File format.

  17. How to Show Work Experience on a Resume—Full Guide

    So, here's how to list work experience on a resume, step by step: 1. Make the Section Heading Stand Out. Label your resume work experience section with one of the following titles: Work Experience. Experience. Employment History. Work History. Make the section title larger than the rest of your job descriptions.

  18. Resume for Older Workers: Examples for 25+ Years' Experience

    Sample resumes for older workers. To give you an idea of what hiring managers expect from you, here are two examples of resumes for older workers to look at before you write your resume: 1. Example resume with 25 years of experience. The example below shows you how to fit 25+ years of relevant work history on your resume (tap or move your mouse ...

  19. Experienced Resume Templates to Impress Any Employer

    Experienced Job Seeking Tips. Professional 1. When you are applying for jobs, the first impression you make is going to be based entirely on your resume. This list of tips and strategies will help you write a strong resume so you can feel confident as you search for jobs as an experienced worker. Try to keep your resume shorter than two pages.

  20. 430+ Resume Examples for Any Job or Experience Level

    Yes, a resume can be two pages. If you have 10+ years of experience in your industry or an exceptional amount of relevant skills and accomplishments, it's okay to write a two-page resume. However, for entry to mid-level candidates, a one-page resume is best for most job applications.

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

    It doesn't matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can't contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information: Your full name. First and last. Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly. Your email address.

  22. 40+ Resume Tips to Help You Land a Job in 2024

    40. Proofread, proofread, proofread. It should go without saying, but fully edit your resume and make sure it's free and clear of typos. And don't rely on spell check and grammar check alone—step away for a few hours, then read your resume closely again, and ask family or friends to take a look at it for you. 41.

  23. 10 Resume Tips for Older Professionals (With Template and Example)

    Here is a sample resume for an older professional using the template: Linda Browne (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] Professional Summary. Driven communications manager with over 10 years of experience leading corporate communications departments and managing crisis communications.

  24. How To Make A Resume (With Free Template)

    Choose 1.0 or 1.5 inch line spacing. Set margins to 1 inch on all sides. Save your résumé as a PDF or Docx, using your full name and sometimes the job title as the file name. Adhere to the ...

  25. Best Resume Format for Experienced Candidates With Sample

    1. Start by creating a professional layout. If you're not too keen on using free resume templates, you must make the layout from scratch. Begin making the resume format for an experienced candidate by taking the below steps: Set the resume margins to 1 inch on all sides and make line spacing 1 or 1.5 wide.

  26. How To Write Experience In A Resume (With Examples)

    Just mentioning the city and the state is sufficient. If any of your past work experience was work from home, you can either mention your current location or simply write " remote work " in the job location part. 3. Specify the dates of employment. Next, you should mention the start and end dates of each employment.

  27. Master Resume Writing: Tips for Crafting Your Best

    Correct formatting: Keep your résumé clean, concise, and easy to read. Use bullet points to list your accomplishments, and avoid large blocks of text. Aim to keep your résumé to one page, especially if you're a recent graduate. Before submitting your résumé, be sure to proofread carefully for spelling and grammar—errors can create a ...

  28. How to Write a Resume in 2024

    The contact information section should be the focal point of your resume. Write your name in the largest font and include your phone number, email, and mailing address in a smaller font below. Be sure to use a professional email address and avoid emails with the following domains: @yahoo.com, @aol.com, @hotmail.com, and @bellsouth.net.

  29. Build a Strong Resume with Minimal Work Experience

    1 Highlight Skills. Even with minimal job experience, you have skills that are valuable in the workplace. Emphasize your soft skills, like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are ...

  30. Quality Control Manager Resume Examples for 2024

    Implemented a rigorous process control system, resulting in a 20% decrease in manufacturing discrepancy. Motivated a team of 12 quality associates, optimizing process flows and enhancing productivity by 23%. Modernized quality assurance systems using cutting-edge technology, driving a 15% fall in product defects.