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When it comes to creating a resume, one of the most important sections is describing your work experience, volunteer activities, projects, and other relevant endeavors. Crafting precise, concise, and descriptive descriptions of your employment history and volunteer experience is essential to showcasing your skills, accomplishments, and overall fit for the position you are applying for. Here are some tips to help you effectively describe your work experience and stand out to potential employers.
Start each description by stating the name of the organization, its location, your job title (e.g. coordinator or volunteer), and the dates of your employment or involvement. Arrange your experiences in reverse chronological order, with the most recent position listed first.
Use impactful action verbs to describe your responsibilities. Focus on the skills and qualities you possess that are important in your industry, and try to incorporate industry-specific keywords. Show potential employers how you align with their organization and the role they are hiring for.
Diversify your use of action verbs to avoid monotony in your descriptions. Use present tense for ongoing actions and past tense for completed tasks. Avoid using pronouns like “I” and prepositions, and quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. Incorporate numerical figures, monetary values, and percentages to highlight your achievements.
Avoid providing a generic summary of your past roles or the organizations you have worked with. Instead, focus on detailing your specific duties and accomplishments within those roles. Keep your descriptions focused on the three or four most significant aspects of each experience.
Here are some examples of action verbs that can help you effectively convey your skills and accomplishments on your resume: Adapted, awarded, constructed, collaborated, developed, nurtured, implemented, immersed, improved, managed, organized, achieved, practiced, realized, represented, recognized, shared, traveled, translated, visited, and more.
In addition to listing your responsibilities and achievements, consider including any relevant awards, certifications, or honors you have received. Highlight any skills or qualifications that set you apart from other candidates, and provide concrete examples of how you have demonstrated those skills in a professional setting.
When describing your work experience, focus on quantifiable results and specific examples of how you have contributed to the success of your team or organization. Use metrics and data to support your claims, and be prepared to discuss your accomplishments in more detail during interviews.
Overall, your work experience section should paint a clear picture of your professional background, skills, and capabilities. By following these tips and guidelines, you can create compelling descriptions that showcase your value as a candidate and help you stand out to potential employers.
