How to write work experience on a CV [+10 examples] (2023)

What is relevant work experience?

Relevant work experience is any experience that helps you qualify for the position you want.Relevant experienceit can be earned from your job, education or even hobbies. The important thing is that you have collectedtransferable skillsthrough the experience that will help you succeed in the new role.

It is important to include relevant work experience on your CV because it shows hiring managers that you have understood the job.job requirementsand that your experiencemeets these requirements.

How to format your work experience section

Just as important as choosing the right onecurriculum vitae templateand generallyCV-formatIt is knowing how to structure your work experience section. Hiring managers need to be able to quickly confirm that you have the experience they are looking for.

Follow these rules to secure yoursCV-formatit is true:

List your previous job titles, employment dates and company names

For each job you list in the work experience section, please include the following information:

• job titles)
• company name
• Place of business (city and state)
• Dates you were employed there
• Three to five points highlighting your achievements and work duties

Here is a template that shows how your work experience should be formatted:

Please list your most recent work experience first

List your most recent work experience at the top of your work experience section with less recent job titles below (much like aCV creation softwarewill automatically format this information).

The more recent the work experience, the higher it should be placed on your CV. Follow this format when writing the work experience section of your resume:

List your work experiencechronologically on your CVIt shows hiring managers how you've progressed in your career and lets them see how your skills have developed over time. Make sure to use the presentresume timefor bullet points in your most recent work experience and the time spent writing bullet points for previous roles.

Here is an example of a work experience section taken from onepolice officer resume:

How to describe work experience on your CV

Once you know how to format your work experience on your resume, you should describe that experience with bullet points that highlight your professional background and skill set. Here it ishow to write a resumethat accurately reflects your experience:

Include achievements instead of responsibilities

Emphasizingachievements on your CVrather than simply listing job responsibilities. Achievements show that you have contributed positively to your company's performance rather than simply meeting expectations.

Compare these examples of work experience bullet points to see how effectively lists of accomplishments can strengthen your resume:

The first example is effective because it includes a number that gives the hiring manager an idea of ​​how you will perform on the job if hired.

Write bullet points for the job you want

Although it may seem time-consuming, work experience items on your resume should not be generic unless you are writing a resume.general curriculum.

The content of your work experience section should be geared toward the job you want, with each bullet point showing specific skills and experience related to the job posting.

You should also include keywords from the job description in your experience section. Includingresume keywords, such as skills and qualifications that keep coming up throughout the job, ensure you meet the hiring manager's requirements.

Start each point with action verbs.

Starts at1:16 periodEva Chan, your professional certified resume writer, explains why action verbs are so effective on resumes:

To elaborate on Eva's point, hiring managers see tons of resumes that begin each point with phrases like "responsible for" and "responsible for."

The problem with language like this is that it ispassiveand it does not describe what you actually achieved at work.

Instead, you should start your bullet points with descriptions.resume action verbsthat clearly show hiring managers what you did in your previous roles.

Here are some examples of action verbs used to effectively describe a job applicant's work experience:

• Organizeda workplace safety measure that saved the company money in workers' compensation
• Developednew communication protocols that improved the connection between the company and customers
• optimizedproduct delivery logistics that expedited order fulfillment for customers

Add numbers to your balls where possible

Use numbers to describe your work experience whenever you can (this is known as quantifying your CV) because numbers give hiring managers a better idea of ​​what you can achieve.

Anything that shows how you measurably improved performance should be included on your resume.

Examples ofhow to quantify your resumeinclude talking about:

• acquired customers
• dollars saved
• Customer satisfaction increased
• generated income
• customer service
• reduced expenses
• Reduced dropout rate
• Improved sales figures

These are some examples of work experience.resume ballswhich includes numbers:

10 examples of work experience on CVs

Frequently asked questions about work experience

Here are some frequently asked questions about putting work experience on a resume:

Can I just put years on my CV?

Yes, you can put years on your CV. Leaving the exact months you were employed out of yoursthe CV work experience sectionit's an acceptable way to minimize a gap in your work history and make your experience seem more consistent.

However, don't imply that you worked somewhere for a year when you only worked there for a month. If employers think you areis on your CVThey won't hire you.

What jobs should you have on a CV?

You should include relevant jobs on a CV. For example, if you are applying for a customer service position, put jobs with similar functions on yourscustomer service CV. Then use numbers andaction verbsto describe these jobs in vignettes.

You can also include non-relevant jobs if necessary to make it clear that you do not have employment gaps. Just don't include bullet points under these jobs unless they show that you have transferable skills for the position you want.

In what order should work experience appear on a CV?

Work experience should generally be listed on a CV in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent job should be listed first and the oldest job should be listed last. This format allows the reader to quickly see an applicant's recent and relevant work experience.

For each work experience entry, include job title, company name, dates of employment and three to five bullet points explaining your responsibilities and achievements.

Can you leave jobs off your CV?

Yes, you can leave jobs from your resume. Your resume is a general description of your most relevant experience and skills for a particular position, not a list of all the jobs you've ever held.

You can (and should) highlight any position that is relevant to the job you want, and skip any job that doesn't improve your chances of getting hired. For example, any past jobs that are not relevant to your current career path (such as a babysitting job you had as a teenager) should be omitted from your resume.

However, be prepared to discuss the jobs you put on your resume during an interview. Get an answer as to why you didn't mention a previously held position if a hiring manager finds out and asks.