The employment history section of your resume is one of the most important parts of your job application. It is where you highlight your accomplishments and demonstrate your skills and capabilities. While your skills section may list the various applications you are proficient in, your job history gives employers a concrete understanding of how you have applied those skills in real-world situations. Employers can learn a lot from your work history, such as your level of experience, the types of roles you have held, and the responsibilities you have taken on.
Constructing a comprehensive job history on your resume involves several key steps:
1. Order your tasks:
Start by listing your most recent job first and then work your way backwards chronologically. Limit your job history to the past decade and avoid listing short-term or irrelevant positions.
2. Include firm name and location:
Be sure to include the name and location of the companies you have worked for. If you worked remotely, indicate this by listing “remote” as the location. It is also important to spell out the company name in full, especially if it is an abbreviation that may be confusing.
3. State your occupation:
Clearly state your job title underneath the company name and location. If you believe your job title is more important than the company name, you can place it first and then list the company underneath.
4. List employment dates:
Include the dates of your employment for each position. You can choose to include both the month and year or just the year. Exact dates are not necessary, and you can also indicate “present” if you are still working in your current role.
5. List your achievements and duties:
Highlight your most significant accomplishments and responsibilities for each role. It can be helpful to categorize these into key areas such as team leadership, account management, and sales. Focus on providing concise and relevant information to keep your resume streamlined and easy to read.
6. Emphasize awards:
If you have received any notable awards or recognition in your past roles, be sure to include these in your employment history. You can choose to include them alongside your achievements and duties or in a separate section.
In addition to these steps, here are some additional tips to help you enhance your job history on your resume:
– Provide detailed and exciting job duties that go beyond basic expectations.
– Use descriptive and impactful adjectives to highlight your successes.
– Quantify your accomplishments with specific statistics and figures.
– Begin each job duty with an action verb to make your resume more dynamic.
– Tailor your job history to the specific job listing you are applying for.
While most hiring managers prefer to see a chronological list of your employment history at the top of your resume, there are exceptions for those with limited experience or unique circumstances. Recent graduates or individuals changing careers may benefit from a functional resume format that emphasizes skills over job history.
By following these tips and guidelines, you can create a strong and comprehensive employment history on your resume that effectively showcases your skills and experiences to potential employers. Remember to keep your information concise, relevant, and tailored to the job you are applying for to make the best impression.