another word for my resume

Synonyms of resume

• as in to continue
• as in summary
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Thesaurus Definition of resume

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• proceed (with)
• resuscitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discontinue

Thesaurus Definition of résumé  (Entry 2 of 2)

• summarization
• recapitulation
• encapsulation
• run - through
• summing - up
• condensation
• curtailment
• streamlining
• abbreviation
• abridgement
• simplification
• amplification
• enlargement

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Cite this Entry

“Resume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resume. Accessed 23 May. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on resume

Nglish: Translation of resume for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of resume for Arabic Speakers

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noun as in outline of experience

Weak matches

• curriculum vitae
• recapitulation
• work history

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Example sentences.

The NBA and its players' union agreed on Friday to resume the league's playoffs on Saturday after players refused to take the floor for a number of games this week in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

Overall trading on both platforms resumed as normal once the issue was resolved.

As the federal government and local housing authorities loosen moratoriums on evictions, concerns are growing that the Annapolis agency’s ramped up court actions will resume.

This is a groundbreaking step that is expected to provide a longer-lasting protection in public spaces, increasing consumer confidence in resuming normal air travel and other activities.

Wells Fargo is resuming layoffs, as the beleaguered bank looks to cut costs to cope with the coronavirus pandemic and long-running regulatory issues that have hampered its growth.

If he did, it could be a sign that our politicians are ready to resume genuine policy-making across party lines.

As for the search, which will soon resume, Soelisto confessed that “the capability of our equipment is not optimum.”

They added that the shutdown was temporary and they plan to resume the trial in January.

Sharpton, well known for a series of controversial incidents earlier in his career, also played defense about his own resume.

Then, thanks to home care support, she was able to resume an independent life.

Fortunately, Massna had time to make his way through the Austrian skirmishers and resume his command.

One morning Tom was awakened by his faithful attendant to resume his weary journey.

I shall then give an account of my various excursions in an Appendix, and afterwards resume the thread of my journal.

He did not resume his book immediately, but sat for a while meditatively looking out into the garden.

When you happen to think of it; will you try never to allow yourself to resume that expression—that expression again?

Related Words

Words related to résumé are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word résumé . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in short document prepared from a longer one

• condensation

noun as in account of person's life

• autobiography
• confessions
• experiences
• life history
• personal account
• personal anecdote
• personal narrative
• personal record

verb as in return

Viewing 5 / 47 related words

On this page you'll find 58 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to resume, such as: continue, go on, proceed, regain, reopen, and restart.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Synonyms and antonyms of resume in English

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an occasion when a driver in a motor race stops in the pits (= area where cars are repaired)

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Resume Synonyms for Professional

Describing yourself as 'Professional' is expected but can be redundant. Dive into our guide for more distinctive terms that encapsulate your work ethic and demeanor.

Table of Contents

Using professional on a resume.

'Professional' signifies adherence to industry standards, ethics, and a polished demeanor. On a resume, it assures potential employers of your dedication to quality and professionalism. However, it's a broad term. Providing examples that embody your professional nature or using more specific descriptors can enhance its clarity and impact.

Tailor Your Resume Content to the Job Description

Strong vs Weak Uses of Professional

Examples of using professional on a resume.

• As a Professional Project Manager, I successfully led a team of 10 to complete a year-long project, resulting in a 20% increase in company revenue.
• Exhibited professional growth by taking on additional responsibilities as a Senior Sales Associate, which led to a promotion within six months.
• Developed and implemented a professional development program for junior staff, improving team productivity by 15%.
• Worked as a professional in a company.
• Did professional tasks as assigned by the manager.

How Professional Is Commonly Misused

Professional and reliable.

This statement is too generic and does not provide any specific information about the candidate's skills or qualifications. It is better to provide concrete examples or evidence of professionalism and reliability, such as "Consistently met deadlines and exceeded client expectations, resulting in a 95% client retention rate."

Professional experience

While it may seem like a standard section heading, using "Professional Experience" as a heading on a resume is redundant and unnecessary. It is already implied that the section contains information about the candidate's work experience. Instead, simply use "Experience" as the heading.

Professional communication skills

This statement is too vague and does not provide any specific information about the candidate's communication skills. It is better to provide examples or specific details to showcase these skills, such as "Effectively communicated complex ideas to cross-functional teams, resulting in improved collaboration and streamlined project execution."

When to Replace Professional with Another Synonym

Leading a team:.

Instead of using "Professional," job seekers can use synonyms like "Manager," "Leader," or "Supervisor" to convey their role in overseeing and coordinating a team's activities. These alternatives highlight their ability to provide guidance, set goals, and ensure the successful completion of projects.

Handling projects:

When describing project management experience, job seekers can opt for synonyms such as "Coordinator," "Organizer," or "Executor." These terms emphasize their skills in planning, scheduling, and executing projects, showcasing their ability to handle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and deliver results.

Providing customer service:

Instead of using "Professional," job seekers can use synonyms like "Customer Service Representative," "Client Relations Specialist," or "Customer Support Agent" to highlight their experience in assisting and satisfying customers. These alternatives demonstrate their ability to handle inquiries, resolve issues, and maintain positive relationships with clients.

Best Resume Synonyms for Professional

How to replace professional with a stronger, more relevant synonym, replacing professional in your resume summary.

Using Professional

Using a Strong Synonym

Replacing Professional in Your Work Experience

• Professional experience in managing a team of software developers to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Expert leadership in directing a team of software developers, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget.

Powerful Professional Synonyms for Different Job Categories

Best professional synonyms for marketing resumes, best professional synonyms for customer service resumes, find the right synonyms for any job, frequently asked questions.

The best replacement for 'Professional' on a resume could be 'Expert', 'Specialist', or 'Experienced', depending on the context. For example, instead of saying "Professional in digital marketing", you could say "Digital Marketing Specialist". Alternatively, "Experienced Software Developer" can replace "Professional Software Developer".

It's appropriate to use 'Professional' on your resume when describing your career level, as in 'Professional Experience', or when listing professional affiliations. It can also be used in a summary statement to highlight your professional demeanor or approach. For example, "A dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience in project management."

You can gauge if 'Professional' is relevant for your resume by considering the job you're applying for and the skills it requires. If the role demands a high level of expertise, responsibility, or adherence to certain standards, then 'Professional' can be a suitable term to use. For instance, if you're applying for a managerial role, you could say "Professional experience in team management and project coordination". However, remember to back up this term with specific examples of your professional behavior and achievements.

Which Job Titles use Professional the Most?

Top 5 titles/functions with the most mentions of professional on their resume:, related resume synonyms, explore full resume examples to find other improvements.

Guidance to Improve Your Resume Language for Greater Impact

Synonyms of 'resume' in American English

Synonyms of 'resume' in british english, additional synonyms.

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• result in something
• All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'R'

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Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Resume synonyms for managed.

Want another word for Managed to use on your resume? Our team's compiled the most effective action verbs and synonyms you can use instead of the overused resume phrase, " Managed ".

If you want to use a power verb to demonstrate your capability of taking charge, making decisions, and organizing people, 'managed' is the perfect word. This word indicates that you have a certain level of responsibility and authority. A hiring manager will see this as evidence that you can handle the work they need to be done. But, no matter how powerful the word is to describe your ability, it's always a good idea to use synonyms for the word 'managed' in your resume. This can help you avoid repetition and keep your resume from looking like a list of skills and responsibilities, which is often an automatic turn-off for recruiters. To fix it, try replacing 'managed' with these synonyms: led, spearheaded, or executed. This will make your resume stand out from the crowd, especially if the job you're applying for requires an assertive leader who can take charge and get things done. Using synonyms in your resume can help you avoid repetition and adds variety to your writing, which makes your resume more engaging. I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Managed on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).

Resume Synonyms for Managed :

• Coordinated
• Implemented
• Accelerated
• Strengthened
• Revitalized
• Transcended
• Orchestrated

How to replace Managed with a stronger action verb:

Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Managed, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.

• Managed team to restructure pricing so it was less cost-based; implemented a three-tiered pricing model which increased average sale 35% and margin 12%

After: Using a stronger synonym • Spearheaded a major pricing restructure by redirecting focus on consumer willingness to pay instead of product cost; implemented a three-tiered pricing model which increased average sale 35% and margin 12%.

Replacing Managed with Supervised ▾

• Managed a group of sales associates at a retail store.

After: Supervised • Supervised a team of eight sales associates at a key retail location, achieving a 25% increase in quarterly sales through effective customer-driven strategies and upselling techniques.

The initial statement was vague and lacked any quantifiable results. By including specific numbers and detailing the methods used, this updated version provides a clear depiction of the impact made while in this role.

Tip: I've prepared a ton of additional examples for you to give you inspiration. Please click on any of the following to expand and see real examples of how I've rewritten client bullet points.

Replacing Managed with Executed ▾

• Managed a new advertising campaign for the company.

After: Executed • Executed a comprehensive advertising campaign that directly resulted in a 15% increase in overall brand awareness, and a 10% boost in website traffic within the first quarter.

The 'before' statement failed to convey the success and scope of the advertising campaign. By detailing the exact results achieved, the new version demonstrates efficacy and business impact.

Replacing Managed with Coordinated ▾

• Managed the onboarding of new employees.

After: Coordinated • Coordinated the seamless onboarding of over 50 new employees within a year, contributing to a 30% growth in the company's workforce while maintaining a 90% retention rate.

The update outlines the scope of the task performed and provides quantifiable metrics. Details of the task's impact on the organization's growth were added to highlight the key role you played.

Replacing Managed with Overhauled ▾

• Managed the company's outdated financial systems.

After: Overhauled • Overhauled the company's outdated financial systems, implementing new software which improved efficiency by 60% and saved approximately $20,000 on annual expenses.

The original lacked specifics and results. The update illustrates what exactly was done and the resulting benefit, providing a clear picture of the candidate's capacity to induce positive changes.

Replacing Managed with Controlled ▾

• Managed departmental budget.

After: Controlled • Controlled $5M annual department budget, reducing expenditures by 15% while upholding service quality throughout the fiscal year.

By replacing 'Managed' with 'Controlled' and adding relevant numerals and percentages, this statement presents a clearer, stronger image of fiscal management skills.

Replacing Managed with Pioneered ▾

• Managed new project launch.

After: Pioneered • Pioneered the successful launch of a groundbreaking project that generated an additional $50,000 in revenue within the first two months.

Details of the project's success were added in the 'after' statement to underscore the significance of the role played and the positive impact made on the company's profit margin.

Replacing Managed with Directed ▾

• Managed customer service resolutions.

After: Directed • Directed resolution of key customer issues, drastically reducing complaint escalations by 40% within six months while improving customer satisfaction ratings.

Including the time frame, specific benefits, and impact on customer satisfaction amongst the changes made paints a clearer picture of the initiative's success and your effectiveness in the role.

Replacing Managed with Negotiated ▾

• Managed contracts with suppliers.

After: Negotiated • Negotiated supplier contracts leading to improved terms and conditions, averting an annual increase costing $70,000 and streamlining supply chain processes.

By detailing the contract negotiation and its impact on the company's finances, the revised version effectively showcases your negotiations skills and the financial benefit the company reaped.

Replacing Managed with Implemented ▾

• Managed internal communication processes.

After: Implemented • Implemented streamlined internal communication processes resulting in 40% less email clutter and a 20% increase in meeting efficiency.

The 'after' statement shows off problem-solving abilities as it clearly outlines the solution provided and the positive results that followed, producing an overall picture of effectiveness.

Replacing Managed with Devised ▾

• Managed new strategies for product marketing.

After: Devised • Devised innovative product marketing strategies that boosted online sales by 35% over a quarter and increased brand engagement with consumers.

The revision highlights the creativity involved in devising successful strategies, its positive impact on the company's sales and brand engagement, providing hiring managers an understanding of your direct contribution.

Replacing Managed with Maintained ▾

• Managed company website.

After: Maintained • Maintained company's website, implementing SEO strategies that increased organic traffic by 78% over six months.

By describing the exact task and its impact, the update emphasizes the importance of the role and the proficiency in SEO, contributing to the company's online visibility.

Replacing Managed with Accelerated ▾

• Managed the production process.

After: Accelerated • Accelerated the production process by integrating a new assembly line system, ramping up production by 20% and reducing downtime by 15%.

In the updated statement, by using a power verb and including specific details of the result achieved, it paints a vivid picture of your ability to improve processes and enhance productivity.

Replacing Managed with Secured ▾

• Managed negotiations with a new client.

After: Secured • Secured a profitable partnership with a key industry client, resulting in an unexpected $2M increase in annual revenue for the company.

The revision emphasizes the outcome of these negotiations showing off your ability to seal deals and contribute to the company's bottom line.

Replacing Managed with Analyzed ▾

• Managed data reporting for the company's customer base.

After: Analyzed • Analyzed data across the company's 50,000+ customer base, identifying patterns that lead to a 15% improvement in customer retention rates.

The 'after' version specifies the breadth of the task and its outcome, highlighting analytical skills and the beneficial impact on the company.

Replacing Managed with Instigated ▾

• Managed a team to improve company morale.

After: Instigated • Instigated a company-wide initiative that improved employee satisfaction scores by 25% and reduced staff turnover by 15% within one year.

The upgrade provides specific statistics and results to illustrate the impact of your leadership, showcasing the ability to set in motion changes that bolster a company's culture.

Replacing Managed with Strengthened ▾

• Managed the company's client relationships.

After: Strengthened • Strengthened key client relationships, leading to an extended partnership duration by an average of two years and a 10% increase in client referrals.

Specific details about the positive outcomes of the action make the 'after' statement much stronger, highlighting your capacity to construct fruitful business relationships.

Replacing Managed with Calculated ▾

• Managed financial forecasts for the fiscal year.

After: Calculated • Calculated and presented financial forecasts that accurately predicted a slowdown in quarter three, informing early mitigation strategies that reduced losses by 20%.

The revision details the forecasting accuracy and its positive consequences, showing your ability to make fiscal predictions that impact company policies.

Replacing Managed with Leveraged ▾

• Managed company's social media presence.

After: Leveraged • Leveraged company's social media presence, increasing follower engagement rates by 45% over one year and achieving a 25% increase in website click-throughs.

By moving from 'managed' to 'leveraged' and providing specific numerical outcomes, your action's impact and the practical knowledge of social media management are more effectively communicated.

Replacing Managed with Revitalized ▾

• Managed company's old and ineffective training practices.

After: Revitalized • Revitalized outdated company training practices, resulting in a 30% increase in team productivity and a reduction in the training period from 8 weeks to 5 weeks.

In the 'after' statement, describing the benefits in a quantifiable way outlines the role you played in augmenting productivity and streamlining company processes.

Replacing Managed with Transcended ▾

• Managed increased profits for the company.

After: Transcended • Transcended company's financial targets by capitalizing on new markets, contributing to a 45% increase in profits compared to the previous fiscal year.

The revised statement underlines the strategy employed and its prosperous outcome, showcasing initiative, strategic thinking, and the ability to deliver over and beyond expectations.

How to use these synonyms in practice

We've put together an infographic to give you more examples of how to put this into practice. Note the use of strong action verbs instead of words like Managed.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use created on a resume:.

• Created and implemented Google AdWords strategy; increased customer acquisitions by 20% and decreased cost per acquisition by 50%.

How to use Implemented on a resume:

• Implemented crash reporter and used findings to fix three biggest causes of crashes; fixes reduced customer support calls by 30%.

How to use Performed on a resume:

• Performed DCF analysis to evaluate offers for company's sell-side process; qualitative offer comparison and quantitative model outputs were shared directly with client's senior management team.

How to use Enabled on a resume:

• Enabled integration with existing systems by creating tool that extracts metadata from images and provides metadata to a system-wide search database..

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led five developers to establish client's ERP system; identified $1.5MM in cost savings, and secured $1MM+ in additional work for Accenture.

How to use Promoted on a resume:

• Promoted within 12 months due to strong performance and organizational impact - ahead of schedule by 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for managed on a resume.

If you're looking for another word to use in place of Managed, consider using one of these stronger alternatives:

What is another way of saying Managed on a resume?

Words like Managed are overused on resumes. Instead, you should use other phrases like Commanded, Processed, Resolved, Fielded, Steered or Hosted.

Get a free resume review: Find out if your action verbs are strong enough.

As a next step, I'd recommend going through each of your resume's verbs and improving each one with stronger action verbs. The most effective way to do that is by uploading your resume to tool below. It'll tell you which parts of your resume need work, so you can improve them before a recruiter rejects you for them.

Related resume examples

C-level and executive.

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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

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:

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:

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

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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