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What Is a Resume?

Understanding a resume, the resume heading, resume trouble spots, changing times for resumes, what you should not put on a resume, the bottom line.

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Resume Definition: Meaning, Purpose, and What Should Not Be on Yours

Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced editor, writer, fact-checker, and proofreader with more than fourteen years of experience working with print and online publications.

Investopedia / Jiaqi Zhou

A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. A resume is usually accompanied by a customized cover letter in which the applicant expresses an interest in a specific job or company and draws attention to the most relevant specifics on the resume.

American job coaches insist that a resume should be only one or two pages in length. British job applicants traditionally are expected to produce a somewhat more detailed document, called a CV (curriculum vitae).

Key Takeaways

• Nowadays, resumes are typically sent by email or as part of an online application.
• The traditional one- to two-page limit for a resume stands, but nothing prevents you from attaching a brief video introduction or other illustration if it is relevant and enhances your presentation.
• It's smart to rewrite your resume to tailor it to a specific job you're seeking.

A resume is almost always required for applicants to office jobs. They are the first step taken by corporate recruiters and hiring managers to identify candidates who might be invited to interview for a position.

Successful resumes highlight specific accomplishments applicants have achieved in former positions, such as cutting costs, transcending sales goals, increasing profits, and building out teams. 

There are many formats for resumes, with many variations for particular professions such as investment banking and the fashion trade.

Whatever the format, most resumes include a brief summary of skills and experience, followed by a bullet list of previous jobs in reverse chronological order and a list of degrees earned. A final section might be added to highlight specific skills, such as fluency in a foreign language, knowledge of computer languages, professionally useful hobbies, professional affiliations, and any honors achieved.

Brevity, a clean layout, and succinct language all are prized. People who have to sort through hundreds of resumes have short attention spans.

The heading on the resume should include not only your name, email address, and mobile phone number but also your address on LinkedIn or another professional community and the address of your website or blog if you have one.

Be aware that any hiring manager will, as a matter of course, enter your name in the Google search field. Do a search on your own and see if you can optimize your own results or at least decently bury any youthful faux pas.

Recruiters examine job histories for significant employment gaps or a pattern of job-hopping. Be prepared to explain either, whether in a cover letter or during an interview. An applicant with a history of short-lived jobs might consider omitting a few of the oldest ones, especially if they aren't relevant to the current job opening.

For example, if you spent years working behind a counter in food service, then went back to school to earn physical therapy credentials, forget some of those early jobs in food service. Flesh out the sections that report your skills , training, and experience in the field that's now your specialty. You can mention those other jobs in the interview while explaining what a reliable professional you are.

The past can be particularly dangerous for applicants to new technology companies seeking to assemble cutting-edge teams. Legacy skills may imply obsolescence. The most powerful resumes underline how an applicant can thrive in the job that's open right now.

It goes without saying that resumes these days are delivered as email attachments or uploaded for an online application, not printed out and mailed.

Although the two-page maximum still stands, many applicants use the web to its full potential when it comes to attachments. Video introductions, charts, graphs, and other illustrations can make you stand out, so long as they're relevant and slickly made.

There is so much talk about what should be in your resume, but there are also some things that ought to be kept off the page. First, and most importantly, are your age, marital status, and the number of children you may have. While a potential employer might be able to deduce this information via a web search, it isn't relevant for a job application.

In addition, do not list your current salary, religion, political beliefs, or any personal details (like your hobbies), unless that information is required for the job in question.

What Are Common Resume Mistakes?

Common resume mistakes include typos, vague details without a lack of specifics, either being too long in detail or too short, grammatical errors, poor verb usage, adding impertinent information, and not including enough information on skills.

Should I Create More Than One Resume?

This depends on whether you are applying for different types of jobs. For example, if you are applying for an office manager job, you should tailor your resume to outline your leadership and organizational skills. But you might also be interested in applying for a retail position, so creating a second resume that instead highlights any retail experience that you have will put you in a better position to get that job.

What If I Do Not Have Any Work Experience?

You can still create a strong resume even if you do not have any professional work experience. Your resume can include any volunteer work you have done and the responsibilities you had during this time. If you are still in school, you can also list any academic organizations you are a part of and any offices and responsibilities you're holding.

Your resume is what gets you the job interview. It's the first step in getting hired. So you want to spend plenty of time making sure it's professional, represents who you are, is void of mistakes, does not contain superfluous information, and highlights why you would be the best candidate for the job.

Your resume should be recent and contain only the most important information; remove anything else. If you've been working for two decades, employers aren't interested in your high school GPA or any internships you had during college. Keep it concise, interesting, and impressive, and you'll be sure to get a response from companies.

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What Is a Resume?

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What is the definition of the word resume?

What are the two styles of resumes, why is chronological the most popular resume style, when to use a functional resume style, resume vs. cv.

Having a strong resume is an important part of making yourself a marketable candidate. To have the best resume you can, it’s important to understand what a resume is and why it’s important, starting with a clear resume definition. This article explains the key aspects of a resume document including the two most common styles and how to format a resume.

A resume is a term primarily used in America and Canada to refer to a document, that is typically one to two pages, and highlights a candidate’s education, experience and skills. The word resume stems from the French word ‘résumé’ which simply means a summary. However, in France and other parts of Europe, that word doesn’t represent a document where your skills and experience are showcased. Instead, in that part of the world, applicants turn in a curriculum vitae, or a CV, to apply for a job.

There are two primary styles of resumes that are commonly used when submitting your application for a new job:

Chronological resume

A chronological resume highlights your experience in terms of career growth. To do this, it focuses on your most recent career endeavors and education and works backward from your current situation to display up to ten years of education and experience. 

Chronological resumes are very common and may represent what you typically think of when you think of the word resume. They offer an in-depth look at your professional history with an emphasis on experience. Ideally, your chronological resume shows that you’ve grown throughout your career, taking on increasingly more responsibilities, in a way that is easily readable for employees.

A typical chronological resume contains these parts:

• Name and contact information. The name and contact information of the applicant is displayed here, including first name, last name, phone number, address and email.
• Resume summary or objective. A snapshot of skills and experience that either summarized the content of your resume, highlighting the most important qualities of it, or states your current career goals or objectives.
• Professional experience.  This should be the most robust part of a chronological resume and can include up to ten years of experience, starting with the most recent at the top of the section.
• Educational experienc e.  Use this area to highlight your education and certificates.
• Skills. A quick, clean list of skills at the bottom of your resume can help employers determine if you’re the best fit for the position.

Functional resume

If you don’t have the work experience yet to support an entire chronological resume format, you may choose to highlight your skills and education using a functional resume. A functional resume is similar to a chronological resume in that it contains the same sections, but they are in a different order. The order of your functional resume will be designed to position you in the best light. 

For example, if you have a master’s degree and certification in a specific subject, but not a lot of job experience, you might organize a functional resume to showcase your education. They can also be organized to feature specific skills. In a functional resume, the chronology of experience is less important than featuring the right sections.

A functional resume has these sections:

• Contact information. Include your contact information at the top, like your first name, last name, address, phone number and email address.
• Summary statement. A well-defined summary statement can include things like education and skills that make you most qualified for the position.
• Skill groups. In a functional resume, you can emphasize skills over experience by grouping skills into major categories, like communication, decision-making and more. Then breaking those sections down into bullet points. For example, a communication section might highlight written and verbal communication, empathy, cultural sensitivity and more.
• Professional experience.  A professional experience section is still required, but it might be briefer than your skills section.
• Education.  List all relevant educational pursuits.

Chronological resumes are popular for a number of reasons. For one, they offer a time-tested way to submit yourself for a position. Chronological resumes have been a professional standard in job searches used in the U.S. and Canada for almost 100 years.

In addition to their long history of being effective at obtaining a job, chronological resumes are designed to show growth and development from one job to the next. This makes them a popular choice for candidates who want to make the best impression on employers by showing promotions and other changes in positions that result in increased responsibility.

For candidates who don’t have the ability to show positive growth and change, the functional resume format may be necessary. 

Here are some things to consider when deciding to use a functional resume format:

• You are re-entering the workforce after a long time away
• There are other employment gaps in your history 
• Your job has changed often over the course of your career
• You want to enter a new field
• You don’t meet the experience requirements for the job you are applying for

Depending on your circumstances, you could also consider using a combination of the two resume styles to suit your needs.

Here are some differences between a CV, or curriculum vitae, and a resume:

• Resumes have cover letters, CVs do not. Instead, CVs have a two-page summary of skills and experience called a CV summary that summarizes the contents of a CV that could be much longer.
• CVs include different sections.  While CVs include the obvious things you would find on a resume or application like job experience and education, they also include additional sections for things like research interests, publications, awards and accolades and more.
• There are regional use-cases for each.  CVs are likely to be used in Europe and parts of Canada, as well as other parts of the world. In the United States and Canada, it’s common for professionals to submit a resume, and as such, employers may expect you to use a chronological or functional resume format with a cover letter, versus a CV and CV summary.

A CV is similar to a resume in that it is a summary of experience and skills. Typically, CVs are used in Europe, while resumes are more common in the United States and Canada. Because CVs are generally expected to be longer than resumes, a CV format may be used for American candidates who have things like numerous publications, extensive work experience or additional accolades that make their resume run longer.

What is a Resume? Definition, Structure, Purpose, Types & Meaning

Reverse chronological resume format

Functional/skills-based resume format, hybrid resume format.

• Resume Templates

Personal Details and Contact Information

Resume introduction, work experience and achievements, education section, additional sections.

You want to get a job and that’s just great! But as you start thinking about it, hundreds of questions pop up in your head.

“How do I write my resume?”, “What is a resume”, “What is a cover letter” and even more and more hanging there. Don’t worry, we are here to help you and get you good and ready to start your journey.

We are going to cover some basic topics like:

• What is a resume
• Resume format and layout

As well as some more advanced ones like:

• Resume structure
• Design and formatting tips
• Dos and Don'ts
• Cover letter

This article is mainly for the basics, so if you want more advanced tips and tricks, you can also learn how to Make Your Resume Stand Out .

But if you are searching for the basics only, that’s the right place!

So let’s dive in.

What is a resume?

The resume is your absolute must if you are looking for a job.

Your resume defines who you are in the eyes of your potential employer and is the most important document in your job application, followed by the cover letter.

But probably you are asking yourself: what is a resume?

In simple words: A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. It usually includes work experience, education, skills and any other relevant information you want to share with your future employer.

We need to note the fact that a resume is different from a curriculum vitae (CV).

The CV shows your complete work experience, education, skill set, and anything else you have done, no matter the length of the document, while the resume’s goal is to present anything relevant in a clear and easy-to-read format.

Unlike a CV, a resume should be modified for each and every job position, so that it would be as relevant as possible, and it should not exceed 1-2 pages.

The goal of your resume is to quickly and effectively show your potential employer why you are uniquely qualified for their job opening, based on your relevant experience and skills.

Preparation before writing a resume

As we said earlier, a resume should be kept short and to the point, it should only include relevant information for the job position.

The easiest way to perfect your resume writing is to get started with some preparation.

What you need to do is get a list of:

• Accomplishments from previous jobs
• Your skill set - soft, hard and technical skills
• Details about your previous jobs
• Details about your education
• Certifications, awards and honors
• Anything else that you might want to include in your resume at one point

Don’t worry about the writing, just focus on the relevance to the job position of everything you write down.

Once you are done, step away. Give it a few hours.

And when you are well rested again, come back to it with fresh eyes and perfect your writing.

Format and Layout

Now you have everything you might want to include in your future resumes, all in one place, and that’s great!

But there is just one more thing to do before we start filling each section with information.

And that’s a pretty important step - choosing the format and sticking to a good layout.

Don’t worry, we got you covered, and we will go through the 3 main resume formats.

A reverse chronological resume format is the most popular one out there.

It has the great advantage of being suitable for pretty much every job position.

This format is mostly career-oriented - it lists your work history in order, as the most recent position would be at the top.

It is the ideal format for people with lots of work experience, relevant to the job position they are applying for.

Check out some of our great examples - Reverse Chronological Resume .

But if you don’t feel confident that your work experience is relevant enough, don’t worry, the next resume format would be perfect for you.

As opposed to the reverse chronological resume, the functional resume format is mainly focused on your skill set.

It is the perfect choice for you if you are looking for your first job or career change, or if you are trying to steer away the employer’s focus from a gap in your employment history.

The great thing about the functional resume format is that it groups your skills in categories and presents them in a great and easy-to-read format.

Check out some examples to form a better idea of what the function resume format is - Functional Resume .

You are not convinced that this is your format either? We have one last format for you and it is guaranteed to work!

As its name shows, this resume format combines all the best features of the reverse chronological and the functional resume.

What it includes is both a reverse chronological work history section, and a highly detailed skill section.

It’s mostly used for job positions that require expertise in a variety of fields, and you want to show that you are the right person for the job.

Get a better understanding of the combination resume format with these examples - Hybrid Resume .

Great, you picked your resume format, now let’s focus on one last thing - the layout .

There are a few important points that you need to follow in order to do this part right.

First, keep it short and to the point. One page is what you need. Don’t go for 2 pages, unless you are absolutely sure that it would add some significant value.

Pick the right font and font size:

• Your font should stand out, but not too much, so you can go for Ubuntu, Roboto and Overpass, but don’t ever try Comic Sans.
• Keep your text between 11 and 12pt, so that it would be easy to read
• Pick a heading type (H1, H2…) and stick with it for all sections. Use between 14 and 16pt so that titles would stand out a little more

To ensure that your resume would look good, make sure you have sufficient white space between sections and appropriate margins (at least 0.7 inches)

And last, but not least - save your resume as PDF . It’s going to keep your formatting as it is, no matter what, as opposed to alternatives like Word.

We know that it might be intimidating to process all that information.

But don’t worry, we got you covered.

There are a few main templates that you can stick to, according to the type of resume you are trying to achieve.

The first, and most multifunctional format, is the Basic . You can use it on any occasion, but it is not specifically concentrated on any section, so if you want to focus on something more, keep reading, we’ve got more for you.

If you just graduated from college and don’t have much experience, you might want to focus more on your education and skills, rather than anything else, so you would want to use the College Resume Example .

We mentioned earlier the functional resume format, we have some examples for you to check out: Function Resume Template .

The other resume templates you can check out, according to your goal are:

• Infographic Resume Template
• Minimalist Resume Template
• Modern Resume Template
• Timeline Resume Template
• Traditional Resume Template
• Two-column Resume Template

Check them all and win the resume game.

Resume Structure

Okay, we are doing great so far!

Let’s dive into all the different sections your resume can have .

Believe it or not, this is the most critical section of your resume.

No matter how well you did everything, how skilled and experienced you are, the HR won’t ever call you in for an interview if you misspelled your phone number.

This section should be on the top of your resume and must include your name, email and phone number. The mailing address is mandatory.

Your name should be highly visible with bolder or larger font than the rest of the document.

As you want to look professional in the eyes of your potential employer, make sure your email address sounds professional. Consider creating a new email account if you currently use an outdated email service.

You can also include a portfolio if you are applying for creative positions, or a LinkedIn profile, but make sure you make it a strong one.

If you feel like more tips on the topic would be of use, check out Contact Information on Resume .

And last, as we stated in the beginning of this section - make sure your contact information is correct. You should double-check it, and even triple-check it and make sure everything is correct and up-to-date.

This is a very small part of your overall resume, but it is an extremely important one.

As it is one of the first things a hiring manager would see when looking at your resume, you need to perfect it.

What it actually is, is a short statement in two or three sentences. It’s a description of who you are as a candidate.

A well-written introduction can grab the hiring manager’s attention and multiply your chances of getting the job you applied for.

It’s not a deal-breaker if you skip this section and decide you don’t need it, but that short statement on top of your resume can really be key for getting called for an interview.

The work experience is the heart of your resume.

The first thing the hiring manager would look for are the job titles and the companies you have worked for. Make sure this information is easy to find.

The basics of this section should include:

• Job position
• Location of the Company
• Dates of employment

But no matter how impressive your work experience, compressed in these 4 points, it might not be good enough for the employer.

Employers don’t want only basic information, they are much more interested in the impact you had on the companies you previously worked for.

Results matter and numbers are important.

No matter what were your previous positions, there is always some metric that can show your potential employer you had a significant impact.

Perfect this section by checking out - Work Experience Section .

Having a clear education section is essential for your resume, especially if your work experience is limited, or you have just graduated.

If you don’t have much work experience, but your track record in school is good, consider making your education section highly-detailed and include all your education-related accomplishments .

On the contrary, if you have a few years of work experience, your education section should shrink down to the basics.

In most cases, listing the school name, the attendance years and your degree would be enough.

If you want to go deeper in this section’s topic, check out - Education Section .

Before starting this section, we need to define the difference between the two main types of skills - soft and hard.

Hard Skills

Using simple words, a hard skill is one that can be learned, taught, or measured and is not dependent on your industry.

Examples of such skills are any language or computer skills, or ability to operate heavy machinery.

Soft Skills

A soft skill is a personality trait that is hard to measure but that makes you great at your job.

Examples of such skills are being a team player, being driven to succeed, or having a great attitude.

Now that we have defined both types of skills, it’s pretty much up to you to decide which ones to include on your resume.

The important thing is to list them clearly, so it would be easy for the hiring manager to see them and note them.

If they see right away the skills that they seek, they are much more likely to take your resume under consideration.

As this section is very important, but somewhat complex, we recommend you look into it a little more - Skills Section .

If you have gone this far, you know all the basics you need for your resume.

There are a few more sections that you can add to your resume, if you think they would contribute in some way, or if you consider your resume still incomplete.

Certifications, Awards, & Honors

This section can potentially be very important, but you really need to show something impressive, if you decide to go for it.

If your potential employer needs to see some specific certifications, make sure you know which ones to include in your resume before you send it, because leaving some out could potentially ruin your application by making you seem unqualified.

In any other case, if you feel like some certification, award or honor would be relevant in your resume, feel free to include it.

If you would like to read a little more on the topic - Certifications on Resume .

And feel free to add any other section that you feel would help your hiring process.

Here are a few sections that you can consider:

• Publications
• Volunteering
• Hobbies & Interests

Tailor Your Information to the Job Ad

So far, so good.

Now we need to remember once again that the resume’s purpose is to be fitted for a specific job position.

So don’t forget to make it so, don’t send out the same resume for a variety of different positions, because it just won’t work.

The most important thing to do here is to adjust the keywords, especially in your skills section.

Show the employer that the skill set you have is perfectly fitted to the company’s needs.

You should also consider modifying your work experience and education sections, depending on the job requirements.

But all in all - focus on the keywords for each and every job position you are applying for.

Cover Letter

Okay, you seem to be all done with your resume.

So you might be asking yourself - I have a great resume, do I need a cover letter?

The answer is always - yes, if you have the option.

Cover letters may be crucial in the hiring process because they let you provide context for your resume.

Furthermore, they let you show off your personality and your enthusiasm for the job you are applying for.

A well-written cover letter can really boost your application and be the game-changer in your hiring project, so don’t hesitate to learn How to Tell a Story in a Cover Letter .

We reached the end of our topic, but don’t relax just yet, because this is an important one.

Typos and grammatical errors are the most common mistakes found in resumes.

And quite often they are a dealbreaker for the employer.

So don’t skip out on proofreading and do it right.

Here are some tips to be sure your resume would be mistake-free:

• Try reading your resume backwards (it can help you identify errors by presenting the words in a new order)
• Ask trusted friends, colleagues, professors and family members if they can review your resume (third-party opinions can help reveal new information you might have overlooked)
• Try reading the resume a few times, but at different times of the day (it would clear up your mind and help you identify mistakes, you didn’t see before)

And, of course, don’t forget the layout recommendations we gave you before - check your font and font sizes.

One final thing - if your resume is more than one page, review it once again and try to shorten it to one page.

Takeaways: What is a resume?

We are all done.

Now you know the difference between a Resume and a CV.

You also learned the basics of writing your Resume and modifying it according to the job position.

You have in your knowledge the most important dos and don'ts for writing a Resume, and you’ve got a great variety of links to deepen your knowledge for every step of the writing process.

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Should I Bring A Copy Of My Resume To An Interview

Top questions you’ll be asked in a chief marketing officer interview, how to let a recruiter down easy when you've got another job offer, are optional cover letters really optional, what is an enclosure in a cover letter, busting ats myths: comprehensive testing of popular resume builders in 2024.

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Resume: Definition, Meaning, Purpose, and Tips

A resume is a document that outlines a person’s education, work experience, skills, and achievements. It is used to market oneself to potential employers and is often the first impression a hiring manager has of a job applicant.

Having a strong resume is crucial in today’s competitive job market. It can mean the difference between getting an interview or being overlooked for a position. A well-crafted resume can showcase your qualifications and make you stand out among other candidates.

Your resume serves as a marketing tool that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements to potential employers. It is a reflection of your professionalism and attention to detail. You want to make sure that your resume is not only well-written but also visually appealing and easy to skim through.

Employers typically spend only a few seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read it in more detail or move on to the next applicant. Therefore, it is important to capture their attention quickly and effectively.

A strong resume can help you land your dream job, advance your career, and increase your earning potential. By highlighting your accomplishments and skills, your resume lets potential employers know what you can bring to the table.

In the following sections, we will discuss the meaning and purpose of a resume, as well as provide tips on how to make your resume stand out from the crowd. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to create a professional and compelling resume that will help you achieve your career goals.

Purpose of a Resume

One of the critical components of a job application process is a resume. A resume serves specific purposes, and job seekers invest considerable time in creating an impressive resume that will help them stand out from other applicants. In this section, we’ll explore why you need a resume and what employers look for in a resume.

Why do you need a resume?

A resume is a crucial document that a job seeker submits to a prospective employer, summarising their skills, experiences, and education. It is a tool for selling oneself to a potential employer and demonstrating suitability for a specific role. A well-prepared resume can help job seekers catch the employer’s attention and increase the chances of getting an interview.

More than that, a resume shows that you are prepared for a job search and care about the job application process. It also shows that you are willing to put in extra time to present yourself professionally to the employer.

What are employers looking for in a resume?

Employers typically receive numerous resumes for a single job opening. A well-prepared resume must capture the employer’s attention without including extra information that may hinder its effectiveness. Here are a few critical elements employers look for when reviewing resumes:

Qualifications and Skills: Employers want to know whether you have the necessary qualifications and skills needed for the job. It’s crucial to tailor your resume to the job specifications to highlight the required skills and qualifications for the role.

Experience: Employers look for candidates with experience in the relevant field. Highlighting any relevant work experience, even if it’s not from a job, can be critical.

Achievements: Employers are interested in understanding what you achieved in your previous roles, such as quantifiable achievements, awards or recognition.

Clarity and Conciseness: Employers are busy people and do not have time to read through lengthy resumes. A clear, concise, and well-organised resume makes it easier for employers to identify whether you are a good fit for the job.

A resume is critical in job searching, and it’s essential to create an eye-catching resume that accurately showcases your skills, experience, and education. Keep in mind that employers receive numerous resumes for a single job opening, and a well-written resume tailored to the job specifications can help you stand out and increase the chances of getting an interview.

Types of Resumes

As we’ve discussed earlier, resumes are an essential part of the recruitment process. They’re often the first point of contact between job seekers and employers, making it imperative to make a good impression. To best showcase your skills and experience, however, you should know which type of resume to use. Here are three common types of resumes you may choose from:

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is the most common type that lists your work history in reverse chronological order (meaning from most recent to earliest). This format is best for people who have a strong and consistent employment history as it shows your career progression and highlights your experience. Employers can easily see the industries, roles, and responsibilities you have taken on in the past. It also works well for job seekers seeking career advancement within the same field.

Functional Resume

Functional resumes focus on your skills and abilities, rather than on a chronological work history. This resume format is ideal for job seekers just starting in their career, those who have gaps in their employment history, or those changing careers. With a focus on skills, you can highlight your abilities that are transferable across various job titles and industries.

Combination Resume

A combination résumé is a blend of both functional and chronological resumes, so it presents both your skills and experience. This format is best for job seekers wanting to shift job titles or pursuing a new industry. It allows you to highlight your transferable skills to demonstrate how they align with the job requirements, as well as showcasing your relevant work experience.

Regardless of which resume format you choose, always remember to tailor it according to the job you’re applying for. Ensure that your resume is clear, concise, and error-free to make the right impression on the employer. A well-crafted resume can be the difference between landing your dream job and continuously searching for new opportunities. A strong resume should be concise, clear, and easy for employers to read. Therefore, it is important to understand the key components that make up a winning resume.

• Contact Information

Your contact information should be the first thing on your resume. This should include your full name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile. Ensure that this information is up-to-date and accurate. You don’t want to miss out on a job opportunity because you provided the wrong email address or phone number.

• Professional Summary

Your professional summary is an introduction to who you are and what you can bring to the table. This section should be brief and highlight your relevant skills and experiences. Use this space to showcase your unique selling points and catch the employer’s attention.

• Work Experience

Your work experience is crucial in demonstrating your qualifications for the job you are applying for. When detailing your work experience, try to focus on achievements rather than just listing daily tasks. Quantify your accomplishments and include concrete examples. Don’t forget to include dates of employment, job titles, and company names.

Your education section should include relevant degrees and certifications in reverse chronological order. If you don’t have much work experience, your education can be a key factor in demonstrating your qualifications for the job.

Your skills section is an opportunity to show what you’re capable of. It’s important to highlight both hard and transferable skills that are relevant to the job. Avoid listing overly generic skills (such as “good communication skills”) and instead focus on skills that differentiate you from other candidates.

• Certifications and Awards

If you have any relevant certifications or awards, this is the section to showcase them. Certifications and awards demonstrate your commitment to professional development and help you stand out from other candidates.

How to Format a Resume

When it comes to creating a resume, formatting is key. Here are a few tips to create a clean and professional-looking resume:

Choosing a Font and Font Size

The font you choose for your resume should be easy to read and professional. A few popular choices include Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri. Keep in mind that some recruiters and hiring managers may prefer a specific font, so make sure to do your research before making a final decision.

In terms of font size, the general rule of thumb is to stick to between 10-12 points to ensure that your resume is legible. You can use a slightly larger font for headings or section headers, but be careful not to go overboard.

Using Bullet Points

Bullet points are a great way to break up your resume and make it easy to read. Use bullet points to highlight your most important accomplishments or responsibilities in your previous roles. Make sure to keep your bullet points concise and impactful.

Creating Clear Section Headers

Clear section headers help to organize your resume and make it easy for hiring managers to find the information they need. Use bold or slightly larger font to make your headers stand out. Some common section headers include “Education,” “Work Experience,” “Skills,” and “Projects.”

Utilizing White Space

Large blocks of text can overwhelm recruiters and make your resume appear cluttered. Utilizing white space can help to balance your resume and make it more visually appealing. Try to keep your margins uniform and use spacing between sections to create a clean and organized look.

By using these formatting tips, your resume will stand out to potential employers and give them a clear understanding of your skills and qualifications.

Tips for Writing a Strong Resume

A well-written resume is essential in landing your dream job. Here are several tips to make your resume stand out from the rest.

Tailoring your Resume to the Job Description

One of the most important aspects of a strong resume is tailoring it to the job you’re applying for. This means that you need to customize your resume to highlight the skills and experiences relevant to the job description. Use the keywords and phrases included in the job posting, and make sure to showcase how your past experiences align with the position’s requirements.

Quantifying your Achievements

Employers want to see results, so it’s important to quantify your achievements on your resume. Use numbers, percentages, and other metrics to showcase your accomplishments. This creates a clear picture of your abilities and demonstrates your value to potential employers.

Using Action Words and Power Phrases

To keep your resume engaging, use action words and power phrases. These words describe your experiences and build excitement around your achievements. Action words like “achieved,” “improved,” and “generated” help focus on the results of your actions, while power phrases like “unmatched expertise” or “outstanding leadership” can help to convey the value you bring to the table.

Keeping your Resume Concise and Relevant

Your resume should be concise and relevant. This means that you should focus on your most valuable experiences and accomplishments, while omitting irrelevant information. Use white space, bullet points, and clear formatting to make your resume easy to read. Keep your resume to one or two pages and remove any fluff or repetitive information.

By following these tips, you can create a strong resume that showcases your skills, experiences, and achievements effectively. Remember to tailor your resume to the job description, quantify your achievements, use action words and power phrases, and keep your resume concise and relevant. Good luck!

Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

A resume is a powerful tool for landing a job interview, but if it is not executed properly, it can also be the reason for rejection. In this section, we will discuss the common resume mistakes that you should avoid in order to increase your chances of getting hired.

Typos and Grammatical Errors

One of the most frequent mistakes that job seekers make on their resumes is failing to check for typos and grammatical errors. A single mistake can create a negative impression of you and your attention to detail. Take the time to proofread your resume multiple times, and if possible, ask a friend or family member to review it as well.

Lies and Exaggerations

Exaggerating skills, job titles or previous experiences to impress recruiters is never a good idea. Honesty is key, especially when it comes to job applications. Lies can be easily detected by recruiters, and they will ruin your chances of getting hired. Stick to the truth and portray yourself in the most positive light based on your actual accomplishments.

Including Irrelevant Information

Recruiters tend to scan resumes quickly, looking for specific information that meets the requirements of the job. Including irrelevant information will distract them from the characteristics that are essential for the job you are applying for. Only include professional experiences and skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Not Including Keywords

Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to quickly filter large volumes of resumes. These systems are programmed to scan resumes for specific keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job advertisement. If you do not include the relevant keywords, your resume will likely be filtered out before it even reaches a human recruiter. Review the job advertisement and include important terms and phrases in your resume.

Avoiding these common mistakes is the key to creating a winning resume, one that catches the attention of recruiters and increases your chances of landing the interview. Your resume is the first connection between yourself and a potential employer, so make it count. Take the time to craft an effective and accurate document, and keep these tips in mind to increase your chances of success.

Resume Example for Beginners

As a beginner, creating a resume can be a daunting task. You may feel overwhelmed by the variety of information you need to include and uncertain about the layout. However, with the right approach and guidance, you can create a compelling resume that showcases your skills and experience.

Basic Layout for a Resume

To begin, let’s review the basic layout of a resume. A standard resume should include the following elements:

Contact Information: Your full name, phone number, email address, and physical address.

Objective or Summary Statement: A brief statement that highlights your career goals and summarizes your qualifications.

Education: Your education background, including your degree(s) or certificate(s), the name of the institution, and the date of graduation.

Work Experience: Your work history, including your previous job titles, companies, dates of employment, and key responsibilities and achievements.

Skills: A list of your relevant skills, including technical and soft skills.

Optional Sections: Additional sections such as honors and awards, certifications, volunteer experience, or professional affiliations.

Sample Resume Content for a Beginner

Now, let’s take a look at a sample resume content for a beginner. Please note that this example is for illustrative purposes only, and you should customize your resume according to your own experience and qualifications.

As you can see, this sample resume follows the basic layout described above, including key sections such as contact information, objective statement, education, work experience, and skills. It also highlights the applicant’s relevant coursework, intern experience, and skills.

Remember, your resume is your chance to make a strong first impression with potential employers. By following these tips and creating a well-crafted resume, you’ll be one step closer to landing your dream job.

Resume Example for Experienced Professionals

Crafting a professional and effective resume is crucial for experienced professionals looking to advance their careers. A well-organized and thoughtfully designed resume can help catch the attention of potential employers and increase the likelihood of securing an interview.

Professional Layout for a Resume

To create a professional and visually appealing resume, it’s important to choose a clear and easy-to-read font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and maintain consistent formatting throughout the document. Use bullet points to break up large chunks of text and highlight key accomplishments and relevant experience.

A typical professional resume should include the following sections:

• Contact information, including your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable)
• Professional summary or objective statement, highlighting your experience and career goals
• Work experience, listing your most recent or relevant positions first and detailing your responsibilities and accomplishments
• Education and certifications, including any relevant coursework or training
• Skills, showcasing your relevant technical and soft skills
• References, available upon request

Sample Resume Content for an Experienced Professional

Here’s an example of a professional and effective resume for an experienced individual,:

Contact Information:

• 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA 12345
• 555-123-4567

How to make your Resume Stand Out

In today’s job market, it’s important to make sure your resume stands out from the rest. One way to do this is by showcasing your Unique Selling Points (USPs). These are the qualities, skills, and experiences that make you different from other candidates. To identify your USPs, think about what sets you apart and what you’re particularly good at. Then, highlight these factors in your resume by including them at the top of your document or in a prominent section.

Another way to make your resume stand out is by including your Online Portfolio and Social Media Profiles. An online portfolio is a great way to showcase your work and demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Social media profiles can also be useful, particularly if they showcase your professional accomplishments, expertise, and skills. However, it’s important to ensure that your online presence is consistent with the image you want to present to employers.

Incorporating Outreach and Networking Efforts can also help make your resume stand out. This can include attending events, networking with professionals in your industry, and keeping in touch with former colleagues and employers. These efforts can help you build relationships and make valuable connections that could lead to job opportunities.

There are several ways to make your resume stand out, including showcasing your USPs, including your Online Portfolio and Social Media Profiles, and Incorporating Outreach and Networking Efforts. By highlighting your unique qualities, demonstrating your skills and expertise, and building valuable connections, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.

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How to Write Resume Job Descriptions (With Examples)

How to Write Resume Job Descriptions

Focus on skills and achievements, include keywords, be selective about what you include.

• Prioritize Job Descriptions

Quantify Your Achievements

• Emphasize Accomplishments

Make Your Jobs Sound Better

When you think about job descriptions, it's likely that job ads posted by employers first spring to mind. But the most important job descriptions may be the ones you create yourself when you’re describing past positions on your resume.

These job descriptions show prospective employers what you have accomplished in the positions you've held. They also provide a synopsis of your experience and skills.

Well-written descriptions for each job you have held will help get your resume noticed and selected for interviews.

Here’s advice on writing job descriptions for your resume, what to include, how to quantify and prioritize your accomplishments, and examples.

What's the best way to write attention-grabbing job descriptions? Before you start adding job descriptions to your resume, you may want to make a list of accomplishments at each of your jobs. This will prepare you for writing your resume.

After you have written a job description, look for ways to make your explanation more concise:

• Craft effective impact statements.
• Highlight skills and achievements, providing only enough detail to support your premises.
• Edit out pronouns and articles.
• Begin phrases or sentences with verbs.
• Choose strong words— resume action words  like “initiated” and “supervised” are powerful and show that you’ve made an impact on your team.
• Having short descriptions that focus on the most powerful aspects of your role will help recruiters and hiring managers quickly take in and assess your experience. 

If you are submitting resumes to organizations that add them into  applicant tracking systems  (ATS), include as many industry and job-specific " keywords " as possible. When searching databases for potential candidates, employers seek resumes with the greatest number of "hits" on keywords.

Keywords are most often nouns, e.g., “customer service” or “computer skills.” To use keywords most effectively, be specific, use as many as possible, and sprinkle them throughout your resume. 

Your resume isn’t your entire  work history , and you don’t need to include every duty for each role. Determine the most relevant information by putting yourself in your potential employer's position: Will this information help convince the employer that you are a worthwhile candidate to interview?

You do not have to include every responsibility you ever had. Group together similar tasks. For instance, rather than listing "Answered phones" and "Responded to customer emails" in two bullet points, you can combine and say, "Resolved customer issues through phone, email, and chat conversations."

Prioritize Your Qualifications

Next, think about prioritizing the information you provide in each description. Present details that are of the greatest interest to potential employers first. 

Highlight your most relevant qualifications for the job by listing them first in the job description.

For example, consider a candidate seeking a job in interior design. The resume might reflect a retail experience in which 75% of the candidate's time was spent on the sales floor, and 25% was spent designing window and floor displays. Since the design of window and floor displays is most meaningful to an interior design employer, this should be listed before sales. 

Job Description Example

Sales Associate , Retail USA, New York, NY October 2021 - Present

• Designed all large windows using color as the primary focus.
• Created engaging point-of-purchase displays for slow-moving small items; increased sales of these items by 30%.
• Organized floor displays to maximize space and call attention to the latest merchandise.
• Utilized strong interpersonal and communications skills to serve customers; received employee of the month award twice.

Quantify as much information as you can (numbers, dollar signs, and percentages can all help to make your case). 

For instance, a bullet point that reads "Grew traffic 35% year-over-year" is more impressive—and informative—than one that reads simply "Improved traffic."

Employers like numbers. It's much easier to look at signs and symbols than it is to read words.

Nearly any description, for any job, can be  enhanced through the use of numbers . A waitress might start out with the description, "Took customer orders and delivered food." But a quantified description saying, "Served customers in an upscale 100-seat restaurant," provides much more insight.

Waitress, Maxill's Restaurant,  New York, NY January 2022 - Present

• Provided dining service for patrons at an upscale 100-seat fine dining establishment.
• Served meals, cleared tables, monitored five tables, and provided exceptional customer service to up to 30 customers.
• Trained new waitstaff on POS system, guest services, and restaurant policies and procedures.

Emphasize Accomplishments Over Responsibilities

It's important for employees to know you have the necessary experience to do the work required in the position. Still, many candidates will have this relevant experience.

To stand out, emphasize how you added value. Focus on accomplishments, rather than responsibilities.

As seen above, numbers can be your friend when it comes to  highlighting your accomplishments in your resume . As well, numbers provide context. For instance, you might say, "Increased revenue by 5%, after several years of decreasing sales."

Or, rather than saying, "Answered phone calls and dealt with customer concerns," you can say, "Resolved customer concerns, answering approximately 10 calls per hour. Became go-to person on the team for dealing with the toughest phone calls and most challenging complaints."

Employers want to know what you accomplished. Make it easy for them to see what you've done by using numbers and percentages.

While it is important to keep descriptions short, adding details and context can help show employers why you'd be a good match for the position. 

Customer Service Associate,  ABD Company March 2020 - August 2021

• Resolved customer concerns efficiently and expeditiously, answering approximately 300 calls per week.
• Achieved 100% of call performance goals for accuracy, speed, volume, resolution of issues, and customer satisfaction.
• Nominated for employee-of-the-month four times for excellent attitude and exemplary customer service skills.

There are easy ways to jazz up your resume job descriptions to  make your jobs sound super impressive . A few simple tweaks here and there can make your resume much better.

Key Takeaways

• Spend some time writing the job descriptions on your resume, since potential employers will read them carefully. 
• Focus on relevant skills and accomplishments—be choosy about the information you include, and place the most relevant information at the top of the job description. 
• Rather than simply listing out tasks, focus on what you've accomplished in each role, incorporating attention-grabbing numbers and percentages. 

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Definition of resume

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of résumé  (Entry 2 of 2)

• proceed (with)
• encapsulation
• recapitulation
• run-through
• summarization

Examples of resume in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resumer , from Latin resumere , from re- + sumere to take up, take — more at consume

French résumé , from past participle of résumer to resume, summarize, from Middle French resumer

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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“Resume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resume. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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Sample Job Descriptions to Help You Enhance Your Resume

5 min read · Updated on December 10, 2021

It doesn't matter what you do for a living; when you decide to look for work, you instantly become a marketer.

As a job seeker, you are required to advertise your qualifications and professional reputation — in other words, your personal brand — to employers and recruiters in your desired field online, in person, and on paper.

One of the most important documents you'll need to update or create for this process is your professional resume. A great resume is written with a specific job goal in mind. It should be tailored for each job application by showcasing your most valuable and relevant skills in a way that positions you as an ideal candidate for the job you want.

Why use job descriptions when creating your resume

In order to ensure that your professional resume is supporting your career goals, gather a few sample job descriptions that describe the type of position you're interested in and qualified for. Then, compare the skills and qualifications on your resume with the desired qualifications in the sample job descriptions.

By reviewing job description examples, you'll be able to identify what technical and soft skills, credentials, and work experience matter most to an employer in your target field.

This will aid your job search in many ways. First, it will help you determine if you're missing any important skills that recruiters are looking for . Once you have this information, then you can take steps to build up those skill sets with courses, certification programs, side projects, or internships to become a more attractive job candidate.

Second, these sample job descriptions will help you decide which of your current qualifications should be highlighted throughout your professional resume and cover letter.

And finally, you can use example job descriptions to find the right words to describe the roles and responsibilities you held in each job listed in your work history.

How to get started using job descriptions for your resume

To help you get started, take a look at the sample job descriptions below. For additional example job descriptions, search for listings on your favorite online job boards, and check out the following links from Workable.com .

Search for two types of sample job descriptions:

Job posts that are similar to roles you've previously held; and

Listings that represent the type of position you're currently targeting.

In both of these instances, don't worry about the job's location. For the purpose of this exercise, instead only focus on the job description and its requirements.

Use the sample job descriptions that match titles in your work history to beef up your professional resume's Employment History section. Click on the following link to learn how to use these job listings to brag about your experience .

Once you've found three to five sample listings that describe your job goals, copy and paste the text of each job description into a Word document and bold any phrases that routinely pop up. Then, highlight each term that describes a qualification you possess. Use this information to edit your resume and cover letter so that your key accomplishments and skills match those desired by your target employer. Your end result should be a professional resume that mirrors the employer's requirements.

Sample Job Descriptions:

Account Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for account manager

Accountant Sample Job Description

View the job description for accountant

Administrative Assistant Sample Job Description

View the job description for administrative assistant

Business Analyst Sample Job Description

View the job description for business analyst

Cashier Sample Job Description

View the job description for cashier

Customer Service Representative Sample Job Description

View the job description for customer service representative

Host/Hostess Sample Job Description

View the job description for host/hostess

Machine Operator Sample Job Description

View the job description for machine operator

Medical Assistant Sample Job Description

View the job description for medical assistant

Office Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for office manager

Operations Manager Sample Job Description

Project manager sample job description.

View the job description for project manager

Receptionist Sample Job Description

View the job description for receptionist

Research Assistant Sample Job Description

View the job description for research assistant

Retail Sales Associate Sample Job Description

View the job description for retail sales associate

Sales Director Sample Job Description

View the job description for sales director

Sales Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for sales manager

Security Officer Sample Job Description

View the job description for security officer

Senior Account Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior account manager

Senior Accounting Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior accounting manager

Senior Business Analyst Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior business analyst

Senior Project Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior project manager

Senior Sales Associate Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior sales associate

Senior Software Developer Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior software developer

Senior Software Engineer Sample Job Description

View the job description for senior software engineer

Server Sample Job Description

View the job description for server

Software Developer Sample Job Description

View the job description for software developer

Software Engineer Sample Job Description

View the job description for software engineer

Store Manager Sample Job Description

View the job description for store manager

Waiter/Waitress Sample Job Description

View the job description for waiter/waitress

Click on the following link for more job-search advice .

Still need help with your resume? Take advantage of our free resume review today!

Recommended Reading:

The Essential Parts of a Resume Explained

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Job Responsibilities Examples: How to Describe Job Duties On Your Resume (+ 13 Templates)

3 key takeaways

• Job responsibilities serve as a guide for job seekers and a strategic tool for employers.
• Each job responsibility on your resume should include an action verb, task, and metric.
• Teal’s AI Resume Builder is the fastest way to craft effective job responsibilities.

Job responsibilities are the detailed tasks and duties assigned to a specific role within an organization. Which responsibilities you choose to showcase and how you chose to include them on your resume can make the difference in whether you move forward in the hiring process.

Properly communicating job responsibilities is equally important for job seekers as it is for companies. To craft an effective job description, an employer needs to accurately and concisely convey a role’s job requirements. Conversely, job seekers need to tailor their resumes to show how their current job responsibilities align with the current opportunity.

As a result, you should consider the impact of job responsibilities from two perspectives: the employer and the job seeker.

How to list job responsibilities on your resume as a job seeker

A resume should showcase your proven track record and potential. To elevate the descriptions of key responsibilities you’ve held in the past, try this success formula:

Action Verb + Task + Metric + [Strategy Optional] = Outcome  

For example, "Led a marketing team ( action verb + task ) to increase online engagement by 40% ( metric ) through a targeted social media campaign ( strategy ), resulting in a 15% increase in sales ( outcome )."

Here are some tips for writing effective job descriptions for your resume:

Quantify achievements

Wherever possible, use numbers and data to quantify your resume . Including concrete numbers legitimizes your ability to carry out the roles and responsibilities assumed by your title and outlined in the job description in question.

Mirror the job description

Examine the job listing closely and align your resume to it. Use similar language and emphasize related resume work experience most relevant to the new role.

Highlight relevant skills

Demonstrate how your skills directly correlate with the job duties listed. Make it easy for hiring managers to see you as the ideal candidate.

Customize your resume

No two job applications are the same. Tailor your resume for each job you apply to, focusing on how your background fits with each specific role.

For job seekers, a tailored resume that speaks to these key responsibilities can set you apart. For employers, clear and detailed job descriptions are your first step in attracting the right talent. 

Use these strategies to enhance your hiring processes or to refine your approach to applying for new roles.

How to use AI to write job responsibilities

Leveraging AI, Teal's AI achievement generator helps transform work experiences into quantifiable achievements. Teal prompts you to think about your roles in terms of measurable impacts and then suggests better ways to phrase those experiences to resonate with potential employers.

Plus, Teal’s Matching Mode feature allows you to tailor your resume to align perfectly with any job application, underlining the relevance of your skills to the defined role and highlighting your qualifications using the right keywords from the job postings.

Companies use recruiters to find top talent. Teal gives candidates equivalent tools for finding a job. It's your personal assistant in the job search process, saving you time, enhancing your applications, and helping you land interviews faster.

How to create comprehensive job descriptions as an employer

Crafting a detailed and comprehensive job description is crucial to attracting the right candidates and setting clear performance expectations. 

Here are best practices to key points to consider when writing a job description:

Be specific

Clearly define each task and responsibility. 

Avoid vague descriptions to minimize mismatches between job expectations and applicant assumptions.

❌ "Assist with project management tasks."

✅ "Collaborate with team members to develop project timelines, track progress, and ensure timely completion of deliverables."

Update regularly

Job roles evolve with industry standards and organizational changes. Ensure job postings are current and reflect the role accurately.

If the role of a sales representative now includes responsibilities in digital marketing, the job description should be updated to reflect this change. 

❌ Mention traditional sales techniques.

✅ Include digital marketing skills like “social media management” and “lead generation through online channels.”

Remember, this is dependent on the role and how that role is outlined in the job description. 

Incorporate keywords

Use industry-specific keywords and phrases. This not only helps attract the right candidates but also makes the job posting more searchable online.

❌ When hiring for a software engineer, you fail to list languages required.

✅ Include keywords like "Java," "Python," or "agile development" to appeal to candidates with relevant skills and experience. 

This will also help the job posting appear in search results when candidates search for these specific keywords. Teal’s AI Resume Builder helps you with this by analyzing the job description and incorporating the right words throughout your resume.

Include expectations

Beyond specific tasks, outline expected outcomes and performance metrics. This gives potential applicants a clear idea of how success is measured in the role.

❌ Only listing tasks for a customer service representative

✅ Include expectations like "Achieve customer satisfaction ratings of 90% or higher" or "Respond to customer inquiries within 24 hours." 

These metrics give applicants a clear understanding of the performance standards and expectations for the role.

Bad job responsibilities example for job description

Job Title: Sales Manager

• Manage the sales team
• Oversee the sales process
• Work with various teams
• Ensure customer satisfaction
• Meet sales targets

Good job responsibilities example for job description

• Lead and mentor a team of 12 sales representatives to hit quarterly team sales goals through individual coaching sessions and weekly team meetings
• Streamline the sales process by implementing a new CRM system by Q3 2023, with the goal of reducing sales cycle time by 20%
• Collaborate with Marketing, Product Development, and Customer Service teams to ensure alignment, aiming for a 15% year-over-year increase in customer retention
• Actively monitor customer satisfaction metrics using Net Promoter Score (NPS) and implement data-driven strategies to improve scores by at least 10 points within the next fiscal year

In these job responsibilities examples, roles are clarified with specific goals, day-to-day tasks,  metrics for success, and time frames. That level of specificity gives candidates a better idea of what success looks like for the role, helping them qualify themselves in or out to save both parties valuable time.

Job responsibilities examples by role

1. digital marketing manager, example job responsibilities for a digital marketing manager resume.

• Developed and executed comprehensive digital marketing strategies that increased online engagement by 35% within six months, leveraging platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Designed and optimized multiple digital advertising campaigns, resulting in a 25% reduction in cost per acquisition (CPA) and a 43% increase in conversion rate within one year.
• Monitored and analyzed key website and campaign performance metrics, using conversion data to refine strategies continuously. This approach improved campaign ROI by 51% across all digital channels.

Why it works for job seekers: Here, the applicant showcases their successful track record in increasing online engagement and conversions, demonstrating their ability to contribute significantly to a company's digital marketing objectives.

Example job responsibilities for a digital marketing manager job description

• Develop and execute digital marketing strategies across various channels, including LinkedIn, Instagram, the blog, and YouTube.
• Create and optimize digital advertising campaigns for a 10% increase in engagement
• Conduct market research to identify customer trends and insights
• Monitor and analyze website and campaign performance metrics
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align marketing efforts

Why it works for employers: It helps the hiring manager identify candidates with proven abilities to develop, execute, and optimize marketing strategies across various digital platforms effectively, ensuring maximum online visibility and engagement.

2. Sales Representative

Example job responsibilities for a sales representative resume.

• Proactively identified and pursued new sales opportunities, leading to a 30% increase in sales pipeline growth quarter-over-quarter through effective prospecting and networking strategies.
• Successfully negotiated and closed sales contracts that resulted in a 20% year-over-year increase in sales revenue.
• Delivered outstanding customer service, swiftly resolving any post-sale issues and concerns, leading to a customer satisfaction rating of 98% and generating positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Why it works for job seekers: This allows job seekers to demonstrate their direct contribution to sales growth and client satisfaction, underlining potential candidates as high-performing sales professionals.

Example job responsibilities for a sales representative job description

• Identify and pursue new sales opportunities through prospecting and networking
• Build and maintain relationships with clients and customers
• Conduct product demonstrations and presentations to potential clients
• Negotiate contracts and close sales deals
• Provide excellent customer service and resolve any issues

Why it works for employers: It attracts individuals who have a strong foundation in sales tactics, relationship-building skills, and the perseverance to identify and convert sales opportunities into tangible results.

3. Account Director

Example job responsibilities for an account director resume.

• Managed key client relationships, serving as the primary point of contact for over 15 high-value accounts, increasing client retention rates by 25% through personalized service and strategic account management.
• Implemented comprehensive customer service protocols, which enhanced client satisfaction scores by 30%, ensuring all clients received timely, effective solutions to their inquiries and issues.
• Led cross-functional team collaborations, working closely with marketing, sales, and product development teams to meet or exceed client objectives, facilitating a seamless execution of complex projects and campaigns.

Why it works for job seekers: Candidates can illustrate their competency in managing and growing key accounts, emphasizing their role in enhancing customer satisfaction and contributing to the company's revenue.

Example job responsibilities for an account director job description

• Manage relationships with key accounts and serve as the primary point of contact for clients
• Ensure client satisfaction and retention through excellent customer service
• Analyze account performance and identify opportunities for growth
• Develop and implement account-specific strategies to maximize revenue
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver on client objectives

Why it works for employers: The focus is attracting skilled relationship managers who can ensure customer satisfaction and drive revenue growth through strategic account management.

4. Project Manager

Example job responsibilities for a project manager resume.

• Successfully defined and communicated project scope, goals, and deliverables for over 30 projects, aligning with client and stakeholder expectations and steering projects toward clear objectives.
• Coordinated resources across multiple departments, efficiently managing task assignments to maintain productivity and meet critical project milestones in fast-paced environments.
• Proactively identified, assessed, and mitigated project risks, implementing risk management strategies that reduced project setbacks by 40%, ensuring smoother project execution and delivery.

Why it works for job seekers: Individuals can highlight their expertise in leading projects to successful completion, showcasing their ability to manage resources efficiently and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Example job responsibilities for a project manager job description

• Define project scope, goals, and deliverables
• Develop and maintain project timelines and budgets
• Coordinate resources and tasks to ensure project completion
• Manage relationships with stakeholders and communicate project progress
• Identify and mitigate project risks

Why it works for employers: It's clear the hiring manager is looking for candidates adept at planning, executing, and finalizing projects according to strict deadlines and within budget, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.

5. Human Resources

Example job responsibilities for an hr resume.

• Spearheaded the implementation and enforcement of HR policies, procedures, and practices, leading to a 40% reduction in policy violations and contributing to a more structured and compliant workplace environment.
• Oversaw end-to-end recruitment and onboarding processes for over 200 new hires, improving employee retention by 30% within the first 90 days due to enhanced onboarding practices and fit assessment techniques.
• Ensured strict compliance with employment laws and regulations through rigorous audit practices and training sessions, significantly reducing the risk of legal issues and maintaining a 100% compliance rate throughout tenure.

Why it works for job seekers: Job seekers targeting an HR role can use these job responsibilities examples as templates to showcase their skills in managing HR operations, implementing effective policies and procedures, and driving success through strategic recruitment techniques. 

Example job responsibilities for an HR  job description

• Implement and enforce HR policies, procedures, and practices
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding processes
• Provide guidance and support to employees on HR-related matters
• Manage employee performance and development programs
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations

Why it works for employers: These responsibilities outline a comprehensive view of an HR role, highlighting the importance of implementing policies, overseeing recruitment, supporting employees, and ensuring legal compliance—all crucial for fostering a healthy and productive workplace.

6. Vice President of Marketing

Example job responsibilities for a vp marketing resume.

• Conceived and executed a holistic marketing strategy that drove a 45% growth rate and a 35% increase in annual revenue, identifying new market segments and crafting tailored campaigns.
• Led and mentored a diverse team of 15 marketing professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and accountability that resulted in a 50% improvement in departmental KPIs.
• Conducted comprehensive market research using tools like Nielsen data and Google Analytics to identify emerging trends and opportunities, resulting in a 30% increase in market share and a deeper understanding of customer needs.

Why it works for job seekers: Candidates can highlight their strategic leadership and impact on growth, showcasing their ability to drive significant business results through innovative marketing strategies.

Example job responsibilities for a VP Marketing job description

• Develop and execute an overall marketing strategy to drive growth and increase revenue
• Lead and mentor a team of marketing professionals to achieve goals
• Develop and implement digital marketing campaigns using various channels
• Collaborate with business leaders to align marketing efforts with overall business goals and objectives

Why it works for employers: This role targets visionary leaders capable of defining and guiding a company's marketing strategy to drive substantial growth and revenue increases.

7. IT Project Manager

Example job responsibilities for it project manager resume.

• Defined and clarified project scope, goals, and deliverables for multiple high-stakes technology projects, ensuring all team members and stakeholders had a clear understanding of expectations and objectives.
• Developed comprehensive project plans, establishing realistic timelines and budgets, which were adhered to within a ±5% variance, demonstrating strong planning and financial management abilities.
• Effectively coordinated technical resources and task assignments among a diverse team of 25+ IT professionals, meeting 90% of project milestones ahead of schedule and maintaining team productivity and morale.
• Implemented and refined project management best practices and methodologies, such as Agile and Waterfall, tailored to fit organizational needs and project types, leading to a 50% increase in project delivery efficiency.

Why it works for job seekers: Emphasizing these skills shows potential employers that the candidates can manage IT projects successfully, deliver on time, communicate effectively, and significantly improve project efficiency.

Example job responsibilities for an IT job description

• Develop project plans, timelines, and budgets
• Coordinate resources and tasks to meet project milestones
• Communicate project status and risks to stakeholders
• Implement project management best practices and methodologies

Why it works for employers: These responsibilities reflect the hiring manager's preferences for a highly organized individual capable of defining goals, planning projects, coordinating resources, communicating with stakeholders, and applying project management methodologies.

8. Systems Administrator

Example job responsibilities for a systems admin resume.

• Successfully installed, configured, and maintained a diverse range of servers and network equipment, resulting in a 99.9% uptime over the measured period and ensuring optimal system performance.
• Diligently monitored system performance, identified and troubleshooted minor and major issues promptly, decreasing downtime by 30% and enhancing network stability.
• Provided high-level technical support to end-users and IT teams, solving complex software and hardware issues, resulting in an improved support service satisfaction rate of 95%.

Why it works for job seekers: By showcasing their accomplishments in these areas, the job seeker can depict their technical competence, problem-solving skills, ability to ensure cyber security, maintain system documentation, and provide high-level tech support.

Example job responsibilities for a job description

• Install, configure, and maintain servers and network equipment
• Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues
• Implement security measures to protect systems from cyber threats
• Develop and maintain system documentation
• Provide technical support to end-users and IT teams

Why it works for employers: The duties listed emphasize key skills such as system installation and maintenance, troubleshooting, cyber security, system documentation, and user support, ensuring a well-functioning and secure IT infrastructure.

9. Operations Manager

Example job responsibilities for an operations manager resume.

• Developed and implemented operational policies and procedures that enhanced overall efficiency by 20% by identifying bottlenecks and instituting streamlined processes.
• Managed resources and budgets effectively, consistently meeting or exceeding operational targets within tight fiscal constraints, ensuring a 100% compliance rate with financial guidelines.
• Resolved complex operational issues swiftly, reducing the average resolution time by 30%, and implemented preventative measures to mitigate future disruptions.

Why it works for job seekers: The candidate demonstrates their abilities to streamline operations, improve efficiency and productivity, adhere to budget constraints, resolve complex issues, and collaborate for better results.

Example job responsibilities for an operations manager job description

• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures
• Monitor and optimize operational processes to improve efficiency
• Manage resources and budgets to meet operational targets
• Resolve operational issues and escalate as needed
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline operations

Why it works for employers: The requirements for this role emphasize the need to develop operational policies, monitor processes, manage resources, resolve issues, collaborate, and ensure optimal operations and efficiency.

10) Data Analyst

Example job responsibilities for a data analyst resume.

• Collected and cleaned data from multiple sources, ensuring a 99% accuracy rate, thus laying a solid foundation for credible analysis leading to sound business decisions.
• Developed comprehensive data visualizations and reports, which clarified findings and facilitated strategic decisions among senior stakeholders.
• Partnered effectively with cross-departmental teams to establish a culture of data-driven decision-making, enhancing operational efficiency by 25% through optimized process changes.

Why it works for job seekers: The job seeker showcases their skills in handling data, extracting insights, visualizing data, identifying trends, and collaboration, indicating their ability to influence business strategies and improve operational efficiency with data-driven insights.

Example job responsibilities for a data analyst job description

• Collect and clean data from various sources for analysis
• Perform data modeling and statistical analysis to extract insights
• Develop data visualizations and reports to present findings to stakeholders
• Identify trends and patterns in data to support business objectives
• Collaborate with teams to drive data-driven decision-making

Why it works for employers: The responsibilities cover key aspects of a data analyst's role, such as data collection, statistical analysis, data visualization, trend identification, and collaboration, which are vital to informed, data-driven decision-making.

11) Customer Success Manager

Example job responsibilities for a customer success manager resume.

• Successfully onboarded over 200 new customers within the first year, providing thorough product training and increasing the initial customer satisfaction rate by 15%.
• Engaged proactively with customers to identify their goals and challenges, resulting in tailored service recommendations that improved overall customer success by 20%.
• Gathered and leveraged customer feedback to enhance products and services, directly influencing a 30% improvement in product satisfaction score over two quarters.

Why it works for job seekers: The examples display the candidate's direct impact on customer satisfaction, problem-solving abilities, and strategic improvements in product offerings, making them attractive to employers looking for results-driven and customer-focused professionals

Example job responsibilities for a customer success manager job description

• Onboard new customers and provide training on products or services
• Proactively engage with customers to understand their goals and challenges
• Resolve customer issues and escalate as needed
• Gather customer feedback to improve products or services
• Measure and track customer success metrics to drive retention and growth

Why it works for employers: Showcasing these job duties helps employers demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction, proactive customer engagement, and continuous improvement of products or services based on feedback, all crucial for long-term success and customer retention.

12) Customer Service Representative

Example job responsibilities for a customer service rep resume.

• Responded to an average of 50+ customer inquiries per day via multiple channels, maintaining a 95% satisfaction rate in post-contact surveys.
• Provided detailed and accurate information about products and services, leading to a 20% increase in cross-sales and upsells among engaged customers.
• Skillfully handled complex complaints and devised solutions, resulting in a 30% decrease in escalation to supervisors, showcasing effective problem-resolution skills.

Why it works for job seekers: The achievements highlight the applicant’s ability to handle high volumes of customer interactions, resolve issues efficiently, and contribute to sales and customer retention goals, positioning them as valuable assets to potential employers focused on customer satisfaction.

Example job responsibilities for a customer service rep job description

• Respond to customer inquiries via phone, email, or chat
• Provide accurate information about products and services
• Handle complaints, provide appropriate solutions and alternatives within time limits
• Follow up to ensure resolution and maintain customer satisfaction
• Keep records of customer interactions and process customer accounts

Why it works for employers: Listing these duties emphasizes the need for efficient, empathetic, and effective customer service, essential for maintaining high customer satisfaction levels and loyalty.

13) UX/UI Designer

Example job responsibilities for a ux designer resume.

• Conducted comprehensive user research and gathered feedback through surveys and focus groups, informing design decisions that led to a 40% increase in user satisfaction scores.
• Created wireframes and mockups for over 20 projects, effectively visualizing design concepts that streamlined project approval processes by reducing iterations by 30%.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including developers and product managers, ensuring seamless implementation of designs and maintaining design integrity throughout development stages.

Why it works for job seekers: The outlined achievements demonstrate the candidate’s capabilities in enhancing user experience, collaborating effectively with teams, and contributing to the product development process with data-driven design decisions, showcasing their value to employers seeking innovative and user-focused designers.

Example job responsibilities for a UX designer job description

• Conduct user research and gather feedback to inform design decisions
• Create wireframes and mockups to visualize design concepts
• Design intuitive user interfaces that enhance user experience
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement designs
• Conduct usability testing and iterate on designs based on feedback

Why it works for employers: These responsibilities underline the importance of user-centered design processes, teamwork, and the continuous refinement of products based on user feedback, essential for creating products that meet users' needs and expectations.

How to describe your current job responsibilities effectively

When creating effective job responsibilities on your resume, it's crucial to highlight your skills and accomplishments clearly and effectively.

In a resume

The first step is crafting a robust summary, defining job duties in your current role with clarity.

Job responsibility tips for a resume

• Use action verbs to highlight your accomplishments .
• Emphasize your quantifiable achievements, like meeting project deadlines or boosting productivity.
• Link your detailed responsibilities to the job postings, aligning your skills with the job title.
• Present your responsibilities in concise bullet points, avoiding industry-specific jargon.
• Lastly, detail any unique contributions or initiatives you've spearheaded with quantifiable metrics.

Pro tip : Did you know many recruiters will look at your LinkedIn profile to see if you'd be the right fit? That means your work experience matters outside of your resume. To understand how to showcase your experience on LinkedIn, read our guide on optimizing your LinkedIn experience section .

In a Job Interview

Job interviews allow you to further elaborate on your resume, providing more context, and personal stories that round out your experiences.

Job responsibility tips for an interview

• Elaborate on your responsibilities: Define duties in a narrative form, elaborating on day-to-day tasks and important projects.
• Link job duties to impact: Discuss the direct effect of your work, offering real-world examples. Explain implemented strategies and their impact on performance metrics.
• Showcase teamwork and leadership: Provide examples of your collaboration skills and leadership roles within a team or project. Bring up any instances where you effectively led cross-functional teams to deliver upon project goals.
• Highlight ongoing professional development: Mention ongoing courses, certifications, or training as proof of commitment to personal growth and expertise.
• Discuss challenges and learnings: Share your experiences in handling adversity and turning potential crises into opportunities.

Feeling anxious for your interview? Refer to this resource hub for interview prep .

How to use Teal to describe your job responsibilities

Teal offers a seamless way to organize and manage your job search. But where it truly shines is its ability to help candidates perfectly position themselves on a resume for a particular role.

Here's how Teal helps job seekers draft past role achievements and professional history:

1. Tailored resume suggestions

With Teal's intelligent resume builder, you can quickly tailor your resume for each job application.

The platform uses advanced AI to scan job postings and recommend the right keywords to highlight your qualifications, ensuring your resume passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catches the eye of hiring managers.

2. Automated job search management

Save time by automating parts of your job search.

Teal offers insights and recommendations that guide you through optimizing your resume, ensuring you never miss a detail that could make your professional history shine.

3. Comprehensive job tracking

With Teal's Chrome extension , you can bookmark jobs from over 40 job boards, allowing you to keep track of all your job opportunities in one place. This centralized organization ensures you can easily manage applications and tailor your resume to particular position without losing track of any opportunity.

4. Insightful Recommendations

Beyond just organizing your job search, Teal provides tailored recommendations to improve your resume.

Once you leverage these suggestions, you can ensure your achievements and professional history are presented in the most impactful way possible, increasing your chances of landing more interviews.

Teal is your personal recruiter, but powered by AI. Just as companies have recruiters to find the right candidates, you have Teal to navigate the complex job market efficiently, helping you to land a job faster with a standout resume that truly represents your professional journey. Get started with Teal today.

Frequenty Asked Questions

Nathan Thompson

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This CEO wants to kill the résumé

• Khyati Sundaram, the CEO of Applied, doesn't think the résumé should be central to getting hired.
• Applied and other companies use skills tests to determine who's a good fit for a job.
• Other companies use tests to find candidates who might not have traditional qualifications.

For about eight months in 2018, Khyati Sundaram spent much of her day at a desk in a corner of her London flat applying for jobs.

Sundaram had attended top universities in the UK and the US. She had an MBA, had JPMorgan on her résumé, and had run a startup for six years. Yet after pumping out more than 500 applications, Sundaram had landed only a few dead-end interviews.

Eventually, a recruiter told her that her résumé didn't fit anywhere because her experience was too varied. That led Sundaram to a company called Applied, which tries to make brief skills tests — and not the résumé — the thing that gets people a shot at a job.

Sundaram, now the CEO of Applied, is making it her mission to kill the résumé — or at least diminish its role in hiring.

"We don't look at anyone's résumé, ever," she told Business Insider, referring to how she hired at Applied. Sundaram wants other leaders to follow suit because our work bios — and even job experience —  aren't always good predictors of who will succeed in a role. And résumés can leave candidates exposed to bias in the hiring process.

For all the frustration about résumés and the need to tinker with them to make it past the seemingly impenetrable software employers use to sift through applicants, there's likely little chance — for now, at least — that résumés will go the way of paper paychecks. But a move toward screening for skills could, advocates hope, result in a demotion for the CV.

Show us what you can do

One buzzy idea floating around human-resources departments is "skills-based hiring." It would have employers focus more on a candidate's abilities and less on traditional qualifications such as college degrees or formal experience in a role. One way to measure skills is to do what Applied and other companies do: Have the candidate take a test.

Sundaram said the approach of testing can help make hiring fairer. The company might use only five or six questions per test to help identify suitable job candidates. In a statistical analysis, Applied found that 60% of the about 25,000 hires made through its platform would have been overlooked based on their résumés.

In one small study, the approach resulted in a two-thirds increase in women getting into STEM roles. In a larger review, Black candidates getting jobs in finance and consulting went up nearly 80%, according to the company.

Related stories

When employers do want to see a résumé, Applied can use artificial intelligence to strip away information about gender and ethnicity. That makes it more likely a variety of candidates will get a look, she said.

Finding candidates who don't look the part

Applied isn't alone in seeing tests as a better way to identify the best candidates. SHL , a global talent-screening company, offers a 15-minute assessment that employers can give to job seekers. The test measures 96 soft skills — things like how someone communicates or how consultative or persuasive a candidate is. SHL has also developed hundreds of tests that examine specific business and technical abilities, including coding simulations in more than 50 languages.

Marlene Dunne, the chief talent advisor at SHL Americas, told BI that assessments were consistent across candidates and designed to be relevant to a job. The tests can help identify candidates who might not have certain experience listed on their résumés but might be a good fit, she said.

"Organizations are willing to place bets on people where they feel like they at least have the potential to demonstrate or be aligned to some of the skills that they need — even if they haven't had work experience around those things," Dunne said.

Focusing on the results of an assessment rather than a candidate's pedigree can make it less likely those hiring will make assumptions based on things like where a person might have gone to school, Dunne said.

Researchers have found that when indications of gender or ethnicity are stripped from résumés, people from various backgrounds get a better chance at landing a job. That can make it more likely, for example, that women will find jobs in tech .

Deploying tests early in the process can help ensure interviews aren't wasting anyone's time, Dunne said.

"Oftentimes, there are a lot of man hours that get eaten up interviewing people that really shouldn't be getting interviewed," she said.

A test might be a turnoff for some candidates

Aaron Cleavinger, a managing partner at Murdoch Mason Executive Search Group, told BI he's often not a fan of testing applicants because he didn't see assessments as good predictors of someone's success in a job.

Cleavinger added that tests or tasks could turn off top-tier workers who don't want to be bothered. "You're going to anger the most qualified candidate," he said. Tests can be appropriate, Cleavinger said, when a role depends largely on how well someone can complete a particular technical task on a computer, for example.

He sees value in the résumé as "the artifact you leave behind," he said. It's a way for an interviewer to remember what stood out about a candidate, Cleavinger said.

"I hope for the world where a résumé is no longer needed, and you can simply and easily assess candidates based on their capability and qualifications for a role," he said, adding that he didn't expect we'd soon be able to ditch our CVs.

For her part, Sundaram expects AI to change how so many people work that job candidates' employment histories might often reflect a smorgasbord of experiences. That means detecting workers' abilities, not just what they've done, will be more important than ever.

"It will hit us in the face," she said. "The divide at one point will be there are so many jobs out there that the job description — the skills required — do not match the résumés that exist in the world."

Watch: Women must leverage the "algorithm for equality" as AI goes mainstream, says Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient

• Main content

Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills: How to Include Them on Your Resume

Having the right soft and hard skills is crucial for landing the job you want. Understanding how to showcase them on your resume can make all the difference!

By Katie Duncan Posted on March 14, 2024

Resumes are your ticket to showcasing your abilities and experiences to potential employers. A crucial part of this is highlighting the skills that make you a perfect fit for the job.

But not all skills are the same! You can break down your abilities into two categories: soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are all about how you work with others and handle different situations. They include communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and leadership. On the other hand, hard skills are specific skills you’ve learned through education or experience, like coding, marketing analytics, or engineering design.

Both types of skills are essential, but how you approach them when applying to jobs will be a little different. 

Soft skills definition

Soft skills encompass a wide range of interpersonal abilities and personal attributes that aren’t necessarily taught in a classroom.

These skills—like communication, teamwork, and leadership—are crucial for thriving in the professional world. In fact, according to a study by the Carnegie Mellon Foundation and Stanford Research Institute,  75% of long-term job success  depends on soft skills!

Soft skills aren’t typically industry- or role-specific. Most employers seek them out, which makes them highly transferable. If you develop them, you can take them with you and use them in any job— even if you switch career paths to something totally different.

Hard skills definition

Hard skills are the building blocks of expertise. They are the concrete skills and knowledge that you can learn, practice, and measure. They’re the technical abilities you acquire through training, education, and hands-on experience. 

Unlike soft skills, hard skills are typically job or industry-specific. The hard skills that one profession requires will be much different from what another calls for. For example, if you started your career as a software engineer, your knowledge of programming languages will probably not be directly applicable if you switch to the nursing field. 

Soft skills vs. hard skills examples

While both types of skills are valuable, they serve distinct purposes and contribute differently to professional success.

Let’s look at some more examples.

Soft skills examples

Soft skills deal with how you interact with others and navigate the world around you. 

Effective communication, for instance, is the cornerstone of successful relationships and collaborations. It enables individuals to convey ideas clearly, actively listen, and empathize with others’ perspectives. 

Similarly, teamwork is a soft skill that allows you to collaborate toward shared goals. It requires mutual respect, effective communication, and a willingness to leverage diverse perspectives and strengths within a group dynamic. 

Adaptability is also a crucial soft skill, empowering individuals to navigate change with flexibility, creativity, and resilience. Adaptability allows you to embrace new challenges and adjust your priorities.

Soft skills like these collectively foster productivity, growth, and positive relationships in the workplace.

Hard skills examples

For example, if you’re a software developer, your hard skills might include coding languages like Python, Java, or HTML. 

If you’re in the healthcare industry, hard skills might involve medical procedures, diagnostic techniques, or specialized equipment operation. Doctors need to know how to perform surgeries, nurses need to know how to administer medication, and technicians need to know how to operate medical devices safely and accurately.

Even in fields like marketing , finance, or engineering, hard skills play a crucial role. Marketers need to understand analytics tools and social media platforms , finance professionals need to be proficient in financial modeling and analysis, and engineers need to master CAD software and technical drawing.

Unlike soft skills, hard skills are tangible and quantifiable. You either have the knowledge or do not, and somebody could theoretically measure your level of expertise.

Soft skills vs. hard skills on your resume

These two types of skills also differ in how you approach them on your resume.

Including soft skills on your resume

There are two ways to include soft skills on your resume. Option one is to simply list the quality in your resume skills section. The second option, which is the more effective method, is to work the skills into your work experience bullet points . 

Incorporating them into your work experience is more impactful, as it shows how you embody those skills.  It’s all about proving that you can walk the walk, not just talk the talk!

For example, instead of stating “leadership” as a skill, you can mention how you led a team to achieve a specific result, such as increasing sales by 20% or launching a successful marketing campaign.

Sales Associate | May 2018 – March 2022

Company XYZ, Austin, TX

• Successfully led a team of 5 new hires during onboarding sessions, resulting in a 20% increase in sales productivity.
• Adapted quickly to changes in inventory and customer preferences, implementing dynamic sales strategies that led to a 15% increase in sales revenue year-over-year.
• Maintained a customer satisfaction rating of over 90% through effective communication and personalized service, resulting in a 25% increase in repeat business and referrals.

Use action verbs and quantifiable metrics to emphasize your achievements and the impact of your soft skills. By providing concrete examples of how you’ve applied your soft skills in previous roles, you tell a story of your experience and help your resume stand out.

Including hard skills on your resume

There are three ways that you can incorporate your hard skills on your resume.

• List them under skills:  Listing your hard skills makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly assess whether you meet the job requirements. 
• Work them into your job experience:  You can also provide examples or context within your work experience to support each skill. For instance, instead of simply stating that you’re proficient in a particular programming language, you can mention how you utilized that skill to develop a software application, streamline a process, or solve a technical problem. 
• Showcase mastery in your education and certification section:  If you’ve completed relevant coursework or obtained certifications related to your hard skills, including those can demonstrate mastery. 

Sometimes you aren’t able to fit all of your hard skills on your resume. If you need to shorten your resume , take a look at the job description of the role you’re applying for. Make sure that your resume contains all of the skills that they’re looking for— provided you actually possess them, of course.

Showcase your skills

When it comes to soft skills vs. hard skills, having the right ones and knowing how to show them off on your resume will be crucial for landing the job you want.

While there are several ways to show off your hard skills, soft skills are best demonstrated through your experiences.

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14 Business Development Resume Examples for 2024

• Business Development Resume
• Business Development Resumes by Experience
• Business Development Resumes by Role

Writing Your Business Development Resume

If a business isn’t growing, it’s stalling. Business development is the foundation upon which company growth is built. To succeed in business development, you need to be creative, a great communicator, and a great salesman (or saleswoman).

You know you’ve got the right skillset for your next job, so you shouldn’t have to be an expert at resume and cover letter writing , too. That’s where we come in!

We’ve analyzed numerous business development resumes and documented what works and what doesn’t to increase your chances of getting an interview. Then, we made these 14 business development resume samples to help you land your next role in 2023. And on top of that, we’ll share our expert resume tips ; we’re here to help you put your best foot forward!

Business Development Manager Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Once you have several years of experience, use a reverse-chronological format. That way, hiring managers can see your most recent experience first.
• You can make your resume easier to read by using numbers. Luckily, as a biz dev professional, you can point to a whole host of different metrics to demonstrate your impact (sales, up-sells, conversion rate, and retention).
• We’d also recommend striking a balance between hard skills (Salesforce, Excel, LinkedIn) and soft skills (strategic planning, negotiation, communication).

Business Development Intern Resume

• What does it tell the potential employer, you ask? It could point to a proactive candidate who strives for continuous learning and is able to immerse themselves in the sector to understand intricate market trends—all invaluable skills that can stir up a storm in business development.

Entry-Level Business Development Resume

• Typically we recommend including three to six bullet points per work experience (with two to four total work experiences listed). Still, it’s okay to use eight to ten bullet points when you have only one job or internship. 
• You can title this section “hobbies” or “activities,” and be sure to include things that will impress the hiring manager. For example, if you founded a club or played a sport for many years, that will indicate dedication and good collaboration abilities.

Senior Business Development Manager Resume

• If you want to include four or more work experience entries, make sure you’re concentrating the bulk of your bullet points on your most recent/relevant jobs. 
• You can also try using a different  resume template ; you’d be surprised at the difference a template can make when it comes to fitting content on your page. 
• Try to make each bullet point no more than 200 characters.  If you go over the character count, consider breaking it down into multiple points. 

VP Business Development Resume

• Take note of how Stella lights up her piece with anecdotes of boosting sales by $1.2m at AWeber by penetrating three international markets and driving a total of $870K in new business at Wawa Inc., thanks to her prospecting prowess.

Business Development Assistant Resume

• In this case, working as a coffee barista ties in nicely with the hospitality industry for which you’re applying. Make the connection for recruiters in a career objective statement at the top of your resume.

Business Development Analyst Resume

• Highlighting that you’re a Certified Business Development Professional (CBDP) can be the qualification that bumps your name over the edge to land an interview.

Director of Business Development Resume

• How exactly do you do that? By  formatting your resume  in reverse-chronological format! It shows your career journey, starting with your most recent experience, and showcases how you’ve taken on more responsibilities in your recent years.
• Again, numbers speak louder than words here. Did your team improve their performance as a result of coaching? Did your team allow for expansion into new territories? Try to quantify this impact on your director of business development resume .

Business Development Representative Resume

• Objectives are only two to three sentences long, so you might need some practice making yours concise. We’d recommend looking at objective examples to help
• For example, if you worked in retail, you’ve likely had to help customers find the best product for their needs. This is directly applicable to business development, so include it somehow on your business development representative resume.

Business Development Associate Resume

• Try including numbers like your ROI, reviews, client base, client retention, reduction of client attrition, and other KPI metrics. 
• So, before you hit submit, put yourself in their shoes: set a six-second timer and scan your business development associate resume .
• Take a moment and analyze what stood out to you. Was there anything you’d do differently to get their attention? Take this time to make last-minute changes; you’ll be glad you did!

Business Development Strategist Resume

• Adding some style and creative flair will actually ease readability, provided you don’t go overboard.
• Use at least two contrasting fonts for your headers and body text, and don’t be afraid to experiment with a little bit of color at the top of your page.
• We recommend taking a day or two away from your resume so you can come back with fresh eyes. A cup of coffee before your final review couldn’t hurt, either!

Digital Coordinator Business Development Resume

• We’d recommend using reverse-chronological order to put your most recent experience at the top of the page. That way, hiring managers immediately see what’s important!
• Including an activity like a foreign language demonstrates your drive and dedication to self-improvement. Mentorship activities highlight your interpersonal skills, leadership, and team-building skills. 

Business Development Executive Resume

• The layout of your resume can make or break the flow of your recruiter’s reading experience. So when you’re  formatting your resume , try out a variety of  resume templates  until you find one that spotlights your greatest selling points.
• Include impressive numerical metrics such as team headcounts, portfolio sizes, and client lead generation percentages whenever possible.

International Business Development Manager Resume

• In addition to having metrics in your work experience, let your talents shine in the  skills section of your resume . Include mostly technical skills to really ‘wow’ the recruiter or hiring manager.
• For example, how many accounts did you manage? How many new customers did you bring on within a certain time frame? Did you win any awards? Your achievements are likely more numerous and impressive than you think!

Related resume guides

• Program Manager
• Business Owner
• Account Executive

Formatting your business development resume correctly is more important than you might think. Good formatting ensures your resume is readable, logical, and complete. When your resume isn’t formatted well, it can be difficult for hiring managers to read, hard for ATS to understand, and just not visually appealing. Let’s start by reviewing the key elements of resume formatting, including: 

• Your resume formatting options

Your contact header information

How to ensure the ats and recruiters read your resume.

Your resume format options

Applicants’ preferences for formatting change over time. in 2024, the most popular  resume formats  are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid.  

Specific pros and cons for each type of format:

• Reverse-chronological format:  This format highlights your career growth by placing your most recent work experience at the top, leaving your oldest work experience (and likely, least relevant) at the bottom.
• Functional format:  This format is all about highlighting your skills. It’s typically chosen by applicants with employment history gaps.
• Combination/Hybrid format:  This format includes a reverse-chronological structure with equal weight between work experience and skills. 

For business development resumes, we always recommend the use of reverse-chronological formatting. Although the combination format might seem like the best choice, it’s not common, so it can become confusing. Reverse-chronological is the preferred format for hiring managers due to its popularity, readability, and logical flow. 

You should list your name at the top of your resume in the header. Make sure to center it, and use the largest font (around 24-point). Right below your header, include the job title you’re seeking in a slightly smaller font (around 20-point font). Your header is also a great place to have some color, whether it’s for your font or as a pretty background. 

On the right or left side of your resume, somewhere just below the header, you’ll want to include the following in a list using standard font size: 

• Phone number
• City/state (optional)
• Professional links, such as LinkedIn (optional)

It can be hard to visualize what this will look like on your resume, so check out the visual below, or check out other  resume examples  for inspiration on achieving a professional yet visually appealing header. 

It’s not uncommon for a single business developer job posting to receive more than 200 applicants. Hiring teams couldn’t possibly give each applicant careful consideration, so they use ATS, aka applicant tracking systems. This software was created to help hiring teams during the explosion of online job applications.

Hiring managers use ATS to track keywords in your resume and match them to pre-selected words that the hiring team is seeking. If ATS doesn’t think an applicant is a good fit for the job, their resume can be thrown out before any person has a chance to read it.  

Use the following techniques to ensure both ATS and recruiters can read your resume:

• Margins : Use standard one-half to one-inch margins. 
• Fonts:  Keep to the basic professional fonts; no cursive or hard-to-read script! 
• Font size:  Use about 24-point font for your name, 20-point font for your job title, and 10-12 point font everywhere else on your resume. 
• Header names : Keep your font size the same for section headers and body text, but use bold lettering to make your headers stand out. You can also try using all caps to make your section headers easier to see. 
• Skills:  Ensure your skills are highly specialized to the business development job you’re seeking. Always check the  business development job description  to ensure you’ll have enough matching keywords (but never plagiarize). 
• Logical order:  Use reverse-chronological order because it’s the format ATS operates best with, and hiring managers tend to prefer it. 
• One page:  Ensure your resume is exactly one page.

Make the changes above while you’re  building your resume  to help you format your resume correctly for the ATS!

How to Write an Effective Business Developer Resume

We know that  writing an effective resume  can feel like a daunting task. However, it’s not that bad if you go section by section, which is what we’ll help you with in this guide.

We’d recommend having this article open in one tab and your resume in another, so you can go back and forth while making revisions. Now, let’s get into the bulk of actually writing your resume: 

• Using a resume objective or summary statement

How to include your work experience

• Choosing the right skills
• Education and certificates 
• Customizations
• Proofreading your resume

Clearing the confusion: an objective or summary?

Many prospective business developers are rightfully confused by the resume objective and summary . What are they, why are they important, and when should you use one?

This section will answer all of those questions and give you some examples of both resume objectives and summary statements. 

An  objective  is essentially an opening paragraph for your resume. It includes the job title you’re seeking, your years of experience, specific skills that make you a good candidate, and which company you’re applying for. Although objectives aren’t required, it’s a good idea to include an objective if you have limited work experience or are going through a significant career change. 

On the other hand, a summary is a short synopsis of your work experience. The summary emphasizes your skills and how they were used at previous jobs successfully (using metrics). A summary is best-suited for applicants with at least 10+ years of experience in business development. 

Let’s review a few examples of both strong and weak objectives and summaries:

• Analysis: This objective does include years of experience, which is good, but it’s entirely too vague. Make sure you mention a specific job title, several particular skills, and the company’s name. 
• Analysis: This objective is pretty good! It contains a specific job title, years of experience, job-specific skills, and a company name. Hiring managers would be instantly intrigued by this job candidate. 
• Analysis: If your summary is this vague, leave it out entirely and add more work experience instead. 
• Analysis: This summary is specific and demonstrates the applicant’s value through relevant metrics and skills. 

Focus on including two to four job experiences on your business developer resume. We know it can be tempting to include every work experience you’ve ever had. Still, including irrelevant jobs from your teenage years isn’t useful when you have many years of relevant work experience. When you’ve held several job titles,  be choosy about which two to four you include on your resume . 

How to write your work experience descriptions

Make your work experience examples professional, interesting, and impressive. Use action verbs such as “spearheaded,” “orchestrated,” or “developed” to start each of your bullet points, and use active voice throughout (rather than passive). This will ensure that you take ownership of your resume and display confidence. 

You also want to avoid personal pronouns, such as “me” or “I,” in your work experience. The hiring manager knows you’re writing about yourself, so avoid taking up the extra space and dooming your resume to the “unprofessional” pile. You’ll also need to decide on punctuation. You can either end all of your bullet points with periods or leave them off. It’s up to you; just be consistent. Finally, pay special attention to using consistent verb tenses. All of your past experience needs to be in the past tense, and you can choose whether you want to include your current experience in the past or present tense. 

Here are some examples of good business developer resume bullet points that incorporate all of the above advice: 

• Prospected and qualified potential customers with targeted advertising, improving conversion rate by over 20%
• Conducted multi-channel outreach to prospects by leveraging 3 forms of CRM management tools
• Developed marketing campaign featuring educational business material, resulting in $200K net profit

How to quantify your impact as a business developer

One of the most important things you include on your business development resume is metrics. Numbers showcase your job impact in a way that words alone cannot.

Aim to have metrics on at least 50 percent of your bullet points, but don’t be afraid to add more if you can. Here are some of the best ways to leverage metrics when you’re discussing your previous business development roles: 

• Increased revenue:  Arguably, increased revenue is the most important job of a business developer. Highlight how much you’ve increased gross company revenue during your tenure. 
• Conversion rates:  Have customer conversion rates gone up as you’ve adopted new systems for reaching customers? Did you use targeted advertising, answer questions within minutes or hours, or did you use multi-channel outreach to increase conversion rates? 
• Leads:  It’s not just important to tell hiring managers that you increased revenue. Tell them  how  you did it. Perhaps you reached 25 percent more leads through the CRM processes you’ve developed? Maybe you initiated a successful referral program? Or perhaps you’ve collaborated on building social media campaigns? 
• Data analysis:  It’s important to discuss how you’ve utilized data from CRM and related software to get results. Make sure you don’t neglect to mention how your data analysis has improved the ROI for acquisition at your company. 

Using these types of metrics, we created work experience bullet points that could fit any strong business development resume: 

• Crafted a holistic paid acquisition strategy, leading to a 38% ROI for every dollar spent 
• Initiated data analysis processes that enabled a deeper understanding of consumer trends, contributing to the creation of 3 unique metrics to track consumer habits 
• Launched Requests for Proposals (RFPs), collaborating with 19 contractors while meeting 97% of profitability targets and ROIs

How to choose skills for your business developer resume

You must choose the right  skills on your resume  if you want it to be seen by a hiring manager. A successful business development skills section provides insight into your areas of expertise and ensures ATS can find matching keywords on your resume. 

Here are some of the best skills to include on your business development resume:

• ROI and Data Analysis 
• Lead Conversion
• Sales Pitches
• Presentations
• Lead Qualification
• Relationship Building
• Tactful Communication
• Campaigns 
• CRM Salesforce

We’d recommend mostly including hard skills, like “CRM” and “Sales Pitches,” because they’re job-specific, easy to quantify, and focus more on learned abilities. These are the types of skills that demonstrate a clear understanding of the job, and hiring managers actively seek these applicants. These resume skills are some of the best, most sought-after in the business development industry.

Soft skills, such as “time management,” “organization,” and “collaboration,” can play a supporting role in your skills section. They’re important, but harder to quantify and demonstrate, so you should include a few (but not too many) soft skills on your business development resume.

What to know about education, certs, and more

In the field of business development, there are no standardized job qualifications. However, many hiring managers will expect you to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as business, management, or marketing. Some jobs may require applicants to hold an MBA or other graduate degrees, but that’s not the norm. 

On the other hand, certifications are incredible inclusions on your resume. Though they’re often not required, Certified Marketing Professional, Blockchain and Digital Marketing Professional, Digital Marketing Specialist, and other credentials as shown in the example below can give you an extra edge with hiring managers. 

We typically don’t advise business developers to include  interests and hobbies on their resumes , but there are some times when it may be appropriate.

A few pointers for when interests and hobbies may be appropriate for your resume:

• Consider including this section if you have minimal work experience. Interests, hobbies, and projects can stand in for work experience! 
• Include unique interests and hobbies if your potential employer values individuality. (For example, a creative company like Nintendo would value knowing you like to sketch in your free time.
• Think about whether your interests, hobbies, or activities demonstrate a high level of commitment and focus. For example, hobbies such as Olympic Powerlifting prove that you’re a results-driven, focused, and dedicated person. 

This candidate hints at soft skills with spot-on activities.

Make your business development resume unique to the job

Remember to tailor your business development resume for every job to which you apply.  It will help ATS recognize keywords and show the employer that you’re genuinely interested in the job. Pay special attention to customizing your resume objective or summary with a specific job title and company name.

Your skills section should also be customized, which you can do by carefully reading the job description. Finally, every bullet point you include should be carefully edited to highlight the most important skills and job duties listed in the job posting. Hopefully, you won’t have to make too many edits, but even if that is the case, this step is essential!

Edit and proofread your resume

You may be tempted to submit your business development resume the second you finish writing it, but stop for a second!

Give yourself a day or two to rest your eyes and brain so that you can proofread your resume with fresh eyes. Send it off to friends and family for edits before  checking your resume  for one final time. You may be surprised to realize you misspelled a few words or used inconsistent punctuation! 

Well on Your Way to Your Next Business Development Job

You should be proud of yourself for reading through this entire resume guide! The hardest part of working on your resume is getting started, and now you’re ready to put in the work and  get your dream business development job in 2024 . Use our  resume checker  to upload your completed resume and check it against our AI-powered tips. On the other hand, if you haven’t started on your resume or want to begin from scratch, use our  resume builder,  which has built-in AI-powered tips and proper formatting to help set you in the right direction. 

How Far Back Should A Resume Go? Here’s What To Include

R esumes usually have no specific guidelines despite being the most crucial aspect of initially applying for a job . However, there is still an unspecified standard that resumes are expected to uphold by employers and recruiters. This makes job searching very often challenging and ambiguous. Luckily, there are some recommended guidelines to follow when it comes to curating a resume that have been recommended by job recruiters and other experts in the subject. Here are some guidelines for those wondering “how far back should a resume go?”

A general rule of thumb is to include around 10-15 years of work experience on a resume. According to Lisa Tynan for Top Resume , reducing the job history section of a resume to this amount of time helps to keep the resume concise, only focuses on the most important and/or relevant information and combats against age discrimination caused by the amount of time a person has spent working.

However, thinking in terms of the specific industry/position being applied for and tailoring the resume to relevant experience for that job is crucial. If earlier experiences are highly relevant or showcase skills important for the position, including them might be beneficial. But if they’re less relevant or outdated, focusing on recent and pertinent experiences might be wiser to keep the resume concise and targeted. Two pages is usually the best length for the resume as a whole. This means the job history section likely needs to be condensed if the resume is longer than two whole pages. But again, this may be necessary to highlight all relevant information, especially for those later into their career.

For Entry-Level Careers

Those earlier into their career may only have one page for their resume and that is typically fine. There is other information though, that can be added to stand out as a candidate. One way to do so could be to add an objective or summary that highlights goals and what the candidate can bring to the table. For those fresh out of college, high school jobs and activities are most likely irrelevant. Unless, of course, the role specifically pertains to the job being applied for. Instead, list all degrees, relevant coursework, and academic achievements. It is also good to highlight hard skills (software, languages, technical abilities) and soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving). Lastly, showcase any internships, volunteer work or relevant projects undertaken.

For Mid-Level To Senior-Level Careers

For those in the mid-level or senior-level of their career, it may start to get unclear when asking “How far back should a resume go?” Less information on career goals and personal introduction is needed at this point, as the work can speak for itself. Those at the mid-level in their career should start with a brief overview of their experience and expertise instead if an introduction is wanted/required. Those in the senior-level of their career can begin with a powerful statement summarizing their career highlights and value to an employer.

Both career levels should then detail their work history, focusing on achievements and quantifiable results in each role. Emphasize leadership, project management and specialized skills. Next, highlight advanced skills gained through experience, leadership and management capabilities. Include any certifications or courses relevant to the field. Senior career-level applicants should include any board positions held, speaking engagements, industry recognitions or other high-level accomplishments.

Remember that a great resume for one job position or field varies greatly to that of another. Align personal experiences and skills with the description of the specific job the application is for. Resumes should evolve as your career progresses, focusing on showcasing increasing levels of expertise, responsibilities and achievements.

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How to avoid these common job search mistakes

An unintentional mistake can keep you from a great job or internship opportunity. When searching for jobs or internships, be intentional with your approach and pay attention to the details in how you present yourself to potential employers. 

Here are a few tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls when seeking employment. 

Adapt your resume to match the job description 

Stand out from other applicants by tailoring your resume and cover letter for each opportunity, even if the jobs or internships seem similar. You don’t have to start from scratch each time, but you can make a few updates to add keywords and skills that match the job description. Your resume will get more traction with this personalized approach. 

Career Services offers workshops to help you build an effective resume.  

Little mistakes on your resume or cover letter can stand out in a big way. These oversights can influence the employer’s overall perception of you as a candidate. Double-check names, job titles and companies on your application materials to ensure they match the job you are applying for—especially when creating tailored documents for each application. 

Try proofreading your resume and cover letter starting at the end and moving backward to catch typos or errors. Ask a friend, family member or Career Services team member to proofread your materials. 

Update your online profiles 

Employers regularly search the internet to look for more information about candidates. They may review your job profiles, like Handshake and LinkedIn, but they may also see other social media accounts. If the social media content they find seems concerning, they may not move you to the next step. 

If an employer searches your name online, what will they find? Will the information and photos they see help or hurt you in the job search? As you review your online activities, think about your online presence from an employer’s perspective.  

• If there’s anything that could be perceived as negative or concerning, consider removing it.  
• Consider which social media accounts you want to be private and check to ensure those settings are up to date.  
• Be sure anything you put out is a good representation of who you are. This includes email names, social handles, websites, hashtags, photos, etc.  

Your online presence can also be an asset in your job or internship search. Update your profiles to ensure they accurately reflect you, your activities and your interests. For example, if you’re passionate about making a change in the world, show how you’re involved in your community with photos, blogs or shared articles. Be active in your field of interest on social media. Especially on LinkedIn , you can post industry-related news, questions, quotes or articles. Follow inspiring people and companies in your field, but avoid connecting with hiring managers unless invited or until that person has hired you.   

Don’t be afraid to go for it 

The only way to not be considered for an internship or job is never to apply. We can talk ourselves out of great opportunities if we don’t think we meet all the qualifications listed in the description. If you’re interested in a position and think you could do the job well, apply—even if you don’t meet every single item on the list. Most employers will interview candidates if they meet most of their criteria. 

For more tips on finding an internship or job, check out weekly programs and workshops from Career Services. These free workshops will share best practices for resumes, networking, making progress in your search and more. 

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The No. 1 AI mistake job seekers make, from a career expert: So many people use ChatGPT 'in exactly the wrong way'

As a leader at the education nonprofit Khan Academy, I was thrilled when ChatGPT came out in November 2022. It meant we could use generative AI to provide personalized tutoring to more kids than ever.

But as a hiring manager and cofounder of a career development business who's trained first-gen students at CUNY and MBAs at Harvard Business School alike, I was heartbroken to see that so many job seekers were using these tools in exactly the wrong way. 

They forgot that no matter how exciting this new technology is, humans are still in charge of the hiring process. Which is why having a robot write your resume is a recipe for disaster.

But given that I wrote the literal book on using ChatGPT in your job search , I know you can still turn to AI to make your resume shine. Used properly, it can help you land the interview — and ultimately the job. 

The wrong way to use AI for your resume

In my experience, most job seekers using ChatGPT or other AI platforms begin with a prompt like "Generate a marketing resume." This might seem like a great place to start, but it's the biggest mistake you could make. Here's why: 

The results are massively generic 

Take this summary, for instance:

As a hiring manager, the first thing I'm always looking for is evidence of specific accomplishments. When I scan this, though, my first thought is "Wow — this candidate is great at buzzwords, but not so great at actual marketing." 

That's hardly the first impression you want to make when employers spend seven seconds , on average, reviewing your resume!

ChatGPT and other AI tools are going to make stuff up 

As if that wasn't bad enough, check out what comes next under a single job listing under the experience section:

Not only do these bullet points lack specificity (with no clear projects or outcomes), but the sheer range of skills covered is literally unbelievable. As in, I've never met a marketer in my two-decade career who did all of these things in one job.

So my human BS detector immediately assumes the worst: This isn't a resume, this is a hallucination!

The right way to use AI for your resume

OK, you get the picture: Having AI generate your resume from scratch can be a fast track to rejection. But if we know that human reviewers want specificity and credibility, we can actually leverage AI to help us with those exact things.

1. Start with a draft resume written by a human (i.e., you)

Instead of asking AI to generate your resume, start with your own first draft, even if it's in rough shape. That way, you can at least be specific and accurate about what you actually did, even if those accomplishments need a little polishing.

2. Identify and incorporate missing keywords

Go right to the source of truth. The job description was created by the hiring team to spell out the skills they're looking for — and it contains the exact keywords you want to match.

Here's where you turn to AI. Enter the following prompt: 

• Which keywords from the below job description are missing from my resume? 
• Here's the job description: [Paste the job description here] 
• And here's my resume: [Paste the text of your resume here]

Once you've got a list of missing keywords, identify the ones you have experience with and prompt the AI to help you incorporate them: 

Suggest three ways to incorporate [keyword] into my resume.

3. Quantify achievements and demonstrate results

The best predictor of future performance is usually past performance, which means recruiters and hiring managers want to see real results, not just hallucinations.

So get a little nudge in the right direction with a prompt like: 

Suggest three ways to add more quantitative impact to the following bullet point: [Paste your bullet point here]

Now, it's tempting to copy and paste the bullets your AI platform suggests straight into your resume. But make sure you're editing the text to match your actual accomplishments. For instance, maybe you generated $300,000 in donations, not $500,000 like the AI spit out, or your organization actually measures growth quarterly rather than monthly.

4. Review, review, review!

Always proofread your resume before submitting it. If you've used AI, it's all the more important to review every last word and number to make sure everything's 100% accurate. 

The last thing you want is to be sitting in a final-round interview and have your prospective boss's boss's boss ask you about a resume bullet the AI fabricated and you forgot to update!

Jeremy Schifeling is the founder of  The Job Insiders , which provides career technology training for hundreds of top universities and business schools. He is also the author of " Career Coach GPT: The Complete Guide to ChatGPT Resume, Cover Letter, Interview, and Job Search Success " and shares his latest career and AI hacks on LinkedIn .

Want to land your dream job in 2024?  Take  CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview  to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. CNBC Make It readers can save 25% with discount code 25OFF.

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