In many ways, your resume defines who you are as a professional. Not only does this document highlight your professional experience and educational qualifications, but it also provides insight into who you are as a person.
While you may find yourself creating a resume for your job search, you should know that this is a living document that should be continually revised throughout the course of your career. The work experience section is the heart of your resume, and it’s crucial to know how to craft a work experience resume that showcases the value of your professional experience and the transferable skills that you have acquired along the way.
What Goes Into the Work Experience Section of a Resume?
So, what goes into the work experience section of a resume, exactly? The work experience section is considered the most critical component of your resume, because it showcases your relevant professional experience and what value you could add to the organization that is hiring.
As you begin building your experience section, it’s important to focus on the most vital details, such as:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment
- Key responsibilities
- Achievements
Highlighting these essential professional details provides the hiring manager with a concise summary of your pertinent industry background.
The work experience section is vital because it allows you to show that you are actively working in your industry and have been able to grow and advance throughout your career. Your professional experience showcases your most relevant, industry-specific skills and shows that you have transferable skills that could be valuable to the hiring organization.
As you build out your experience section with key details, make sure that you highlight your achievements and any relevant metrics. While hiring managers will want to be aware of the key responsibilities you have taken on within that position, they will be far more interested in your impact on your previous organization. Metrics and key data points help to quantify your achievements and prove to prospective employers that you can drive results.
How to Format Your Work Experience Resume Section
Your resume design matters more than you would think. By creating a visually appealing resume that is digestible and easy to scan, you will increase the likelihood of your resume being noticed by the hiring committee.
You should begin formatting your work experience section by listing your professional experience in reverse chronological order. It is important to begin with your most recent experience, as it is most relevant to those hiring for open positions.
As you design your resume and input information about your professional experience, you will want to be consistent with your formatting. Use the fonts within the same font family throughout your entire resume. Be sure the spacing is appropriate so that the information does not appear too crowded on the page.
Work experience is generally listed in bullet point format, though you may have to include a short description of your job responsibilities and achievements within that role. As you craft the content for your work experience section, use keywords from the job description.
In today’s job market, employers regularly use applicant tracking system software, or ATS software, to scan resumes and filter the most qualified candidates. As a result, creating an ATS-friendly resume is essential. You can create an ATS-friendly resume by:
- Using standard section headings. Your work experience section should be labeled as “Work Experience.”
- Using common fonts like Times New Roman or Arial, which are easily scanned by ATS software.
- Avoid graphics or images on your resume, as they may not be recognized by ATS software.
The design and format of your work experience section is almost as important as your work experience itself, as it can determine whether a human hiring manager will see your application.
Creating Strong Descriptions of Job Experience
Within your work experience section, you will list each specific job you have had throughout your career and a description of your job experience within that role. This is your opportunity to provide context and insight and prove that you can drive results in any position that you have.
To that end, the job description needs to be brief. You will likely start with a bullet point, and ideally, you will describe your role using just two or three short sentences. Start your bullet point with an action verb to begin on a strong note, and quickly move on to your achievements in that role. By focusing on results and achievements, you can quantify your impact on the organization.
Metrics and key data points are ideal within your job description. For example, if you were previously in a sales position, you should include metrics such as, “Increased sales by more than 20%.”
Make sure that each job description is unique and authentic. By tailoring the description of each position you have had throughout your career, you can showcase a broader range of experience and highlight more skills. In addition, you will make your resume more interesting and compelling, motivating hiring managers to continue reviewing your resume.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
By being aware of common resume design mistakes, particularly in the work experience section, you can create a more compelling and inviting resume.
Below are some of the most common job experience resume mistakes:
- Being too vague in your job description. By speaking in generics, you will leave hiring managers wondering what precisely you did in the role. Strong descriptions with specific job responsibilities, achievements, and metrics are key within the work experience section.
- Using passive language. Passive language can be confusing, making it difficult for hiring managers to understand exactly what you did when you were employed in that position.
- Including irrelevant work experience. While it may be tempting to showcase all your different roles throughout your career, it’s best to have fewer, but more relevant, job descriptions in your work experience section. Your prospective employer at a marketing agency doesn’t care about the first job you had in high school.
- Trying to be too creative with your resume design. Intricate resume designs can make it difficult for hiring managers to find the information they need when quickly reviewing a resume. In addition, ATS software may completely skip over resumes with designs that are too difficult to interpret.
Tips for Limited or No Job Experience
When applying for your first job in your desired industry, you may find it difficult to create a robust work experience section. If you have limited professional experience, you can fill out your work experience section with:
- Internships that you completed during your degree program.
- Volunteer efforts you’ve been involved in.
- Freelance work that is relevant within your industry.
As you create this section, emphasize the transferable skills you acquired throughout these experiences and how they may be relevant in a professional role.
You may find that a functional resume format is best when you have limited or no relevant professional experience. This traditional resume format prioritizes skills rather than work experience, allowing you to highlight your assets as a future employee in that organization.
Create a Strong Resume with Unity’s Support
Modern learners often have to balance their education and professional responsibilities, so enrolling at a university that offers a robust and supportive online learning program is important. At Unity Environmental University Distance Education, we offer a wide range of online degree programs, all of which are anchored by a commitment to sustainability. By choosing Distance Education, you can select the right learning environment for you, all while enjoying access to virtual tutoring services and unlimited wellness counseling.
When you are enrolled in one of our Distance Education online degree programs, you will have access to our Career Services office. Through Career Services, you can attend virtual workshops, search for internship opportunities, or schedule a personalized career counseling appointment. We can help you create a job experience resume that highlights your professional experience and showcases your strengths.
Chat with Una about Unity Environmental University or apply today.
