When it comes to creating a resume, one of the most crucial parts is crafting descriptions of your work experience, volunteer work, projects, and other activities that are relevant to the position you are applying for. These descriptions must be concise, precise, and descriptive, providing potential employers with a clear understanding of your roles, skills, areas of expertise, and accomplishments. To help you with this task, here are some tips to consider when describing your work experience:
Begin each description with the name of the organization, location, dates, and your job title. List your experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent one.
Use short, powerful phrases with strong verbs to describe your responsibilities. Focus on the skills and qualities you possess that are essential to the industry you work in. Try to incorporate industry-specific keywords to show potential employers how well you can fit into their organization and the position they are looking to fill.
Use a variety of action words to make your descriptions more dynamic and engaging. Use the present tense for ongoing actions and the past tense for activities you are no longer involved in.
Avoid using personal pronouns, prepositions, or words like “I,” “and,” and “the.” Quantify your accomplishments and responsibilities whenever possible by including numerical figures, monetary values, and percentages.
Avoid summarizing or describing the activities of the organization you worked for. Instead, focus on your specific duties and achievements in relation to the job or organization. Provide only the most relevant and significant information in your description.
For example:
Summers 20XX-20XX Assistant Manager/Head Lifeguard Position at The Swim Club, Anywhere, Pennsylvania
Resolved customer issues and ensured the safety of customers and visitors
Supervised and trained six lifeguards on club rules and procedures
Created and maintained schedules for lifeguards, swim lessons, and pool activities
Assisted the manager in overseeing the operations of the swim club
To get ideas on how to effectively showcase your skills and experience, you can refer to resume samples provided by Steinbright.
Promoting Your International Experience
Studying, working, or volunteering abroad can help you develop a wide range of skills, including:
Adaptability to new environments, cultures, languages, and customs
Communication skills in both verbal and written forms, as well as nonverbal communication
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills in unfamiliar situations
You may have also improved skills such as independence, time management, financial administration, confidence, global perspective, cultural competence, and networking.
Here are some verbs that can help you articulate these skills on your resume: Adapted, awarded, constructed, collaborated, developed, nurtured, implemented, immersed, improved, managed, organized, conquered, practiced, realized, represented, recognized, shared, traveled, translated, visited, and more.
In conclusion, when describing your work experience on your resume, be concise, descriptive, and focused on your accomplishments and skills. By following these tips and using powerful language, you can create descriptions that effectively showcase your abilities to potential employers.
