How to Write Experience in a Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

Writing a strong, impactful experience section is one of the most important aspects of crafting a resume. It's the section that showcases your professional journey, skills, and accomplishments, and it can often be the deciding factor in getting an interview.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of how to write your work experience on a resume, ensuring it is professional, clear, and tailored to attract hiring managers.

Why is the Experience Section Important?

The experience section of a resume is where employers evaluate whether you have the skills and background they are looking for.

This section provides a snapshot of your career trajectory, detailing your responsibilities and accomplishments in previous roles.

It helps employers understand what you can contribute to their organization based on what you’ve achieved in the past.

A well-written experience section will:

Highlight your accomplishments.

Demonstrate how your skills match the job description.

Show how you have contributed to your previous organizations.

Provide evidence of your ability to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Key Principles for Writing the Experience Section

When writing the experience section of your resume, there are a few key principles to keep in mind to ensure it is both informative and engaging.

1. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Duties

One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is listing their responsibilities rather than their accomplishments.

Instead of merely stating what you did, emphasize what you achieved. Hiring managers are more interested in how you made a difference in your role rather than just knowing what your day-to-day duties were.

Example of Responsibility vs. Achievement:

Responsibility: "Managed a team of 5 sales representatives."

Achievement: "Led a team of 5 sales representatives, achieving a 20% increase in sales revenue over six months."

The latter highlights your impact, showing measurable success and providing context for the scope of your role.

2. Quantify Your Results

Whenever possible, use numbers to quantify your achievements. Employers love to see measurable outcomes because it makes your contributions tangible and provides a clearer picture of your capabilities.

Examples of How to Quantify Results:

"Increased customer satisfaction scores by 15%."

"Reduced operational costs by 10%."

"Generated $50,000 in additional revenue through upselling strategies."

By quantifying your achievements, you help potential employers understand the value you brought to your previous roles.

3. Use Action Verbs

Action verbs are powerful tools in the experience section. They provide clarity and make your accomplishments stand out. Rather than using passive phrases like "responsible for," use strong action words that demonstrate initiative and leadership.

Examples of Strong Action Verbs:

Achieved

Improved

Developed

Managed

Executed

Implemented

For example, instead of saying "Responsible for managing team projects," write "Led team projects to completion, improving efficiency by 15%."

4. Tailor Your Experience to the Job Description

Each job you apply for will have specific qualifications and skills that the employer is looking for. When writing your experience, tailor your resume to match the job description. Highlight the skills and accomplishments that align with the job requirements, and reframe your experience to show how you meet the employer’s needs.

To tailor your resume:

Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on the jobs and accomplishments most closely related to the position you're applying for.

Use Keywords: Use keywords from the job description. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) often scan resumes for specific terms, and including them increases your chances of getting through the initial screening process.

For example, if the job description mentions "project management" and "team leadership," ensure those terms are present in your experience section (provided they are applicable).

5. Keep It Concise and Relevant

While it’s tempting to include everything you've ever done, less is often more when it comes to resumes.

Employers spend an average of 6-7 seconds scanning resumes, so your experience section needs to be clear, concise, and relevant. Focus on your most recent roles and those that demonstrate your qualifications for the position you're targeting.

For older or less relevant roles, you can summarize them briefly or omit them if they don't add value. Generally, experience from the last 10–15 years is most relevant unless you have significant accomplishments from earlier roles.

6. Use the Right Structure and Format

A well-structured experience section makes it easy for employers to follow your career progression and see your qualifications at a glance. Here's a common format to follow:

Job Title: Include the title of your position.

Company Name and Location: List the name of the company and the city where you worked.

Dates of Employment: Use a consistent date format, such as "Jan 2020 – Dec 2022" or "March 2018 – Present."

Accomplishments and Responsibilities: Use bullet points to describe your achievements and responsibilities in each role. Aim for 3-5 bullet points per role, focusing on the most important accomplishments.

Example Format:

Marketing Manager

ABC Company, New York, NY

January 2019 – December 2022

Led a team of 10 marketing professionals in the development and execution of digital marketing campaigns, increasing web traffic by 35%.

Implemented SEO strategies that improved search rankings, resulting in a 20% increase in organic traffic.

Launched a social media campaign that generated 50,000 new followers and improved brand engagement by 40%.

7. Show Career Progression

If you have been promoted or taken on new responsibilities over time, make sure to highlight this in your resume. Showing career growth demonstrates to employers that you are a high performer capable of advancing within an organization.

Example:

Senior Sales Executive

XYZ Corporation, Chicago, IL

January 2021 – Present

Promoted to Senior Sales Executive after exceeding sales targets by 25% for three consecutive quarters.

Sales Representative

XYZ Corporation, Chicago, IL

June 2018 – December 2020

Consistently exceeded quarterly sales quotas by 15-20%.

This format clearly shows your upward trajectory and highlights your achievements that led to your promotion.

Additional Tips for Writing the Experience Section

Use Reverse Chronological Order: List your most recent job first and work backward. This is the most common format and what employers expect to see.

Be Honest: Never exaggerate your experience or accomplishments. Misrepresenting your skills or experience can damage your reputation and jeopardize your chances of securing the role.

Use Past Tense for Previous Roles, Present Tense for Current Roles: This keeps your resume consistent and helps employers understand which roles are ongoing and which are in the past.

Include Volunteer Work or Internships: If you're early in your career or transitioning into a new field, consider including volunteer work or internships in your experience section if they are relevant to the role you're applying for.

Example of a Strong Experience Section

Here’s an example of how a polished experience section might look for a marketing professional:

Digital Marketing Specialist

XYZ Marketing Solutions, Austin, TX

May 2020 – Present

Developed and executed digital marketing campaigns across social media, email, and web platforms, increasing lead generation by 40%.

Analyzed customer data to refine targeting strategies, resulting in a 25% improvement in conversion rates.

Managed the company’s SEO strategy, boosting organic search rankings and increasing website traffic by 30%.

Marketing Coordinator

ABC Corporation, Austin, TX

June 2018 – April 2020

Assisted in the planning and execution of marketing campaigns that generated $100,000 in revenue within six months.

Coordinated company events, increasing customer engagement by 20%.

Created content for social media platforms, contributing to a 15% growth in followers.

Conclusion

Writing the experience section of your resume can be the key to securing your next job opportunity. By focusing on your achievements, quantifying your results, using strong action verbs, and tailoring your experience to the job description, you can create a resume that stands out to hiring managers.

Always keep your experience section concise, relevant, and well-structured, and remember to showcase your career growth and accomplishments. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a compelling resume that effectively markets your skills and experience.