How to Write Work Experience in a CV

Your CV is your personal marketing asset, and the work experience section is its core message. One of the hardest things about writing a résumé is creating thorough accounts of your work experience, voluntary work, and projects. But this part is important since it lets recruiting officials evaluate your qualifications and decide whether you would be a good fit for the post.

This is where you demonstrate to employers what you have accomplished, how effectively you have done it, and why you are the ideal candidate for the role. But how can you make your experience shine without blending in with the crowd?

Read along to find the best tips to effectively display your “Work Experience Section” on your resume.

Start with the Job Title Example:

Effectively displaying job titles increases your chances of getting hired so what is a job title? Your job title is the headline of each role you have held; the job title serves as the first impression of your role in each position

It defines the level of responsibility and expectations about your contributions. For instance, “Senior marketing Manager” conveys a higher level of expertise and leadership than “Marketing Assistant” It helps the recruiter quickly gauge whether your experience aligns with the job.

• Be sure to use a title that accurately reflects the scope of your role
• Align it with the position you are applying for to make your application stand out.
• In cases where the official title is generic or unclear feel free to modify it slightly to reflect a more recognisable or relevant title that aligns industry norms. As long as it remains truthful

Company Name and Location:

Including the company name, its location (city, state, country) and possibly its industry size or industry helps the recruiter better understand the work environment and the kind of company you have worked with. For instance, working in a well-known company like Google versus a small local startup can provide context about the scale of your experience.

The location can also give an insight into your adaptability, especially if you have worked in different countries or across various culture settings. It reflects your ability to navigate a diverse business environment. If you have worked remotely, it is also important to mention that as it can showcase your ability to manage tasks independently.

Example: Data analytics/ XYZ studies, London

Dates of Employment:

Reaching out to candidates for clarification on their employment dates during the screening process increases workload and delays recruitment. Listing the starting and end date for each position helps the employer understand the timeline of your career. You should also specify whether you are still employed in a role by using “present” if the position is still on-going it is essential to present this information in a clear and consistent format such as:

Digital Marketing, XYZ Limited, London, UK (01/2023-present)

• Avoid confusion: well organised date format allows the recruiter to immediately assess the longevity of your experience in each role and verify and if you have the requisite experience for the role, you are applying
• Employment gap: track your professional growth and identify any gaps. If there are any gaps, be prepared to explain them concisely, focusing on what you accomplish during the break.

Key Responsibilities

Describing your core responsibility gives insight into what you are primarily tasked with during tenure at the company. This allows the employers to decide if you have

Focus. This allows employer to determine if you have requisite skills for the new position

• Use concise action-oriented bullet points to highlight these duties
• Start each with strong action verbs like “Managed,” “Led” or “Implemented” to show initiative and responsibilities
• Tailoring the description to the job you are applying helps to make your experience feels like relevant and purposeful

For instance, A project manager should emphasize leading a team, budgeting, managing timeline, while a software developer might highlight specific technologies and programming languages used.

Example: Graphic Designer | Casanova Creative Studios

London, UK| June 2020 – Present

Designed and launched over 50+ marketing assets for clients, resulting in a 30% increase in engagement across social platforms.

Accomplishments and Achievements:

To stand out displaying your job responsibilities is not enough adding professional accomplishment increases your chances of getting hired.

• Focus on what you achieve while in that role.
• Quantify these achievements when possible.
• Use number, percentage and other concrete data points to demonstrate how you contribute to the company’s success.

For instance, rather than saying “manage a team” say “Led a team of 10 to complete a project 20% ahead of schedule, improving overall all companies’ efficiency.”

This demonstrates your impact and results- oriented approach, which employers highly value. Achievement helps paint a picture of your success and showcase your ability to add value.

Skills Used or Developed:

Including a list of both technical and soft skills provide the recruiter with an overview of your capabilities and area of expertise. This section can be used as transferable skills relevant to the job you are applying for such as project manager, customer relationship manager, data analysis, leadership or specific technical like SEO, coding language or software tools. This helps the employer see how well aligned you are with the needs of their job description.

• Be strategic tailoring this list
• Ensure skills mentioned resonate with the job description.

For instance, if you are applying for a digital marketing job include your proficiency with SEO, Google Analytics, and social media marketing tools.

Use Action Verbs Avoid passive language:

Action verbs are powerful tools for showcasing your contribution. Instead of using passive language, where the task seems detached from your effort, action verbs convey ownership and proactivity words like “Led,” “Coordinated,” “Implemented” or “Transform” convoy an image of someone who is actively engaged and making an impact. This helps position you as someone who adds value through their direct action and leadership. Using action verbs also make your experience dynamic and engaging which can catch the attention of hiring managers who read through hundreds of resumes.

Keep it Concise:

Work experience section of your CV should be succinct and to the point. keep your description focused on the point on the most relevant achievements and responsibilities that directly align with the position you are applying for.

• Avoid long paragraphs, as they can make the CV harder to scan.
• Bullet points are ideal for breaking down your responsibilities and accomplishments into digestible pieces.

Hiring managers typically spend only a few seconds reviewing each CV, so ensuring that the most important information stands out quickly can increase your chances of getting noticed. Prioritize brevity and impact

Relevance to the Job:

Each work experience listed on your CV should be tailored to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the job you are applying for. By tailoring your work experience, you demonstrate an understanding of the role and show how your previous experiences are a great fit.

• Customizing your CV increases your chances of being considered, as it shows the recruiter that you are a perfect match for the job at hand.

Example: if you are applying for a customer service role, focus on your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and any direct customer-facing experience

No Jargon or Overly Technical Terms:

Your CV should be easy to read and free from industry-specific jargon that may confuse hiring managers unfamiliar with your field. While technical may require the use of some specific terminology, even here clarity is the key.

• Try to describe your experience and skills in plain language, explaining any technical term clearly when necessary.
• Using overly technical terms can make your CV harder to digest. Especially for a recruiter or hiring manager who may not be an expert in the field.
• Clear accessible language ensures that your language stands out without overwhelming the reader.

Key Points

• Reverse chronological order: List your work experience from recent or present to the oldest, this will better showcase your career progression.
• Avoid: Avoid using “I,” “and” and “the” along with preposition and pronoun, provides a concise CV for better readability, and maintains a professional tone.
• Be sure to vary your action words: Avoid using the same actions words to showcase your range of skills.

Conclusion: By refining these actions and tailoring them to your experience and job you are applying for, you create a CV that showcases your strength, aligns with the job requirements, and helps you stand out in the competitive Market.