Guess what is the first thing the eyes of the HR jump onto when they go over your CV? If your answer is work experience, then you’re absolutely right. If a hiring manager identifies a few relevant keywords in your past job history section, they will continue digging more into other aspects of your resume.
Remember that the first thing a recruiter wants to know is whether you can do what they want. And the best way to find that out is by analyzing your professional experience. Hence, you have to make the most promising impression through this section of your vitae, and that too, within six seconds. Sounds challenging?
We’re going to make it easy for you by sharing with you the correct strategies to list your past work history on your CV. Considering those tactics will increase your chances of receiving an interview call from your desired workplace.
How Should You Format Your Work Experience On Your CV?
The first and most important question related to this section is the one you just read related to this topic. An ideal professional experience should convey a story about who you are, your background, and why you’re the most fitting candidate for their open position. Now, it nowhere means that you should tell your entire life story because an HR wouldn’t spend more than a few minutes on your resume.
Moreover, the perfect length of a CV is only one page for a freshly graduated or less experienced individual. However, an expert-level professional should have a resume of up to two pages long. Either way, precisely highlight your achievements and responsibilities. Consider a reverse-chronological order to list down your previous job roles and implement the following standard format:
- Job Title and Position
- Company Name / Description / Location
- Dates Employed
- Responsibilities and Achievements
How Do You Mention Your Job Title Or Position?
Your job title or position should always come at the top for each of your current or past roles you mention. Make sure it is easier for recruiters to identify your job title, so write it accurately and in bold typeface. Experts of professional CV writing services suggest avoiding going fancy over this part of your work experience section. They advise you to stick to the exact name of the position you saw earlier in the job ad.
How Should You Include Your Company Name, Description, And Location?
After checking out your job title, the hiring manager wants to know more about your past workplaces. If the company you’re currently working at or have done in the past isn’t famous, you should include a one to two-line description. You should always mention the firm’s primary location along with it. List only three to five relevant and recent jobs if you have worked in several organizations. If you run out of space within your vitae and can’t remove any other sections, limit it to three job experiences.
How Should You Highlight Your Achievements And Responsibilities?
You may have brought various positive changes into your current or past workplace, but only mention the ones your potential employer can apply to their company. Considering this tactic will make a worthwhile impact on your recruiter and encourage them to call you for an interview.
The hiring manager already knows your responsibilities after reading your job title and going through myriad similar resumes of other candidates. Therefore, highlight your achievements over your responsibilities whenever possible. While you describe your duties for each job role, describe them within four to six bullets.
How Should You Add Dates Employed?
There is no special science or technical stuff that you should follow while including the dates of your employment. The rule is simple: mention the exact day you got hired, and if you don’t remember that, check out your appointment letter. If you no longer have that, giving an approximate timeframe is also correct.
The typical format for dates employed is mm/yyyy. Each role you mention within this section should have the same date formatting style to maintain consistency and professionalism.
Correct Example:
Content Marketing Manager
05/2020 – PRESENT
Incorrect Example:
Content Marketing Manager
May 20 2020 – PRESENT
An Important Reminder!
If you hesitate to implement all these strategies for your resume and don’t want to commit any blunder, hire any professional CV writing services Christchurch. There is nothing wrong with taking help to achieve your dreams. You may excel at your professional role but still lack the skills to craft a job-winning CV. Creating the perfect resume is an art that experts have mastered; therefore, you should seek their assistance. Meanwhile, you can focus on polishing your skill set and let the professional writers help you land your dream job!
- How do you list other work experience on a CV?
Create an ‘Additional Experience’ section on your CV where you can include your community work, board service, certifications, or any freelance experience.
- Can I write my resume without professional experience?
If you don’t have any professional work history but have participated in some volunteer activities or have completed your unpaid internship, you can include them in your CV, too. Work experience will indicate to the recruiter that you have enhanced your relevant skill set.
- Should I include all my work experience in my CV?
If you entered the corporate world some five to ten years ago, you’ve not reached the point where you should worry about how far you should go on your CV. Nonetheless, we suggest you not list your every single job and prefer only relevant ones.
- How should freshers write work experience on a resume?
Here are a few steps freshers should consider:
Include the job title for each current or past role, along with the company’s name, brief description, and location.
Mention your employment period and highlight your accomplishments and responsibilities.
Key Takeaways
- A well-formatted professional experience section tells a story about you and your suitability for the job
- Keep your CV concise, ideally one page for fresh graduates and up to two pages for experienced professionals
- Follow a reverse chronological order when listing previous job roles
- State job titles in bold, using the exact terms from job ads
- Include a brief company description and location for less-known employers
- Prioritize achievements over responsibilities to stand out from other candidates
- Use a simple mm/yyyy format for dates to maintain consistency
- Consider creating an ‘Additional Experience’ section for community work, certifications, or freelance experience
- Include volunteer activities or unpaid internships in your CV if you lack professional job experience
Final Verdict
Crafting an effective CV involves presenting your work experience strategically, emphasizing achievements, and maintaining clarity. Seek professional assistance if needed, and remember that showcasing relevant experience enhances your chances of landing your dream job. So, leave no stone unturned in highlighting your professional accomplishments and prove yourself the most fitting candidate in your CV.