How to write Work Experience in CV
Work experience section is the most important part of curriculum vitae. It should be at top of CV straight after personal statement unless you are a recent graduate and your education background is stronger than work experience.
Work history passage intends to not only summarise and list most recent jobs and duties a candidate have had in the past but it also intends to emphasise and provide sound accomplishments one has achieved in his or her most recent job. In this part of resume try to demonstrate that you have been and will be able to contribute to company goals and follow the direction of the organisation. Note that it must be appealing and convincing to hiring manager that one has the ability, drive, motivation and experience to succeed in prospective role. Below, read some pointers to learn how to create impressive work history section.
Avoid merely listing task and responsibilities
To create impressive section on CV don’t merely summarise and list the most recent jobs but rather let your enthusiasm and the ability to do the job shine through and touch upon notable accomplishments in most recent role. By doing this, prospective employer will have far greater chances to see the match of your skills with job requirements.
Keep it brief and to the point
It is recommended to use 4 - 5 bullet points to demonstrate work experience detailing your accomplishments and responsibilities. For each position include name of the company, position held and dates of employment. If you have different types of working experience then design one section which will detail the most relevant experience for job you desire whereas summarise additional work you did under the other supplementary section. Remember, keep it neat and organised.
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Research job descriptions
It is the best to keep this section tightly focused on position you apply for. Only include jobs that will be relevant, either in terms of skills, knowledge or experience to the job you are currently applying for.
Use action verbs and quantify achievements
When detailing employment history, aim to begin each bullet statement with strong action verbs. Using such vocabulary will allow showcasing determination to succeed and the ability to make impressive achievements in future. Whenever possible quantify achievements and use measurable results to describe the outcomes. For example if you have worked in sales you might want to detail your tasks, responsibilities and achievements in the below format:
Professional Experience
Name of the Company, Sales Representative, September 2005 – March 2011
- Developed relationships within the community to strengthen and expand client base to increase sales opportunities
- Increase market share by 30 percent over the course of ten month
- Established rapport, successfully negotiated and closed deals
- Consistently received positive feedback from clients
If you don’t have relevant work experience don’t panic, it is not the end of the world; perhaps you might have worked as a waiter/waitress or working behind bar. Remember, we hone skills in every job. For example, if you worked in a shop then it will have given you the chance to display leadership skills, team working, customer service skills and the ability to function in a team and work responsibility in a time-sensitive environment.