If you have been reading this series, you'll likely know that the answer to what work experience to include in a resume depends on the prospective employer. Below are reliable answers to four of the most frequent questions about this issue.
1. What if, as a recent college graduate, I have had only part-time and summer jobs? Mention those jobs, not necessarily in any great depth, but to show you have always tried to earn income. At this point in your career, you should focus on your academic and extracurricular experiences, anyway. Instead of writing about each job with multiple bullets points that state the obvious tasks, give just one line for each, like this:
- 3/18 – 8/18 Inventory Specialist, Walmart, Old Bridge, NJ
- 9/18 – 6/19 Library Associate, Old Bridge Public Library, NJ
- 7/19 – 8/20 Camp Counselor, Camp Wunderkind, Sayreville, NJ
- 9/20 – 1/23 Graphic Artist, Penny Printing, East Brunswick, NJ
2. How far back in time should I go? As far as back as necessary to show you are the ideal candidate for the job. But if the last job you had similar to the one you're applying to was 10 years ago and you have worked in a new field ever since, consider whether that job is outdated. But if that old job applies, show its applicable bullet points not 10 years ago in a chronological resume but blended with more recently attained expertise in the skills section of a functional resume.
3. Should I start those bullet points with tasks or achievements? Both are fine, but if you use a mix, start with the achievements followed by the tasks. And think hard about which of the three sentences would best serve your purposes:
- Created sales method that launched a new brand leading to a 25% sales increase.
- Launched a new brand with my newly created sales method leading to a 25% sales increase.
- Increased sales by 25% after launching a new brand with my newly created sales method.
The first sentence would work to highlight design skills, the second to showcase project management finesse, and the third to pinpoint business development accomplishments.
4. Should I follow some sort of order with those bullet points? Yes, the order of progression. Let your first job start with bullet points like assisted, reported, presented, and supported; your next job with more self-directed words like analyzed, coordinated, evaluated, and supervised; and your most recent job with more expansive words like initiated, led, managed, and spearheaded.
