Resume Guide to the Work Experience Section

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An Overview

Unless you are a new graduate, the work experience section is the most important section of a resume and will have more influence than any other part. Some simple improvements in this area can have a strong impact on an individual’s marketability and therefore success at getting an interview.

The experience listed should be applicable to the position

The main point to bear in mind is that the experience listed should be applicable to the position applied for. When writing your resume, put yourself in the place of the hiring manager and imagine what elements of your experience he would consider the most valuable for the position. Emphasize and highlight these areas and make certain there are no questions regarding what you have done and what you are able to do.

Generally, the most successful resumes are those that attract and can be easily understood by all readers, as very often the initial screening will be done by an administrator who may have no real knowledge of the job applied for. Unusual acronyms and technical terms should be spelled out and explained for less knowledgeable reader, while enough technical details are included in order to give the hiring manager an understanding of what you’ve actually accomplished.

The experience you have had over the last five years is of most interest to the employer

Unless otherwise specified, list the jobs you have held in reverse chronological order. The experience you have had over the last five years is of most interest to the employer so put more weight on that. Do not detail numerous assignments with one employer, instead accentuate the areas that you worked on most and are most appropriate. If previous positions are not relevant to your current job search they should just be generalized.

Explain and define the terms

One of the biggest turn-offs for a reader of a resume is the use of unfamiliar buzzwords, terminology, acronyms, and specialized industry lingo. As a rule, use terms that are familiar and applicable to many situations. If this is not possible, always explain and define the terms in such a way that the reader will easily understand them, but beware of insulting their intelligence. In the IT industry, acronyms are becoming better known than the term itself. Uncommon acronyms, however, should be expanded on and spelled out the first time they are used.

As a general rule, it is acceptable to use common technical terms without explanation within a particular industry. For example, Microsoft Windows developers can expect a prospective employer to recognize terms like MFC and OLE if that company has an MS Windows emphasis.

Details are important to get an interview

Ensure you include all important details that are relevant to the position applied for in the experience section of your resume. Detail your responsibilities, specific task and any special extra skills you have developed. If you have had management experience explain to what level - provide the number of people you have supervised, management decisions you were delegated, problems solved, and what areas were under your direct responsibility. You should include details of any relevant projects or tasks you have worked on and how you contributed to them. If you have improved or created any aspect of your job you may wish to detail that too. However, do not dwell on accomplishments or assignments that are irrelevant to the type of position you are seeking.

Remember, it is from these details that the potential employer will make their decisions on whether you are qualified to do the job - only then will they ask you to attend an interview. It doesn’t matter how good your personal skills are if your resume fails to get you a face to face meeting.