How To List Projects On A Resume

Listing projects on your resume can make you more attractive to potential employers because it highlights your practical experience, showcases your skills, and highlights your accomplishments.

Projects can be especially valuable on your resume when you’re a student or a freelancer, or if you have limited experience in the field.

Keep reading for examples of how to list projects on your resume.

Academic projects

List academic projects to display necessary skills and qualifications for a job or internship, especially if you lack relevant work experience.

Academic projects should be listed in your education section as a bullet point or short paragraph below your university and degree information.

Here’s how to add an academic project to your resume:

1. Give your project a name
2. Include dates (or the semester it took place)
3. Add a short description highlighting any necessary skills or experience outlined in the job description

Work projects

If you’ve completed any notable projects in a current or previous role (or if you’re currently working on one), list them in your work experience section to highlight them for employers.

Here’s how to list a work project on your resume:

1. Below the work experience entry, include either a short paragraph or extra bullet point describing your role in the project
2. Give the project a name, even something as simple as “Key Project” will work
3. If your project is still underway, add “(ongoing)” after the name
4. Include action verbs and hard numbers

In the example below the candidate lists the marketing project they led as a single bullet point in their work experience section (highlighted in bold):

Freelance projects

Add freelance projects under your professional experience section or list them in a separate “Freelance” section.

Listing freelance work on your resume shows your ability to work remotely, deliver results, and manage clients. Projects like video editing, freelance writing, and graphic design highlight your professional skill set.

Here’s how to list a freelance project in your resume:

1. Give your freelance project a name and list it alongside the name of the company
2. Mention a location if applicable
3. Include a short paragraph or extra bullet point describing your role and achievements
4. Add the start and end dates of the project (if it’s still underway, add “(ongoing)” after the project name)

Below is an example of how to include a freelance programming project in your work experience section:

Volunteer projects

You can add volunteer experience on your resume if you don’t have much relevant experience or you’re a recent graduate. Listing volunteer projects shows employers that you’re self-driven, and can be an excellent opportunity to highlight your transferable skills.

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can create a “Relevant Experience” section and add your volunteer projects there, along with any other relevant experience you have (like internships or freelance work). Otherwise, list your projects in a separate “Volunteer Experience” section.

ViewsLikes

Our Expert:

Eva Chan

Here’s how to list volunteer projects on your resume:

1. Give your volunteer project a name
2. Mention where you volunteered (including city, state)
3. Indicate how long you spent on the project
4. Include either a short paragraph or extra bullet point describing what you accomplished

In this resume example, the applicant is looking to fill the role of a pet store manager so they highlight their experience volunteering at a dog shelter.

Personal projects

Showcasing your personal and side projects on your resume demonstrates both hard and soft skills.

Be selective with which personal projects you list and only include ones that are relevant to the job. Remember, you’re not listing your personal projects because the hiring manager’s curious about your hobbies – you’re listing them to show off the skills they’re looking for.

Here’s how to add personal projects on your resume:

1. Provide a project name and the dates you worked on it
2. Include bullet points that describe what the project entailed
3. Highlight any qualifications and skills you gained from the experience

Here’s an example of how a candidate lists their travel blog on a resume when applying for a Social Media Manager role at a travel company:

Frequently asked questions about listing projects on a resume

Here are answers to some common questions about listing projects on a resume:

Is it OK to put projects on a resume?

Yes, in fact, you should put projects on a resume when you don’t have much experience in the industry, or you wish to highlight several hard and soft skills that aren’t linked to prior work experience.

How many projects should I include in my resume?

The ideal number of projects to include on your resume depends on their relevance to the job. Limit your selection to the 3-5 most applicable ones, as listing too many unrelated projects can clutter your resume or confuse the reader.

Focus on relevant outcomes to ensure your experience doesn’t appear scattered or unaligned with the role.

Build My Resume

Our resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.