We’ll explain what counts as relevant experience and show you how to highlight it on your resume correctly.
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What is relevant experience?
Relevant experience is any experience that has prepared you to step into the new job you’re applying for. Besides full-time work experience, relevant experience includes:
- Internships
- Volunteer work
- Contract or freelance work
- Coursework
- Hobbies and interests
- Personal projects
Companies look for candidates who have knowledge or skills that fit their job descriptions, so including relevant experience on your resume tells employers you’re qualified for the role.
Here’s how to do it in four simple steps:
1. Compare your qualifications with the job requirements
First, review the job description for your target role. Read through the requirements and highlight any skills, education, or key duties the company is looking for in a candidate.
Then, reflect on your previous experience and search for any similarities between them.
An online resume maker can help you find relevant experience to list on your resume, suggesting skills and experience for your industry based on user data.
2. Pay attention to resume keywords
When reading the job ad, keep an eye out for resume keywords to highlight on your application.
For instance, if a company requires “customer care” and “active empathy” for a receptionist role, match the language of the job ad and include those two keywords when writing your resume.
This demonstrates attention to detail and that you’ve taken the time to carefully read the job description and understand what the company is looking for.
Here’s an example of a Starbucks store manager job description with highlighted keywords and phrases that you could add to your resume if you were applying for this job:
3. Modify your resume to reflect the job ad
Adjust the experience and skills sections of your resume by removing any irrelevant positions or skills that don’t add value to your target role.
Then, think of ways to reword or modify your skills, achievements, and resume bullet points to fit the job description’s requirements.
If you’re an applicant with several years of experience in your industry, name your experience section “Work Experience” and focus on your full-time positions. In this case, it’s work from your previous roles that employers will consider to be most relevant.
On the other hand, if you’re switching careers or you’re a recent graduate applying for your first job, call this section “Relevant Experience” and include achievements from your academic career, personal life, or roles where you learned valuable transferable skills.
4. Emphasize accomplishments over job duties
When highlighting your relevant experience, focus on the specific achievements you made in your role rather than simply listing job duties.
Employers want to know how you contributed to the success of your team or organization, and by emphasizing measurable results, you show the impact of your work.
To illustrate this idea, here are two examples for you to compare:
Good example
- Managed a team of 5 to complete a marketing campaign ahead of schedule, resulting in a 15% increase in sales for the quarter
Bad example
- Managed a team that worked on successful marketing campaigns
In the first example, the focus is on a measurable result, while the bad example only describes the applicant’s general job duties without showing how their efforts directly contributed to business success.
Examples of relevant experience on a resume
To help you visualize what your resume’s experience section should look like, here are three examples for applicants with different levels of experience in their target field:
Resume with no work experience
A recent graduate’s resume might highlight relevant experience like this:
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Tutor | Aug 20XX–Dec 20XX
Volunteer Center, Harrisburg, PA
- Provided one-on-one tutoring in math and reading for students aged 7–10, leading to a 20% improvement in standardized test scores
- Created customized learning materials to address specific challenges and support academic growth
- Monitored student progress and provided detailed feedback to parents, ensuring consistent communication and support
Camp Counselor | Jun 20XX–Aug 20XX
Bright Horizons Summer Camp, Harrisburg, PA
- Led educational activities for groups of 15 children aged 8–12, fostering creativity and teamwork
- Organized daily schedules and ensured a safe, engaging environment for all participants
- Mediated conflicts among campers, teaching problem-solving skills and promoting a positive group dynamic
Resume with some work experience
If you’ve got some work experience already but not enough to fill a full page, model your resume after this example:
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Junior Graphic Designer | Jun 20XX–Present
Diamond Hill Creative Studio, Atlanta, GA
- Develop branding materials, including logos, brochures, and social media graphics, for clients across various industries
- Collaborate with senior designers to create print and digital assets for marketing campaigns, ensuring consistency with client branding guidelines
- Work on up to 3 design projects simultaneously, meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality
Graphic Design Intern | Jan 20XX–May 20XX
PixelWorks Design Agency, Phoenix, AZ
- Supported the design team in creating promotional materials, such as flyers, posters, and web banners for client projects
- Assisted in photo editing and retouching, contributing to high-quality images for client campaigns
- Conducted research on design trends, providing insights for the development of new creative concepts
Resume with several years of work experience
Here’s an example of what the experience section of an experienced salesperson might look like:
WORK EXPERIENCE
Sales Manager | 20XX-Present
H&M, Phoenix, AZ
- Led a team of 15 sales associates, achieving a 14% increase in store revenue over a 12-month period
- Conducted quarterly training sessions on product knowledge and sales techniques, increasing customer satisfaction by 9%
- Analyzed sales data and market trends to optimize inventory levels to reduce overstock while maintaining product availability
Sales Associate | 20XX-20XX
H&M, Phoenix, AZ
- Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets through effective customer engagement and upselling techniques
- Mentored 3 new hires, resulting in a 12% improvement in team productivity over a period of 6 months
- Delivered exceptional customer service, earning recognition as “Employee of the Month” five times in two years
Frequently asked questions about relevant experience
Here are answers to the questions we get asked the most about relevant experience:
How many years of relevant work experience should I include on my resume?
Unless you’ve got 10 years or more of experience, include all of your work experience on your resume. If you’re finding it difficult to fit it all on one page, reduce the number of bullet points used for less relevant jobs.
If you have over a decade of experience, you can remove part-time jobs from your college years or other old, less relevant experiences from your resume.
What if I don’t have any relevant experience?
If you don’t have any experience that is directly relevant to the job, chances are you’ll have some transferable skills or experiences that employers value in their applicants. Soft skills like communication and teamwork, for example, or basic computer skills like familiarity with Microsoft Office are useful for most jobs.
Alternatively, if you’re struggling to find relevant experience to put on your resume, try taking some online courses, talking to a mentor, or shadowing someone in the field you’re interested in pursuing.
How do you answer “what is your relevant experience”?
To answer “What is your relevant experience?” in an interview, focus on key roles, tasks, or experiences that align with the job you’re applying for.
The more specific you are, the better. Highlight specific achievements, skills, or responsibilities that match the job description to demonstrate why this experience is relevant to the job.

Ida Pettersson
Career Coach and Resume Expert
Committed to empowering job seekers of all experience levels to take the next step in their careers, Ida helps professionals navigate the job hunt from start to finish. After graduating from New College of Florida with a B.A. in Philosophy and Chinese Language and Culture, Ida moved to Hong Kong to begin her own career journey and finally settled in Taiwan. Her insights on resume writing, interview strategies, and career development have been featured on websites such as LawCareers.net, Digital Marketer, and SheCanCode.
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