What do you put under experience on a resume?

Here’s a structure you can follow: [rg_clipboard title = 'Professional experience'] Job Title Company Name, Location Dates of Employment (month/year-month/year) Briefly describe your key responsibilities Highlight measurable achievements using numbers or percentages when possible Focus on skills or experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying for Begin each point with strong action verbs [/rg_clipboard]

How to Write Job Descriptions For Your Resume (+ Examples)

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In this guide, we’ll show you how to write clear, effective job descriptions that highlight your skills, accomplishments, and impact.

What is a job description on a resume?

A job description on a resume is a brief summary of what you do at work. It helps employers understand your day-to-day responsibilities, key achievements, and the impact you make at your job.

Job descriptions are usually formatted as a list of bullet points under each job title that highlight your main tasks, the tools or skills you used, and the results you achieved. For example:

Managed social media content calendar across 3 platforms, increasing engagement by 40%

Led a team of 5 customer support reps and improved response times by 25%

Some people also include a short introductory sentence or paragraph before the bullet points. This should be a quick snapshot of your overall role or level of responsibility. For example:

Served as lead marketing coordinator for regional campaigns, overseeing content development, analytics, and cross-functional communication.

How to write effective job descriptions for your resume

A great job description does more than list your responsibilities — it shows your impact. Here’s how to write job descriptions that stand out:

1. Focus on achievements rather than responsibilities

Listing what you were responsible for is easy, but it doesn’t tell employers how well you did the job. Instead of just describing your day-to-day duties, highlight your achievements and outcomes.

Think: What did you accomplish? What changed because of your work?

Instead of this:

Without achievements

Responsible for managing the customer support inbox
Handled social media posts for company accounts

Try something like this:

With achievements

Resolved an average of 50+ customer inquiries daily with a 95% satisfaction rate
Created and scheduled weekly social media content, increasing follower count by 15% in 3 months

2. Begin each bullet point with an action verb

Start every bullet point with a strong action verb. Action verbs help you take ownership of your experience and signal to employers that you were an active contributor in past roles.

Instead of:

Without numbers or action verbs

Tasked with lowering office expenses

Say something like:

With numbers and action verbs

Reduced office expenses by 17% out of a budget of $4,700

3. Back up your accomplishments with data

Hiring managers don’t just want to know what you did — they want to see how well you did it. One of the most effective ways to show your impact is by using numbers to back up your accomplishments.

Quantifying your resume adds credibility and helps recruiters quickly understand the scale and significance of your work.

You can use numbers to highlight:

Money saved or generated
Percentage increases or decreases
Volume of work (e.g., number of clients, projects, users, or tasks completed)
Time saved or efficiency gains
Growth or scale (e.g., revenue growth, user base expansion)
Frequency or consistency (e.g., how often something was done or delivered)
Team or project scope (e.g., number of people managed or collaborated with)
Engagement or satisfaction scores
Sales targets met or exceeded
Error reduction or quality improvements
Deadlines met ahead of schedule
Customer retention or churn rates

4. Tailor it to the job you’re applying for

Your job descriptions shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. To make the strongest impression, align your experience with the specific job you’re targeting.

That means highlighting the responsibilities, achievements, and skills that match the job posting. Use similar language and keywords to show you’re a strong fit—not just in experience but also in how you communicate your value.

Here’s an example of an ad for a bus driver job. We’ve underlined relevant keywords in yellow:

Example of a job advert for a bus driver

Bus Driver

Duties:
As a School Bus Driver for Mission High School you will be operating a school bus or van to designated bus routes to transport school-aged passengers to their destination. In addition, a School Bus Driver may transport various clients for charter trips. You will drive a school bus route – picking up and dropping off student passengers at established stops.

Job Requirements:

Must be able to pass a DOT physical examination
Must have a minimum of 3 years verifiable driving history
No more than 2 moving violations and 1 preventable accident in the past 3 years
Must be committed to training and processes
CDL permit or license is a plus
Ability to adhere to all company safety standards and operating procedures

Other duties will include:

Conduct pre-trip vehicle inspections to ensure safe operation
Conduct post-trip vehicle inspections
Clean bus as necessary to maintain a professional appearance and positive company image

And here’s a candidate’s work experience section that uses specific keywords from the job listing to make sure their job descriptions match the job listing:

5. Show how you’ve used your skills

It’s not always enough to simply list your skills in your skills section. You should also demonstrate your abilities by providing examples of how you put them into action.

Instead of just stating that you’re “detail-oriented” or have “project management skills,” weave those strengths into your bullet points with real examples:

Created custom SQL queries and pivot tables to streamline monthly reporting, reducing manual data processing time by 40%

Led a team of 6 in launching a new internal process, improving workflow efficiency and reducing task backlog by 50%

Resume job description examples

Use these examples to model your own resume bullet points and stand out to hiring managers.

1. Marketing manager job description example

Marketing manager
Venice Beach Community Arts Collective, Miami, FL
August 20XX-May 20XX

Developed and executed targeted social media campaigns, increasing followers by 30% and engagement by 45% within three months
Spearheaded VBCAC community outreach program, collaborating with local artists and organizations to host 4 events in one year, resulting in a 20% growth in event attendance
Created content calendars and managed all digital platforms, ensuring consistent and brand-aligned messaging across all channels
Analyzed campaign performance metrics, optimizing strategies to achieve a 25% increase in website traffic
Coordinated promotional efforts for a quarterly newsletter, boosting subscription rates by 35%

2. Cashier job description example

Cashier
Target, Orlando, FL
June 20XX-August 20XX

Processed an average of 200 customer transactions per shift ensuring efficient and error-free checkouts
Provided exceptional customer service by assisting customers with product inquiries and returns, contributing to a 10% increase in customer satisfaction scores
Managed cash handling procedures, balancing registers with 100% accuracy at the end of each shift
Promoted store loyalty programs, resulting in a 20% increase in customer sign-ups

3. Sales associate job description example

4. Server job description example

Waiter
Applebee’s, Tulsa, OK
January 20XX-Present

Served 50+ guests per shift in a 120+ seat restaurant
Created a positive employee atmosphere by aiding teammates with sidework, carrying food to tables, and checking in on guests when necessary
Conversed with guests to create a personal relationship, turning 17 customers into loyal restaurant regulars
Memorized restaurant’s wine, beer, and liquor stock and suggested pairings with entrees, leading to a 40% increase in alcohol sales

5. Customer service job description example

Customer service representative
AT&T, Ann Arbor, MI
April 20XX-Present

Earned an average 93% customer satisfaction rate
Corresponded with 75+ customers per day, addressing customer concerns, assisting with basic technical support, and providing relevant product data
Received “Employee of the Month” award 5 times over 14 months
Trained 12 new employees in company best practices leading to trainees having a roughly 6% higher customer satisfaction rating than company average

6. Teacher job description example

English Teacher
Waynesboro High School, Indianapolis, IN
August 20XX-Present

Responsible for ensuring 200 students across 6 classes fully comprehend English curriculum in accordance with high school guidelines
Plan contents to be covered in class in accordance with curriculum, length of the semester, and final exam dates
Trained 3 new teachers, emphasizing classroom control, course planning, and time management
Coordinated meetings with senior school officials and parents to mentor students in need of extra guidance, providing additional support to ensure student meets all classroom and curriculum requirements within allotted semester deadlines

7. Crew member job description example

Crew member
McDonald’s, Jacksonville, FL
September 20XX-December 20XX

Prepared and served an average of 150+ orders per shift, maintaining high standards of food quality and speed of service
Provided friendly and efficient customer service at the counter and drive-thru, contributing to a 12% increase in customer satisfaction scores
Maintained cleanliness and organization in the kitchen and dining areas, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations
Collaborated with team members to meet daily sales targets, leading to a 15% boost in overall sales during peak hours

8. Assistant manager job description example

Assistant Manager
Starbucks, Chicago, IL
May 20XX-July 20XX

Supervised a team of 15+ baristas, ensuring efficient operations and high-quality customer service, leading to a 10% increase in customer retention
Managed daily store operations, including inventory management, cash handling, and opening/closing procedures, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate in financial records
Assisted in creating weekly schedules, optimizing shift coverage and reducing labor costs by 8%
Implemented Social Saturdays, a local marketing initiative that increased foot traffic by 20% every Saturday for the summer

Frequently asked questions about writing resume job descriptions

Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about how to write job descriptions on your resume:

How should I format my work experience on a resume?

Your work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent position at the top. Each entry should be clean, consistent, and easy to scan. Here’s a simple format to follow:

What work experience should I put on my resume?

Only put work experience that is relevant and recent on your resume.

What to prioritize:

Roles from the last 10–15 years (unless older experience is highly relevant)
Experience that relates directly to the job you’re applying for
Achievements that show impact, responsibility, or growth
Jobs where you used tools, technologies, or skills that match the job description

How long should each job description be?

Each job description on your resume should be brief but impactful — typically:

3–6 bullet points for recent or relevant roles
1–3 bullet points for older or less relevant roles
Optional: a 1–2 sentence summary before the bullet points

Should I use past tense or present tense in my bullet points?

You should use present tense for ongoing tasks and responsibilities in your current role (e.g., “Lead weekly team meetings” or “Manage client accounts”).

You should use past tense for any job you’ve left, as well as completed projects or one-time achievements from your current job.

How do I show career progression within the same company?

To show career growth within one company, list each position separately under the same company name:

Lauren Mastroni

Digital Content Writer

Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to crafting engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius team, Lauren has a passion for developing valuable resources for job seekers. Lauren holds an M.S. in Psychology from University of Derby and currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She enjoys learning all she can about the career space, and is committed to helping job seekers of all experience levels navigate the job hunt and advance their careers. You can reach Lauren at lauren@resumegenius.com.

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