How to Write Resume Job Descriptions + 8 Examples

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A resume job description is a section on your resume where you detail your previous job roles and responsibilities.

Your job descriptions should include the following elements:

Job Title – The title of your position
Company Name – The organization or company where you worked
Location – City and state (or country) where the job was located
Dates of Employment – Timeframe during which you held the position (month and year)
Responsibilities and Achievements – Summary of the key duties you had in the role and any specifics about what you accomplished

When writing a resume you should include accurate job descriptions of your current and previous roles to give hiring managers a complete picture of your employment history.

1. Use a clear heading for your job description section

Your job descriptions should be listed in your resume’s work experience section.

Give the section a clear title, such as::

Work Experience
Job Experience
Professional Background
Professional Experience
Working Experience
Employment History

2. List basic details about your role(s)

Every job description listed in your work experience section should include the following information:

Job title
Company name
Location
Dates of employment
Mention whether it’s contract work, freelance, or project-based work

The order in which you display this is up to you. If you’d like to emphasize your position, then put your job title on top, followed by the company, location, and employment dates below.

No matter how you choose to format your job description, you should be consistent throughout your resume by using the same order for all of your entries.

3. Highlight your achievements using numbers and action verbs

When describing your role at a previous (or current) job, provide clear examples of your achievements. This helps demonstrate to employers what you’re capable of if hired.

When including your accomplishments in your job descriptions, use hard numbers to give the hiring manager a metric to measure your success. For example, if you increased sales at work, specify by how much using a percentage or dollar amount.

Additionally, start each of your job description bullet points with action verbs. Actions verbs help show what you actually did at work, rather than what you were assigned to do.

These two job description bullet points illustrate how effective action verbs and hard numbers are in conveying your accomplishments:

Without numbers or action verbs

Tasked with lowering office expenses

With numbers and action verbs

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

4. Match your resume to keywords in the job ad

Not sure what employers are looking for when they look over your resume? The job ad is an easy way to find out.

Employers specify exactly what they’re looking for in a candidate with the keywords listed in the “Requirements” section of the job ad. To find the right keywords for your resume, just review the job posting for any specific hard skills or abilities (and take note of any skills they mention more than once).

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 resume job descriptions match the job:

In this example the candidate makes sure to provide specific examples of how their skills and experience match the requirements.

Job description examples for your resume

Now that you’ve learned how to correctly identify what information needs to be included in your job descriptions, here are eight examples for you to reference before you begin writing:

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

Still unsure about something? Here are a couple of questions about how to write job descriptions on your resume:

What do you put under experience on a resume?

Here’s a structure you can follow:

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

What work experience should I put on my resume?

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

If you’re applying for a marketing manager position and you led a social media campaign for a university project 4 years ago, you could include that if you don’t have anything else more recent.

If you worked as a waiter 6 months ago, that is not relevant (although more recent), so don’t include it.

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