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Using the correct tenses on your resume helps distinguish between your current responsibilities and past achievements, providing a clear overview of your work history.
When to use the present tense
Present tense communicates the active duties you currently perform.
Use the present tense in your resume when:
- Writing your resume summary
- Describing your current job
- Talking about ongoing projects
- Listing skills
When to mix tenses
Use a mix of past and present tense if:
- You’re highlighting both ongoing responsibilities and previous accomplishments
- You’re discussing both past and present events in the same resume section
- You’re mentioning current projects as well as completed projects
To improve readability, start off with your present tense bullet points and place your past tense bullet points at the bottom.
When to use the past tense
Use the past tense in your resume when:
- Discussing previous job roles
- Highlighting your achievements on your resume
- Describing completed projects
- Mentioning past volunteer work
Using the future tense is rare, but you can use it in specific cases, like when you’re applying for internships or mentioning an upcoming graduation date.
Example of a resume using the correct resume tense
The following resume example uses the correct tense in each section. Present tense is in red, and past tense is in blue.
About the Author
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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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