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7 Business Owner Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Business Owner

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Business Owner Resume

• Business Owner Resumes by Type
• Business Owner Resumes by Industry

Operating your own business is a rewarding experience; you’re passionate about your product or service, and your unique business brings joy to many customers.

If you’re considering traditional employment or stepping into a new venture, you’ll need to revamp your resume . However,  writing your resume  is more complicated than it looks when it comes to summarizing your activities and responsibilities.

Fortunately, we’ve done all the hard work for you!

We’ve researched numerous business owners’ resumes to determine what worked to get an interview in 2024 . We’ve distilled our research into seven free business owner resume samples to inspire your business owner resume. Check out our tips to perfect your resume and land you an interview for the job of your dreams!

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• We’d recommend adding an objective if you’re undergoing a career change or if you have minimal experience with the job you’re seeking.
• Use an objective to describe why your unique background prepares you for the job you’re seeking, and why you’re transitioning to a new job.
• Don’t try! An online cover letter generator can save you precious space on your resume (not to mention time!), giving you room to share the how and why of your business-savvy decisions.

Self-Employed Business Owner Resume

• For event planners, personal parties you’ve organized can fit nicely on your self-employed business owner resume.

Small Business Owner Resume

• You can provide metrics regarding revenue, the number of store locations you opened, the amount of positive performance reviews, customer and employee satisfaction scores, or the amount of awards you won. If you can find numbers for something, include it!
• Start by including relevant skill keywords in your  resume’s skill section . Check your list against the job description so your resume matches their expectations.

Online Business Owner Resume

• We’d recommend putting your online business owner resume in reverse-chronological order, meaning your most recent work experience is listed first.
• Employers will pay the most attention to the top third of your resume, so make sure they see your (likely) most impressive experience first.
• For each job, list three to six bullet points with relevant content. Start each bullet point with an action verb and minimize personal pronouns to keep your resume concise.

Cleaning Business Owner Resume

• This cleaning business owner resume focuses on the duties that come with owning an enterprise, while drawing less attention to the ancillary cleaning position.

Restaurant Business Owner Resume

• If that’s the case, use a  Word resume template  or a  Google Doc resume template  to format your resume correctly, but always download it after you’re done. Sometimes your resume formatting doesn’t translate properly, so do one last check to make sure it looks polished and professional.
• As a business owner with years of experience, your best bet is to place your skills and work experience sections higher on your resume but underneath your contact header. 

Construction Business Owner Resume

• Highlight your marketing capabilities, customer service skills, fiscal responsibility, and management abilities regarding your construction company.
• Pay special attention to your grammar, word choice, and active voice. The goal is to sound professional and competent!

Related resume guides

• Business Development
• Account Manager

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Click here to directly go to the complete business resume sample.

If you are looking for business resume samples as a reference to build your business resume in 2022, you are on the right platform.

We are trying to help every business professional grow better this year with our career-building assistance.

Every year, millions of college graduates earn their degrees and diplomas in respective niches across the USA .

After graduation, most students search for jobs to kickstart their careers. If you are a recent business graduate looking for a job this year, we are helping you bag one with a professional business resume.

Irrespective of your graduation year and work experience, we are helping all business graduates build an impactful business resume by answering the following questions:

• How to make ATS-optimized business resumes from scratch?
• How to perfect each section of your business administration resume?
• How to correctly endorse your business resume skills in your resume?
• Whether to write a business resume objective or a business resume summary?
• How much a business development manager makes in the United States?

What Is a Business Resume & Why Do You Need It?

A business resume is a profile-specific resume for business professionals.

It is a document consisting of important information such as your employment details, internship history, educational background, etc. This information put together paints a complete picture of your professional existence.

If recruiters like what they see in your business development resume, you get shortlisted. And if your resume does not convey what the recruiter looks for in a resume, you don't get shortlisted.

It all boils down to one thing:

Your business development resume should be industry-relevant. Additionally, it should also be ATS-compliant.

Writing an ATS-compliant business development resume is the need of the hour because of the increasing use of the ATS (applicant tracking system) software to simplify their shortlist requirements.

So your goal here is to write an ATS-compliant business development resume , and we are here to help you do it.

How to Write Your Business Resume

Most people complain that writing a business administration resume is too stressful. It takes too much time, yet it fails to meet the perfection standards that a shortlist-worthy resume needs.

Hence, following the right approach to resume-writing helps. It holds the power of helping you write a resume without needing to revisit each section all over again.

Given below is a list of the 3 stages to resume writing that you should follow:

• Stage 1: Master Business Resume
• Stage 2: First Draft of Business Resume
• Stage 2: Final Draft of Business Resume

Master Business Resume

Making a master business resume is the first stage of resume writing.

In this stage, your only job is to compile all your information. Be it your work experience details, educational information, internships, or volunteering experience - collect all your data and dump it in one place.

Doing this helps you in two ways:

Resume writing in the present : The best thing about a master business resume is that it eliminates the need to look for information explicitly. It will help you use all your personal, professional, and educational details effectively without any confusion.

Resume update in the future : The next utility of making a master business resume lies in its capacity to help you in the future as well. Not looking for information means that you don't miss out on any information. Moreover, this ensures that none of your work experience or past activities is overlooked. Your only job is to objectively streamline the information that you need and update your resume - must the need arise.

First Draft of Business Resume

In this stage, you have to add the suitable resume sections that we have mentioned below:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Professional Experience
• Certifications (if any)
• Awards & Recognition (if any)
• Additional Information (if any)

Final Draft of Business Resume

The final draft stage marks the conclusion of your business development resume. In this stage, wrap up your resume by composing the sections we have mentioned below:

• Key Skills Section: To be framed second-last, right before the summary/objective.
• Summary / Objective Section: To be crafted at the end.

Before you compose your business resume summary/business resume objective, conclude the key skills section. The key skills section lists all your specific business resume skills that mark your professional caliber.

After concluding the key skills section, draft a business summary or a business resume objective. Either way, make sure that they sufficiently sum up your entire resume in a 3-5 line paragraph.

Business Resume Sample

Take a look at the below-given business resume sample to know all the essential points of a business resume building process:

• Executed business deals successfully by undertaking in-depth market analysis
• Reported directly to the Manager and successfully closed 10+ deals to accomplish stipulated monthly targets
• Conceptualized & implemented aggressive sales initiatives for effectively diversifying revenue streams & boosting growth
• Directed business promotion /marketing initiatives and efficiently processed customer queries & complaints
• Delivered intricate marketing/sales presentations to key stakeholders & interfaced with senior-level decision-makers
• Analyzed & forged strategic relationships , alliances & partnerships to leverage significant long-term business opportunities
• Rendered Independently secured high-worth & high-profitability accounts with 90% retention & client loyalty levels
• Ensured excellent customer care and efficiently directed resolution of major issues to achieve 100% positive reviews
• Appointed in-charge of maintaining all statistical/financial records & documentation for complying with client specifications
• Fulfilled client requirements & networked with 30+ potential clients demonstrating an interest in company products
• Created and maintained relationships with 100+ clients & key stakeholders to effectively achieve pre-established targets
• Boosted revenues by coordinating with field executives, tracing non-contactable customers & conducting field visits
• Administered ~50 follow up calls daily, in addition to convening and attending meetings for reviewing sales performance
• Discerned & implemented product enhancements , in addition to directing initiatives for New Product Development
• Conducted competition analysis & deployed in-depth knowledge of latest industry-based trends & marketing developments
• Identified business opportunities by examining & analyzing prospects and evaluated their position in the industry
• Spearheaded research initiatives to scrutinize sales options & liaised with channel partners for resolving sale queries
• Bolstered the quality of advances / deposit portfolio by optimizing deliverables as per customer requirements
• Forged robust business relationships with key customers to enhance market position & achieve 100% targets
• Top 3 percentile of the class
• Top 10 percentile of the class
• Digital Marketing | PACE Digital Marketing | New York, NY | Jun ‘17
• Languages : English, Spanish, German
• Hobbies: Human Psychology and reading entrepreneurship books

Business Resume Sections

The rule of ATS compliance demands that your business development resume is impeccably organized and spaced out.

The resume sections helps you categorize your information and allow you systematically communicate information.

We have mentioned a list of the must-have sections for your business development resume:

• Summary/Objective

These sections are the pre-requisites of all resumes. Your business development resume should organize information under these sections.

Make sure that your resume has all this information at a minimum.

You can also use the following sections if you have more information to add to your resume:

Business Resume: Professional Experience

The professional experience section is the star of your business development manager resume.

Being the foundation of extremely crucial work details, this section holds a lot of importance. Having the suitable qualification and the right experience won't make a difference if this information is not presented correctly.

Here are some things you can do to get this section closest to perfection:

• Frame points
• Use the STAR format
• Use Grouping & Highlighting

Framing Points

We will begin with the importance of framing points.

Communicating information using one-liner points makes a world of difference to the readability of your business resumes vis-a-vis paragraphs.

A commonly held consensus is that paragraphs are not suitable for your resume and thus, should not be used.

Mentioned below are two business resume examples to demonstrate this argument:

Business Resume Example 1

"As part of my roles & responsibilities as a business development executive at company X, I was responsible for the critical task of researching the market and studying the competition to analyze potential gaps in our business and come up with relevant solutions. As a result, I was able to come up with meaningful solutions to improve our company's market positioning and suggest changes in our products & services to meet the market standards & beat the competition. By working alongside channel partners, I could find meaningful resolutions to impending sales queries and further scrutinize our sales options. Additionally, I examined prospects and evaluated their industry status and position to identify new business opportunities for the company."

Business Resume Example 2

• Forged business relationships with key customers to improve market position
• Liaised with channel partners to resolve sale queries and scrutinized further sales options
• Identified gaps in our products and services to enhance their overall functionality and effectiveness
• Analyzed the market and studied the competition to determine subsequent step actions
• Examined prospects and evaluated their position in the industry to identify new business opportunities

Framing Points: Analysis

The above-mentioned business resume examples present us with the following observations:

• Business Resume Example 1 uses one lengthy paragraph to communicate the same message as Business Resume Example 2, which uses crisp one-liner points.
• While Business Resume Example 1 is hard to read and comprehend, Business Resume Example 2 succeeds in the readability aspect. It is reader-friendly and easy to understand.
• Moreover, Business Resume Example 2 also uses action verbs to begin each point. The action verbs used here include 'forged', 'liaised', 'identified', 'analyzed', and 'examined.
• Doing this gives your business development manager resume a tone of confidence and professionalism, which makes your roles & responsibilities more attractive to a recruiter inspecting it.
• Our advice? Use one-liner points instead of paragraphs to communicate your roles & responsibilities.

STAR Format

Using one-liner points makes your resume more readable. But just because it is readable doesn't mean that it is effective.

Focusing on the effectiveness of your resume is an excellent resume writing tip.

Using the STAR format creates the desired results and helps enhance the effectiveness of your resume.

If you're curious, the STAR format stands for this:

• S stands for situation : The situation/backdrop/context of your contributions
• T stands for task : The actual job that was assigned to you
• A stands for action : The strategy you used to execute the assigned task
• R stands for result : The result/outcome of your action in the form of an achievement figure

Using the STAR format optimizes each point as it helps you show the reasons behind your actions and the corresponding result/outcome.

By using numbers, you're also able to draw the recruiter's attention to the utility of your professional expertise, thereby enhancing your shortlist chances.

Thus, use one-liner-points and optimize them by using the STAR format.

Grouping & Highlighting

Next up is grouping & highlighting.

Congratulations on coming this far.

Now that you have made your resume more readable, your next task is to enhance its visibility by employing simple tricks. This is where grouping & highlighting can help.

Here are two business resume examples to showcase this point.

• Handled ~50 follow-up calls daily to educate the customers and boost sales
• Conceptualized & implemented workable sales initiatives to boost growth by 60%
• Collaborated with ~3 business executives to close 10+ deals every month
• Coordinated with field executives and led field visits to attain sales targets
• Networked with 30+ potential clients leading to 50% improvement in client acquisition
• Conducted in-depth market analysis to understand the market and launch marketing campaigns
• Forged relationships with potential clients and maintained relations with key stakeholders to ensure business optimization

Sales & Business Development

Networking & Relationship Cultivation

Grouping & Highlighting: Analysis

The business resume examples illustrated above present us with the following conclusions:

• Business Resume Example 1 uses one-liner points, but it doesn't do enough to ensure that the topics are getting read . This gap is covered by Business Resume Example 2, which uses grouping & highlighting to organize these points.
• Grouping is the practice of grouping similar points under unique subheadings, whereas highlighting is the practice of marking your career highlights using bold.
• The combined effort of grouping & highlighting diverts the recruiter's attention to the applicant's essential responsibilities and career highlights without looking for them explicitly.
• Thus, you should use grouping & highlighting alongside one-liner points to showcase your roles & responsibilities in the most impactful manner.

Resume Sample for Professional Experience

Given below is a sample business resume showcasing the ideal professional experience section .

It uses one-liner points, grouping & highlighting, and the STAR format in each moment to enhance the effectiveness of your business development manager resume .

Business Resume: Key Skills

Here's what you can do to optimize the key skills section of your business resume:

Pick your core business resume skills from the professional experience section : Doing this helps you identify your core skills as a business professional and helps you articulate them in your business management resume with perfection. As a rule of thumb, avoid using phrases such as 'experienced in' in this section. Keep it crisp and to the point. Eg: 'Sales & Business Development', 'Key Account Management', and 'Stakeholder'.

Organically incorporate keywords to make this section ATS-optimized : Your business resume skills won't help you if you don't have the skills that a hiring body needs in a new hiree. In other words, you need to optimize this section and give the recruiters what they're looking for. You need to show that you have the right skills to qualify for the job in question. A great way to do this is by identifying the keywords posted in your target job advertisement and replicating the relevant keywords in your resume.

Here's a business development resume sample showcasing the perfect key skills section. In addition, it demonstrates what this section would ideally look like once you incorporate your business resume skills into it.

Business Resume Summary or Business Resume Objective?

A much-heated debate is whether you should use a business resume summary or a business resume objective .

To better understand this, we will first discuss the summary and then move on to the objective.

You should write a business resume summary only if:

• You have over 3 years of work experience.

On the contrary, you should write a business resume objective if:

• You have no work experience.
• You don't have a minimum of 3 years of work experience.

Now that you know what to write, we will now discuss what you should optimize your resume summary/objective:

• The goal of a business resume summary and business resume objective is the same. It needs to communicate your suitability and idealness for the job you're targeting.
• Whether you have enough work experience or not, make sure that you articulate the points that make you the best candidate for your target job.
• To write these sections with objectivity, compose them at the end: Doing this saves you the unnecessary trouble of writing a business resume summary or objective in the beginning to revisit it at the end.
• Moreover, it ensures that you haven't overlooked an important aspect of your qualifications and professional prowess that must feature in this section.
• Make sure that your resume or objective does not exceed 5 lines for maximum effectiveness. Ideally, keep it confined to 3-5 lines.

Attached below is a sample business resume showcasing the ideal resume summary for your resume.

Also Read: How to build a Business Analyst resume in 2022?

Business Resume: Header

Most people make the blunder of writing a "CV" or "Resume" at the extreme top part of their business administration resume . If you're doing this too, it's high time to stop.

Follow the steps that we have mentioned below to give your resume header the much-needed touch of perfection that it fittingly deserves:

• Your full name is the de-facto resume header of your business administration resume. This should feature at the top-most part of your resume.
• Write it in the largest font size of 16-20 font points to guarantee that it's the first thing a recruiter notices when evaluating your resume.
• Doing this tells the recruiter that the resume belongs to you. It also keeps your resume from getting mixed up in a sea full of business resumes that bombards a recruiter's email.
• If you have a middle name, write your first name, followed by the first initial of your middle name in capital letters, followed by your last name. Eg: If your name is Catherine Margaret Scott, your resume header should be "Catherine M. Scott".

Here's a business resume sample illustrating the ideal resume header for your resume.

Business Resume: Personal Information

This section of your business administration resume should communicate contact-centric information about you, such as:

• Updated mobile number
• Professional email ID

Current Location

This section of your resume is the most overlooked section of your business administration resume. However, it is just as important.

Being the hotspot of your contact information , this section should be correctly composed as the smallest of blunders would keep an interested recruiter from getting in touch.

In other words, it can practically cost you a potential job offer!

So make sure that all the components in this section are perfected. We will now dive into each section to tell you the key pointers you should remember while drafting this section:

Updated Mobile Number

Follow the below-listed guidelines:

• Provide only one functional mobile number in this section.
• Use your country’s ISD code as a prefix before your phone number.
• Put a plus sign (+) before the ISD code.
• Eg: +1 37648 21511.

Professional E-mail Address

Follow the guidelines below to write a perfectly composed email ID:

• Make sure that your email looks professional.
• Avoid using childish email IDs such as '[email protected]'.

Here is a list of guidelines you should follow for a perfect location:

• Your location should use the city/state code format for job applications in your country of residence and the city/country code format for job applications in outside countries.
• Avoid putting irrelevant information such as your house number, street number, and your locality as it is unnecessary.

Business Resume Sample for Personal Information

To know what an ideal personal information section should look like, take a look at the business resume example we have mentioned below.

Business Resume: Profile Title

Profile titles are important to your job application process. It communicates the following career-centric information to the recruiter:

• Your current designation, a.k.a job title.
• Your functional industry (finance, tech, fashion, marketing, sales, etc.)
• Your level of seniority.

The information mentioned above dictates if you would be suitable for a given job position and what your compensation should be if selected.

Given its importance, your profile title should be sufficiently highlighted. Here's what you can do to enhance its visibility:

• Write your profile title in the second-largest text in your resume.
• Use the font size of 14-16 points to endorse your profile title.

Meanwhile, get your hands on our AI-powered Resume Review Service to get an in-depth and constructive analysis of your resume within minutes of uploading it on our tool.

Keep an eye out on the bottom-left corner of this page and click on the AI-review button to avail of this service.

Given below is a business resume example showcasing what an ideal profile title should look like:

Business Resume: Education

The education section of your resume is the breeding ground for important education-centric information such as:

• Name of the school/university you have attended.
• Name of the courses you have pursued.
• The location of your school/university.
• Enrolment and graduation dates in month & year format .

Here's a sample business resume showcasing what this section should ideally look like once filled with the above-illustrated points.

Also Read: How to build IT Business Analyst resume in 2022?

Business Resume: Certifications

As a business developer or a business executive, what can you do to project your qualifications for the job?

The answer lies in holding relevant certifications .

So if you have done any relevant certifications, put them down in this section of your business professional resume.

Make sure that this section communicates the following points:

• Certification course name.
• Name of the institute of affiliation.
• Location of the institute of affiliation.
• Enrolment and completion date of the course in month & year format .

Arrange these points in the below format:

{Name of Certification} | {Affiliating Institution} | {Location} | {Date} (month & year format)

Here's a sample business resume showcasing what an ideal certifications section looks like when listed in your business professional resume.

Business Resume: Additional Information

Do you have additional communication points that do not fit into other sections of your resume?

Do you speak multiple languages?

Or have relevant hobbies that might give your job application a much-needed boost?

If you do, compile this information and illustrate them in a separate 'Additional Information' section of your professional business resume.

The sample business resume that we have attached below illustrates this:

Business Development Manager Salary

The average business development manager salary in the United States is $72,553 . However, you will see salary fluctuations in different parts of the country based on various factors, including:

• Size of company
• Location of company
• Work experience
• Educational qualifications

Business Development Manager Salary Difference in Different US Cities

Have a look at the highest paying cities for business development managers in the United States:

Key Takeaways

Building a business resume can consume time and puzzle you up as everyone want to appear better than others in recruitment processes. You can follow these guidelines to create a job-winning business resume in 2022.

• Use the month & year format for all the dates in your business resume.
• Use the city/state code format to showcase the location in your resume for job applications in the country of your residence and the city/country code format for job applications in outside countries.
• Make a separate 'key skills' section to endorse your business resume skills. This will distinguish your skills and help them stand out like fireworks on the fourth of July.
• Make a 'Key Achievements' group at the end of your respective work profile to endorse an outstanding achievement in that specific organization. Doing this will help you show how you proved to be a pivotal part & parcel of the organization you worked with due to your professional expertise.
• Use numbers to quantify your achievements. Doing this helps you pinpoint your professional contributions and how they benefitted the organizations you worked with in the past. This is important as it shows a promise of efficiency.
• Use one-liner points to endorse your roles & responsibilities and begin each point with an action verb. Eg: "directed", 'organized", "boosted", "administered", etc.
• Use action verbs in the past tense for past profiles and present continuous tense for current profiles.
• Write a business resume summary only if your work experience transcends 3 years. If it doesn't, write a business resume objective.

Whether you're writing a business student resume , a business administration resume, or a business development resume, this blog will help you write a stellar resume irrespective of the career stage you are in.

Go to Hiration resume builder where you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries and create a professional resume for yourself.

Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] .

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Grow » thrive, need a resume how to create one that highlights your small business skills.

Entrepreneurship is great, but at some point you may be ready to go back to full-time employment. Here are seven ways you can display your small business skills on your resume.

Looking for a new job feels stressful for most people. But when you’re a former business owner looking to re-enter the workforce, it brings a whole new level of uncertainty. These seven tips will help highlight your small business skills on your resume .

[ Read m ore: How to Review a Candidate’s Resume ]

Think carefully about your title

The resume title you choose is important because it determines whether your resume stands out to hiring managers. The right title can also help you bypass applicant tracking systems, which over 90% of companies use.

Your resume title is the first thing potential employers will see and what will incentivize them to continue reading your resume. Your title should be concise while still conveying exactly what it is you do.

Choose a title that describes the role you played within your small business and caters to the role you’re looking to step into. Of course, you don’t want to lie, but your aim should be choosing a title that aligns with your goals.

Outline your daily responsibilities

One of the challenging aspects of being a small business owner is that it can be hard for others to understand what you do every day. That’s why your resume should focus on your daily responsibilities and highlight your business accomplishments .

Odds are, you wore a lot of different hats within your business. Most small business owners play the roles of marketer, customer service representative and manager on a daily basis. So make sure you highlight these skills, explain how they benefited your business and include examples wherever possible.

Update your LinkedIn profile

It’s common for companies to conduct a social media screening of potential job candidates. So before applying for jobs, take some time to update your LinkedIn profile as well as other social media channels.

Remove anything controversial that would serve as a barrier to getting hired. Update your experience and about sections so they cater to the full-time position you’re looking to fill.

Even though you moved on, self-employment provided you with a variety of skills that will benefit you and your new employer.

Include a list of references

After being a small business owner for years, it can feel strange to think about asking for references. But there are probably many clients, customers, business partners and even employees you worked with over the years who can vouch for you.

It’s always a good idea to check with those individuals first before listing them as references and to mention the types of questions your potential employers may ask. That way, your references can respond in a way that complements the skills you outlined in your resume.

Include a cover letter

One of the challenges you may face is a potential employer wondering if you will eventually leave the company to strikeout on your own again. It's best to answer this objection from the start.

Include a cover letter with your resume that explains why you’re interested in working in a corporate setting. Explain that your small business experience makes you more of a team player and easier to manage.

You want to drive home the message that you’re looking forward to the challenge that a full-time position will bring. And you want to show potential employers how your previous skills make you perfectly suited for the new position.

Be confident about your experience

There is no way to hide the fact that you were a business owner and you shouldn’t try to. So don’t shy away from letting potential employers know that you ran your own business.

Even though you moved on, self-employment provided you with a variety of skills that will benefit you and your new employer. The fact that you’ve been a business owner means you have leadership skills and qualities that other candidates may not possess.

Be confident about the skills you’ve gained during your small business experience. Potential employers will see the energy and enthusiasm you bring to the table.

Use a template

Finally, it can be helpful to use a template to help you put your resume together. You can always modify it to fit your specific needs and circumstances, but the template will help you get started and overcome any hurdles. Sites like ZipJob, The Balance and Indeed all have self-employment resume templates that you can draw from.

[ Read m ore: 7 Famous Entrepreneurs on Their Biggest Failures ]

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How to List Your Side Hustle on a Resume [With Examples]

With many people adopting side hustles to supplement their income amid financial pressures or because they want to work more flexibly, it’s crucial to know how to present these jobs on your resume effectively. 

But how do you effectively present a second job or multiple overlapping jobs on your resume? This guide offers essential insights on whether to disclose your side hustle, how to articulate it to enhance your career prospects, and detailed steps for listing it professionally.

In this article, we’ll address all the key areas, including:

• Resume enhancement : Learn how to leverage your side hustle to demonstrate valuable skills and initiative.
• Practical examples : Gain clarity with concrete examples of how to format and describe your side gig on your resume. 
• Disclosing side jobs : Understand when and how to mention your second job to potential employers.

Read on to master the art of integrating your side hustle into your resume strategically . Are you in a rush to add your side hustle to your resume? With our user-friendly resume builder and templates, you can easily slot in a second job in minutes.

What Counts as a Side Hustle or Gig Work?

Gig work, which often encompasses flexible, temporary, or ad hoc tasks , has become a crucial part of this economic landscape. 

According to a 2023 World Bank report , the number of online gig workers across the globe could be as many as 435 million , with Reuters reporting that there could be up to 13 million in the US*.

Examples of gig work include : 

• Writing articles for various clients found through platforms like Upwork
• Providing voice-over services or creating video content via online marketplaces like Fiverr
• Delivering food in the evenings or on weekends with intermediary takeaway delivery companies
• Pet-sitting or house-sitting via community platforms

These opportunities allow individuals to tailor their work to fit personal schedules and needs , providing essential income during challenging times. 

Many Americans today are going through a cost-of-living crisis or want to shake up how they work and add flexibility with more remote work . Those considered “Gen Z” sometimes have to resort to working a second job to pay their bills and become part of the gig economy. Others simply prefer this way of working. 

In 2022, around 48% of Gen Z Americans had side hustles to help them make ends meet, because they prefer this flexible work, or because they planned to launch their own business.

One thing is clear: side hustles are becoming a permanent fixture in our economic fabric and it’s useful to know how to list this work on your resume.

Should I Put My Second Job on My Resume?

Here’s the thing: your resume is a marketing document. Its sole purpose is to highlight your skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the job you’re targeting. 

If your second job enhances your candidacy, it deserves a spot on your resume. It can indicate initiative , entrepreneurship , and a broader skill set.

On the flip side, if your second job is largely unrelated to your primary career focus and doesn’t offer transferable skills, it may end up cluttering your resume.

Consider if your side hustle does the following:

• Helps show off your relevant skills
• Allows you to list transferable skills
• Demonstrates your experience in the job sector
• Allows you to demonstrate skills that can help you find your first full-time remote job

If your current or previous side hustle helps you in those ways then strongly consider adding it to your resume , otherwise make sure you leave it off to save space for more relevant information.

How to Add a Side Hustle to Your Resume

Including a previous or current side hustle on your resume requires careful consideration, articulation, and presentation . 

After all, it’s not just about stating the fact that you have a side job; it’s about positioning that experience in a way that complements your career trajectory , demonstrates professional growth , and illustrates your multifaceted skill set. 

Here are the steps to help you achieve this:

• Choose the right section : Depending on the nature of your side hustle, you can either include it in your “ Professional Experience ” section or create a separate section like “ Additional Experience ,” or  “ Freelance Work ” if you were not working on a contract but the work is substantial enough to be highlighted. 
• Craft a clear, concise description : Write a brief description of your side hustle. This should cover your roles, responsibilities, and significant achievements. Be sure to use action verbs and quantifiable achievements, just as you would with a regular job description.
• Highlight transferable skills : Make sure to emphasize any skills from these roles that are related to the job you’re applying for.

By taking these steps you can showcase the qualities that you can bring to the position you want to apply to and make your resume further stand out from the rest of the candidates’ applications.

Side Hustle on a Resume: Examples

In the majority of cases, your second job will go in the experience section of your resume. 

As you’re going to present your side hustle as experience, it’s essential to understand how to put gig work on your resume .

To do so, you need to add any side hustle with the appropriate structure and details. That means clearly stating the following:

• Years worked
• Your duties
• Achievements with quantifiable data

In the following example, you can see just how to add side hustle to your resume: 

Additional Experience

Part-time Social Media Manager

ABC Apparel | City, State

March 2022 – Present

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive social media strategy that increased follower count by 40% across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter within six months.
• Conducted weekly analysis of social media metrics and adjusted strategy accordingly, leading to a consistent month-over-month growth of 10% in organic reach.
• Collaborated with the design team to create visually compelling graphics, which contributed to a 35% increase in post shares.
• Managed and responded to customer inquiries and comments, improving the brand’s response rate by 50%.

You can use AI tools like ChaptGPT within a resume builder to help you write your job descriptions such as the above example. Just make sure you review and edit the suggestions that it gives you.

Here is another example of how to list gig work on your resume. This time the side gig might be more ad hoc and harder to quantify . Make sure you keep a record of your achievements and customer satisfaction rates.

Video Content Creator | Fiverr

January 2020 – Present

• Crafted and delivered over 200 engaging videos across various niches including technology, health, and finance, consistently meeting the client’s content standards and deadlines.
• Implemented video SEO best practices that resulted in a 30% increase in organic search traffic over six months.
• Maintained a 98% client satisfaction rate through high-quality production and reliable communication, leading to repeat contracts and referrals.
• Analyzed user engagement data and refined content strategies for a health and wellness website, increasing average session duration by 20% and views by 25%.

How Can I List Overlapping Jobs or Gig Work on a Resume?

You might wonder which job to give priority to if you worked two jobs at the same time.

If you worked multiple jobs at the same time, list the one with the most recent start date first.

Remember, it’s best practice to use the reverse chronological format when listing your work experience, no matter the kind of job you are describing.

You Can List Your Side Hustle as a Freelance Position

If you weren’t given a contract and work self-employed as your side hustle, list your job as a freelance position. 

This is also the case if some ad hoc, infrequent gig work evolves into a role where you receive more regular work in larger quantities , but without having a company contract.

Here is an example of how a freelance writer could mention their side hustle on a resume

Freelance Writer, UpWork

Self-Employed

January 2022 – Present

• Provide a wide range of writing services to various clients, including blog posts, articles, social media content, and website copy.
• Consistently meet deadlines and maintain high-quality standards, resulting in a 95% client retention rate.
• Collaborated with clients across industries like tech, healthcare, finance, and hospitality to develop targeted content that resonates with their audience.
• Implemented SEO strategies in content creation, increasing web traffic for clients by an average of 30%.

Do You Have to Disclose a Second Job?

Even if the data shows that it’s becoming the new norm for younger Americans to have a second job, are you obligated to tell your potential new boss that you have a side hustle? 

No, there is no hard-and-fast rule about including side gigs on your resume or informing your current or future boss that you have a side hustle. 

This decision largely depends on your career goals , the nature of your primary and secondary jobs, and the potential employer’s requirements. 

Writing your side hustle on a resume may not always be simple to do, as you want to ensure there will be no conflict of interest with a new job. 

However, a relevant second job can add valuable information to your resume , such as additional skills and experience. 

Simply remember to do the following when including any second jobs:

• Make sure you include them in the correct section
• Highlight your productivity and skills
• Ensure you are not going against any company policy

By using these tips and resume writing tools you won’t have much trouble impressing a hiring manager with what you’ve learned with your side hustle.

*Data taken from US jobs data may be miscounting millions of ‘gig’ workers, research suggests , Reuters, November 17, 2023.

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How To Make A Resume (With Free Template)

Published: May 7, 2024, 9:00am

Table of Contents

What is a résumé, how to make a résumé, 7 tips for writing a résumé, free résumé template, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Whether you’re a college graduate entering the workforce or a parent returning to work after a long time, you need a compelling résumé to show recruiters you’re the best fit for an open position. We’ve compiled the steps you need to take to create your résumé and included a few tips to guide you when building your résumé. You’ll see what goes into a résumé that hiring managers respond to.

A résumé is a formal document recruiters ask applicants for as part of a recruitment process to assess their suitability for a specific role. A résumé provides an overview of your professional background and history, including your qualifications, work experience, skills and notable achievements. It records your professional development and is a potential employer’s first impression of you.

Here’s what a résumé does for you:

• It allows you to market yourself
• It shows recruiters how your experience can contribute to the organization’s growth
• It helps recruiters determine whether or not to call you for the next recruitment step

While there are different types of résumés with various content arrangements and formatting styles, here is the information required to build your résumé.

Add Your Name and Contact Information

When creating your résumé, the first item on your list should be your first and last name and primary contact information—phone number and email address. Also, adding a link to your website, portfolio or professional social media account gives potential employers multiple contact options and insight into your work, especially as a creative. Including your complete mailing address, city and state is also okay if the job listing calls for local applicants.

Include a Professional Summary or Objective

Your professional summary highlights your qualifications, skills and career goals. So, focus on concisely showing how your experience relates to the role you’re applying for. If you’re just getting started, changing careers or returning to the job industry after a break, opt for a professional objective, a summary of how your skills and qualifications can help you do well at the job. However, highlight something valuable the company can gain from you.

Add Your Work Experience

To determine your value, prospective employers examine how you’ve practicalized your knowledge and skills in your previous roles. So, include your previous job titles, organization names, company locations and employment dates. Then, include three to five accomplishments under each role.

Use action words, numbers and outcomes to explain your accomplishment while carrying out your responsibilities. For example, instead of saying you worked on a software updates team, say something such as “developed over 50 software updates that enhanced consumer productivity by 55%.” First-time job seekers can include internship and volunteer experience, but ensure you indicate that it was unpaid.

Include Your Education

List your education history, leaving the highest level at the top. Here are a few things to keep in mind when drafting this section.

• If you graduated more than 10 years ago, there’s no need to include your graduation year
• If you don’t have any work experience, indicate relevant coursework or internship
• If you’re still pursuing a degree or diploma, include the start date, but leave the completion date blank, unless there’s a graduation date
• Include your high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) only if you don’t have a college degree
• If recent, include awards, honors and scholarships and the year you received them

Highlight Relevant Skills

Dedicate a section of your résumé to highlight your hard and soft skills to show recruiters that you’re well-rounded. Aim for six to eight of such skills as are relevant to the role. Soft skills are people skills such as leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, while hard skills are the technical skills required for a specific job. Adding your aptitude, such as “proficient” or “intermediate” can also enhance your value. If applying without work experience, focus on transferable skills such as critical thinking and communication, which are helpful for any role.

Add Relevant Certifications, Licenses and Training

If your job requires certifications, include a section for that below the Education section. List the following.

• Certification or license title
• Certifying body or agency
• Date of certification
• Expiration date (if applicable)

Leverage Your Achievements

To make your résumé set you apart from other candidates, include a section to outline achievements and awards that further highlight your accomplishments and what you can contribute to an organization. These include honors, projects, publications (online or print), volunteer work and leadership positions. Awards show your commendation by those you’ve worked with, while volunteer experience augments your résumé as an applicant without work experience.

Below are a few tips to follow when preparing your résumé.

1. Ask for Help

Speak with those in your field, including peers and career counselors. Glean from their recommendations and pay attention to shared resources’ general language and formatting style.

2. Use the Appropriate Format

Make your résumé easy to scan. A few formatting tips based on what recruiters prefer are:

• Keep your résumé to one page, unless you have over 10 years of work experience. In that case, a two-page résumé is okay
• Set an inch margin on each side of the document
• Use popular fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, Georgia or Helvetica, and stick to font sizes of 14 to 16 for headers and 10 to 12 for the body
• Choose 1.0 or 1.5 inch line spacing
• Set margins to 1 inch on all sides
• Save your résumé as a PDF or Docx, using your full name and sometimes the job title as the file name
• Adhere to the specific résumé format instructions that came with the call for application

3. Tailor Your Résumé for Each Role

While it’s common to want to include every experience, include only the experience relevant to the role you’re applying for and adjust your summaries, skills, certifications and other information on your résumé to fit that role.

4. Include Necessary Keywords

Since many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) , which use keyword algorithms to filter résumés, ensure you incorporate keywords in the job description. Such keywords will fit right into your work experience and skills highlight sections.

5. Use a Résumé Builder or Template

Consider using a professional résumé template, which only requires you to fill your information in the blank spaces. Human resources (HR) experts design these templates so you can trust them. Plus, they make it easier to build your résumé.

6. Proofread Your Résumé

Review your résumé for grammatical errors, typographical errors and inconsistencies to show recruiters how well you pay attention to details. You can ask someone to read through your resume before sending it over to a recruiter.

7. Keep to Instructions

If a job listing gives specific instructions on the format or content of your résumé, adhere to them to avoid sifting out at an early recruitment stage.

Using a résumé template makes it easier and faster to make a résumé recruiters expect from job applicants. Several résumé templates are available for download, but consider using only those from reliable résumé builders. Customize any of these résumé templates from Indeed and Canva .

Here’s a minimalist résumé template typed out for you.

Name Location Phone number Email address Summary

Work Experience Position Company name Location Description

Skills Skill Years of experience Skill Years of experience

Education School Degree Field of study Location

Your résumé goes ahead of you to help a recruiter determine whether or not they want to interview you to learn more about how your background and experience can fit into an open role and grow their organization. So, ensure you include the necessary information and build your résumé with the tips we’ve collated from HR professionals. They will help you nail your dream job, even if you’re starting out or resuming your career.

What do you put on a résumé if you lack experience?

Even as a fresh graduate or parent returning to the job market, you can draft a résumé that catches a recruiter’s attention by highlighting your transferable skills and completed projects. For example, a fresh graduate can include certifications, volunteer or community service, apprenticeship or internships and extracurricular activities such as club and sports participation.

A returning parent can include nontraditional experiences such as homeschooling and babysitting to demonstrate their leadership and problem-solving skills, amongst the several skills and experiences that come with parenting.

How do I write a résumé to pass an ATS?

You’ll need to study the job post carefully and customize your work experience and keywords to match the primary keywords in the job description . You can also use a résumé writing service to run a free review of your résumé or build a new one from scratch.

Should your résumé be concise or detailed?

Recruiters often spend less than a minute on a résumé since they usually have to review several applications. So, make sure your résumé is concise—comprehensive but brief. “Remember, the goal of your résumé is to land an interview, not to provide every detail about your experience. Once you’re in the conversation, you can share more information about your qualifications.” —Shannon Burkel

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How to Put an MBA On Your Resume (With Examples)

In This Guide:

Tldr: use this template.

You should never skip MBA on your resume. Here's why:

How to list a finished MBA degree on your resume

Takeaways: listing mba on your resume.

Everyone wants to look impressive on their resume and grab the recruiters’ attention right from the start.

Trust me, I know. I’ve been through this, too.

While putting a resume together, you have to do some editing. You already know that you should only include relevant information . The problem is that this is relative. And things become even trickier when it comes to high-level qualifications.

If you have a Master of Business Administration, you’re probably wondering, “How do you list an MBA on a resume? Should you do it in the first place?” and all the accompanying questions.

You might not be sure if it’s relevant to your coveted position, or you might be worried it can come off as a bit… well, braggy .

If you’re asking yourself these questions, you’re on the right track. But I’m here to tell you exactly how to list an MBA on your resume and why that’s a good idea.

And if you’d like to learn more about preparing for a specific position, why not take a look at our vast library of resume examples ? You’re bound to find what you need!

So, are you ready? Let’s get right to it.

The safest choice is to list your MBA at the top of your education section. Adding it to your name at the top of the resume is usually not the best choice (more details below). Adding MBA to your title, just below your name, is also OK.

You should never skip MBA on your resume. Here's why:

If you’ve got your MBA, you know the amount of work that goes into it. An MBA is not only important for certain positions; it’s impressive in every case.

When you list an MBA on your resume, you show the recruiters you’re hard-working, dedicated, and you get. stuff. done .

Which, if we’re honest, is a huge part of what employers want.

While it’s pretty much impossible to know everything there is to know about a position, an MBA can show a hiring manager that you’re not just going in blindly and hoping to learn on the job.

You have the training. You have the basics. You have what it takes.

So, if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

The MBA, I mean.

Are you looking for how to make an MBA resume instead? Check out our MBA resume admission guide here.

Now, you still need to know how to put your MBA on your resume correctly.

If you’ve finished the program already, it’s easy. If you already know how to write the education section , then you’ve got a pretty good idea of how to include your MBA, too.

Still, I’ll go over it here, just to be sure we’re all on the same page.

Here are some specifics to keep in mind when listing an MBA on your resume:

• By default, you should put the MBA in the Education section . That’s where recruiters will look for such information, and you don’t want to confuse them by listing it in another spot.
• In some cases, you can add this qualification to your Achievements section.
• You can place the MBA in the header section, too (albeit rarely). However, there are two critical rules here: only include it if you’ve finished the program, and only include it if it’s a requirement or at least relevant to the position.
• If you wish, you can note the fact that you have an MBA in your cover letter . This is not mandatory, though.
• Try to put both the full (Master of Business Administration) and the abbreviated title (MBA) on your resume. This can help you pass the Applicant Tracking System most companies use.

So, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s go into a little more detail.

How to list your MBA in the education section

Most of what I mentioned above applies when you’re listing an MBA in your resume’s Education section. And most general guidelines on listing education apply here, too.

When adding an MBA, the Education section should still be in reverse chronological order . The actual way you list the qualification depends on your circumstances, though.

If you’ve received all of your qualifications from the same school, you can put the school’s name first, followed by your degrees. But if you’ve done your Bachelor’s degree and your MBA at different schools, you can stick to the basics and list your qualifications first.

For example, take a look at how an MBA is presented on this Director of Finance resume .

You might have noticed the duration is stated as “2006 – ongoing”. Yes, I’ll talk about that, too. Stay tuned.

What about specializations, honors, and coursework? Do you need to include these, too?

Generally speaking, no, you don’t. But they can help if they are relevant. For example, if your area of concentration supports your “claim” to the position, then yes, by all means, include it.

Just like in this CTO resume .

If your specialization area is not relevant, feel free to skip it and list only the qualifications.

And finally, your GPA.

As with all other education, listing your GPA is not mandatory. If you do decide to include it, make sure it’s 3.5 or above. Flaunting your high grades is great, but it’s usually counterproductive if you haven’t done that well.

If you’re not sure exactly how to format your education (or any other section), a resume builder can come in handy!

How to List Your MBA in Your Resume Header

I mentioned before that you can choose to add your MBA in your resume header.

By that, I mean adding it after your name. So, instead of simply writing John Doe , you can put down John Doe, MBA .

But is this a good idea?

Well, it depends.

In most cases, adding any title lower than a doctorate to your name is generally frowned upon. But there are some situations where you might be able to get away with it.

If the position specifically requires an MBA, then yes, go for it. If not, stick to the Education section only. The hiring managers will find it in there, too. And if it’s not essential, there’s no point shoving it in their face.

Also, it’s crucial that you only add an MBA in the header if you’ve finished the program and actually have the qualification.

If you haven’t completed your studies yet, but you still list it in the header without any context, recruiters may see it as misleading. That’s a bad first impression no one wants to make.

Now, speaking of incomplete studies…

How to add MBA in progress to your resume

If you’re still in the process of completing your MBA, you might be wondering if you should include it in your resume.

And the short answer is – absolutely ! If it’s relevant, of course.

All the same rules apply if you haven’t finished your studies yet. The only difference is that you should put down the anticipated completion date instead of an actual completion date.

Let’s go back to the example from earlier – the Director of Finance resume.

If you know when you’re expected to get your qualification, then you should put that date down.

More importantly, if you’re applying for a job in March 2021 and your MBA ends in May 2021, always include the month, too. If you just put the year down, it can look like you’ve already received your MBA. Again, this can be considered misleading by employers. So, be specific.

And, if you want to leave even less room for confusion, you can add “expected” to the completion date, too.

And there you have it! Now that you know how to list an MBA on your resume, you’re well on your way to making a spectacular first impression!

To summarize quickly:

• Adding an MBA to your resume is a great way to impress recruiters and pique their interest.
• Generally, you should list an MBA in your resume’s Education section.
• All general education rules apply for your MBA, too.
• MBAs work great with the reverse chronological resume format.
• If you are yet to complete your studies, you can still include an MBA in your resume; just make sure to specify the expected completion date.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any comments or additional questions, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below!

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The 12 Best Skills to Put on Your Resume (Plus Examples)

S kills can make or break your resume. They should match the jobs you're applying for and show recruiters that you can succeed at their companies.

Sometimes companies will use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that automatically scan resumes and forward the best matches to hiring managers. Whether a human or a computer is looking over your resume, it pays to have a robust set of skills.

Below, we'll cover some skills to put on your resume, the difference between soft and hard skills and the best ways to highlight skills when communicating about your work experience:

The 12 Best Skills to Put on a Resume

Putting the right skills on your resume signals your readiness for the jobs you apply for. Almost anyone can develop these, regardless of professional background—they're huge green flags for recruiters.

1. Adaptability

Change is the only constant in business, according to Mark Cuban . The skills you develop when you start a job may not be relevant in five years, even if you're still in the same position.

Companies want employees who can adapt to changing times. Demonstrating that on your resume shows employers that you're a good long-term investment.

2. Attention to Detail

Anyone can do sloppy work. Having attention to detail means spotting the little mistakes before they become big problems.

Calling out your attention to detail on your resume sets you apart as someone who will sweat the small stuff and pursue excellence in every part of your job.

3. Communication

Virtually every job involves some amount of communication . Are you a software engineer who just wants to code? You still have to talk to clients about their needs.

Eyeballing a management role ? You'll need to successfully communicate with direct reports to give feedback and achieve team goals.

Talking about your communication skills on your resume, including listening, presentation and writing skills, shows you know how to work with others. You can also mention your communication style to make sure you're a good fit for a company's culture.

4. Creativity

The best employees are not just cogs in a machine. They stand out by thinking outside the box and offering creative new solutions to their company's problems.

But creativity doesn't necessarily mean you're artistic. If you're an analyst, it could mean drawing novel conclusions from data. If you're a manager, it could mean finding interesting new ways to engage your team.

Including creativity as a skill on your resume shows employers that you can offer value beyond the job description.

5. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is your ability to find solutions beyond the obvious. Good critical thinkers can get to the "why" behind a problem, anticipate future problems and elevate the quality of work their teams produce.

Putting critical thinking on your resume takes your skills to the next level. It also speaks to your independence—you come up with solutions on your own, rather than relying on others.

6. Customer Service

Many jobs require some sort of customer service element. Salespeople or project managers talk to customers, helping them get exactly what they're looking for. Other workers, like copywriters or data engineers, may still meet with customers to speak to their area of expertise and demonstrate the viability of their company's work.

Don't take customer service skills for granted. They're valuable in almost any position.

7. Digital Skills

Most office jobs require basic computer literacy. Employers expect employees to know how to open computer and phone applications, send emails and sometimes use video call tools like Teams or Zoom . Being digitally literate can mean knowing when to send a quick chat vs. a long email .

These skills are absolutely worth listing on your resume, especially if you have experience with specific software or tools common in your industry.

8. Leadership

Leadership is your ability to get your team to work together toward a shared goal. It's not just important for managers—individual contributors can communicate better if they have strong leadership skills. ICs can also use leadership skills to take charge when their teams are confused and get the job done.

Putting leadership skills on your resume identifies you as someone who can bring order to a complicated workplace. It also sets you up as potential management material —someone worthy of future internal promotions at a company.

9. Organization

Many jobs require you to juggle several tasks. Organization is your ability to keep everything together, even when you have multiple deadlines or you're working for clients with very different expectations.

Highlighting your organizational skills puts you forward as a candidate who can perform the full range of job responsibilities without getting lost.

10. Problem-Solving

Good problem solvers can take projects from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible. They can also spot solutions that aren't obvious, making them invaluable to their employers.

Setting yourself up as a problem-solver makes you an excellent candidate for almost any job since this skill is so widely used.

11. Teamwork

Teamwork is your ability to function well with your immediate coworkers, but also with other teams you may encounter. It's more than just good communication; it includes good social skills and compassion for others.

Listing teamwork as a skill on your resume shows that you're ready to work in a bustling company where you're one part of a bigger whole.

12. Time Management

Many employers want things done yesterday. That's not always possible, but good time managers offer the next best thing: work that's done well and finished as soon as possible.

Introducing yourself as a good time manager shows that you'll finish tasks before they're due. That's something hiring managers love to see.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills on Your Resume

Hard skills are what you do. Soft skills are how you get it done. Good resumes include both.

Soft Skills for Your Resume

Soft skills are non-technical aspects of work, like being a good communicator or managing your time wisely. They're relevant everywhere.

According to data from LinkedIn, 92 percent of professionals say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills.

"Soft skills are often what set one candidate apart from another with similar technical qualifications," Dan Schawbel, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, told Newsweek . "Employers look for candidates who not only have the required hard skills but also possess the interpersonal and communication skills necessary to work well with others and fit into the company culture."

The introduction of artificial intelligence in the workplace may only improve the value of soft skills.

"While AI will automate certain tasks and change the nature of work, it will also place a premium on soft skills that are uniquely human," Schawbel said. "Soft skills related to creativity, emotional intelligence, ethics, collaboration, and adaptability will continue to be highly valuable in the AI-augmented workplace, enabling individuals to work alongside AI systems effectively and ethically."

Hard Skills for Your Resume

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge that you can spend months or even years developing. These are the things you learn in specialized degree programs and job training. Connecting a website to a database, operating a complex piece of machinery and balancing a quarterly budget are all hard skills.

Most jobs require certain hard skills. You wouldn't apply to be a video editor without some knowledge of editing software and techniques.

Companies may teach some hard skills on the job. For example, teaching new salespeople how to use their unique customer relationship management (CRM) software. However, most careers require hard skills that you learn elsewhere, either in school, training or an entry-level job .

How to List Skills on Your Resume

There are two sides to listing skills on your resume: the skills you include and how you express them.

Schawbel recommends creating a dedicated "Skills" section on your resume. List hard and soft skills there.

Next, Schawbel says to back up your soft skills with specific examples from your work experience. Did you demonstrate leadership when you took command of a flailing project at your last job? Write that down, using keywords that highlight those skills like "leadership" or "teamwork." Your work experience is evidence of your skills.

Remember that recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds of resumes. You want to present your highlights without going on and on about yourself. Schawbel recommends starting each bullet point in your resume with action verbs to quickly demonstrate your skills to an employer. Use language like:

• "Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to deliver budget analyses."
• "Wrote marketing emails that increased product engagement by 130 percent over six months."
• "Managed construction projects across multiple sites with 15 direct reports."

Stand out by presenting a different version of your resume for each new job you apply for. Tailor your skill list for each new position by looking at the job's duties and responsibilities.

If you're applying for a management position, include your leadership skills and the times you used them. Otherwise, consider leaving those off the resume and highlighting other skills.

Skills Section Examples by Job Type

Here are some examples of possible skill sections for jobs in multiple industries and experience levels. Use these as starting points to think about skills on your resume. However, you should always look at job descriptions to see exactly what skills to include.

Copywriters write content for videos, emails and other marketing collateral. They try to persuade readers or listeners to buy the product or service they're highlighting.

Hard Skills:

• Copywriting
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Social media marketing

Soft Skills:

• Attention to detail

Data Scientist

Data scientists explore massive data sets with advanced mathematics and computer models. They work with business managers to produce actionable insights from raw data.

• Data analysis
• Data visualization
• Machine learning
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Organization

Nurses perform a range of tasks in hospitals and other health care settings. The exact skills they need depend on their medical subfield and the type of institution they work for.

• Medical knowledge
• Medical technology
• Nursing ethics
• Patient education
• Workplace safety
• Adaptability
• Time management

Project Manager

Project managers organize work across multiple teams. They often bridge the gap between individual contributors and clients or other stakeholders. They keep projects on time and within budget.

• Negotiation
• Project management
• Technical writing

Retail Sales Associate

Retail sales associates sell items, maintain the sales floor and assist customers. This is an entry-level position, but it can be an excellent opportunity to build skills.

• Basic mathematics
• CRM or point of sale (POS) software
• Inventory management
• Customer service

Frequently Asked Questions

Still not sure what skills to put on your resume? Here we tackle some common questions.

How Many Skills Should I Put on My Resume?

You want enough skills on your resume to impress recruiters without wasting their time.

"Aim for a list of 5 to 10 key skills. This allows you to emphasize your most critical qualifications without overwhelming the reader," Schawbel says.

Should I Format My Resume for an ATS?

Don't try to write your resume for a computer. It's a myth that most applications are rejected by automated systems—HR workers read most resumes and make decisions based on their merits.

Make things easier for recruiters by organizing information well on your resume. Include a dedicated skills section and describe your work experience directly and efficiently, with callouts to the skills you've listed.

Should I Change the Skills Section for Each Job Application?

Yes. It's a good idea to write a resume draft and then modify that draft slightly for each new job application.

Be sure to mention skills that appear in the job description. Cut mentions of skills that aren't relevant to the position, so that you don't waste recruiters' time.

What Skills Should I List if I Have No Work Experience?

Without work experience, you still have life and school. Draw up a list of transferable skills you've developed throughout your life and use those on your resume.

You should have several soft skills. If you had a leadership position in school, for example, list leadership, communication and teamwork skills.

Transferable soft skills aren't always obvious, but if you put some thought into your activities you should come up with a good list. For example, practicing a musical instrument alongside school demonstrates good time management, attention to detail and creativity.

Should I Add Certifications or Trainings?

Yes. Certifications and training are outside proof of your competence in skills. They can set you apart from other candidates who don't have that kind of evidence on their resumes.

Can I List Skills That I'm Still Learning?

Yes. Feel free to list skills where you're a beginner.

Some professionals label skills with their experience level, such as "beginner," "intermediate" or "advanced."

You can also describe your experience level in your work experience. For example:

• "Learned the core functions of our company's CRM system."
• "Wrote advanced web applications with JavaScript for five years."

Once you have your resume in good condition, you can start thinking about cover letters . Then you can learn more about finding your next opportunity with our review of the best job search apps .

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