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How to List Projects on a Resume (with Examples)

10 min read · Updated on February 23, 2024

Projects on your resume can prove you have what it takes to succeed

You've likely heard a few catchphrases related to resume writing. Things like “show, don't tell” and “be an achiever, not a doer.”  One of the most effective ways to put these principles into action is by including projects on your resume. But how exactly do you list projects on a resume, and why are they so important?

You've come to the right place. Here, you'll learn how to list projects on your resume in a way that catches the eye of hiring managers and helps you to stand out from the competition. 

It doesn't matter if you're fresh out of college or have a decade of experience under your belt; including projects on your resume can significantly enhance your chances of landing your dream job.

Your old resume may have been a list of work experiences, but your new resume will outshine the competition and win you the interviews you seek. 

Projects vs work experience

Depending on where you're at in your career, it can be tough to separate projects from actual work experience, especially if you're a freelancer or regularly tackle projects as a part of your job. While both are exceedingly valuable in telling your career story, you have to be a bit discerning to determine which is more important. 

Obviously, you gain experience from working at jobs and completing projects, but listing projects separately can help you to highlight specific skills that might get lost when you explain work you did in a previous job. 

The main differences can be summarized as: 

Projects are concise and specific

Work history provides a broader view of your career trajectory

At the end of the day, you must pick the things you want to include on your resume with the aim of balancing your knowledge and skills with what's being called for in the job description. Relevancy and tailoring your resume are critical, allowing prospective employers to see what you have to offer their team. 

Why listing projects can be good for you

When you're trying to prove to an employer that you're an achiever rather than a doer, having a project or two to back up your claims can do wonders for your candidacy. Not only do projects on your resume have the ability to demonstrate relevant skills, but they also allow you to showcase initiative and accomplishments. 

In the context of standing out from the crowd, projects on your resume can add depth to your experience to paint a more well-rounded and comprehensive picture of what you bring to the table for the new employer. One thing that a lot of people miss is that you can also use projects on your resume to fill in any experience gaps that may be present. 

Types of projects you can highlight on your resume

While the projects you list on your resume are as unique as you are, there are some common types. Knowing what type of project you're going to list on your resume will help you to determine if the project is relevant and can also guide you in knowing where on your resume to list it. 

There are four basic types.

This is any project you've done in your position with a company. It was probably part of your job description, but it could've also been something you were called on to do outside of your day-to-day role. Perhaps you led a team to launch a new product or created a new process for doing something that saved time and money. Work projects are good to have on your resume because they demonstrate that you're the type of person to go above and beyond to achieve an objective. 

2. Academic

These are projects that you complete in a classroom or educational setting. You'll definitely need to include academic projects if you're fresh out of college and have little to no work history or relevant professional experience. Academic projects for your resume can be anything from conducting a research study and writing a thesis or dissertation to developing a software application as part of a class project. Including academic projects on your resume gives you a chance to highlight relevant skills and prove to a future employer that you have a passion for learning and development. After all, continuous improvement is a highly sought-after skill. 

3. Personal

Sometimes, you get bored at home and decide you want to build a personal website or create a blog. There have even been folks who've created apps that work with their smart home devices to automate activities. It doesn't matter that these are personal projects, if you find that your resume is lacking particular skills or achievements you can use these projects on your resume to round out your candidacy. That said, adding a personal project to your resume should be a last resort. 

4. Freelance

'Tis the time we live in – a lot of people work as independent contractors or freelance. It's a great way to fill in employment gaps or have some income if you're on a sabbatical . The most common freelance projects center around things like graphic design, marketing, tech, and writing. These types of projects can be valuable additions to your resume. 

How to add projects to your resume

Since you want to keep your resume relevant to the job you're applying for, the first step is to create a list of projects from your history and compare them to what employers need. 

Analyze the job description to dissect out the keywords and phrases. Once you have that list, compare it to the skills and achievements you can talk about with each project. Beyond picking the right project to match the job, you also have to consider space.

Bear these guidelines in mind:

Pick projects for your resume that match the job description

Pick projects that allow you to keep your resume on the right number of pages

The final step is to properly format the project entries in their respective sections. 

Where to include projects on your resume

For the most part, you'll format a project listing the same way you would a work history listing. The only difference is that you may not have a company to list indicating where you did the project. If you can't list the client or location associated with the project, don't let that stop you from adding it. 

As you would expect, work projects would be listed in the Professional Experience section, academic projects are best suited in the Education section, and some projects may even merit having their own special section. 

What does all of that look like? Let's take a look.

Projects in their own section 

For the most part, your resume should have at least five sections:

Contact information

Profile (which contains your title and summary paragraph)

Work history

You can also add an entirely new section called “Projects,” “Selected Projects,” “Relevant Projects,” or “Academic Projects.” 

Depending on how hard you have to lean on those projects to wow a hiring manager will be the deciding factor on whether you place this new section above or below “Professional Experience.” If you really need them to make your candidacy, then put them above. If you want them on there just to give the hiring manager one more glimpse into what you can do, then put them below. 

Example of projects in their own section

You should create a title for the section and then list each project with relevant bullet points that call out things you achieved in working on that project. It's also appropriate to put the dates you were working on each project. 

Selected Projects

Post Evaluation Platinum LEED Office Building | 04/2022 - 10/2022

Used advanced knowledge of Occupant Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Survey benchmarks and performed literature review / precedent studies to present data-driven solutions regarding visual and thermal comfort. 

Authored and presented findings related to underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system analysis. 

Integrated Façade Simulator: Hybrid Reality Simulations for Assessing Human Façade Interaction | 09/2020 - 05/2021

Created a novel integrated hybrid system that simulated a multi-sensory environment and observed participants and the impact of environmental stimuli for sensation, perception of comfort, and energy consumption. 

Projects in the experience section

If you're one of those people who get chosen by a boss to work on a project or if you've spent a significant time as an independent contractor , then it's probably going to serve you best to include projects within the “Professional Experience” section of your resume. 

Example of projects in the experience section

Format it like you would any other position within your experience section, including the name of the company, the dates you were employed, your position title, and some achievement bullets. Then, beneath those achievement bullets for your job, add “Noted Projects” and talk about the project as separate from what you accomplished as an employee. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

XYZ Company | Location 05/2015 to Present

Senior Biologist

Achievement bullet #1

Achievement bullet #2

Achievement bullet #3

Noted Projects:

Major Development Plan and Infrastructure Project – 03/2019 - 06/2021

Monitored site conditions to ensure the protection of sensitive species, including California gnatcatcher, cactus wren, least Bell's vireo, arroyo chub, arroyo toad, and general nesting birds.

Oversaw end-to-end project management processes, including scoping, planning, timelines, delivery, execution, and status reporting. 

Subdivision Development Project – 04/2013 - 01/2017

Directed biological resource protection initiatives for a 180-acre development project, resulting in approximately 475 acres of preserved, restored, and enhanced habitats. 

Conducted protocol and non-protocol environmental impact surveys for 3 years, in the wake of a widespread wildfire, to assess gnatcatcher habitat, population density, and movement. 

Projects in the education section

It can be hard to craft a resume when you've just graduated college and have no real experience to show future employers. Fortunately, you can lean on things you did at school to inject experiences, achievements, and skills into your resume. You just write an expanded education section. 

Relate reading: How to List Education on Your Resume (with Examples)

Example of projects in the education section

Whether you're listing your GPA or relevant coursework, you can always add some college projects to your resume education section if you need to prove your salt to a new company. 

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Finance, | State University – Location (Expected May 2024)

Coursework : Current Economic Problems, Macroeconomics, Accounting Principles, Money and Capital Markets, Business Statistics, Spreadsheet Modeling in Finance, Global Financial Markets

Academic projects

Secured funding for a non-fungible token (NFT) from State University's Board of Trustees and generated a 100% return on investment (ROI). 

Placed in the top 10% of a financial modeling competition. Analyzed comparative values over time to predict future performance and identified a portfolio of stocks that were graded and ranked in terms of profit and loss and accuracy of predictions. 

Projects on your resume win interviews

Remember that the main goal of your resume is to win interviews. Adding projects can be just the thing that makes you stand out from the crowd of job seekers. Use projects wisely, though. Leverage them to boost your skills, enhance your achievements, and inject necessary keywords into your resume that align with what the job description asks for in a new employee. 

Once you get all of that written, we'll give it a once-over for you with a free resume review . After all, it's always good to get expert, objective feedback on your resume. 

Recommended reading:

Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

Ask Amanda: How Do I List Self-Employment & Freelance Work On My Resume?

47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

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See how your resume stacks up.

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How—and When—to Include Projects on Your Resume (Plus Examples!)

If you’ve completed a project you’re especially proud of, it’s natural to want to show it off on your resume—and it might even help you land your next job. Projects that potentially belong on your resume can come from your past jobs, paid and unpaid side ventures, and—if you’re a recent grad—your academic coursework.

Read on to see why, when, and how you should put projects on your resume.

Why You Should List Projects on a Resume

Like everything else on your resume, projects can help highlight experiences that qualify you for your next job. You may have used skills— hard or soft —in a certain project that are key for the role you want. And including a successful project is a great way to tie those skills directly to results, which employers want to see on every resume.

When You Should List Projects on Your Resume

Adding projects to your resume “can be a great way to highlight experience outside of your daily role, enhance a recent grad resume, or bridge the gap from what you’re doing to what you want to do” if you’re looking to change or pivot careers, says Muse career coach Tara Goodfellow , owner of Athena Consultants .

Projects are an especially helpful addition to your resume when your experience section doesn’t already show that you have the background you need to get the job you want next, which is most common for two groups of job seekers:

• Recent graduates : Entry-level candidates by definition lack professional experience. But if you just finished college, a big project—whether you did it for a class, an honors or capstone program, an internship, or your own research—can show that you have a lot of valuable workplace skills such as leadership, collaboration, presentation, and public speaking, Goodfellow says. After your first-full time role, Goodfellow recommends removing school projects from your resume.
• Career changers or pivoters: When you’re looking to switch or pivot your career, you want to show any experience you have that relates to the role, field, or industry you want to go into. This might mean highlighting projects you did within a current or past job or adding a volunteer, side, or freelance project to your resume. What matters is that your project helps prove to employers you have relevant experience for the job you’re hoping to land.

Which Projects You Should Include

When you’re deciding which projects to add to your resume, “you want to be strategic,” Goodfellow says. “Don’t just dump every project you've been part of hoping something will catch the hiring manager’s attention.” Instead, carefully go over the job description for any role you’re interested in. Highlight any skills or qualifications the company is looking for that you have, as well as any job duties they list for the role that you’ve performed in the past. Then note any that can only be proven by including a certain project on your resume. If a project doesn’t meet this threshold, it probably doesn’t need to be called out.

Even if you’re in a more project-based field, like engineering, IT, or consulting, consider whether all or any of your projects can emphasize your accomplishments in a way that general bullet points under each job entry can’t. With too many projects crowding your resume, recruiters might not find the most important details. For example, if you generally do consulting for larger clients, but once worked with a small business and got great results, listing details for that one project might help you land a job at a consultancy with a small-business focus. But if most of your clients are small businesses, mentioning a slew of individual projects rather than overall achievements will take up valuable resume space without necessarily adding to your qualifications.

How to List Projects (Plus Examples)

List your projects wherever they’re most relevant, Goodfellow says. For recent grads, this often means your education section. If the project was part of a past job, freelance work, or volunteer work, it likely belongs under that specific entry in your experience section . If you’re thinking of a personal or side project or you have multiple projects that you want to include on your resume, you might consider adding a dedicated “Related Projects” or similarly titled section.

Regardless of where you list your project, you should follow these general tips:

• Include important details. You should add enough information about each project that it can be easily understood by anyone who reads your resume. Depending on the specific project, consider listing a project title, a project description, and project dates, as well as who you did the project for and with, what your role was, and what the results and impact were.
• Focus on your achievements. Whether your project description is contained to one bullet point or has several bullet points underneath it, employers want to see what results you’ve gotten with your skills so they can see how you might drive results for them. Use achievement-oriented , quantified bullet points to really put your accomplishments front and center.
• Tailor your project description for every job application. You should only include projects that are relevant to the specific job you’re applying for and, even more than that, you should make sure your description of a project highlights the pieces of it that are most relevant. So if a company is looking for someone with website design experience, focus on the design aspect of your side project, not how you attracted customers to your site. And try to use the same language and keywords as the job description.
• Include links to your work when possible. Almost everyone who reads your resume will do so for the first time on a computer, so links to work that’s live online are fair game. Just make sure you hyperlink an unimportant word like “Project” or even “Link” to avoid any applicant tracking system (ATS) issues.

What does this all look like in practice? Here are a few examples based on where you’re listing a project.

In an Education Section

This is how an entry-level applicant looking to emphasize their research, writing, and presentation skills might include a project on their resume.

Bachelor of Arts in English | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY Expected Graduation: Spring 2021 Capstone Project: “Voices Missing From the 19th-Century Literary Canon”

• Wrote a 40-page dissertation on three minority writers who are not commonly taught in U.S. K-12 schools or colleges, exploring literary devices and techniques used before other writers who are commonly taught
• Presented research findings at Nineteenth-Century Studies Association 2021 Conference as one of five undergrads selected to give a 10-minute talk
• Researched writers’ lives and work by analyzing newspaper archives (via LexisNexis), conducting interviews with literary scholars who focus on the 19th century, and traveling to review old correspondence and writings not widely reproduced
• Analyzed 12 total texts to compare literary devices and techniques between focal writers and their contemporaries

Within Your Experience Section

Here’s how a marketer looking to pivot into project management might include a project under a past job immediately after the bullet points describing their overall duties and accomplishments.

Key Project

• Led $200k digital marketing campaign from conception to launch, resulting in 120% of target signups in first two months of campaign
• Managed cross-functional team of seven marketing coordinators and analysts, content creators, and designers through market research, content creation, campaign launch, and analysis of results, setting deadlines, adjusting to changes in schedule, and resolving conflicts and miscommunications among teams

Within a Dedicated Section

Here’s how an aspiring software engineer might describe a project they did in their free time to show off their coding chops to prospective employers.

RELEVANT PROJECTS

TheTradingPost.com | March 2020–September 2020 | Link

• Designed and coded a website (using CSS, Python, and JavaScript) where players of popular video games could arrange trades for virtual items, receiving an average of 1000 hits monthly
• Responded to user feedback and issues to improve site functionality and build additional features including a search function

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How To Put Projects On A Resume (With Examples)

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Summary. To put projects on your traditional chronological resume , include a separate projects section beneath the education or work experience section. In a project based resume, rename the work experience section to be named “projects” and you can avoid the standard chronological resume format and instead focus on your most relevant projects and professional skills.

No matter where you are in your career journey, adding projects to your resume can highlight your key qualifications and help your application make more of an impression.

In this article, you’ll learn how to add projects to your resume and when it’s a good idea to take this route.

Key Takeaways

You can work projects into your work history section, organize your resume around your projects, or create a separate section for your projects.

You should list your most relevant projects first and leave off any irrelevant projects.

Freelancers, entry-level job candidates, and people who are changing career paths could benefit most from project-based resumes.

How to List Projects on a Resume

Examples of ways to list projects on a resume, tips for listing projects on a resume, why should you put projects on a resume, what is a project-based resume, who should use project-based resumes, putting projects on a resume faq, final thoughts.

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To list projects on a traditional chronological resume , you should include a separate projects section beneath the education or work experience portion of your professional resume. This can be easily accomplished by including a “key projects” section below the bullets detailing your previous job responsibilities and accomplishments.

Listing projects on a traditional date-ordered resume can be a great option for professionals who want to showcase their project management expertise while also detailing their prior work titles and chronological job experience.

If you’re looking to ditch your traditional chronological resume altogether, a project-based resume is a great way of showcasing your most desirable professional skills outside of the tight confines of a standard cookie-cutter resume that lists your work experience in reverse chronological order.

By renaming the “work experience” section of your resume to “projects,” you can easily avoid the standard chronological resume format and instead focus on your most relevant projects and professional skills. This unique structure focuses more on practical, hands-on experience and less on how long you held a certain job title.

To list projects on a resume:

Contextualize the project’s details. You don’t want each project to take up too much space, but you do need to describe the key who, what, where, when, and why of the story. Most importantly, bring in numbers as often as possible.

Highlight your accomplishments. “Ideally, your resume is a list of achievements,” says resume expert Don Pippin . When describing your projects, be sure that the direct impact that you had on the end result is apparent.

Tailor your resume for each job. Again, this applies to all resumes, not just project-based ones. In the context of projects, though, be sure to think about how each entry relates to the specific job you’re applying for.

Provide examples. If you’re emailing your resume, including some hyperlinks to documents relating to past projects can be really impactful. Not only can the hiring manager see the results of your work, but also how you and your team approached projects in general.

Below are three examples of ways you can list projects on your professional resume or CV . Using these examples as a template when writing your job-specific resume can help you advance in the hiring process and land the job of your dreams.

Listing Projects in the Education Section of Your Chronological Resume Example:

Education Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Massachusetts B.S. in Mechanical Engineering , May 2020 | GPA: 3.8 Key Projects: Led a team of three engineering students to execute blueprints and coordinate the production of state-of-the-art air filtration systems for the university hospital. Production and installation came in 12% under budget and were completed 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

Listing Projects Below Previous Job Responsibilities and Work Descriptions in Your Chronological Resume Example:

Work Experience Sales Associate Baker Technologies | March 2019-present Drove revenue by 13% year-over-year by initiating increased customer engagement policy Oversaw a team of five cashiers, who collectively processed average credit card and cash payments of over $20,000 daily Key Projects: Worked with a software developer to redesign and launch Baker Technologies’ online marketplace, resulting in a $2 million increase in profits for 2019.

Listing Projects in a Projects Section of Your Project-Based Resume Example:

Professional Project Highlights App Development Camping With Oliver , July 2020-November 2020 Developed and coded a complex app, compatible with iPhone and Android devices, designed to help hikers locate free campsites in their area. Increased digital revenue stream by 55% following launch Private Web Design Bobbi’s Bakery , January 2021-March 2021 Built a multifunctional website with a complex ordering system using HTLM 5, CSS, and bug-free code Managed all custom graphics, page composition, and branding for this client, leading to a 30% Q/Q jump in sales

If it’s your first time listing projects on a resume or ditching your traditional chronological resume or project-based one, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to craft an effective resume and impress hiring managers.

By following these five tips, you’ll be able to perfectly listing projects on your professional resume and allow your key skills and job qualifications to shine.

Lead with the most relevant projects. One of the biggest advantages of a project-based resume is having the ability to list your work experiences and skills in order of the most relevant projects, instead of arranging them chronologically.

Highlight leadership and job-specific skills. If you’re listing projects on your resume, it’s important to be deliberate and meticulous in the projects you include. Your project list should be presentable, professional, and perfectly convey your leadership and job-specific skills.

Show how you achieve results and meet company goals. Another substantial perk of listing projects on your resume is the ability to clearly illustrate and verify how you are results-driven and ready to meet company goals.

Illustrate how your experiences align with company values. Not only is it important to showcase the skills and qualifications required for a job opening, but it’s also essential to illustrate how your work style and professional goals align with the values a company prides itself on.

Keep project descriptions short. To emphasize your strongest skills and professional abilities, it’s important to keep project descriptions short, concise, and to the point. Providing only the essential details to demonstrate your skills, achievements, and experience will allow hiring managers to easily read and review your resume.

Listing projects on your resume will help you get a leg up over other qualified competing applicants.

A project-based resume, similar to a functional resume , is highly effective in conveying your unique qualifications, work style, field of specialization, and areas of expertise.

Project-based resumes are great tools for illustrating hands-on experience and your decision-making and conflict resolution skills. Describing projects you’ve been involved with can give hiring managers a glimpse into how you operate as an employee.

Submitting a project-based resume with your job applications can allow you to position yourself as the best candidate for the role by highlighting and describing projects that closely align with the job description included in the advertisement.

Including a list of projects on your resume will allow your job application to shine and illustrate your work capabilities and well-rounded personality; to hiring managers and job recruiters.

A project-based resume is a professional resume that focuses on accomplishments rather than chronological job titles and previous work responsibilities.

Where a traditional resume lists work experience and academic degrees in date order, a project-based resume instead does one of two things.

It either lists a job seeker’s relevant academic, work, and personal projects in order of most to least compelling or includes specific projects beneath the education or work experience sections of a resume.

Project-based resumes effectively provide hiring managers and prospective employers with verifiable proof of a job applicant’s industry expertise, achievements, and experience.

Anyone can use project-based resumes, but the following groups might find additional benefit:

Freelancers. Project-based resumes can be an especially worthwhile option for freelancers , as it allows you to ditch the traditional chronological resume and instead focus on projects you have worked on that are most relevant to the position you’re applying to.

Entry-level candidates. Not only is a project-based resume a great alternative for freelance workers, but it can also be equally as enticing for traditional employees or recent graduates since projects can be easily listed beneath education and work experience sections, as you would normally list accomplishments, skills, and previous job responsibilities.

Career changers. Writing a project-based resume can be a great option for people looking for their first job, changing careers, coming off a long sabbatical or personal leave, or searching for a full-time job after a series of freelance gigs.

Should I put my projects on my resume?

Yes, you should put your projects on your resume. Listing a few of your most impressive professional projects on your resume can help hiring managers see what you’re capable of.

What kind of projects should I put on my resume?

You should put successful, professional projects that relate to the job you’re applying for on your resume. Think of a few of the projects that demonstrate the skills that are listed on the job description you’re applying for and put them on your resume.

Do personal projects count as experience?

No, personal projects don’t count as experience. They don’t usually count as formal work experience, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some of them on your resume, especially if they demonstrate your professional skills.

is it OK to put project details in a resume?

Yes, It’s OK to put project details in a resume. Projects are a great addition to your resume when your experience section doesn’t already show that you have the background or experience for a job. Recent graduates or entry-level candidates are the ones who typically put projects on their resume.

Whether you’re a freelancer or a traditional employee, a recent graduate or a career changer, projects can make your resume pop.

By illustrating your hands-on work experience, verifying your skills and job qualifications, and marketing yourself as the best candidate for the role, you’ll have hiring managers who can’t wait to call you in for an interview to learn more.

Using the tips and templates included in this article can help you write a well-structured and effective project-based resume and make a great first impression on recruiters across industries.

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Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.

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How to List Projects on a Resume

Not sure if your project is resume-worthy? Check out our guide on when, where, and how to include projects on your resume.

3 years ago   •   8 min read

You might not have a projects section on your resume — and that’s okay. Including projects on your resume is entirely optional, but it can be a good idea if you’ve completed any personal or educational projects that highlight transferable skills or are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Should you include projects on a resume?

There is a place for both personal and educational projects on your resume. Projects might be particularly relevant if:

You have a lot of freelance or contract work

If some (or all) of your work has been project-based, your resume should highlight this — not hide it. By using a project-based format for your work experience, you can keep the focus squarely on your accomplishments without cluttering up your resume.

You're a student

Current students or recent graduates can use university projects to highlight your relevant skills in a more practical setting. Educational projects might include projects you completed at university, during further education, or as part of a professional or career change program. It doesn’t include regular coursework, unless it was particularly outstanding (ie. award-winning).

You're changing careers

If most of your paid experience is in a different role or industry, projects can help demonstrate your competence with a more relevant skill set. This is especially true if you’re trying to break into a highly specialized or technical field. For roles involving software development, coding, or data analysis, a few relevant projects may even be more worthy of inclusion on your resume than a lot of work experience in a different industry. If this is your situation, consider dropping some of your older or less relevant work experience in favor of a dedicated projects section that can highlight your hands-on experience with specific technical skills.

I’d recommend uploading your resume to the tool below to check if you’ve listed your projects the right way. It’ll let you know if your projects section highlights relevant work experience, accomplishments and skills.

You lack relevant work experience

Some Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or other types of resume screening will automatically reject candidates who lack certain skills or keywords. To get around this, you can use projects as a way to legitimately include skills that are required by the job listing if you have no other way of demonstrating them. Again, this can be particularly important if you’re trying to break into a technical field, so it’s worth taking the time to develop those hands-on skills before you start applying.

If you’re not sure which technical skills are required by the job you’re applying for, use the skills search tool below to find the right ones.

If you've decided to include projects on your resume, keep scrolling for step-by-step guides with templates you can copy and paste.

How to feature projects on your resume

So, you’ve decided to include one or two well-chosen projects on your resume — but how do you format them? Here are a few practical examples you can follow.

In your work experience section

When: If your paid work was project-based, including freelance , consulting, and contract work.

How: List key accomplishments underneath individual projects.

• List your employer, staffing agency, or consulting firm (it's fine to create one if you were freelancing).
• List your job title. If you were self-employed, give yourself a standard job title.
• List the dates of employment.
• Add a short blurb describing the nature of your work.
• Include 3-6 bullet points detailing your most relevant accomplishments, starting with an action verb and include hard numbers and metrics.
• Use a resume checker to score your bullet points and give you personalized feedback.
• Read our tips on how to list contract work and self-employment on a resume .

Here's a template for listing projects in your work experience section:

YOUR NAME CONSULTING SERVICES, Columbus, OH Independent SEO Consultant (Jun 2017 – Present) Developed strategic insights for seven medium-large companies ($5M+/year) to improve SEO, web traffic and conversions. Revamped and implemented new websites for four companies. Selected Projects Name of project - 1-3 bullet points in the format [Action Verb] [Accomplishment] [Metric], e.g. Growth Strategy for Travel Agency - Spearheaded a major pricing restructure by redirecting focus on consumer willingness to pay instead of product cost; implemented a three-tiered pricing model which increased average sale 35% and margin 12%

This example shows how a project-based resume can emphasize your key skills and achievements.

In a dedicated projects section

When: If you have the space for it on your resume and you have one or more significant projects you want to make a focal point.

How: Think of a projects section like a mini work experience section.

• List the project name at the top, like you would an employer.
• List your specific role in the project as your job title.
• Use bullet points to highlight the hard skills you used. Remember to begin each bullet point with an action verb.
• Use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your role whenever possible.
• Include a link to your online portfolio (if applicable).

Here's a template for formatting a separate projects section:

PROJECTS Project Name | Developer , Feb 2019 GitHub link: [link] - Designed the overall architecture of the editor using React.JS, with XYZ integration to allow real-time collaboration - Set up multiple authentication methods, including Google OAuth, magic link and Shibboleth SSO

This is an example of how a standard project might look on your resume.

This is another example that explicitly demonstrates your skills and expertise. It includes relevant keywords, which will help your resume get past any ATS and allows employers to see that you’re qualified at a glance. It also uses hard numbers to good effect, showcasing not only what you accomplished but also the impact it had on the overall project.

If your projects demonstrate hands-on experience with specific programming languages or other practical skills, use your projects section to link to an online portfolio. Hiring managers in fields like software development, graphic design , and writing will want to see examples of your actual work whenever possible, since that’s the best way to see your skills firsthand and judge whether they’re a good fit.

In your education section

When: If you're a current student or recent graduate without a lot of relevant work experience. You should especially consider including projects in your education section if you completed a specific pre-professional program, like an MBA.

How: Pin your education section to the top of your resume to keep it front and center.

• Title your section 'Education.'
• List your education as normal, including the university you attended, degree attained, and date of graduation (this last one is optional).
• Include a 'Projects' subheading (optional).
• Include 1-2 bullet points briefly outlining what the project was.
• Start with an action verb to describe what you did and use numbers to quantify the results.
• For more tips on how to make your education section stand out to hiring managers, check out our guide on how to list education on your resume .

Here's a template for listing projects in your education section:

EDUCATION Resume Worded University, San Francisco, CA | May 2010 Master of Business Administration Candidate; Major in Business Analytics - Built and launched Android app, Resume Worded, in team of 3; gained over 10,000 users in 6 months

This example shows how including projects can explicitly demonstrate your achievements, even if your degree is your only relevant experience in that field.

In an additional section

When: For personal projects, especially if you don’t have the real estate to dedicate to a significant projects section.

How: At the bottom of your resume, or on the side if you prefer a two-column format.

• Title your section 'Additional Projects' or 'Other.'
• If you're using a general 'Other' section including skills, etc. add a 'Projects' subheading.
• List each project briefly in 1-2 lines, including what you did and what the results were.
• (Optional) List the date of completion or duration of the project.

Here's a template for listing projects in an additional section:

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS - Aggregated, cleansed and combined data from 10+ public data sources to create a Tableau dashboard of inflation rates over the past 10 years (January 2021) - Another project (optional)

This example demonstrates how you don’t need to dedicate a large amount of space to a project for it to be worthwhile including.

Do’s and don’ts for projects on your resume

• Use projects to demonstrate hard skills. Technical skills like programming, proficiency with specific software programs, or experience with social media marketing are all appropriate skills you may want to highlight.
• Tailor the projects to the specific job you’re applying for . Not every project is relevant to every role, and not every single task within a specific project is related to all roles either — be selective about what you include.
• Use hard numbers and metrics whenever you can. If you attended a coding boot camp, mention the specific programming languages you learned. If you used Facebook ads to sell your craft projects, state how much you were able to improve sales. Always be specific about what you achieved, not just what you did.
• Don't use projects for soft skills like communication or leadership. These skills are easy for anyone to claim and difficult to quantify, so you’ll want to use more relevant examples of how you’ve demonstrated these in a professional setting.
• Don't include projects in your regular work experience section. No matter how hard you’ve worked on them, they lack the accountability and oversight that paid work experience requires, so don’t try to frame them as something they aren’t.
• Don't include projects just to bulk up your resume. Only include them if they’re truly relevant to the role and will strengthen your candidacy.
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How to List Projects on a Resume: A Concise Approach | Enhancv

In This Guide:

Benefits of listing projects on your resume, who should include projects on their resume, types of projects to list on your resume, how to list projects on a resume: a concise approach, additional tips for listing projects, in conclusion.

Looking to amplify your resume's impact and grab the attention of potential employers? We have a powerful strategy to help you demonstrate your achievements and stick out in a competitive job market.

Adding projects is one essential way to create a great resume  and can significantly elevate your candidacy, providing concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments. It’s more than just listing tasks; it's about shining a light on your unique contributions and the impact you've made.

Whether they're from work, school, or personal endeavors, presenting your projects offers a clear picture of your capabilities and fit for the role.

In this article, we explore the importance of featuring projects on your resume and provide expert tips and templates to help you do it effectively.

Need help with more than just a project section? Then check out Enhancv’s intuitive, drag-and-drop resume builder! This builder won’t just help you add your projects but it’ll also improve your content, give you simple and useful suggestions, as well as provide you with some of the most modern and attractive resume templates.

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Key takeaways

• Choose the right format : Decide between integrating projects into work history entries or creating a separate projects section.
• Create a project section : For multiple significant projects, dedicate a section to them for better emphasis.
• List academic projects in education : For recent graduates, show academic projects under your degree information to emphasize relevant skills.
• Consider a project-based resume for freelancers : Freelancers should focus on a project-based format to effectively showcase diverse project experience.
• Include important details : Provide a project title, description, dates, and results to give a clear picture of your contributions.
• Highlight achievements : Use quantified bullet points to emphasize the impact and success of your projects.
• Tailor descriptions : Customize project descriptions for each job application to illustrate relevant skills and results.

Let’s analyze the specifics.

Including projects on your resume offers several advantages that can boost your job application, for example:

• Showcase relevant skills : Highlight specific skills relevant to the job you're applying for.
• Demonstrate initiative : Prove that you take the initiative to work on significant tasks and see them through.
• Illustrate problem-solving abilities : Show your ability to tackle challenges and provide solutions.
• Provide tangible results : Offer concrete examples of your achievements and contributions.
• Enhance your experience : Complement your resume work history  with practical experiences that demonstrate your versatility.
• Stand out to employers : Differentiate yourself from other candidates by providing evidence of your hands-on experience and impact.

Certain candidates will find adding projects to their resumes particularly beneficial.

• Recent graduates (entry-level) : Lacking professional experience? Projects can demonstrate your knowledge and practical application of skills learned in school.
• Career changers : Show how your past projects are relevant to your new career path  and focus on transferable skills.
• Freelancers and contractors : Display the variety and scope of your work, showcasing your adaptability and expertise in different areas.
• Professionals with gaps in employment : Use projects to fill employment gaps, illustrating continued skill development and engagement in your field.
• Anyone seeking to emphasize specific skills : Even experienced professionals can benefit from detailing projects to underline particular competencies or achievements.

Your resume should highlight projects that demonstrate your skills, creativity, and ability to deliver results.

Amanda Augustine, career advice expert and certified professional resume writer

Here are the types of projects you can include to enrich your resume.

• Work projects : Tasks or initiatives you've completed at your job that had a significant impact.
• Academic projects : Assignments or research from your studies that are relevant to the job.
• Personal projects : Independent ventures or hobbies that demonstrate relevant skills and dedication.
• Volunteer projects : Non-profit or community service work that focuses on your commitment and skills.
• Freelance work : Independent projects that show your ability to manage, execute, and complete tasks on your own.
• Side ventures : Any entrepreneurial efforts or side businesses that demonstrate initiative and business acumen.

By strategically including projects on your resume, you can effectively describe your skills, experiences, and accomplishments, making you a more compelling candidate to potential employers.

Tailor each project description to the job you're applying for by emphasizing the skills and results most relevant to the role. Use quantifiable metrics  whenever possible to demonstrate your impact and make your achievements stand out.

Now that you have the why, what, and for whom, let’s investigate the how.

When providing projects on your resume, it’s essential to choose the right format and placement to maximize their impact.

Here's how to organize and present your projects effectively:

Listing projects under job descriptions

Including projects as accomplishments under your resume job descriptions  can emphasize your contributions. This method integrates your achievements within the context of your work history.

• Showcase what you accomplished in each of your previous roles.
• Provide a project title, description, dates, and key results.

National Operations Manager, Redbridge Systems

August 2021 - September 2023

- Spearheaded a cost-cutting project achieving a $50,000  annual saving by replacing paper towels with hand dryers in all bathroom facilities.

Creating a separate projects section

A dedicated resume section  for projects can highlight significant work that may not fit neatly under job descriptions. This approach is especially effective if you have multiple projects or freelance experience.

• List the project name, your role, and dates.
• Use bullet points  to detail your responsibilities and achievements, emphasizing measurable results.
• • Spearheaded a major pricing restructure by redirecting focus on consumer willingness to pay, increasing average sales by 35% and margins by 12%.

Academic projects in the education section

For recent graduates or current students, including academic projects in the education section  can effectively demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge.

• List academic projects under your degree information.
• Provide a brief description, paying attention to skills and outcomes.
• • Capstone Project: “Voices Missing From the 19th-Century Literary Canon” - presented research findings at the Nineteenth-Century Studies Association 2021 Conference.

Project-based resumes for freelancers

Freelancers often benefit from a project-based resume format, emphasizing specific projects over a traditional chronological work history.

• The resume format  remains the same as a traditional chronological one , however, you need to replace the work experience section with a projects section.
• Include detailed descriptions for each project, focusing on scope, timeline, and achievements.
• • Project 1: Selected Projects Growth Strategy for Travel Agency - Spearheaded a pricing restructure, increasing average sale by 35% and margin by 12%.
• • Project 2: Website Overhaul for Tech Startup - Redesigned the user interface for a tech startup’s website, resulting in a 40% increase in user engagement and a 25% reduction in bounce rate.
• • Project 3: SEO Optimization for E-commerce Site - Conducted a comprehensive SEO audit and implemented changes that led to a 50% increase in organic search traffic over six months.
• • Project 4: Social Media Campaign for Non-Profit - Developed and managed a social media campaign that increased the non-profit’s follower base by 30% and boosted online donations by 20%.

Regardless of where you detail your projects, these general tips can enhance their effectiveness:

• Include important details : Provide a project title, description, dates, and results.
• Focus on achievements : Underline the impact of your work using quantified bullet points.
• Tailor descriptions : Customize project descriptions  for each job application, emphasizing relevant skills and results.
• Add links : When possible, link to your online portfolio or project samples to provide additional context and evidence of your work.

Talking about confidential projects

When discussing confidential projects on your resume, exercise caution to avoid sharing sensitive information. It's crucial to describe your role and the skills you used without revealing specifics that could breach confidentiality agreements.

• Generalize your description : Show the skills and outcomes without giving away sensitive details. For example, mention "Developed a new marketing strategy for a leading tech company" instead of naming the company or project specifics.
• Highlight public aspects : If parts of the project have been publicly disclosed, you can refer to those aspects while keeping the confidential details private.

Selecting the right number of projects

Choosing the number of projects to include on your resume is essential for maintaining a concise and impactful presentation.

• Quality over quantity : Focus on listing a few key projects that best demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements.
• Use an online portfolio : If you have numerous projects, consider including a link to an online portfolio  where recruiters can explore your work in greater detail.

By thoughtfully organizing and detailing your projects, you can demonstrate your skills and achievements effectively, making your resume stand out  to potential employers.

The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.

Michelle Obama

Including projects on your resume can be a game-changer, showcasing your unique contributions and the skills you've honed. By underlining your projects, you provide tangible evidence of your abilities, making your application a powerful tool in your job hunt.

Remember to tailor each project to the job you're applying for, focusing on the most relevant skills and achievements. With these tips, you can create a resume that appeals to potential employers and opens doors to exciting new opportunities.

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How—and When—to Include Projects on Your Resume (Plus Examples!)

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How—and When—to Include Projects on Your Resume (Plus Examples!) was originally published on The Muse , a great place to research companies and careers. Click here to search for great jobs and companies near you.

If you’ve completed a project you’re especially proud of, it’s natural to want to show it off on your resume—and it might even help you land your next job. Projects that potentially belong on your resume can come from your past jobs, paid and unpaid side ventures, and—if you’re a recent grad—your academic coursework.

Read on to see why, when, and how you should put projects on your resume.

Why You Should List Projects on a Resume

Like everything else on your resume, projects can help highlight experiences that qualify you for your next job. You may have used skills— hard or soft —in a certain project that are key for the role you want. And including a successful project is a great way to tie those skills directly to results, which employers want to see on every resume.

When You Should List Projects on Your Resume

Adding projects to your resume “can be a great way to highlight experience outside of your daily role, enhance a recent grad resume, or bridge the gap from what you’re doing to what you want to do” if you’re looking to change or pivot careers, says Muse career coach Tara Goodfellow , owner of Athena Consultants .

Projects are an especially helpful addition to your resume when your experience section doesn’t already show that you have the background you need to get the job you want next, which is most common for two groups of job seekers:

• Recent graduates : Entry-level candidates by definition lack professional experience. But if you just finished college, a big project—whether you did it for a class, an honors or capstone program, an internship, or your own research—can show that you have a lot of valuable workplace skills such as leadership, collaboration, presentation, and public speaking, Goodfellow says. After your first-full time role, Goodfellow recommends removing school projects from your resume.
• Career changers or pivoters: When you’re looking to switch or pivot your career, you want to show any experience you have that relates to the role, field, or industry you want to go into. This might mean highlighting projects you did within a current or past job or adding a volunteer, side, or freelance project to your resume. What matters is that your project helps prove to employers you have relevant experience for the job you’re hoping to land.

Which Projects You Should Include

When you’re deciding which projects to add to your resume, “you want to be strategic,” Goodfellow says. “Don’t just dump every project you’ve been part of hoping something will catch the hiring manager’s attention.” Instead, carefully go over the job description for any role you’re interested in. Highlight any skills or qualifications the company is looking for that you have, as well as any job duties they list for the role that you’ve performed in the past. Then note any that can only be proven by including a certain project on your resume. If a project doesn’t meet this threshold, it probably doesn’t need to be called out.

Even if you’re in a more project-based field, like engineering, IT, or consulting, consider whether all or any of your projects can emphasize your accomplishments in a way that general bullet points under each job entry can’t. With too many projects crowding your resume, recruiters might not find the most important details. For example, if you generally do consulting for larger clients, but once worked with a small business and got great results, listing details for that one project might help you land a job at a consultancy with a small-business focus. But if most of your clients are small businesses, mentioning a slew of individual projects rather than overall achievements will take up valuable resume space without necessarily adding to your qualifications.

How to List Projects (Plus Examples)

List your projects wherever they’re most relevant, Goodfellow says. For recent grads, this often means your education section. If the project was part of a past job, freelance work, or volunteer work, it likely belongs under that specific entry in your experience section . If you’re thinking of a personal or side project or you have multiple projects that you want to include on your resume, you might consider adding a dedicated “Related Projects” or similarly titled section.

Regardless of where you list your project, you should follow these general tips:

• Include important details. You should add enough information about each project that it can be easily understood by anyone who reads your resume. Depending on the specific project, consider listing a project title, a project description, and project dates, as well as who you did the project for and with, what your role was, and what the results and impact were.
• Focus on your achievements. Whether your project description is contained to one bullet point or has several bullet points underneath it, employers want to see what results you’ve gotten with your skills so they can see how you might drive results for them. Use achievement-oriented , quantified bullet points to really put your accomplishments front and center.
• Tailor your project description for every job application. You should only include projects that are relevant to the specific job you’re applying for and, even more than that, you should make sure your description of a project highlights the pieces of it that are most relevant. So if a company is looking for someone with website design experience, focus on the design aspect of your side project, not how you attracted customers to your site. And try to use the same language and keywords as the job description.
• Include links to your work when possible. Almost everyone who reads your resume will do so for the first time on a computer, so links to work that’s live online are fair game. Just make sure you hyperlink an unimportant word like “Project” or even “Link” to avoid any applicant tracking system (ATS) issues.

What does this all look like in practice? Here are a few examples based on where you’re listing a project.

In an Education Section (good for a senior capstone)

This is how an entry-level applicant looking to emphasize their research, writing, and presentation skills might include a capstone project on their resume.

Bachelor of Arts in English | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY Expected Graduation: May 2022 Capstone Project: “Voices Missing From the 19th-Century Literary Canon”

• Wrote a 40-page dissertation on three minority writers who are not commonly taught in U.S. K-12 schools or colleges, exploring literary devices and techniques used before other writers who are commonly taught
• Presented research findings at Nineteenth-Century Studies Association 2021 Conference as one of five undergrads selected to give a 10-minute talk
• Researched writers’ lives and work by analyzing newspaper archives (via LexisNexis), conducting interviews with literary scholars who focus on the 19th century, and traveling to review old correspondence and writings not widely reproduced
• Analyzed 12 total texts to compare literary devices and techniques between focal writers and their contemporaries

Within a Dedicated Section (typical for current students and new graduates) 

Here’s how an aspiring software engineer might describe a project they did in their free time to show off their coding chops to prospective employers.

RELEVANT PROJECTS

TheTradingPost.com | March 2020–September 2020 | Link

• Designed and coded a website (using CSS, Python, and JavaScript) where players of popular video games could arrange trades for virtual items, receiving an average of 1000 hits monthly
• Responded to user feedback and issues to improve site functionality and build additional features including a search function

Within Your Experience Section

Here’s how a marketer looking to pivot into project management might include a project under a past job immediately after the bullet points describing their overall duties and accomplishments.

Key Project

• Led $200k digital marketing campaign from conception to launch, resulting in 120% of target signups in first two months of campaign
• Managed cross-functional team of seven marketing coordinators and analysts, content creators, and designers through market research, content creation, campaign launch, and analysis of results, setting deadlines, adjusting to changes in schedule, and resolving conflicts and miscommunications among teams

• Sub Cat Link

How to List Projects on a Resume (with Examples)

When it comes to applying for a new job, it might be helpful to think of the process as similar to applying to college. Competitive students have a high school diploma (experience), good grades (technical/soft skills), decent test scores (professional recommendations), and finally, extracurricular activities (projects).

Like extracurriculars, external projects can include anything you’ve done that’s outside of your regular working tasks, and don’t necessarily have to be professional. If you think your academic work, charity efforts, or even personal/artistic endeavors might help demonstrate your abilities to future employers, then include them. Not only will it help you show off different skills, it could also help you stand out. Some research shows that at least 82% of job seekers don’t list any projects on their resume.

So, being part of the 18% who does, is just another way you can get noticed amongst hundreds of other applicants.

Types of Projects and How to List Them

It’s very important to tailor your resume to each and every job you apply to, and picking and choosing which external projects to include is one great way to do that.

The most common types of projects one might include on a resume are as follows:

Work Related Projects

These are projects that you completed at your place of work, but which you feel deserve special attention on your resume. For instance, if you work in a lab and have only highlighted your day-to-day tasks, you might want to consider creating a subheader in order to list any specific research projects you helped with. It would look something like this:

CraniumLabs, Juno, AK — May 2019 to January 2022

Lab Technician

Impressive Achievements

Special Responsibilities

Notable Projects:

I was the only technician of my level asked to perform duties for the genome sequencing project taking place in the lab. I was required to handle very fragile materials and work long hours. My efforts were recognized with an authorship credit on a professional paper — a copy of which can be provided upon request.

Academic Projects

You may no longer be in school, but all the time and effort you put into receiving your degree(s) shouldn’t be boiled down to just a single line on your resume. If you worked on something you’re particularly proud of or which you think will impress future employers while a student, be sure to list it.

If these are the only external projects you are highlighting, and therefore you won’t have a separate ‘Projects’ section on your resume, we suggest you list academic projects directly underneath the name of the institution where you completed said projects. For example:

Masters in Fine Arts, YALE UNIVERSITY — New Haven, CT (Graduated 2020)

Relevant Coursework: List of Relevant Classes/Coursework/Literature

Academic Projects:

I was commissioned to take the portrait photograph for the incoming Dean of Students, a very high honor considering no student had ever been asked to do so before.

My thesis focused on capturing the beauty of the concrete jungle and was featured in the New Haven Museum of Contemporary Art for their Summer Showcase of 2020.

Freelance Projects

It’s estimated that 43% of full-time workers also have a side hustle, which means almost half of the American working population is taking on paid freelance projects outside of their regular 9-5 job. If you’re among them, you should absolutely find a way to include these projects in your resume. Even if you don’t think they are directly relevant, it will show that you have a good work ethic and are able to multitask.

Note: Both freelance projects and personal projects should be listed underneath their own subheading at the bottom of your resume.

Personal/Charitable

Did you know that 80% of parents who took time off to stay home with their kids reported being somewhat or very concerned about returning to the workforce? It’s likely some of that fear results from having a gap in their resume, but including personal or charitable projects is a really good opportunity to fill that gap. Maybe you volunteer at your children’s school? Coach any sports teams? Get creative and don’t sell yourself short! The skills you pick up in your personal life can be just as valuable as the ones you hone in the workplace.

Final Thoughts

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• How to list projects on resumes?

People are more likely to believe in your potential when you’ve already demonstrated it in the past.

And recruiters are no different. If you want to make your resume all the more compelling and impressive, listing projects on your resume is the way to go.

Although you can’t exactly demonstrate your projects in action while applying for jobs, you can allow your resume to speak for it and give a chance to the recruiters to see your true potential.

Listing projects on resumes is especially helpful for job seekers who are fresh graduates lacking in professional experience and also for people who are switching their career trajectory.

Read on to get clarity on the following FAQs about listing projects on resumes:

• Why should you list projects on resumes?
• When should you list projects on resume?
• What type of projects should you list on a resume?

Importance of Listing Projects on Resumes

The primary idea behind listing projects on resumes is to put yourself forward as the best candidate for the position.

• By listing projects on your resume, you let employers see your skills, experience, achievements, and capability of executing tasks efficiently.

And of course, if you’ve been a part of or led a key project in your past roles, why wouldn’t you want to show it off and benefit from your efforts by showcasing it in your resume?

In fact, the same set of skills that you used to complete a past project may be the exact skill set that your next employer may be looking for.

Therefore, when the recruiters see these projects in your resume, it automatically doubles up your chances of getting shortlisted for interviews.

Also, listing projects on resumes serve as a proven track record of your efficiency, teamwork, leadership skills, and project management skills.

Also read: How to build an impressive IT project manager resume

When Should You List Projects on Resume?

Although listing projects on resumes can prove beneficial for any type of candidate, it is especially essential for the following groups of applicants:

Freelancers

Since most of the work done by IT freelancers is project-based, highlighting projects in your resume becomes crucial.

Given the fact students and fresh graduates don't have professional work experience to include in their resumes, including academic projects can be a game-changer.

List the volunteer projects that you may have been a part of or any of your academic projects.

Career Switchers

If you are making a career switch to the IT industry but don't have professional experience, listing independent projects in your resume will increase your chances of impressing the recruiters.

You can list the GitHub or Kaggle projects that you've worked independently on, in your resume.

How to Include Projects on Resumes?

Now that you see the importance of listing projects on resumes, the question that stands is, how to describe projects on resumes?

First things first, it’s important to ensure that you are listing the projects under the right section of your resume.

Meaning, if you are a fresher or a recent college graduate, the college projects on your resume can go under the education section or the volunteer section.

As for professionals with experience, projects can be listed in the professional experience section of your resume.

Regardless of the project placement, here are some guidelines you can follow to list projects on resumes:

Identify the Skills You Need to Highlight

Now, the relevance of the projects you include in your resume is crucial.

Throughout your career, you may have been a part of various projects. However, you need to identify the most suitable ones and the ones which fit well with the role you’re applying for.

The projects you choose to list in your resume must showcase the exact skills the employer is looking for. After all, isn’t that the whole point of listing projects on resumes?

You can understand the requirements of the recruiters by going through the job listing.

Ensure that you tailor the choice of your projects according to the job description of the different companies you are applying to.

Also read: What skills to put on a resume

Focus on Your Achievements and Use Figures

While you are listing projects on resumes, it is important to focus on your achievements and use figures to talk about the same.

For instance, if you led a team of software developers and testers to work on an application upgrade to increase the user base, ensure to mention the exact number or percentage increase in the user base that you achieved with the upgrade.

This way, employers can envision you as a valuable addition to their company workforce.

Call Attention to Key Details

Since the length of an ideal resume is only a page long, you can’t possibly include the entire how, when, and why details about the project in your resume.

Thus, you must only include details that are pivotal to exhibit the skills which the particular employer requires.

The key details of a project can include the strength of the team you led, the budget, scope, revenue generated, cost saved, clients increased, and so on.

For example, you can write:

“Led a team of 20+ software developers to design and implement OAuth2 based functionality as part of ensuring 100% data security for users.”

Link Your Online Portfolio

What better way than to let your projects speak for themselves right?

Linking your online portfolio while listing projects on resumes will allow recruiters to get a deeper insight into your skills and experience.

Providing proof and examples of your work will add weight to your resume and impress the recruiters even more.

Just ensure that your online portfolio is up-to-date and polished.

Also read: How to highlight GitHub projects on resume

Choose the Correct Section

As stated earlier, you can list projects on resumes under different sections (professional experience or education section) depending on whether you are a fresher or a professional with past experience.

Also, if you belong to the IT industry, you might have quite a number of projects under your belt.

Therefore candidates who have multiple key projects relevant to the job description can list their project under a separate project section in their resumes.

Also read: What are the best programming projects to put on resume?

Types of Projects on Resumes

You can add a variety of projects to your resume as long as they stand relevant to the description of the job you’re applying to.

Given below are 3 types of projects you can add to your resume:

Work Projects on Resumes

As the name suggests, work projects are projects that you undertake professionally while working for clients and companies.

Therefore these types of projects go under the professional experience section of your resume.

Here are some examples of listing work projects on resumes:

• Coordinated with IT team to develop a mobile and web-based data tracking application and closed $1.2 worth of deal
• Designed 10+ mock apps for collecting feedback from selected users as part of improving user experience
• Created 20+ cross-platform apps by utilizing C# in Xamarin Studio as per clients' requirements
• Formulated UI testing procedures to identify malfunctions and debugged apps before launch to optimize performance
• Developed 5+ android applications in an agile environment by deploying JavaScript and C++

Academic Projects on Resumes

If you are a recent grad, it makes sense to add academic projects that showcase the skills related to the role you’re targeting in your resume.

These academic projects can go under the education section or volunteer section of your resume and demonstrate the targeted soft skills, if not technical skills relevant to the job description.

Take a look at these examples of projects on resumes:

• Assisted in creating a group chat application using Java Platform SE 7 with additional functionalities for a group project
• Published a research paper on data modeling with a focus on its use for analyzing data requirements for the business processes
• Led the software department’s student exchange program to facilitate student-faculty coordination for departmental initiatives

Personal Projects on Resumes

Personal projects can also be a great addition to your resumes. Provided it is relevant to the job description.

Personal projects can be listed under the volunteer section or a stand-alone section titled “personal projects”, and is ideal for candidates who lack professional experience.

• Conducted door-to-door surveys while spearheading an awareness campaign for volunteer work
• Rendered assistance in the software testing phases for a college group project

Also read: How to draft a job winning project engineer resume

Concluding Points

• If you want to make your resume all the more compelling and impressive, listing projects on your resume is the ideal way to achieve the same.
• Listing projects on resumes serve as a proven track record of your efficiency, teamwork, leadership skills, and project management skills.
• List projects on resumes in suitable sections and ensure that it demonstrates the skills that the employer requires.
• Consider adding a link to your online portfolio and highlighting your achievements by using figures.
• You can add work, academic and personal projects to your resume, provided it stands relevant to the role you are applying for.

Visit our career platform with 24x7 chat support or simply write to us at [email protected] . Happy to help!

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How to Include Personal and Academic Projects on Your Resume

Step 1: List Out the Basics

Step 2: brainstorm details, step 3: clarify your goals, step 4: delete irrelevant details, step 5: organize what remains, the bottom line.

Personal and academic projects can add depth to your resume and are especially useful if you’re a new college graduate or have limited experience. But that doesn’t mean you should include every project you’ve ever done. Having too much project info can clutter your resume and make it less appealing to recruiters and hiring managers. For this reason, you need to take a close look at your projects and include only the ones that support your goals for your job search.

Complete this exercise to select and organize the right project details for your resume.

First, open a new blank document on your computer and save it as “Master Projects List.” In this new document, enter a simple list of all your past projects. Include the basics: project name, dates, location, and school, if applicable.

Under each project you’ve listed, brainstorm and write down any positive details about the experience that immediately come to mind. Consider what you’re most proud of for each project and what the positive outcome was. While brainstorming, don’t worry about the order, relevance, or organization of details yet (we’ll get to that in steps 4 and 5).

Once you’re done brainstorming, scroll back up to the top of your document. Here, type out your goals for your job search, such as your target job title, duties, leadership level, industry, and company size. You may be undecided or indifferent in some areas. If so, write that down as well. For instance, if you’re open to industry, write “Industry: open.”

Save the document, and then save it as “Projects List – [Target Job Title].” (So, if your target job title is Research Assistant, save it as “Projects List – Research Assistant.”) You’ll be working on this new document for the rest of the exercise.

Now, here’s your most important task. Review your project notes in light of the goals you’ve identified and delete any details that don’t hold relevance. Take it one point at a time. For each ask and answer the same critical question: Does this overlap with the type of work you’ll be doing in your next job? Don’t be shy about deleting project details that are recent and/or objectively impressive. If they don’t relate to your goals, they don’t need to go on your resume. (At least, not this one. They may be relevant to a future version of your resume targeting a different goal. Hence the value of drafting and saving your “Master Projects List” document.)

Now that you’ve filtered out all but the most relevant details, you’re in the best position to add projects to your resume. For each project, you can organize the elements similar to a standard job description, with bullets showcasing your key points. Here’s a sample template you can adapt:

Project Name, School / Affiliated Organization, City, ST | dates

Position Title: Description of your role or standard duties.

• Bullet highlight

(If there was no school/organization or position title for a personal project, simply omit those items.)

Where to add projects

For any personal projects, create a separate resume section. You can title it “Independent Projects” (or “Independent Project Highlights” if you wound up deleting some in step 4).

For any academic project, you can choose where to add them. Either include them in a separate section titled “Academic Projects” (or “Academic Project Highlights”) or include them in the Education section of your resume.

The right choice for you will depend on how relevant your college degree is in relation to your projects. If your degree is about equally applicable, combining your projects with your Education section details usually makes sense. But you may find your college degree is less relevant than the school projects you’ve listed. Perhaps you’re moving in a different direction than your major, but through the overall degree program you did some other projects that now speak strongly to your goals. In this case, it makes more sense to put these projects in their own “Academic Projects” section. You can place them above your Education section, making the projects more prominent on your resume.

How to fine-tune dates

Another strategic choice you can make has to do with project dates. You can either list them as you do a regular job description (e.g., “January 2022 to May 2022”) or as a general time span (e.g., “Duration: 4 months”).

If listing the dates regularly lets you account for your recent experience , use that option. But if you’re already accounting for your recent experience through your work history, you can list project dates as a general time span. This option often has a tidier look, especially when you have many different projects that only lasted a few weeks or months. More importantly, it allows you the flexibility to reorder the projects by relevance to your goal. Reordering by relevance can be especially helpful when your most recent projects are less applicable than the ones you did earlier on.

If you would like to include personal or academic projects on your resume, you should select those that are most relevant to the job you are seeking. You’ll avoid putting off recruiters and hiring managers with details that don’t speak to their needs through a strict focus on relevancy. Follow this exercise, and you can be sure your projects section adds a welcome new dimension to your overall resume.

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Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

• How to Build a Resume Learn More
• Basic Resume Examples and Templates Learn More
• How Many Jobs Should You List on a Resume? Learn More
• How to Include Personal and Academic Projects on Your Resume Learn More

Essential Guides for Your Job Search

• How to Land Your Dream Job Learn More
• How to Organize Your Job Search Learn More
• How to Include References in Your Job Search Learn More
• The Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview Learn More

How to Add Projects to Resume Properly

The American labor market is in strife with the competition. Crafting your resume to include projects may boost your chances of landing your dream job, apart from distinguishing you from the crowd in a highly saturated labor market. Learning how to add projects to your resume is as important as submitting your resume for immediate employment.

In addition to standing out from the crowd, it allows you to experiment and perfect new skills, gain new industry insights, and earn additional income.

Experts generally recommend adding a visible list of the most relevant projects to highlight your core competence, experience, and expertise. It inspires confidence in your leadership experience and skills.

Making your resume stand out with unique experiences, such as projects, is a must. For added edge, our comprehensive Resumeble review can offer you an unbiased perspective on their services and how they can help to enhance your career prospects.

Are you looking for resources on how to list projects on your resume , wondering where to put them, or confused about putting them on a resume or CV? Providence has indeed smiled on you for unlocking this treasure trove of resources. If you are ready to land your dream job, let us begin now.

Should I Mention Projects in My Resume?

Recruiters constantly see hundreds of resumes following similar patterns, including a list of skills, educational qualifications, and achievements. Mentioning projects in a resume is indeed a road less traveled that generally leads to a higher chance of being recruited.

Furthermore, mentioning them showcases creativity and technology adeptness and creates a golden opportunity for prompt employment. So many fortune-billion-dollar business ideas, including Craiglist, Twitter, and Gmail, started as projects.

If you are concerned about building a personal brand that stands out from the crowd and showcases your competence across various industries, you should consider mentioning projects in your resume.

Arbitrarily putting projects on resumes is not only counterproductive but also connotes unprofessionalism. Just as experts advise job seekers to tailor their CVs to target roles, they are also advised to include only projects relevant to their desired position. Resumes with irrelevant projects suggest an unfocused jobseeker. The kind recruiters should not waste time engaging.

If you are going to mention projects to boost your resume, you may want to do it excellently by following the tips below. Even if you are applying to a less competitive role in a novel industry, crafting your resume to include these tips sends the right message to the recruiter.

It suggests organization, class, elitism, intelligence, and a capacity to deliver. CVs and resumes create the first impression in the hiring manager’s mind and determine whether you are worthy of being called for an interview.

How to List Projects on Resume

Listing projects on a resume is not rocket science. The best approach is to include it in the work history area of your resume to be headed separately with fancy headings. This does not, however, suggest that they cannot be listed elsewhere, including in the achievement area.

Since recruiters generally glance through resumes and rarely spend ample time scrutinizing them. Every key piece of information must be visible to get the attention they deserve. No matter how comprehensive they are, ensure that they are sectionalized and well-arranged.

The best projects feature essential details, including designation at the previous company where it was performed, project details, contributions, and positive results.

Follow these simple, practical project listing steps for the best result.

• List essential skills to highlight;
• Decide important projects to include;
• Decide where to put the projects on your resume;
• Include links.

List Essential Skills to Highlight

Essential skills to highlight depending on the job posting. Most job postings contain the required skillset and qualifications an applicant must possess. List only skills and qualifications that align with the job posting and vacant role on your resume.

Listing important skills gives you clarity of thought to determine the project that best demonstrates the desired skills.

Decide Important Projects to Include

Deciding the important project included is simple if you have listed and highlighted your possessed essential skills that align with the job requirement. Begin by making a list of all completed projects and streamline them to the relevant role, industry, and position you are applying for.

You should include all completed projects that demonstrate the possession and utilization of those skills the recruiters want to be transferred to the new role.

Decide Where to Put the Projects on Your Resume

Having successfully answered the question, should I mention projects in my resume? The next question is where to put them on the resume. They are typically included in a separate section under the job description and education section.

• Separate Section

A good way to start is to include a separate project section. The hiring manager will most likely scan through your resume section by section.

Creating a separate section ensures that he won’t miss out on your projects. This may also be particularly necessary if you have several to list.

• Job Description

Resumes and CVs usually contain a job description of previous employment. Including projects under each job description is fantastic and is almost guaranteed to churn out the desired positive result.

It shows you are result-oriented while allowing you to display your accomplishments in previous employment.

• Education Section

You may want to rethink if you think the education section should strictly contain your educational affiliations and certificates. It is professional and practical to list projects under the education section.

The best approach to mentioning them under this section is to list them with the degree and university.

Listing them under the education section is most preferred if they are academically related, such as the ones undergone during a training course.

Include links

The principal purpose of resumes and CVs is to highlight your skillset, expertise, educational qualifications, and professional affiliations to earn an interview invitation. Including links to your online portfolio, blogs, and websites containing your projects allows the hiring manager to have a detailed view of them.

It gives him more insights and depth into the skills, experience, and expertise you are transferring to the new role.

Ensure the links are not broken; the portfolio is up-to-date and relevant to the new role. Resist the temptation to overwhelm the hiring manager with needless data. Focus on the ones that best present a mastery of the required skills for the future role.

Follow this example to list under a separate section:

[Project A name], [Company name], [Date], [Description and Role]

Here is how to list projects under the job description if you prefer:

[WORK EXPERIENCE] [Job Role/Title], [Company], [Job description], [Dates] [Projects] [Projects A description and key role]

Best suited for projects handled in the course of acquiring an educational qualification. Here is how to include them under the education section:

[EDUCATION] [Higher Institution] [City and state] [Qualification] [Projects] [Project A] [Company] [Date] [Description and Role]

Perfecting your resume gives you an edge, an added advantage over competitors with a similar skill set and competence. It is expedient to do it well by following these proven tips, including listing them under a separate heading, educational qualification, and work experience.

Being inexperienced or lacking a specific skill from previous employment should not discourage you from including projects, except if you are applying for a non-competitive role. Experts recommend including unrelated ones if they highlight skills in areas that may encourage the hiring manager to offer you another role or consider you for the vacant position.

Additional resources

Check out our special resources on resumes with entrepreneurial experience for a career transitioning from an entrepreneur to an employee.

We also have additional resources on how to put edX on resume , and list of the best resume writing companies for a seamless resume crafting experience.

How do I put business on my resume?

Experts recommend putting business on resumes, provided that they highlight the required skills in the job description. You should put them in the skills section of your resume while highlighting expertise, talent, and knowledge. Alternatively, you can include them under the work experience section.

This same answer will suffice for how to put the failed startup on a resume . The bottom line is highlighting your skills and expertise on the of business and startup.

Are projects important on a resume?

Yes, they are essential for resumes and CVs. They highlight skills, suggest that an applicant is goal-oriented, and distinguish and stand them out from the competition.

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18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

By  Allison Pohle

Updated May 11, 2021 2:15 pm ET

• A résumé isn’t just a list of every job you’ve ever had. It should demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Mirror language used in the job posting so your résumé isn’t discarded by an applicant tracking system.
• Use a clean and simple format. 

Companies increasingly  rely on software  to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm. Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

1. Highlight your achievements in your résumé. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.” 

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.  

2. Customize your résumé.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.  

The same applies to your cover letter. It is your chance to provide more detail on how your experience will help you succeed in the job.  Read our cover letter guide  for how to write one that makes you stand out.

3. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate.  Read more about résumé formats here.

4. Make your contact information easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

In addition to making it easy to connect with you, it is important to your job search that you grow your network.  Read our networking guide  for tips on how to do so.

5. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says. 

6. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of  7.4 seconds.  

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. 

For additional ways to make a good impression on recruiters and headhunters, read  our guide on how to work with headhunters .

7. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

• Optimize keywords.  Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.” 
• Use a straightforward format.  Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
• Think about order.  When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title. 

8. Prioritize relevant keywords. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. 

9. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed. 

• Don’t focus on tasks.  Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
• Instead, explain what those tasks achieved.  Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
• Use metrics.  Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says. 
• Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable.  Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your  soft skills.

10. Focus on transferable skills if you lack experience.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

11. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

12. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have  gaps  on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be  prepared to talk about them in an interview . “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

13. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to  add a skills section to your résumé , outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

14. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

15. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

16. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

17. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending. 

18. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

• How to Prepare for a Job Interview
• What Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
• Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• How to Dress for a Job Interview
• How to Write a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview  
• How to Negotiate and Counter a Job Offer
• How to Negotiate Salary for a New Job: The Do’s and Don’ts
• Severance Pay: What It Is and Why You Should Negotiate a Package Before Accepting a Job

Corrections & Amplifications Ashley Watkins is a résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Write Steps LLC. (Corrected on Nov. 20)

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the November 23, 2020, print edition as '11 Résumé Tips to Help You Get Noticed

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What to Include in a Resume? Here’s What’s Necessary & What’s Optional (+Resume Examples)

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated August 22, 2024 12 min read

What to include in a resume? It’s tempting to think that packing in every detail will impress the hiring manager, but an overloaded resume can backfire, making it harder for your key qualifications to stand out.

On the other hand, if you’re just starting out and don’t have much experience , you might find it challenging to fill your resume and decide what’s worth including.

The good news is that every resume, regardless of your industry or experience level, should contain 5 essential sections that no resume is complete without (though not necessarily in this order):

• Personal information
• Resume summary or resume objective
• Work experience

Additionally, there are multiple optional sections you can include if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.

To help you craft the perfect resume, we’ll not only break down what to include in each section, but also provide examples for illustration. 

Plus, we’ve included a guide on what to include in a high school resume if you’re just starting out.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

• What's necessary?
• What's optional?

What to include in a high school resume?

What to include in a resume (resume examples), what not to include in a resume, key takeaways: what to include in a resume, what's necessary.

Resumes can look different depending on who's writing them. 

• For example, a student’s resume is going to look a bit different from someone applying for a senior role with years of experience. 
• Similarly, a social media manager’s resume won’t be the same as that of a front-end developer.

However, no matter your background or the job you’re applying for, there are a few essential rules to follow if you want a strong resume.

If you’re unsure what a strong resume should include, a great starting point is to focus on these five key sections which every resume has to include :

These sections (though not necessarily in this order) should be included in every resume, regardless of your field or level of experience.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these key sections.

#1 Personal information section

Personal information section (also known as a resume header ) should be at the top of your resume, as it introduces you to hiring managers with your essential contact details, like your name and email address. It's the first thing employers will look for.

What's included in the personal information section?

• Full name. Use your professional name.
• Phone number. Use the correct country prefix code . 
• Email Address. Use a professional email address. Don't fill in your teenage and gaming emails. Also, don't use your email address from you previous job, it's not giving the best impression. 
• LinkedIn Profile. Yes, you have to have LinkedIn at this point. Plus, they're going to look it up anyway.

There are also optional personal information you can include such as: 

• Portfolio/Website. If it's relevant to your field (for instance in a creative industry), this will definitely help and usually, you will be asked to show one anyway. 
• Social media. If your role involves online presence, like marketing or social media management, include relevant profiles (e.g., Instagram, X). Tech roles might benefit from adding GitHub to showcase projects.
• Picture. Though not necessary, a resume picture is customary in some countries .

#2 Professional summary or objective 

First of all, a resume summary and resume objective are two different things . 

But they do have something in common : 

• Both sit at the top of your resume and are a few sentences (3-4) long 
• Both serve as a short teaser for the rest of your resume

What's the difference between a resume summary and a resume objective? 

• Resume summary. It's looking at the past –focuses on highlighting your experience, skills, and achievements. It’s tailored to the job you’re applying for and shows how your background makes you a strong candidate. This summary is often used by experienced candidates and professionals to show their qualifications and the value they bring to the role.
• Resume objective. It's looking at the future –focuses on your career goals and what you aim to achieve in the position you’re applying for. The purpose is to explain your career intentions and how this job aligns with your goals. Since it’s more forward-looking than a summary, it’s a good choice for first-time job seekers, career changers, and students.

Let's look at 2 examples–of a resume summary and objective , which will clear any confusion you might have left:

Resume summary example

Digital Marketing Manager with 5+ years of experience driving 20% annual growth through targeted campaigns and SEO. Skilled in team leadership and budget management, ready to bring proven strategies to the Marketing Lead role at XYZ Company.

Resume objective example

Recent Marketing graduate with hands-on experience in social media campaigns. Seeking to apply my skills and creativity as a Social Media Coordinator at ABC Agency to help boost brand visibility.

#3 Work experience

Work experience is definitely the most important part of your resume and usually the first thing recruiters check to see if you’re the right person for the job.

This section is where you highlight your past roles, responsibilities, the projects you worked on, and any achievements you accomplished along the way.

What to include in the work experience section? 

• Company name
• Where it's located ( city and country is enough)
• Dates of employment

And, it doesn't stop there. You also want to include in each entry : 

• Main tasks/what your focus was (1 bullet point). Start each bullet point with a strong action word, and use numbers whenever you can to show your impact. For example: “ Managed a team of 8 marketing professionals, overseeing all campaign development and execution. ”
• Show your accomplishments (2-3 bullet points). Quantify your results! For example, you could say, “Launched a social media campaign that grew the company's following by 30% in six months.”
• Show your problem-solving skills. If you lack concrete achievements, explain how you’ve solved a specific problem in the past with an example.
• Tailor this section to the job description. Do this by searching for any recurring keywords, skills, or experience mentioned in the job listing, and then explain how you’ve demonstrated that skill in your previous jobs.

#4 Education 

The importance of the education section can vary depending on your level of experience and where you are in your career. 

Regardless of your experience level, it's important to include this section in every resume, even if it's brief. It provides essential context and credentials that employers look for.

What to include in the education section? 

• Name and location of your university
• Name of your degree or field of study
• The year when you started and graduated

If you're a recent graduate this section is likely going to be the core of your resume. In that case, don't forget to include also : 

• Relevant coursework
• GPA (if higher than 3.5)
• Awards (Dean’s list, magna cum laude, subject-based awards)
• Scholarships
• Relevant student societies (especially if you were in the committee and played an active role)
• Academic publications
• Studying abroad
• Internships 
• Thesis name and description

As with the work experience section, be specific, and focus on your highlights and moments where you learned the most. 

Every.resume.needs.a. skills .section! 

Of course, your skills need to be sprinkled throughout your whole resume, but here you can highlight specific skills like using certain programs, certifications, or any technical training you’ve had.

What to include in skills section? 

• Hard skills. These are the technical abilities you were taught. For example, programming languages or WordPress.
• Soft skills . These have to do with your personality. For example, collaboration, time-management, or dependability.

Alternatively, pick relevant skills and divide them into several subsections like computer skills , marketing skills, languages, and others.

Lastly, the number of skills you should list is between 5-15.

What's optional?

We covered the 5 key sections that shouldn't be missing in your resume. But, if you feel like you have something more to offer and it's relevant to your work, there are multiple optional sections that you can include in your resume.

In the list below you'll find what optional sections there are and what their point is in a resume. 

Also, if you click on each respective headline , you'll find a more detailed guide on what to include in each of these.

Optional sections for your resume: 

• Awards and achievements . Your achievements should be scattered throughout your entire resume. But, if you have enough content for this section, it will definitely help you to stand out.
• Projects . You can even create a separate projects section to list all kinds of (relevant) projects you've worked on. These can be academic, personal, work-related, freelance projects, etc .
• Certifications and courses . If it's relevant to your job then it can give you a big advantage because you are already certified for certain activities.
• Volunteer work . Including volunteering on your resume can help you stand out. It gives insight into your character and shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile. If you’re short on work experience, the volunteering section can be an excellent way to demonstrate your skills and experience.
• Language skills . You can include languages as a part of your hard skills. If you have extensive knowledge in other languages and it might help you stand out, you can create a specific section dedicated to languages.
• References . The references section on your resume contains a list of people who can vouch for you and provide your future employer with more information about your abilities.
• Publications. If you work in an academic field, publications and patents are a great achievement. Adding a list of publications can be a good step in elevating your resume.
• Hobbies . Our advice? Only include it if you have absolutely nothing else to put in your resume. In a more relaxed company, it might actually start a nice conversation later on.

If you're a high school student or recent graduate trying to get into the job market but don't have much experience and aren’t sure what to include in your high school resume, don’t worry. 

With a few easy adjustments, you can have a solid resume even if you're a first-time job seeker.

Here are some tips for creating a high school resume:

• Use a functional resume format . A functional resume (also referred to as skills-based resume ) emphasizes your skills and abilities instead of your work history, which makes it a great option for high school students or first time-job seekers.
• Use a resume objective instead of a resume summary. Using a resume objective focuses on your goals and aspirations rather than on your work achievements.
• Put education section above experience. If you're a high school student, your education is the most important part of your life right now, so it should be the main focus of your resume. Take your time to put this section together carefully.
• Do include all of your skills. Include all the hard/computer skills you were taught in school. Also highlight any transferable skills you gained in your part-time jobs or while volunteering.
• Showcase other activities. Volunteering, clubs, and any other extracurricular activities can show your commitment and interests. It can be a great help with your first resume. 
• Work experience (optional). If you have previous work experience, be sure to include it. However, if this is your first time seeking a job, focus more on your skills and education. With time, you'll gain experience to fill out this section.

Here's how a high school resume can look like ( click directly on the resume to vie the full-length resume ):

High school resume example

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

And if you want a little extra help, this is how you make a resume for your first job in 6 steps . 

We covered all the sections and steps to help you create a strong resume, whether you are a professional with years of experience or a high school student. 

Now, let's take a look at some resume examples. (Because you know... some people are simply more visual learners.)

FYI, these resumes were made using  Kickresume’s templates . They belong to real people, which also means they were anonymised. Some of these are more than one page long, so click directly on the resume to vie the full-length resume.

Marketing and Brand Manager Resume Example

This resume sample was contributed by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

Google Server Manufacturing Supervisor Resume Sample

Amazon software development engineer resume sample.

When writing a resume you have to make sure the information you're using is relevant and to the point. An unclear and messy resume can cost you a job.

Here are some things you definitely shouldn't include in your resume: 

• Overly creative formatting. Your resume should be easy to navigate and read. The more complicated it is, the more likely a recruiter will move on to another resume.
• Unnecessary personal details. You want to avoid stating any unnecessary details like your age, marital status, full  address, or religion. This information is not related to your job, so it's better if you keep it out.
• Outdated or irrelevant job experience. It can make your resume seem cluttered or give the impression that your career has stagnated. If you're not sure how many jobs to include, check out our article on how far back should a resume go .
• Salary information. This information can potentially exclude you from further interview process. This is something you should keep for the interview itself. 
• Negative language or reasons for leaving jobs. This is a major red flag. Negative language on behalf of your former job makes you look unprofessional and leave an impression you are problematic. 
• Typos and grammatical errors. Make sure your resume doesn't have any typos or grammatical errors, it gives an impression that you don't care and are imprecise. 

Ready to create a resume now?

Create your resume with AI in seconds thanks to our GPT-4 powered writer.

So, what should you include in a resume? Let's sum everything up. All resumes, regardless of your industry or level of experience, should include 5 key resume sections :

• Resume summary or objective

You can also include optional resume sections that will help your resume stand out, but only in case the sections you pick are relevant for the job:

• Certifications and licenses.
• Volunteer work.
• Awards and achievements.
• Language skills.
• Publications.
• References.
• Social media.

With that, you should be able to organize and build your resume in a way that will maximize your chances of landing a job. No matter how much experience you have. 

Make sure to avoid any errors, negative language or unnecessary personal information and you should be good to go. 

But, if you feel like you still need some help, you can create your resume using our resume builder tool . 

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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195 Resume Power Words That Will Get You Hired (+ Examples)

3 key takeaways

• Power words in resumes can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers.
• Tailor your power words to your specific industry and job role for maximum effectiveness.
• Teal’s AI Resume Builder helps make every resume bullet point impactful with AI.

Power words are to resumes what headlines are to a newspaper—they highlight key details and orient the reader. Resume action words grab the attention of the hiring manager and applicant tracking systems—increasing your odds of standing out.

In this guide, you'll learn 195 resume power words, how to use them effectively, and the nuances of industry-specific power powers to help you craft a compelling resume that lands job interviews.

Struggling to land interviews? Write a more impactful resume with Teal's resume builder AI .

What are resume power words?

Resume power words are strong, descriptive words that highlight your skills, achievements, and qualifications. These words help you make an impact because they: 

• Grab attention: They draw the reader's eye to your key accomplishments.
• Convey confidence: You appear self-assured and capable by using assertive language.
• Showcase specificity: Power words are precise and help hiring managers skim your resume without missing important details.
• Improve ATS performance: Power words often align with keywords that applicant tracking systems are programmed to identify. This increases your chances of passing initial screenings. 

195 resume power words to supercharge your application

To make your resume stand out, use words that showcase your achievements. Here's a list of resume power words designed to help your application leave a lasting impression on hiring managers.

Resume action verbs

Strong action verbs communicate your exact responsibility in a job role. They help hiring managers assess your accomplishments in context. Here are 100 powerful verbs that can make each bullet point on your resume more compelling.

• Spearheaded
• Orchestrated

Communication

• Articulated

Problem-solving

• Troubleshot
• Streamlined
• Conceptualized

Achievement

• Outperformed
• Accelerated
• Investigated
• Benchmarked

Improvement

• Coordinated
• Administered
• Consolidated

Customer service

• Implemented

Project management

• Facilitated

Collaboration

Accomplishment, descriptive adjectives.

The right adjectives can paint a vivid picture of the candidate's personal qualities and strengths. These 50 descriptive words will help you make an impact.

• Collaborative
• Resourceful
• Enterprising
• Conscientious
• Accomplished
• Results-oriented
• Detail-oriented

Industry-specific buzzwords

Each industry has its own language, and using the right buzzwords can demonstrate your expertise and familiarity with the field. These 45 industry-specific terms can help you speak directly to hiring managers in your chosen field.

• Machine learning
• Cryptocurrency
• Risk management
• Quantitative analysis
• Content marketing
• Brand equity
• Conversion rate
• Customer acquisition
• Telemedicine
• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Patient-centered care
• Clinical trials
• Population health
• Differentiated instruction
• Blended learning
• Formative assessment
• Inquiry-based learning

Human resources

• Talent acquisition
• Employee engagement
• Diversity and inclusion
• Performance management
• Succession planning
• Due diligence
• Intellectual property
• Arbitration

Manufacturing

• Lean manufacturing
• Supply chain management
• Quality assurance
• Just-in-Time (JIT)

Environmental

• Sustainability
• Renewable energy
• Carbon footprint
• Circular economy
• Green technology

How to use power words effectively in your resume

Now, you can’t just replace regular words with their “powerful synonyms” and call it a day. You have to place them strategically to gently compel the reader or impress hiring managers. Here’s how:

Identifying key responsibilities in job postings can help you tailor your resume effectively, ensuring alignment between your skills and the specific demands of the job.

Using power words effectively requires strategy and balance. Here’s how to make the most of them in your resume.

Tailor power words to job descriptions

To maximize your chances of getting noticed, align power words closely with the specific job description:

1. Analyze the job posting: Identify key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities emphasized in the listing.

2. Highlight relevant keywords: Note industry-specific terms and power verbs used in the description. Tip: Teal's Matching Mode does this for you.

3. Match your experiences: Select power words that accurately describe your achievements and align with the job requirements.

4. Incorporate naturally: Weave these words into your resume, ensuring they fit contextually and don't appear forced.

5. Prioritize placement: Use the most impactful power words in prominent sections like your professional summary and recent job descriptions. If you're writing a cover letter, sprinkle power words throughout but don't stuff them in any one section.

Balance action words with concrete examples

While power words add impact, they must be supported by specific, quantifiable achievements:

• Start with a power word: Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb.
• Follow with a specific accomplishment: Provide context and details about what you achieved.
• Quantify results: Include numbers, percentages, or other measurable outcomes whenever possible.
• Show impact: Explain how your actions benefited the company or contributed to larger goals.

Power word example in a sentence

• Weak: Responsible for sales increase.
• Strong: Spearheaded sales initiative that boosted revenue by 35% in Q3, outperforming targets by 20%.

Avoid overuse and maintain authenticity

While power words are effective, overuse can diminish their impact and make your resume seem insincere:

• Use variety: Avoid repeating the same power words throughout your resume.
• Be truthful: Only use words that accurately reflect your experiences and abilities.
• Balance with simpler language: Mix power words with more straightforward language to maintain readability.
• Consider context: Ensure the power words you choose are appropriate for your industry and career level.
• Read aloud: Review your resume by reading it out loud to catch any awkward phrasing or overuse of power words.

Replacing weak words with power words

Not all words are created equal when it comes to your resume. By replacing weak, vague words with stronger alternatives, you can create a more impactful narrative. Here’s how to make those crucial swaps:

Common weak words to avoid

Frequently used weak words can dilute the impact of a resume by making your accomplishments seem vague or unimpressive. Here are some common weak words and why they are ineffective:

• Responsible for : Implies duty, not action
• Helped : Lacks specificity and doesn’t highlight your role
• Worked on : Vague and does not convey the impact of your initiative
• Assisted with : Implies a secondary role, not leadership
• Participated in : Does not show your direct contributions or the extent of your role
• Job duties included : Focuses on tasks rather than achievements
• Familiar with : Suggests a basic understanding and not proficiency
• Involved in : Does not clarify your specific role
• Handled : Too general; does not indicate outcomes
• Dealt with : Vague and non-specific

Power word alternatives

Replace weak words with powerful alternatives to make your resume more dynamic and impactful. Here’s a list of common weak words and their power word alternatives:

Examples of how to rewrite sentences using power words:

Weak: Responsible for managing team projects. Strong: Orchestrated cross-functional team projects, consistently delivering results 15% ahead of schedule. ‍ ‍ Weak: Helped with customer service issues. Strong: Resolved complex customer service issues, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate and reducing escalations by 30%. Weak: Worked on marketing campaigns. Strong: Developed and executed integrated marketing campaigns, driving a 25% increase in customer engagement.

Industry-specific power word examples

Tailoring your resume with industry-specific power words can draw the reader's attention to relevant achievements. These examples show how to align your language with the expectations and standards of various fields.

Technology and IT

In the world of technology and IT, precision and clarity are key. Here’s a selection of power words that can help you articulate your technical expertise and accomplishments.Power words

• Architected

Sample resume statements

• Architected scalable cloud infrastructure, reducing downtime by 99% and cutting operational costs by 30%.
• Debugged complex legacy code, improving system performance by 40% and eliminating critical security vulnerabilities.

Finance and accounting

Accuracy and attention to detail are crucial in finance and accounting. These power words will help you highlight your analytical skills and financial acumen:

Power words

• Diversified
• Strategized
• Forecasted quarterly revenue projections with 98% accuracy to aid expansion initiatives.
• Streamlined accounts payable processes, to reduce  processing time by 35% and eliminate $50,000 in annual late fees.

Marketing and sales

Success in marketing and sales depends on driving engagement and converting opportunities into results. These power words will help you showcase your ability to innovate, persuade, and achieve impressive outcomes:

• Transformed
• Revolutionized
• Launched an innovative social media campaign that led to increased brand engagement by 150% and drove 10,000 new qualified leads.
• Negotiated strategic partnerships with key industry players, resulting in a 40% boost in annual revenue and expanded market share.

Healthcare and medical

In the healthcare and medical sectors, your resume usually needs to reflect both your technical skills and your dedication to patient care. These power words emphasize your expertise in delivering quality healthcare and improving patient outcomes.

• Rehabilitated
• Collaborated
• Implemented new patient care protocols, reducing average hospital stay duration by two days and improving patient satisfaction scores by 25%.
• Researched and introduced cutting-edge treatment methods, resulting in a 40% increase in positive outcomes for chronic condition management.

Education and teaching

Educators are not just teachers—they are mentors and leaders shaping the future. Use these power words to highlight your contributions to student learning, curriculum development, and educational excellence.

• Differentiated
• Developed and implemented inquiry-based science curriculum, increasing student engagement by 45% and improving standardized test scores by 30%.
• Mentored struggling students through targeted intervention programs, resulting in an 80% improvement in academic performance over one semester.

How to add power words to different resume sections using AI

Strategically incorporating power words throughout your resume can make it seem more personalized and human. Here's how Teal helps:

Professional summary

The professional summary is your chance to make a strong first impression. Use power words to concisely convey your value proposition:

Example: "Dynamic marketing strategist with a proven track record of developing innovative campaigns that drive engagement and boost ROI. Skilled in leveraging data analytics to optimize performance and deliver measurable results across diverse industries."

You can add a professional summary by using Teal’s in-built summary generator. Follow these steps: 

• Import your existing resume into the Resume Builder

Import your LinkedIn profile or create a resume from scratch in minutes if you don't have one. Your summary will be more accurate if you provide more details about your career. 

• Update your work experiences and add achievements

Be sure to include multiple accomplishments related to your recent roles for the best results from the Resume Summary Generator.

• Generate your resume summary with AI

Save the AI-generated resume summaries to your Teal Resume Builder.

• Review and regenerate your summary

By clicking "Re-generate with AI", you can generate a new professional summary based on the existing settings. 

You can save multiple resume summaries so you can use different ones for different applications. 

Work experience

In your work experience section, use power words to highlight your achievements and responsibilities.

Teal's AI Assistant makes this easy, automatically adding power powers to the beginning of every bullet point.

• Before: Responsible for managing team and completing projects.
• After: Spearheaded a cross-functional team of 12, delivering complex projects 20% under budget and one week ahead of schedule.
• Before: Helped with customer service and solved problems.
• After: Resolved critical customer issues, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate and reducing churn by 15%.

Skills section

Enhance your skills section by using power words that align with industry-specific competencies:

• Proficient in data visualization and predictive modeling techniques
• Adept at agile project management methodologies
• Skilled in negotiating high-stakes contracts and partnerships

Achievements and accomplishments

Use power words to make your achievements and resume stand out:

• Pioneered company-wide sustainability initiative, reducing carbon footprint by 30% and generating $2M in cost savings.
• Orchestrated merger and acquisition strategy, resulting in 50% market share growth within 18 months.
• Revolutionized customer onboarding process, slashing time-to-value by 60% and boosting retention rates by 25%.

The impact of power words on applicant tracking systems (ATS)

In today’s job market, your resume must pass through ATS before reaching human eyes. Understanding how power words interact with these systems can give you a crucial edge in landing an interview.

How ATS process power words

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) play a crucial role in the initial screening of resumes. Here’s how they interact with power words:

• Keyword matching: ATS scan resumes for specific keywords related to the job description.
• Relevance scoring: Resumes are ranked based on the presence and frequency of relevant terms.
• Contextual analysis: Advanced ATS can understand the context in which words are used, not just their presence.
• Skill identification: Power words often signal specific skills or experiences that match job requirements.

Strategies for ATS-friendly power word usage

To ensure your resume is both ATS-friendly and impactful:

• Incorporate relevant keywords: Use keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume.
• Balance power words and keywords: Mix industry-standard terms with relevant power words.
• Avoid overstuffing: Don’t overuse keywords or power words to the point of reducing readability.
• Use standard formatting: Stick to simple, ATS-compatible formatting to ensure all keywords and power words are recognized.

Measuring the effectiveness of your power words

Crafting the perfect resume requires continuous refinement. A/B testing and gathering feedback are essential for measuring the impact of your power words and ensuring your resume resonates with employers.

A/B testing your resume

A/B testing your resume can help determine the effectiveness of different power word usage:

• Create variants: Develop two versions of your resume, each using different sets of power words.
• Submit both versions: Apply to similar jobs with both resume versions.
• Track responses: Monitor the response rate from employers for each version.
• Analyze results: Determine which version received more positive feedback or job interview invitations.

Gathering feedback

Professional feedback is crucial for refining your resume:

• Ask for reviews: Request input from career coaches, mentors, or peers.
• Use online services: Utilize professional resume review services for expert advice.
• Interpret feedback: Analyze the feedback received to understand how your power word usage can be improved.

Power up your career with resume power words

To create a distinct resume, use words that pack a punch and highlight your achievements with precision. Power words tailored to the job and industry can elevate your resume’s impact. But remember, balance is crucial—combine these words with metrics and case studies to avoid sounding superficial.

Start by refining your resume and adding or improving power words where needed. Teal’s AI-powered Resume Builder can streamline this process, helping you craft a resume that grabs attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many power words should you include in your resume.

Balance is crucial when incorporating power words into your resume. Aim for one to two power words per bullet point to maintain a strong yet natural tone. This ensures your resume is impactful without appearing exaggerated.

Can using too many power words hurt your chances of getting hired?

Yes, overusing power words can hurt your chances by making your resume seem insincere or cliché. It’s important to use power words genuinely to reflect your true experiences and achievements. Mixing power words with straightforward language helps maintain a natural flow.

Are there any power words you should avoid in your resume?

Avoid overused or cliché power words like "committed dynamic," "synergy," "hardworking," and "go-getter." These terms can make your resume seem generic and unimpressive. Instead, choose more industry-specific and impactful alternatives that accurately describe your skills and achievements.

How can you use power words if you're just starting your career?

If you're starting your career, focus on highlighting transferable skills gained from internships, volunteer work, or academic projects. Use power words to emphasize your enthusiasm and potential for growth. For example, instead of "participated in a marketing project," say "spearheaded a marketing project that increased social media engagement by 20%."

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