Work Experience on a Resume: Introduction
Not too long ago, we’ve provided general tips on how to write a resume for jobs in Malaysia. We followed up with resume formats, resume contact information, and last week we’ve explored resume introduction.
Next comes the question of “Why should we hire you?”. The fact is, potential employers will usually place more focus on your Work Experience when it comes to deciding whether you’re the right person to hire.
Wondering how to write work experience on a resume? You’re at the right place.
Work Experience on a Resume: How to Write?
1. Reverse Chronological Order Only
As a start, you should know that the Work Experience section must be written strictly in reverse chronological order only. This means you should always start with the latest work experience first regardless of which resume format you use.
Which type of employment should you prioritise then? The general rule is to rank full-time employment as number one, followed by your part-time jobs (if applicable), and then your internship/freelance/volunteer experiences (if applicable).
2. Basic, Must-have Items
What should you include in your Work Experience section? Below are the must-have items and their descriptions:
Job Title
Use a professional title. Unlike on LinkedIn where you could be a little quirky with your naming conventions, your resume should be strictly professional.
For example, use “Digital Marketing SEO Specialist” instead of “SEO Magician”.
Company Name
Please ensure that you bold the company name and do not make grammatical mistakes. Bob’s common tip – Reputable company names will help in giving better first impressions.
Employment Tenure
The employment tenure shows the amount of time you’ve spent in any organisation. It helps employers to keep track and verify your working experiences.
If you have employment gaps, be honest when it comes to stating your employment tenure. It’s okay if you have gaps between jobs, providing that you give a concise explanation in your resume.
Responsibilities/Job scopes
What did you do in your past employment(s)? What do your day-to-day responsibilities look like?
Achievements
How did you bring extra VALUE to your previous organisations? Did you EXCEL at what you do?
For the job responsibilities section, you should limit yourself to four to five bullet points per job position (including your achievements), according to Forbes Magazine.
3. Quantify Your Job Scopes
To allow interviewers to better gauge your capabilities, your job scopes should include quantifiable items that can better illustrate what you do on a daily basis. Examples include:
- “Purchased products and equipment for a total of 5 departments, accurately recorded purchased and reduced reconciliation discrepancies by 40%.”
- “Handled on average 50 customer service calls per day, reduced waiting time by 20% and improved customer satisfaction by 15% in a year.”
When including your quantifiable job scopes, ensure that they are personalised to the specific job that you are applying for. Only list down duties and numbers that are relevant to your targeted jobs.
4. Achievements & Recognitions
As mentioned in our resume writing guide, you’ll need to highlight your achievements and not just outline your duties and responsibilities if you want to stand out from hundreds of other candidates.
Employers want to be convinced. Convince them with numbers, results and skills. With careful and skilful planning, you can turn boring job descriptions into your job-landing weapon.
Here are some examples of how to highlight your achievements:
- “Increased landing page traffic by 64% in the first quarter through effective Search Engine Marketing Campaigns and agile way of work.”
- “Increased company revenue amounting to RM200,000 per year by securing deals using the best Sales strategies and practices.”
- “Recognised annually as the Best Performing Employee in the HR department for being the when it comes to creating and executing HR campaigns.”
Work Experience on a Resume: Final Advice
As great as these tips on how to write work experience on a resume are, you must ensure that your Work Experience section contains no grammatical and spelling errors.
Therefore, it is crucial for you to proofread your Work Experience section (and the entire resume) to ensure full professionalism and zero mistakes.
Ready to create your own resume? Or need help with visume and cover letter? Our Job Majestic Blog has all the resources you need to land your dream job in Malaysia.
