How To Show a Promotion on Resume

Recognition and personal satisfaction are two benefits of a job well done, but getting a promotion — that hopefully comes with a pay bump — is even better. If that applies to you, ensure your resume reflects your accomplishments. In this guide, we explain how to show a promotion on a resume with examples.

Why It's Important To Show Promotions on Your Resume

According to data from Nectar, 63% of the workforce received a promotion in the last two years.

Listing a promotion on your resume shows that you’re committed to career development and continuing to grow in your industry. It also tells hiring managers that your previous company recognized your contributions and value enough to give you more responsibilities.

Showing you were promoted in a resume can also indicate that you’re willing to put in the time and dedication it takes to learn how a company operates and move upward over time.

How To List Promotions on a Resume

There are a few formatting options when listing a promotion on a resume. Still, they all include listing the positions, dates you held those roles, and the job responsibilities associated with them. Below are some examples of how to show a promotion on a resume.

Option 1: Stack job titles under one company (for consistent roles)

If the roles were in the same department and the promotion was a logical progression for the role, you can stack the job titles under one company header to show you were promoted in your resume. Include dates so the hiring manager can see how long you held the original role before moving on to the next. This is also a good choice when the duties for the positions are roughly the same.

Option 2: Separate entries for different roles (for diverse or unrelated positions)

If the roles were in different departments or involved distinct responsibilities that you want to highlight separately, create separate entries for each position. You can outline the roles under one company name header or repeat the company name for each position. However, the latter may make it harder for the hiring manager to see you were promoted in the resume.

How To Show a Promotion on a Resume with an Example

Tips for How To List Promotions on a Resume

Here are some best practices and common mistakes to avoid when learning how to list promotions on a resume.

• Quantify achievements: When deciding how to put a promotion on a resume, ensure you highlight the responsibilities of each role and quantify results where possible. Use metrics and numbers to show the hiring manager why you were promoted and your impact on your new role.
• Use action-oriented language: Showing you were promoted on your resume means using direct, action-oriented language. Select strong verbs like “improved” or “increased” that show the results of your work.
• Emphasize new responsibilities: Even if the job titles are roughly the same, such as account manager and senior account manager, the bullet points describing the duties should differ. When putting promotions on a resume, highlight those increased responsibilities and showcase your career growth.

• Ensure the resume is manageable: Consider the formatting and overall layout of the document when deciding how to put a promotion on your resume. In most cases, a resume should be one to two pages long. Trim less relevant information from older roles to ensure you have enough room to cover your new responsibilities.
• Make sure to include dates and misalign timeframes: Accurate dates and timelines are essential when showing you were promoted in a resume. If some responsibilities overlapped or it was a slow transition, use the date when your official job title changed or add an asterisk with a footnote explaining the overlap.
• Being clear about responsibilities and achievements: When detailing your job responsibilities and accomplishments, use specific metrics and data. Hiring managers don’t just want to know what you did; they want to know how your actions and decisions impacted the organization.

This example demonstrates best practice tips for listing promotions on a resume:

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Put a Promotion on a Resume

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).