Writing job descriptions for a resume is challenging. You need to explain what your responsibilities were and what impact you had in just a few bullet points. These tips and examples of resume job descriptions can make it easier.
Why the Job Description Section of the Resume Is Critical
The job description section on your resume aims to demonstrate your experience, highlight your accomplishments, and show that your background matches the position’s requirements. A well-written job description for a resume emphasizes your transferable skills, uses metrics to quantify your achievements, and connects your past responsibilities to the targeted role.
Key Elements of a Strong Job Description for a Resume
1. Job title and company name
The job description for each role starts with labeling it correctly. Include your official job title, the company’s name, and the city and state where it is located. Include this here if the job was remote, contract, or freelance. Use simple formatting tools like bolding and italics to ensure it’s compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS).
2. Dates of employment
Each job description entry should have the starting and ending dates of employment. Current positions can have an end date of “present.” Include the month and year for each position. If you held multiple roles with one company, list these as separate roles under the same company to show career growth.
3. Bullet points for responsibilities and achievements
Detail the duties and achievements for each role in concise bullet points. Most jobs only need four to seven bullet points to highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments adequately. Use action-oriented language and strong verbs for each bullet.
4. Quantifiable achievements
Include metrics and data to quantify your achievements and show the hiring manager how your skills impacted the company. There’s a big difference between “answered customer questions and complaints” and “increased customer satisfaction by 20%.”
Look through the job description for the role you’re targeting and list achievements that match up. For example, if a company seeks someone to increase sales opportunities with existing clients, you might focus on your customer relationship skills.
How To Write a Job Description Section for a Resume That Aligns With the Target Job
Research the job description for relevant keywords
Hiring managers use ATS to filter and sort resumes for them, and these systems leverage keywords to determine if a candidate is a good match. The ATS looks to see how many predetermined keywords are in your resume. The catch is that you don’t know which ones they are.
The best way to identify the correct — or most likely — keywords the ATS and hiring manager will be looking for is to go through the job description and highlight important skills, tools, and terminology. If something is listed as a “must-have” or “very important,” include it in your resume if relevant.
Use the situation, task, action, and result method to structure bullet points
Utilizing the situation, task, action, and result (STAR) method to add depth to your responsibilities and achievements and get the most out of your bullet points. This method is also commonly recommended for interview questions.
A STAR-formatted bullet should describe the overall situation and the task and explain your action and the results. An example of a STAR-formatted bullet is: “Developed customer feedback program that improved satisfaction by 30% within six months.”
Tailor language and terminology for applicant tracking system compatibility
Your resume may not reach the hiring manager’s desk if it isn’t ATS-compatible. The key is to incorporate keywords and terminology without overstuffing your resume. Other tricks include using a simple outline and formatting and writing descriptive headers, such as “Work Experience” to improve ATS readability.
Resume Job Description Examples for Different Job Titles
Below are some resume job description examples for various roles you can use for reference.
Customer service job description for resume
Customer Service Representative, TUV Firm, Nashville, TN
August 2019 – present
- Manage and resolve over 50 escalated customer complaints per day, processing returns, exchanges, and changes to service levels
- Train new employees on customer relationship management (CRM) software to deliver high-quality customer service
- Achieve average customer service ratings of 87%, 13% higher than the company’s average
Customer Service Representative, Dolan Call Center, Nashville, TN
May 2017 – August 2019
- Provided quality customer service in a high-volume call center, processing transactions, resolving issues, and assisting with service sign-ups
- Resolved an average of nearly 500 inquiries weekly while meeting all performance milestones for speed and accuracy
- Achieved a 92% to 95% customer satisfaction rating month over month
Sales associate job description for resume
Sales Associate II, Yves Saint Laurent, Chicago, IL
April 2018 – present
- Provide exemplary customer service by portraying a gracious, friendly, and engaging manner
- Anticipate and promptly respond to client needs, adhering to store service experience standards
- Maintained 98.5% customer service satisfaction score over 12 consecutive months
- Process all point-of-sale (POS) transactions accurately and efficiently
- Adhere to and apply visual directives, ensuring that store standards are executed daily
- Communicate the brand aesthetic, philosophy, and lifestyle to clients
Store Associate, Bloomingdales, Chicago, IL
May 2014 – April 2016
- Achieved 100% of individual and store sales targets for two consecutive years by engaging proactively with customers and marketing new brands and product lines
- Maintained sales floor by arranging and organizing and stocking merchandise, and setting up displays per company standards and store policies
- Handled all customer requests, ensuring professional and prompt customer service
- Operated POS systems, processing sales, refunds, exchanges, and distribution of returns to appropriate departments
- Opened store on 25% of shifts, including opening cash drawer and fulfilling a 20-point opening checklist
CNA job description for resume
CNA, Community Medical Center, Scranton, PA
March 2020 to present
- Deliver care to surgical patients in this 300-bed community hospital
- Reduce risk of infection by ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols
- Assist therapeutic exercises during rehab to improve patients’ range of motion following major orthopedic surgeries
- Provide mouth care to patients on life support, monitor vital signs, and alert registered nurses (RNs) and physicians of changes in patient condition
Highlight:
- Identified opportunities to enhance clinical operations and supported efforts to reduce patient wait times by 15%
CNA, Geisinger Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA
January 2017 to February 2020
- Assisted oncology and orthopedic patients with various activities of daily living (ADLs) while offering emotional support
- Retrieved and organized supplies to help nurses dress wounds caused by radiation treatment
- Supported physicians during bone-marrow biopsies by safely repositioning patients and setting up medical equipment
Software developer job description for resume
Senior Software Engineer, RSS Tech, Pittsburgh, PA
April 2016 – Present
- Coordinate cross-functionally with the software engineering and product management teams to redesign web application in React for a major credit lender, contributing to over 200,000 new downloads in a three-month period
- Oversee a team of 12 software developers and engineers, develop base frameworks using Java, Python, and C#, and perform code reviews
- Create a new system for the continuous integration of newly developed scripts to improve efficiency and deployment speeds by 10%
Software Engineer, Ruby Solutions, Pittsburgh, PA
June 2013 – April 2016
- Collaborated with a five-person software engineering team to identify, develop, and implement software solutions based on client business requirements
- Identified continuous improvement opportunities and created automated test scripts and SQL queries to reduce manual testing by 15%
Cashier job description for resume
Lead Cashier, Sam’s Warehouse, San Diego, CA
April 2018 – Present
- Manage and train a team of over 15 cashiers and serve as the point of contact for escalated customer issues
- Implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and improve average checkout times by up to 30%
- Train new hires on sales processes, customer service, and POS systems
- Manage checkout area during peak sales seasons
Cashier, Devonna’s Clothing Boutique, San Diego, CA
March 2013 – April 2018
- Completed sales orders in-person and online
- Set up point-of-purchase displays
- Created a presentable and welcoming checkout area
- Processed returns and refunds
- De-escalated customer complaints and referred issues to management as required
- Increased sales by 11% through the creation of improved customer flow and display of point-of-purchase (POP) items
Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Job Descriptions for Resumes
How do I write a job description if I need more experience?-
How to write a job description on a resume with little experience comes down to emphasizing transferable skills and highlighting opportunities outside of work. For example, internships, volunteer positions, academic programs, and extracurricular activities can teach you valuable skills. These can be especially useful for teens and recent graduates.
What’s the best way to tailor my resume for different jobs?+
If you’re wondering how to quickly tailor your resume to a job description, the answer lies in using an outline or template. Consider creating one long master resume with all your experience, skills, and achievements and deleting what’s irrelevant to reduce it to a page or two before you submit it. It’s also a good idea to do a pass for keyword optimization and ensure anything required for the job is listed at the top of your resume.
How many bullet points should I include per job?+
Most jobs should have four to seven bullet points, which will vary by career level. Entry-level candidates may only have two or three, while senior roles may require more than seven to cover your responsibilities and accomplishments adequately.
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