Resume In The Past Or Present Tense

Resume In The Past Or Present Tense Should your resume be in the past or present tense?Figure out which verb tense you should use on your resume. Grammar rules can be a pain, but dont ignore themyou can be koranvers hiring managers will be paying close attention Choosing the right tense is important when youre starting to write a resume and applyto jobs. As with so many elements of a good resume, the ultimate choice comes down to your individual style and preferences. Use these guidelines to help you choose the right approach.Past tense resume elementsNearly every resume will have at least some responsibilities that are in the past tense. If youre listing a previous employer that youre no longer with, you should list every responsibility and accomplishment in the past tense. The same is true for extracurricular activities or volunteer positions that you held in the past but are no longer a part of.To simplify things, some people choose to list all their resume elements in past tense. If youre struggling to decide where you should switch to present tense or youre worried about keeping a sense of consistency throughout, this is a fine strategy that will alleviate some of the stress of putting together your resume.Present tense resume elementsIf youd like to include some present tense verbs on your resume, you should use these exclusively for responsibilities that you totenleise perform. Thus, you may choose to list all your responsibilities for your current job in present tense while listing the responsibilities for past positions in past tense.If youre filling out a resume with minimal job experience, you may choose to include extracurricular activities or work on volunteer projects. You may mention these in the present tense only if youre still involved in them.If youve graduated from college, any activities you participated in while there would remain in past tense. However, if youre mentioning your work with, say, Habitat for Humanity and youre still active in the organization, its appropriate to use present tense.Mixing past and presentIn general, you should avoid mixing past and present tense under a single heading. The one exception is a current position for which youre listing both responsibilities and accomplishments.A specific accomplishment, such as Achieved $12,000 in sales in the first quarter with Client X should stay in past tense because you completed it. Responsibilities like Oversees sales associates would remain in present tense because theyre ongoing.The fruchtwein important part of using past or present tense in your resume is maintaining consistency. An employer wont judge you harshly for sticking to a safe past tense throughout, but its sure to cast a poor light on your professionalism if you go back and forth with abandon. Pick a strategy, stick with it, and proofread carefully for an impressive resume.Get resume reassuranceIf youre still unsure about how your resume would look to a hiring manager, dont risk it. Could you use some help from the pros? Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts atMonsters Resume Writing Service. Youll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review ofyour resumes appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiters first impression. Its a quick and easy way to ensure youre putting your most professional foot forward.