Writing About Work Experience

Your resume is one of the most important tools you can use to leverage yourself as a professional and candidate. This single piece of paper will serve as the key to unlock the doors for opportunities you want to open. When first writing your resume, it can feel overwhelming. But after writing your first draft, it will get easier over time. 

I decided to share a process that can be super beneficial for you if you are starting from scratch with your work experience and/or activities & leadership. My #1 tip is to Free Flow.

View a Free Flow session as the time to reflect on every single thing you have participated in related to your work experience. This document can be known as your master resume, covering all of your experiences, from the beginning of time! Include every task you did in each role, big or small. I encourage you to play one of your favorite music playlists, pour yourself your favorite drink to sip on, light a nice smelling candle, or whatever it is you do that makes you feel good and motivated. 

Here are a few examples of what a few Free Flow bullets may look like:

Cashier @ Kaley’s (Deli) 

  • Talked to customers about deli meats and deals

  • Made deli sandwiches and worked the fry station

  • Cleaned the dining area and refilled the utensils/condiments station

  • Worked on a team of 7 to make a plan for a small business

  • Managed drive-thru orders


Marketing Intern @ Julie Co. (Marketing Agency)

  • Developed social media campaign for food donation fundraiser

  • Took photos for special events including an annual gala, community service, press conference

  • Wrote bi-weekly emails for company newsletter

  • Put data in file for volunteers information

  • Used Adobe Creative Suite to create blog graphics

HR Specialist @ Eye Institute (Optometrist Company)

  • Led new employee orientations for 100+

  • Recruited potential applicants by networking via virtual career fairs, university visits, and LinkedIn

  • Completed payroll for employees

  • Read resumes for 150+ applicants and selected candidates

  • Conducted phone screening interviews for early candidates

These bullets are the starting point for your resume. The next step is to strengthen the starting words and details for each bullet. A few bullets already had strong starting words, but a handful need to be updated.

  • Reviewed resumes for 150+ applicants and selected screening candidates

  • Collaborate on a 7-person team to develop an operations strategy for a small business

  • Captured and edited photos for special company events including an annual gala, community service, press conference

  • Conducted data entry for 500+ volunteer’s information in Excel database

  • Communicate with 50+ customers by retaining knowledge of deli meats, informing guests of store deals, and resolving any complaints


Begin to ask yourself questions to further expand your bullets with important details.

  • How many people did you serve?/How many people were on the team you collaborated with?

    • I suggest to use a number that is within the group of 5. For example, if you served 12 people at a food drive, you would use ‘10+’.

  • What skills did you use to accomplish the task?

    • Communication, data analysis, illustration, public speaking

  • What tools did you use to accomplish the task?

    • Example: Excel, HootSuite, Adobe InDesign

The core question for every single bullet point is: What was the final impact and by how much? Quantify your results. There will be instances where you may not have the exact number. If you can have a close estimate, go with it! 

This is what your impact may look like:

  • Increasing Instagram engagement by 15%

  • Hiring 3 new employees.

  • Strengthening team communication.

  • Boosting sales by 20%.

  • Improving average student grades by 10%.

  • Maximizing the customer experience.

Here are how a few bullets transformed after answering the questions:

  • Collaborated on a 7-person team to team to develop an operations strategy for a small business, increasing future profitability by 15%.

  • Conducted data entry for 500+ volunteer’s information in Excel database, advancing future email marketing campaigns by 15%.

  • Communicate with 50+ customers by retaining knowledge of deli meats, informing guests of store deals, and resolving any complaints, achieving an 15% increase in monthly sales.

Another tip to help develop your final bullets is using the STAR method. Check out my blog about it here.

After completing your master resume, you can select which experiences should be placed on the current resume for your upcoming applications. The experiences can vary for different company applications. As a college student or new hire, stick to one page. Once you gain a few years under your belt, typically around five, you can lengthen to a two-page resume. 

CareerPaige DraneresumeComment