When to use past tense in a resume is a common question among job seekers. When writing a resume the most common mistake people make is including statements that are not direct quotes from the employee’s work history. When writing a resume the best place to start is by listing your skills, education, work experience and personal achievements. The following sentences are direct quotes from my clients who have used these techniques successfully. Remember to use correct grammar and punctuation and follow the basic formatting guidelines mentioned in this article.
When to use past tense in a resume depends on the situation. If you are applying for a job as an engineering graduate candidate you would want to use past tense to emphasize your past experience as an engineer. If you choose to add a section to your resume on awards and achievements, use the past tense because all the relevant information will be based on the past. This is a good way to highlight your achievements and provide information that can be verified.
When to use past tense in a resume For most companies, the only way to print a version of your accomplishments without printing a hard copy is to put the award or achievement in the “To” line at the top of your resume. Then, type up your other accomplishments and work experience in your desired format. This is a great way to format your resume with awards and achievements. However, some companies might not have the screen caps to show all the awards in the chronological order that you would like. In this case past tense is the only way to go.
When to use past tense in a resume For many positions, past tense is used to indicate your employment history. Examples include employment with Google, Disney and Microsoft. Past experience indicates how long you have held a certain position and how recently you’ve been promoted. This past tense option allows your potential employers to get a better idea of who you are as well as where you grew up.
When to use past tense in a resume When you are writing about your professional experiences, you should use the most current tense for your contact information such as phone number, email address and home address. Your contact information will appear more current when it is written in past tense. You can also note any awards or honors you may have received in your past work history when writing in this tense.
When to use present perfect tense When you are applying for jobs in which you are seeking a specific role, such as managerial or marketing assistant, you should always use the past perfect tense. Most employers do not look past the first or second reference. They look at the candidates who have the best qualifications for the job. The most recent reference, rather than an actual job interview or reference, is the one that impresses them the most. Showing your knowledge of the industry, work history or awards helps you highlight these skills so you can help your future employer to see you in a whole new light.
When to use past perfect tense When you are applying for jobs in legal or medical employers, you should use the past perfect tense. Past tense highlights your professional experience and demonstrates your knowledge of the industry or the position you are applying for. It also shows your willingness to stay in line with company traditions. In many legal or medical employers, the hiring manager has already made their decision based on your application and interview answers.
When to use past perfect tense When you are applying for jobs in which you are the primary candidate, such as a lawyer, you should always use the past perfect tense. Most law students don’t want to admit defeat in a court of law. They would rather negotiate a plea negotiation on their own behalf than admit defeat and admit that they didn’t do their homework or they didn’t take notes on their applications. This also shows a lack of attention to detail and many law firms will not hire someone with poor performance records. This also goes for employment at the government level or other positions where a resume needs to be perfect.