How to Write in Present Tense on a Resume

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In this article, explore the best ways to evaluate your current job status so that you can write your resume in the correct tense and highlight your work experience effectively. Discover when you should write in present tense on your resume and how to use past tense to improve the descriptions of your work experience.

Present tense: A present tense resume is important if you’re talking about the current ways that you are using your skills and experience in a job.

Past tense: Use past tense to write about your work experience when conveying accomplishments.

Should you use present tense for a resume?

Present tense helps you maintain consistency when describing your work experience. You’re also discussing ongoing actions that improve your skills and the results for the company you work for. Hiring managers look at a present tense resume to see if you have the right experience and aim to achieve the same results they are seeking.

When to use present tense

Here is a list of the best situations to write in present tense on a resume.

To talk about your current job responsibilities

You should use a present tense resume to discuss your work experience with your current employer. Highlight the most important job functions for your current position using a bullet point list. Be sure to list the specific results each function has helped you obtain.

An employer should notice which experience you think is essential to work in the role you applied for. It gives them details to plan interview questions if they wish to proceed with your candidacy. It’s important to take time to find the most valuable experience, so you can underline which experience they should review first.

To describe relevant experience outside of your current job

Talk about your volunteer experience or extracurricular activities if you’re looking for an internship or an entry-level position in the workforce. Describe the achievements you’ve had when working with members of the community. You’ll give the employer a better idea of the impact you’re trying to make outside your primary role. The way you detail your experience gives the interviewer clues if you fit in with the company’s culture.

To list any trade associations or relevant memberships

A trade or industry association is a group of businesses representing a particular industry. These associations typically work in a non-profit capacity. Participants in these organizations strive to collaborate with other businesses and influential members of their community. They can publish newsletters, maintain a website that discusses their objectives, and print yearbooks to promote association members. List these types of experiences on your resume so an employer knows about your current contributions.

Examples of present tense resume verbs

Here are some present tense verbs you can use when writing your resume.

Brainstorm

Brainstorming relates to the generation of ideas. Listing that you’ve brainstormed ideas for a company exhibits how you’ve played a major role in solving an organization’s problems. Describe how the ideas from the brainstorming sessions lead to achievements for the company. For example, an art director can brainstorm design concepts for a publication’s upcoming magazine.

Spearhead

Spearhead is another word for managing. Spearheading is used to detail who leads a project in the workplace. List the number of people you’ve led in addition to explaining the tangible outcome of the project. A project manager may spearhead a project that drives 20% more revenue over five years if it’s a successful long-term project.

Write

List the types of documents you’ve written, how many you’ve written, and the period in which you wrote those documents. A copywriter may write three articles a day on industry content. You can say where the content is published to increase the value of the documents you wrote.

Educate

A teacher is accountable for teaching students about topics while administering and grading assignments. Detail the number of students you taught, the subject of the class, and the average grade the class receives if you’re applying to become a teacher.

When to use past tense

You should write in past tense on your resume if you want to showcase previous work experience. Highlighting your previous work experience presents your qualifications for a job you’re interested in. Make sure the accomplishments you’ve earned match the job description. An employer is more likely to call you in for an interview if you have applicable or transferrable work experience.

The exception to a past tense resume

An exception to the rule of using present and past tense is when you mix the tenses on your resume. For instance, you can combine past and present tense if you’re listing previous jobs you’ve held and the experience you’ve gained while holding your current job. You can mix tenses if you’ve worked on previous projects or achieved noteworthy goals at your current company. For example, in one description, you might discuss how you increased the production of staff members by 30% while working with your current company.

Examples of past tense resume verbs

Here are some past tense verbs you can use when writing your resume.

Designed

Design implies that you created something from scratch. Design can refer to multiple industries like art, engineering, or marketing. You may have designed artwork for a local museum, a car engine for the latest model, or a company’s print materials layout. Either way, note the tools you used to design the product to demonstrate your skillset and how it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Streamlined

Streamlined reveals that you have experience in improving the efficiency of an organization. Project managers use this terminology to talk about the expansion of the workflow of a project. You may list this verb on a resume if you have a proven track record of improving processes that lead to beneficial results for an organization. Make sure you get exact metrics of how you streamlined a company’s operations to elevate your chances of getting an interview.

Enhanced

Enhanced differs from streamlining because it outlines how to increase your output at work. You can enhance the production of materials or the percentage of on-time and completed deliverables. Use percentages to quantify your accomplishments and make it easier to read about your output.

Diversified

A company wants to diversify if they’re looking to expand their products or their operations. A product marketing manager may have increased a company’s product line by five products. An operations manager might expand the company’s operations to include six new offices in four states.

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