Should Resumes Be In Past Tense?

If you're wondering whether resumes should be written in past tense or present tense, you're not alone. Many job seekers are unsure whether they should describe their current job in the past tense or present tense on their resume.

The answer to this question depends on a few factors, such as the type of job you're applying for and your work history. In general, most resumes are written in past tense because it's the most common way to talk about your work history. However, there are some instances where present tense can be used, such as when describing your current job or when discussing future plans.

Here's a closer look at when you should use past tense and present tense on your resume:

If you're currently employed, you'll need to decide whether to describe your current job in the past tense or present tense. In general, it's best to describe your current job in present tense. This will help ensure that your resume is up-to-date and that your current job is accurately represented.

For example, let's say you're a marketing manager who is applying for a job as a marketing director. In this case, you would want to describe your current job in present tense. This would allow you to discuss your current responsibilities and show that you're currently performing the duties of a marketing director.

Generally, you'll want to use past tense when describing your work history on your resume. You should only use present tense when describing something that is currently still happening. But even when describing your most recent job in your resume the single sentence descriptions are still usually in past tense.

Here are 10 examples of when you would use past tense on your resume:

1. Led a team of five customer service representatives.
2. Managed a budget of $1,000,000.
3. Negotiated with vendors to get the best prices.
4. Trained new employees on company policies and procedures.
5. Wrote weekly reports for upper management.
6. Implemented a new customer service software system.
7. Resolved customer complaints in a timely manner.
8. Created a new filing system for the office.
9. Hired and fired employees as needed.
10. Attended weekly meetings with the sales team.

When it comes to deciding whether to use past tense or present tense on your resume, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you'll want to make sure that your resume is accurate and up-to-date. This means using present tense to describe your current job and past tense to describe your previous jobs.

Second, you'll want to use language that is easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or overly technical language. Instead, use simple language that anyone can understand.

Finally, you'll want to make sure that your resume is free of grammar and spelling errors. Be sure to proofread your resume before sending it off to potential employers.

Past tense is the most common way to talk about your work history on your resume because it's simple and easy to understand. Additionally, using past tense can help ensure that your resume is accurate and up-to-date.

At Careered, we ran a quick experiment seeing the tense use across 20 randomly sampled resumes from the internet. Only 2 of the resumes used present tense but only in describing the author's current work:

An example:

"Currently, overseeing three clinics ...."

But even in the 10% of resumes that have a sentence in present tense most of the resume is still in past tense. Since the authors will use past tense for any previous experience.

Your audience, the hiring manager, expects past tense in the resume. It may therefore seem unprofessional to use some other tense when describing your previous role.

Yes, you can talk about future plans in your resume. However, you should only do this if it is relevant to the job you are applying for.

For example, if you are applying for a job as a project manager, and you are currently in the process of obtaining your PMP certification, you can mention this in your resume. You would use present tense to describe this, as it is an ongoing process.

Here is an example of how you could mention future plans in your resume:

I am currently in the process of obtaining my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and hope to have it completed by the end of the year.

You can place a sentence about your future plans wherever it's most relevant in your resume. For example, you could mention it in your objective statement, or in a section about your professional development.

Yes, there are a few other circumstances where you might use present tense in your resume.

For example, if you are a student, and you are currently interning at a company, you can mention this in your resume. You would use present tense to describe this, as it is an ongoing experience.

Here is an example of how you could mention an internship in your resume:

I am currently interning at XYZ Company, where I am gaining experience in marketing and event planning.

Another example where you might use present tense in your resume is if you are a member of a professional organization. For example, if you are a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA), you can mention this in your resume. You would use present tense to describe this, as it is an ongoing membership.

Here is an example of how you could mention membership in a professional organization in your resume:

Industry Memberships I am a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA), where I am networking with other marketing professionals.

There are a few instances where you would want to use present tense in your resume. For example, you would use present tense to describe your current job or to discuss future plans. Additionally, you may want to use present tense to describe your skills or qualifications.

When using present tense in your resume, be sure to use language that is easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or overly technical language. Instead, use simple language that anyone can understand.