Resume Verb Tense Tips to Use This Year

What Tense Should You Use on a Resume?

When writing a professional resume, you need to write it in the proper verb tense. The verb tense simply refers to the time an action takes place. In a resume, this means that you will write about your work experience and education based on whether you finished them or are actively working on them. The verb tense you use in a resume will depend on what you’re mentioning at the moment. For example, when talking about past jobs, you’ll want to use past tense verbs. When talking about any current jobs you have at the time of submitting the resume, you need to use present tense verbs.

Is Using the Proper Verb Tense on a Resume Important?

Using the proper verb tense in a resume is a lot more important than many job seekers think. There are three main reasons:

• Proper grammar impresses hiring managers
• Proper verb tense conveys accurate information
• Proper verb tense makes the resume easier to read

1. Impressive grammar

   Proper verb tense usage indicates that you understand basic grammar and that you thoroughly proofread your resume. Getting a sentence’s verb tense wrong is normal when first writing a resume. However, those mistakes should not make it to the final version of the resume.

   Too many job seekers fail to proofread their resumes before sending them in. The recruiters notice the grammar mistakes and it leaves a bad first impression. Avoid that common pitfall while on your job search by writing your resume in the proper verb tense.

2. Accurate information

   Writing in the proper verb tense will allow you to convey information accurately. Because you’ll be talking about your job experience and certifications, you need to make everything as clear as possible. You don’t want to accidentally make it sound like you’re still working on your degree when you finished it long ago.

   During the interview, the hiring manager will ask you about what they interpreted while reading your resume. Having to make corrections on the spot because you made a grammar mistake is not ideal during the interviewing process.

3. Resume readability

   Grammar mistakes ruin the flow of your writing. They can also be very distracting for hiring managers. You need to make your resume as easy to follow as possible and using proper verb tense helps with that.