Should a Resume Be In Past or Present Tense?

Using the correct tense on your resume is critical to presenting a clear, professional, and compelling career narrative. Utilizing past or present tense can affect how potential employers view your qualifications, responsibilities, and achievements. By carefully deciding which tense to use for each section, you ensure your resume communicates your experience and skills most effectively.

Understanding the Importance of Tense in Resumes

Grammatical tense plays a fundamental role in the clarity and readability of your resume. It determines how well the reader understands your accomplishments and responsibilities, choosing between past and present tense more than just a stylistic preference. Employers can quickly discern whether you are discussing past or current experiences based on the tenses you use, and this clarity is crucial in competitive job markets.

• How to choose your tense in resumes

The tense used in your resume influences how readers perceive your professional history. For example, the past tense for previous roles indicates those experiences are completed, whereas the present tense shows that specific duties or projects are still part of your current responsibilities. The correct tense choice aids in presenting a coherent career timeline, helping potential employers understand your work history in context.

• Creating consistency and flow

Consistency in tense usage is vital for a polished, professional resume. Inconsistent tense use can confuse readers and disrupt the flow, making it harder for hiring managers to follow your career progression. A well-organized resume uses tense strategically, presenting responsibilities and achievements in a way that enhances your professional image and reflects attention to detail.

When To Use Past Tense on Your Resume

Using past tense is appropriate when referring to previous jobs, completed projects, or educational milestones. Past tense helps frame these experiences as part of your professional journey, signaling to the employer that they are historical and no longer ongoing.

• Describing previous job responsibilities and achievements

Previous job roles should always be described in the past tense, indicating that these responsibilities and accomplishments are part of your work history. Phrases such as “led a team of five engineers” or “increased sales by 20%” clearly define your past contributions, making it easy for the reader to see how you’ve progressed through your career.

• Highlighting completed projects

The past tense is crucial when describing completed projects. This signals that these projects have a defined end and shows what you achieved during that time. For example, “Developed a new customer onboarding process that reduced churn by 15%” effectively communicates a successful outcome that is no longer ongoing.

• Academic achievements and certifications

Once completed, educational milestones and certifications should also be written in the past tense. For instance, “Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing” or “Completed Certified Project Manager training” are appropriate ways to present your academic achievements and professional certifications.

Present Tense Resume Examples

Typically reserved for describing current roles and responsibilities, the present tense conveys ongoing tasks and projects. This makes it clear to employers what you are actively working on.

• Detailing current job responsibilities

For your current job, the present tense is the most effective way to describe your day-to-day responsibilities. Examples include phrases like “manage a team of sales representatives” or “oversee marketing campaigns.” These statements tell potential employers what you are doing in your role and indicate ongoing involvement.

• Featuring ongoing projects

If you’re currently involved in a project that has not yet been completed, it’s best to use the present tense. Statements such as “Developing a new digital marketing strategy” or “Leading the implementation of a new customer relationship management (CRM) system” convey that these initiatives are still in progress.

• Describing current roles in volunteer work or organizations

The present tense should also describe ongoing volunteer activities or organizational roles. For example, “Serve as the treasurer for a local nonprofit organization” indicates that you are still actively involved. This helps demonstrate your commitment and current responsibilities outside of your primary job.

Mixing Tenses on Resumes Effectively

Using both past and present tense can be tricky, but it’s necessary when discussing ongoing and completed work within the same role. If approached with care, this can be done seamlessly.

• Mixing tenses in the same role

In your current job, you might have tasks you are still performing alongside projects already completed. In this case, use the present tense for ongoing duties and the past tense for finished ones. For instance, “Lead weekly team meetings (present tense) and launched a company-wide training program (past tense)” demonstrates your ability to manage multiple facets of your role.

• Transitioning between tenses

When moving from a current role to a previous one, it’s essential to transition smoothly from present to past tense. This keeps your resume readable and maintains its flow. For example, after listing present responsibilities, you might transition to past achievements with a sentence like, “Before this role, directed a $5 million product launch that exceeded sales projections by 10%.”

Common Mistakes To Avoid With Resume Tenses

Tense mistakes are common but can be easily avoided with careful proofreading and attention to detail. These errors can undermine the professionalism of your resume and confuse potential employers.

• Using inconsistent tenses

Inconsistency in tense usage can create a disjointed narrative, challenging your resume. Switching between past and present tense without an apparent reason can confuse the reader and lead to misunderstandings about your career timeline. Ensuring consistency within each section is crucial for a clear presentation.

• Overusing present tense

Using the present tense for all roles, including past ones, is a frequent mistake that needs to be clarified. Each role should reflect the proper tense based on whether the job is current or previous. For instance, if you describe a past role in the present tense, you might still be employed in that position, which could be misleading.

• Incorrectly using present tense for past roles

Another standard error is describing past jobs in the present tense, which suggests ongoing involvement when there is none. For example, “Manage a team of software developers” for a job you held in 2015 is incorrect. Rephrasing this to “Managed a team of software developers” clarifies that it was a previous role.

Resume Tense Guidelines

Deciding on the correct tense can be straightforward if you follow a few fundamental guidelines. Tense choice should align with your current status in each job, and consistency is critical.

Utilizing tenses in your resume can significantly impact how potential employers perceive your qualifications. Tailoring your tense usage to different job applications allows you to present a more polished and professional image.

• Reviewing job descriptions for tense cues

Job descriptions can offer cues about which tense to use in your resume. If the posting describes current responsibilities, present tense is appropriate, while past responsibilities should use past tense. For example, aligning your resume to phrases in a job listing, such as “currently managing” or “previously implemented,” helps match the employer’s expectations.

• Resume verbs past or present

Choosing the right action verbs for each tense is essential in making your resume clear and compelling. For current roles, use verbs like “oversee,” “manage,” and “coordinate,” while past roles benefit from verbs like “led,” “developed,” and “increased.” These distinctions enhance the clarity of your responsibilities and achievements.

• Proofreading for tense consistency

It is essential to proofread your resume to maintain tense consistency. A thorough review can help you catch errors in tense usage and ensure that each section aligns with your career history. If necessary, consider using tools like Grammarly or having a trusted peer review your document for errors.

• Leveraging tenses for impact

Strategic use of tense can amplify the impact of your resume. For example, using present tense to describe current achievements demonstrates your ongoing contributions, while past tense highlights past successes, showing a complete picture of your career trajectory.

• Tailoring tense usage for different job applications

Different industries may require slight adjustments in tense usage. For instance, roles in fast-paced sectors may benefit from more dynamic present-tense descriptions, while traditional industries favor using past tense for established accomplishments.

• Seeking feedback

Obtaining input from peers, mentors, or career advisors can help refine your tense usage. A fresh set of eyes may catch subtle inconsistencies or offer suggestions on improving your resume’s overall flow.

Additional Resources

• Resume templates with correct tense usage

• ATS-Friendly
• Entry-Level
• General
• Internship

• Online tools for resume writing and proofreading

• Action Verbs, Power Words, and Strong Synonms To Use on Your Resume
• How To List Work Experience
• How To Use Bullet Points

• Career advice articles and job application tips

• Business Insider: Take these 32 things off of your resume
• CNBC: 3 terms you should always have on your resume
• Lifehacker: Stop saying you ‘helped’ on your resume

Researching the company and role

You must learn something about the company and the position you’re applying for so you can tailor your cover letter accordingly. Look at the job posting, the career section of the company’s website, and the company’s social media pages for some insight. 

Then, use this intel to write the profile section and some bullet points on your resume.

Using keywords from the job description

Including relevant keywords on your resume is crucial if it might be going through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before it gets to a human recruiter. ATS is programmed to look for specific keywords and phrases to flag possible matches.

Cover letters could be scanned by these systems as well, so try to mention the most important keywords there as well.

Showcasing your unique value proposition

Incorporating personalized examples in your letter and resume can help you stand out from the competition. Other applicants may have similar career backgrounds and education credentials. Still, you’ll differentiate yourself if you can focus on your impact, the results you’ve driven, and the value you’ve brought to organizations.

Final Thoughts on Using Cover Letters and Resumes Together

When in doubt, including a cover letter is always a good idea. It can effectively establish that you fit the role in a best-case scenario.

Before sending your cover letter and resume, ask a trusted peer or career advisor for feedback and make any necessary updates and improvements.

Once you send out your cover letter and resume, please follow up with the recipients after one to two weeks if you are still waiting to hear back.

Additional Resources

Links to cover letter and resume templates

• Are Resume Templates a Good Idea?
• Basic Resume Templates and Examples for 2024
• How To Build A Professional Resume (Plus Examples and Templates)

Online tools for resume and cover letter writing

• How to Write an Effective Cover Letter
• How To Write a Resume Summary (With Examples)
• Resumes, Cover Letters, and Job Applications

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.