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Past vs. Present Tense on Resumes: Best Practices

9 min read · Updated on March 20, 2024

Should a resume be in the past or present tense?

How sick are you of hearing that you must proofread your resume? The reason that proofreading is brought up so much is that it is of the utmost importance. If you take hours or even days crafting the perfect document and never discover grammar , punctuation, and spelling errors, your time has been wasted. 

There's more to proofreading than just using spell check, though. Your verb tense is also important for your overall resume writing style. Of course, that raises an important question: should your resume be in past tense or present tense?

The short answer is, “It depends.” 

In this post, we'll explore each of these tenses, examine the best practices for using each type, and offer some helpful tips you can use to ensure that your resume narrative is delivering the right message to employers.

What is past tense? What is present tense? 

First, let's have a review of what past and present tense means. Is your sentence describing something that's happening now, or did it already occur? 

Past tense is anything that's already happened. The verbs that describe past tense often end with -ed. Of course, there are some exceptions like “oversaw.” Reminder: every sentence of your resume should start with a verb.

Present tense is anything that's happening now. You'd use present tense in the summary paragraph at the top and in the bullets that you use to describe your current job. 

Pro tip: The gerund form of present tense verbs often adds an -ing at the end. There is some debate as to whether the use of the gerund is appropriate for a resume. With that said, you should avoid using it.

Related post : 11 Key Things to Put on Your Resume

Should I use past tense or present tense on my resume? 

You will likely use both the past and the present tense in your resume. However, it can get tricky because you don't want to mix both in the same section. If you have one-off achievements like successfully completing a project in your current role, you shouldn't talk about that in the present tense because it already happened. 

In the spirit of being consistent, here are some rules to help you recognize when to use past or present tense:

When to use past tense on your resume

Describe your education, past jobs, awards, and accomplishments using the past tense. You aren't in school anymore, and you no longer work at your previous jobs. Therefore, they belong in the past. For example:

Championed a 20% increase in sales by onboarding 30 new customers each month.

Architected complex algorithms that improved the efficiency of gathering, scrubbing, and merging data from more than 20 disparate sources.

Engaged in real-time troubleshooting with approximately 40 customers per day and achieved an 85% first-call resolution rate.

When to use present tense on your resume

While much of your resume will be in the past tense, there are certain sections that should focus on the present. These include the resume headline, resume summary, and the first entry in your work experience section if you're describing your current position. Let's look at each one of these critical sections and examine why it's important to use the present tense to describe your skills and ongoing achievements.

Related post : Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them

1. Resume headline

Your resume headline should always be written in the present tense since you want to ensure that the employer understands that you're actively engaged in your role. Remember, the headline is a brief description of your job title and key specialties, so make it as compelling as you can. For example:

Creative Marketing Manager Focused on Data-Driven Results in Branding and Client Engagement

Solutions-Oriented Project Manager with 10+ Years of Team Building and Client Management Success

Innovative Software Engineer with 5 Years of Experience Developing Industry-Leading Gaming Apps

Related post : 27 Great Resume Headline Examples to Stand Out

2. Resume summary

Your summary goes right below your resume headline and should provide employers with a brief elevator pitch to sell your qualifications. Include three or four sentences that highlight your experience, skills, and notable achievements. The goal here is to emphasize your qualifications in a way that shows you're prepared to provide real value to any employer who hires you. Here's an example:

Ambitious IT specialist with more than seven years of experience in network management and systems analysis. Expert troubleshooter and project lead with expertise in cloud platform, data migration, and client support. Proven track record of success in reducing network delays by 80+%, with 95+5 reported satisfaction rating on troubleshooting calls. Resilient problem-solver, capable of working both independently and in collaboration with colleagues and clients.

Related post : Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

3. Work Experience

When you list your current job in your work experience section, it should always be in the present tense. The skills you list in this prominent section of your resume are skills you use all the time. This is the it-can-get-tricky part because you can also talk about your current position in the past tense – more on this in just a bit. Here are a couple of examples:

Direct full-cycle hiring processes, including telephone interviews, to ramp up department operations.

Source, interview, hire, and onboard a new team of 7 developers. 

Train 6 associates and 2 clerks to ascertain the needs of clients and improve customer satisfaction.

Of course, when you're listing achievements in your work experience section, you're primarily going to focus on things that you've already done. After all, if one of those achievements involved designing a new sales program that boosted revenues by 30% over two quarters, that's a one-time achievement, right? Obviously, that accomplishment needs to be presented using the past tense.

Confused? Don't be. We'll explain how to handle that situation in our next section.

When to use both past and present tense

Your resume is supposed to be a customized career marketing document that demonstrates you're the best candidate for a specific position. You sell yourself to new companies by highlighting career accomplishments. 

So, how do you handle talking about past and present items in the description of your current role if you shouldn't mix past and present tense within the same section of your resume? 

Take that example that we cited above. How would you include that type of achievement in the work experience listing for your current job? It's easier than you might imagine.

The best way to deal with that situation is to separate the bullet points under your current role into things you do every day first and achievements last. Write your daily responsibilities in the present tense and your achievements in the past tense. This is what that would look like:

Document, report, and present project milestones, performance KPIs, and status updates in weekly executive meetings attended by as many as 12 board members.

Implement and execute all standard operating procedures to ensure adherence to protocols, mitigate risk, and improve overall safety rating to 0 incidents per month. 

NOTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Saved more than $300K by tracking spending, identifying waste, and authoring/implementing new project metrics that reduced costs.

Nominated by leaders for the I'm-The-Greatest-Employee award, 2021. 

Another great way to manage this concern is to include a brief paragraph that highlights your ongoing achievements using the present tense while making sure that all your bullet point accomplishments are listed in the past tense. Below, we've provided an example of what that might look like:

Marketing Director, ABC Marketing, Anytown Anystate, 2014 to Present

Manage daily marketing operations, including strategic campaign development, overseeing multiple project teams, evaluating and monitoring staff, and managing client expectations. Collaborate directly with senior management, finance department, and sales team to facilitate operations and ensure that the company always remains on mission.

Designed and implemented training program credited with 42% reduction in staff onboarding times.

Developed multiple marketing and advertising campaigns that brought in $100+ million over a six-year period.

Redesigned more than 20 failing client projects, leading to results that exceeded expectations by an average of 20%.

Created company's innovative “Green Marketing” campaign that drew national exposure and led to 15% spike in new client acquisition.

Tips to get the most out of your use of past and present tense

The following tips can help you maintain your focus when you're creating achievement statements and highlighting your current qualifications.

Resumes are not like standard prose documents. You don't need to stick to just one tense since you'll likely be highlighting both present skills and past achievements. Just remember to make sure that your reader can easily follow any tense changes that occur throughout your resume narrative.

If you find yourself asking, “Should this part of my resume be in past tense or present tense” just take a moment and consider the message you're trying to deliver with that statement. If you're attempting to focus attention on specific skills and qualifications, then you'll probably want to use the present tense. If you're demonstrating value by highlighting an accomplishment from a previous job, use the past tense.

Try to avoid mixing your tenses within any given bullet point section. Again, be consistent in different areas of your resume to avoid reader confusion.

If you're struggling to decide how to use the different tenses within the same resume, try a different and simpler approach. Instead of using the present tense, simply present all your information using the past tense. Most employers are used to seeing past tense used in resumes and won't be put off by that approach.

Related post : 17 Resume Tips to Get Seen and Hired Faster

Knowing if your resume should be in past tense is easy

The next time you're wondering whether your resume should be in past tense or present tense, take a deep breath and focus on your narrative. Sometimes, reading your own resume a few times can help you gain insight into the message that you're delivering. Just keep things simple and remember what each tense is designed to convey to the reader. If you can successfully do that, you'll have a better chance of choosing the right tense and making the best possible impression on employers.

Are you still confused about which resume tense you need to use? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today!  

“This article was originally written by Marsha Hebert and has been updated by Ken Chase.”

Recommended reading:

• 5 Powerful Verbs to Pump up Your Resume
• Proofreading Tips to Improve Your Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Make Your Resume Stand Out With Action Verbs

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How to Write in Present Tense on a Resume

Present Tense Resume | How-to & Tips | Resume.comresumespresent-tense-resume

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Should you use present tense for a resume?

When to use present tense, examples of present tense resume verbs, when to use past tense, the exception to a past tense resume, examples of past tense resume verbs.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

If you need help writing a resume, use our data-backed resume builder .

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Should You Use the Past or Present Tense on Your Resume?

According to recruiters, you should generally use the past tense when writing your resume. But there are exceptions where the present tense may be more appropriate. Here are some specific examples.

3 years ago   •   10 min read

When writing your resume, sometimes it's the little details that matter the most — like whether to write in past or present tense. Both are valid choices; past tense makes sense when discussing your accomplishments, while present tense sounds fresh and immediate. So, which one to choose?

The quick answer is you should always use past tense on your resume. This ensures you're focussing on accomplishments rather than responsibilities and is what most modern recruiters expect to see.

In this article, we'll discuss how to decide what tense to use on your resume, provide examples of how and when to use the correct tense, and discuss how using the proper tense can boost your resume's readability and ATS compatibility.

Should your resume be in present or past tense?

There's actually an easy answer to this one — resumes should be written in past tense .

Why? Your resume should be about your accomplishments , not your responsibilities. In other words, you should write about things you've already achieved, not what you’re currently working on, ergo: past tense!

The biggest mistake people make on their resumes is listing job duties rather than accomplishments. Using the present tense in your bullet points is a good indicator that you're focusing on responsibilities rather than accomplishments.

Examples of present tense resume statements:

• Manage a team of 10 people...
• Organize annual fundraising events...

Examples of past tense resume statements:

• Designed training and peer mentoring programs...
• Led the transition to a paperless practice...

When to use past tense on a resume

In general, using past tense is always correct. This applies even to your current job.

You should use past tense for your current job when listing accomplishments, such as completed projects or skills, and when quantifying your experience to show the result of your work. When listing achievements that are currently ongoing, you can still use the past tense, if you prefer, to maintain consistency throughout your resume.

When talking about past positions you’ve held, always use past tense . Never use present tense for a job you’re no longer at. At worst, this could cause recruiters to reject your application because it shows a lack of attention to detail — so don’t risk it when it’s an easy thing to get right.

When to use present tense on a resume

When talking about your current position, you're likely to have accomplishments that are still ongoing. This might include:

• General day-to-day responsibilities
• Ongoing projects that haven't wrapped up yet

In this case, it's appropriate to write in the present tense on your resume when discussing your current job. For example, if you're currently mentoring interns or collaborating with other teams, it's acceptable to write that in the present tense.

This means that, regardless of what you were taught in high school English, it's okay to mix tenses on your resume when writing about your current job. Just make sure you're doing it intentionally, to clearly distinguish between your ongoing responsibilities and your past accomplishments.

A good way to check if you’ve used the right verb tense on your resume is to upload your resume to the tool below — it’ll let you know if you have shown accomplishments and responsibilities the right way by analyzing each of your tenses. It’ll also identify any grammatical and spelling errors and give you suggestions for improvements.

How verb tense affects the readability of your resume

Your resume is often the first impression you make on potential employers. Using the correct verb tense not only demonstrates your attention to detail but also makes your resume easier to read.

Using past tense for previous roles and accomplishments creates a clear, chronological flow for anyone reading your resume, helping recruiters quickly understand the progression of your career. Using the present tense for ongoing duties distinguishes your current responsibilities from past achievements, making it easier to see which roles and projects you’re still involved in and which are completed.

The key is to be consistent. Flipping randomly between tenses can confuse a recruiter trying to skim your experience and pick out your relevant skills. Using consistent verb tense on your resume (past for previous jobs, present for the current job) ensures the important information is easy for a recruiter to understand and, therefore, offers you the best chance of making a good impression.

How resume verb tense affects ATS

Modern companies often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter job applications based on predetermined keyword criteria. ATS can be very sensitive to how information is presented on your resume, including verb tense.

For example, if the ATS software is looking for specific words, such as “taught” or “managed” on your resume, and you’ve written these in the present tense, as “teach” and “manage” , the software might not register this as relevant experience, and flag your resume as not including the right keywords.

To safeguard against this problem, if a job listing emphasizes past achievements, use past tense to ensure you capture those particular keywords, and only use resume present tense for roles that emphasize ongoing responsibilities.

Examples of using the right tense on a resume

Curious about what past vs present tense looks like in action? Here are some examples that you can follow.

Using past tense on a resume

Use the past tense on a resume for any accomplishments that you've already completed and all past jobs, for example:

- Launched Miami office with lead Director and recruited and managed new team of 10 employees; grew office revenue by 200% in first nine months (representing 20% of company revenue). - Designed training and peer-mentoring programs for the incoming class of 25 analysts in 2017; reduced onboarding time for new hires by 50%. - Led the transition to a paperless practice by implementing an electronic booking system and a faster, safer, and more accurate business system; reduced cost of labor by 30% and office overhead by 10% - Created a unique year-round adopt-a-school recruitment program which grew market share from 5% to 10%. - Directed agency fundraising revenue generation, daily program business operations, community outreach membership recruitment, and human resources in 30 suburbs in the city for organizations with assets of $8M. - Served as the product sale fundraising campaign manager and directed 100 volunteer chairpersons; increased fundraising donations by 40%. - Negotiated a settlement of a $2M lawsuit with under $5,000 of outside legal fees. - Increased customer retention 10% and reactivated dormant consumers through weekly email campaigns. - Took lead on the migration of the company's Microsoft SQL to MySQL project. This included updating 30 client-facing websites and one internal administration site - Promoted within 18 months due to strong performance and organizational impact (one year ahead of schedule).

Using present tense on a resume

Use the present tense on your resume for accomplishments that are still ongoing at your current job, for example:

- Manage a cross-functional team of in 3 locations (Palo Alto, Austin, and New York), ranging from entry-level analysts to vice presidents, and collaborate with business development data analysis, operations, and marketing. - Manage all aspects of a 10 person B2B appointment setting call center. - Provide administrative support and guidance to the CEO in day-to-day office operations. - Oversee a $7M budget and fifteen-member team. - Lead team members and vendors to manage the social media advertising strategy for more than 50 social media accounts - Train and mentor new and existing account executives and interns on solutions selling strategies, customer relationship management, and advanced product knowledge. - Supervise a team of 15 associates in addition to overseeing a staff of 60+ associates while managing daily operations of the store. - Service and manage 150+ target accounts consisting of medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nurses, dieticians, and nutritionists - Direct and coordinate a staff of 80 employees. - Manage a team of 15 outbound sales specialists.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes! There are a few times it’s okay to use present tense in your resume instead of past tense.

Ongoing accomplishments

Some accomplishments may make more sense written in present tense. This doesn’t mean you should write every bullet point from your current job in present tense, but you might include the occasional accomplishment that’s still ongoing. A good example is leading a team — if you’re currently managing other staff, it’s fine to write your bullet point as “manage a team of 5” instead of “managed.” If you don’t like the idea of writing some bullet points in past tense and some in present tense, it’s also fine to write everything in past tense, even if you’re currently in the same position.

Resume summary

Your resume summary is another section where it’s fine to write in present tense. This also applies to a short (1-2 sentence) blurb you might include as a quick overview of your current job — overviews of past jobs should be written in past tense.

Cover letter

A lot of resume “rules” — like writing in past tense or not using “I” statements — don’t apply to cover letters. It’s fine to write your cover letter more conversationally than the rest of your resume, which means you can write in present tense about things you’re currently doing.

How to use action verbs in the past tense

Using powerful action verbs on your resume helps demonstrate your accomplishments in a memorable way, highlighting the effectiveness of your previous roles. Action verbs are most commonly used in the past tense, as they describe your past successes and the positive results of your past work.

Strategically using action verbs in the past tense, combined with specific examples and quantified metrics , can make your resume more engaging, memorable, and persuasive.

Selecting the right action verbs

The key is to choose verbs that describe your experience and achievements. Here's a list of powerful action verbs categorized by the type of achievement:

• Leadership and management: Led, Managed, Directed, Supervised, Coordinated
• Innovation and creativity: Developed, Designed, Innovated, Created, Pioneered
• Problem-solving: Resolved, Streamlined, Improved, Overhauled, Reconciled
• Sales and revenue growth: Increased, Amplified, Boosted, Generated, Accelerated
• Project management: Executed, Completed, Achieved, Realized, Accomplished
• Customer service: Enhanced, Delivered, Served, Supported, Assisted

When incorporating these verbs into your resume, focus on quantified results to show the impact of your actions. For example:

• Instead of saying , "Was responsible for managing a team," say, "Managed a team of 10, enhancing productivity by 30%."
• Replace "Worked on project management" with "Executed a complex project within deadline, achieving a 15% cost saving."

Common mistakes to avoid with resume verb tense

Make sure to avoid these common mistakes when deciding what tense to use on your resume.

• Mixing tenses in the same bullet point: While you can use both past and present tense to describe your current job, avoid mixing tenses within the same bullet point, as this can make your statements difficult to follow.
• Overuse of present tense: Using present tense for past positions can confuse recruiters about your employment history. Stick to past tense for all roles you're no longer engaged in, and only use present tense on your resume for your current position.
• Neglecting completed projects: When describing completed projects in current roles, use past tense to emphasize the accomplishment and its impact.
• Using present participles (gerunds): Using verbs that end in -ing , like "managing a team" or "organizing events", is less impactful and can read more like job descriptions than achievements. Opt for simple past tense ("managed a team"), and simple present tense ( "manage a team") for current roles. These phrases are more direct and convey a sense of completion or active engagement.

What other grammar rules do I need to know to write a resume?

Keep it simple.

Always write in simple past or present tense — analyzed, led, increased, manage. Never use the present participle form (eg. analyzing, leading, managing). Saying that you “manage a team” or “managed a team” is fine, but listing “managing a team” reads like a job description, not an accomplishment.

Passive vs active voice

You may have heard the advice to always use active voice, but what does that mean? Active voice is when you talk about things you did, e.g. "increased sales" or "trained new staff." Passive voice is when you talk about something that was done to you, e.g. "was asked to organize an event," or "tasked with training new staff." Active voice is always better — it's more straightforward, easier to read, and keeps the focus squarely on what you actually accomplished rather than just what you were asked to do.

(Im)perfect tense

Perfect tense is another thing to avoid on your resume. Perfect tense is when you add "have" or "had" to indicate that you've done something, e.g. "I have increased sales" or "I had organized 10 events." Leave out empty verbs like "have" and "had," which add nothing to your resume except hard-to-read filler .

First or third person: what's better on a resume?

The other thing to consider when writing your resume is point of view. Resumes are written in first person since you’re talking about yourself and your own accomplishments. This means your bullet points should sound like they were written by you. For example, if you’re talking about leading a team, you should write that you “managed” a team (or “manage,” if it’s your current position). Don’t write “manages a team” as if your resume is being written by somebody else.

You also shouldn’t use “I” statements outside of your cover letter , eg. “I manage a team.” Your resume is a formal document, so leave the “I” out of it.

Related : Improve Your Resume by Eliminating Adverbs

If you’re not sure what tense to use...

If you aren’t certain whether you should list something in past or present tense, always default to past tense. Even in cases where present tense may be more appropriate, past tense is never wrong and is unlikely to look strange to a hiring manager. Using present tense incorrectly, on the other hand, may raise a few red flags.

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When You Should Use Present Tense In Resume

• POSTED ON February 26, 2024
• by Barbara Isla

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In writing your resume, you may have wondered what the correct tense to use is. Is it the present or past? This article will break down when to use present tense in resume and when it’s not appropriate to use. Knowing what tense to use will improve your resume looks, which may influence your chance of landing your dream job.

Aside from a compelling resume, applicants should also take self-development courses to increase their chances of getting hired.

Why is the Correct Tense important in Resumes?

Consistency is vital in making your resume appear impressive and well-crafted. Imagine a resume with changing tenses for every section—the recruiters won’t be pleased seeing this. Worse, they might move on to the next candidate if your resume fails to get their attention. After all, recruiters only scan resumes in seconds. So, you need to maximize this short exposure by ensuring your resume looks polished.

In maintaining consistency in your resume , tenses play a huge role. It helps recruiters quickly identify the things you’ve done in the past and those you still do currently. This separation of accomplishments and current abilities allows them to assess how your credentials fit the job posting.

The Three Tenses and How You May Use Them in Your Resume

While the use of present tense in resume is our main topic here, the other two tenses also make a big difference in wiring your resume. Here’s a quick breakdown of the tenses and their proper usage in your resume sections :

Present tense

The use of present tense in resume is ideal when describing the current responsibilities you have.

The use of the past in your resume is ideal when listing down your previous experiences, accomplishments, and past projects.

Future tense

The future tense doesn’t have much exposure in a resume. But in rarer cases that it appears, it’s usually used in the career objective section where the candidates express the desire to land the job and share how they can contribute to the company. The future tense is also ideal for the use of students who are applying for internships.

When to Use Present Tense in Resume

Diving deep into the perfect sections where to use the present tense, here are those areas that you should use:

1. Career summary

A career summary is a section of your resume that sits right atop your skills. It’s usually the section that succeeds your contact information details. And if you choose to have a career summary, writing in the present tense will work wonders for you. Doing so makes your message more impactful in describing your current engagements and outlook in your field.

A career summary usually consists of one to three brief sentences describing your professional summaries. If you want a more in-depth guide in crafting effective summaries, here’s an article with the best resume summary examples .

But as an overview, here’s how you write your career summary using the present tense. First, highlight your current profession, skills, and experience in the first line. Then, on the next line, leverage your skills and desire to get the job you are applying for.

2. Current work

Most of the time, those seeking jobs seek better opportunities, which implies that they may still have current work. If you are one of those people, you should use the present tense in describing your current job.

In writing details about your current work, here are some helpful reminders to help you. First is to list your position and add the list of years in parenthesis. Add the month started, end date, or “present” if you are still working for them. Then, list your responsibilities and add some action words to increase the impact of your descriptions.

When to Use Past Tense in Resume

Here are the sections that’ll need you to use past tense in your resume:

1. Previous experiences

As you don’t work there anymore, all previous experiences should be written in the past tense.

2. Accomplishments, achievements, and recognition

These credentials are always written in a past tense form as these have previously been awarded to you. If you are including an “Awards and Accomplishments” sections on your resume, here are some helpful points to remember:

• Include the company name or organization you were a part of.
• Also, add the location below the organization name.
• Add the timeline of your attendance at the organization. Put in parenthesis next to the organization name.
• Insert a series of bullet points breaking down your accomplishments to provide an overview. You may use a short paragraph if you don’t like to use bullet points.

3. Education

Your educational background is always written in the past tense unless you are a student looking for an internship. Here are the details you will include in writing educational background in your resume:

• Insert school name and the year graduated in parenthesis.
• Add the school location below the name of the school.
• Name the degree you earned.
• You may also add your GPA.

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Tips in Using the Correct Tense in Your Resume

Here are some helpful reminders in choosing the right tense to use for a polished resume:

1. Don’t combine present and past tenses in one section.

You want to avoid using both present and past tenses under one heading as much as you can. Using these two at the same time will confuse whoever will read your resume. Remember, you want to achieve consistency in your resume, so stick to one tense in one section.

You may only combine these two tenses when you are listing down the responsibilities and accomplishments in a current job. You need to ensure that you use the present tense for ongoing responsibilities and use past tense for completed achievements.  

2. Keep in mind that most companies use ATS.

ATS refers to the Applicant Tracking System that most companies now use for faster and more efficient hiring processes. ATS scan resumes with resume keywords that are relevant to the job posting. Thus, your resume should always be optimized for this tracking system with the insertion of such keywords. And choosing the proper tense may impact how ATS will evaluate your resume.

When you choose a tense, take into consideration what keywords the recruiters may add to their ATS. For example, if the job description specifically mentioned “manage” and you wrote “managed,” the ATS may overlook it. Thus, you need to assess the job description, look for relevant keywords, and find out the correct tense to use. 

You can also ready this article detailing if your resume is ATS-friendly .

3. Don’t use present participles on your verbs.

When using verbs, avoid using the present participle form—adding “-ing” to verbs. Practice using the past participle form when describing past responsibilities. Using the present participle has a weaker impact than when you use past participle. Using the latter has more impact and creates a sense of accomplishment.

Those are the things you need to remember in choosing the correct tense for your resume. If you want more powerful tips in nailing your resume, here’s a must-see online course for you: Unlocking Resumes: Your Keys to Getting Hired!

Skill Success Expert Insights

Skill Success Expert Insight "When I updated my resume, focusing on using the right tenses, I noticed a clear improvement in responses from employers. A simple but effective tip I learned was to match my resume's language with the job description, ensuring that my current roles were in present tense and past roles in past tense. This small change made my resume clearer and more professional. Additionally, investing time in courses about resume writing helped refine my approach, making my applications stronger and more targeted."  BA Isla, Content Writer Tweet

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is using the correct tense important in a resume.

Using the correct tense ensures consistency and clarity, making your resume appear more professional. It helps recruiters quickly understand your past responsibilities and current roles, enhancing your chances of landing your desired job.

What tense should I use to describe my current job in my resume?

For your current job responsibilities, use the present tense to convey ongoing duties and tasks. This highlights your present capabilities and roles within your current position.

How should I write about past experiences on my resume?

Past experiences, including previous jobs, accomplishments, and education (if not currently a student), should be described in the past tense. This clearly differentiates completed actions and achievements from current responsibilities.

Is it ever appropriate to use the future tense in a resume?

The future tense is rarely used but can be appropriate in the career objective section, where you might express your aspirations and how you wish to contribute to the company. It’s also suitable for students applying for internships discussing future goals.

Can I use both present and past tense in the same section of my resume?

While generally, it’s best to maintain tense consistency within each section, you can mix tenses when listing responsibilities and achievements in a current job. Use present tense for ongoing duties and past tense for completed projects and accomplishments.

Remember these words from Nikki Paterson of Accomplish Education.

Jumping between present and past tense is a big no-no in story telling because it pulls your reader outside of your story and disjoints the story, impeding its ability to be persuasive and convincing. Use present tense to talk about your current role and then stick to past tense for all previous roles. Nikki Paterson, Owner and Founder, Accomplish Education Tweet

Key Takeaways

Crafting a compelling resume is a critical step towards securing your dream job. Utilizing the correct tense throughout your resume not only demonstrates your attention to detail but also enhances the readability and professionalism of your application. By distinguishing between past achievements and current responsibilities, you effectively communicate your experiences and skills to potential employers. Remember, a well-structured resume can significantly increase your chances of making a memorable first impression. I encourage you to apply these tips diligently, ensuring your resume stands out in a competitive job market.

In an ever-evolving job market, continuous learning and skill enhancement are key to staying competitive. The Skill Success  All Access Pass  offers a treasure trove of resources, with over 3,000 on-demand video courses available to help you level up at your own pace. Whether you’re looking to improve your resume writing skills, master a new software, or develop soft skills critical for career advancement, this all-access pass provides the tools you need for personal and professional growth. 

Ready to write a compelling resume that lands interviews? Click here to get started.

Ready to fully dive into your learning? Join All Access Pass and unlock our entire course library for only $15/month.

Click here to learn more

Barbara Isla

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Should Your Resume Be in Past or Present Tense? Clearing Up the Great Verb Debate

3 key takeaways

• When to use past or present tense in your resume
• Additional tips for impactful resumes
• How Teal’s AI Resume Builder helps you create a well-written resume

Resume writing is an art as much as it is a science. However, if you want to create a resume and cover letter that stands out to recruiters and hiring managers, there are a few standards you need to follow.

One of those standards is making sure it’s written in the right tense. 

So, should you write in past or present tense in your resume? Below, you’ll learn whether to write your resume in the present or past tense—plus some other helpful writing tips for a well-polished resume.

What's the difference between past and present tense?

Before diving into the how, let's go over the what. You probably haven’t thought much about verb tenses since high school or college. However, most people use them every day without thinking about them.

If you’re describing something that already took place, you use past tense verbs—for example, “I went to the store,” “I saw a bear,” or “I enjoyed  some dessert .”

Present tense verbs describe what’s happening now. “I am going to the store,” “I see a bear,” and “I enjoy some dessert.”

When to use past tense on your resume

Your resume largely describes your past accomplishments, work experience, and previous jobs, so most of it will be in the past tense. Here are three sections that should use the past tense:

Past work experience

This section of your resume outlines past positions and should be written entirely in the past tense.

For example, you might include a bullet point that states, “ Developed and executed comprehensive marketing campaigns for Company XYZ.” Make sure you use past tense consistently throughout your resume and don't switch back and forth between past and present. 

Past awards and achievements

You should always use past tense when describing awards or achievements because those achievements only happen once—you don’t continually earn them. For example, an entry in this section might read, “ Awarded Salesperson of the Quarter for achieving the highest sales figures at Company XYZ in Q3 2021.”

For many people, education is a lifelong process. But any degrees or certifications you’ve already earned should be described in the past tense. “ Earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University XYZ” is one example of how you might write the entries for this section.

When to use present tense on your resume

While past tense makes sense in several sections of your resume, there are a few places where present tense is the way to go. Let’s cover a few areas where it makes sense to use present tense on your resume.

Current role

You should use past tense when describing past jobs, but you’ll need to use present tense when describing your current position and current job. 

For example, say you’re a software developer describing your current responsibilities. You might say, “ Analyze and optimize application performance to improve the user experience and customer satisfaction.”

Ongoing projects

Any ongoing projects that you are currently still involved in should be described using the present tense as well. For example, you could say, “ Leading a cross-functional team in the design and development of a custom applicant tracking system.”

Skills and abilities

The "Skills" section of your resume describes your current hard abilities, like tools and technical aptitudes. It doesn't need to focus on a tense but rather just list the names of the tools themselves.

Soft skills (like communication and organization) should be used alongside impact in various sections of your resume so they’re best reflected in the same tense as that specific section.

Volunteer or extracurricular activities

For activities, volunteer work, or non-profit board positions you currently hold, you should use the present tense, since you’re actively engaged in those activities. 

(If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these 1,300+ resume examples to guide you.)

When to use both past and present tense

There is one section of your resume where you will likely need to mix tenses: the resume professional summary. 

The "Professional Summary" section of your resume describes both past work experience and your current job duties, skills, and responsibilities. This means that you’ll likely need a combination of past and present tense when writing this section. 

Present tense for ongoing responsibilities

Tasks that are part of your current job description should be in the present tense. For example,  you may state that you “ lead a marketing team” to describe your current role and responsibilities.

Past tense for completed tasks

When you describe projects that you’ve completed, even if they’re part of your current job, you should use the past tense. For example, you might say you “ boosted sales by 20% in one month” in one paragraph to describe a past accomplishment. 

Supplementary writing tips for resumes

Using the correct tense is an important part of creating a professional, well-written resume—but it isn’t the only thing to keep in mind. Here are a few others to make your resume shine.

When in doubt, use past tense

When in doubt, past tense is usually the way to go. For one, past tense will be the most appropriate choice for most of the content in your resume. Even in cases where present tense is technically more appropriate, writing in past tense on a resume is still acceptable.

Use active voice

In sentences written using active voice, the subject does the action. For example, “The chef prepared a delicious meal” is written in an active voice. “A delicious meal was prepared by the chef” would be the passive-voice version.

Active voice is typically preferred in writing since it tends to be more direct, concise, and easier to understand—and this is true for resume writing as well.

Incorporate strong action verbs

Strong action verbs can make your accomplishments more eye-catching and impressive. Here are just a few great action verbs for your resume :

• Streamlined
• Accomplished

If you find yourself using overused verbs like “managed” or “implemented,” replace them with strong synonyms that pack a punch to make your resume more powerful and memorable.

Keep parallel structure for bullet points

All bullets in a list should follow the same grammatical format to maintain a more professional and concise parallel structure . 

For example, instead of writing…

• Manag ed a team of developers
• Implement ing new software solutions
• Meet ing with clients to gather requirements

…you would want to use a parallel structure like this:

• Implement ed new software solutions
• Conduct ed meetings with clients to gather requirements

Make sure that you follow the same grammatical conventions throughout your bulleted list.

Spell check and proofread

Some of the best career advice is to carefully read your resume for spelling, grammar, and formatting issues before submitting it to a potential employer or hiring manager. 

While a single typo or slightly incorrect resume punctuation might not sink your chances of getting the job, a resume rife with mistakes will reflect poorly on your professionalism and attention to detail. 

To help catch these mistakes, Teal has a built-in spelling and grammar tool to help you get it right every time—without having to download (or pay for!) a separate software or service.

Image: Grammar check tool

Create a winning resume with Teal

If keeping track of all the resume do’s and don’ts feels overwhelming, you can simplify the process using Teal’s AI Resume Builder .

Teal gives you real-time feedback on how to add more powerful language, quantifiable information, and targeted keywords to your resume.

Sign up for free and create a perfectly tensed resume with Teal today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How should i handle verb tense for ongoing projects or roles on my resume, when updating my resume, should i change the tense of previous job descriptions if i'm still using the same skills in my current role, is it acceptable to mix past and present tenses in a single job description on a resume if some responsibilities are ongoing and others are completed.

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What Tense to Use On Your Resume, Past or Present Tense?

Reading your resume is one of the first ways that a prospective employer gets to know you. To put your best foot forward, you should make sure that you write a resume that is neat, accurate, and grammatically correct. This may seem obvious, but because a resume reflects your past, present, and (hopeful) future, it can be easy to get tripped up on verb tenses.

Below, we will go through each section of a resume and give examples of how you should phrase statements so that your future boss notices your experience, not any small mistakes.

Objective/Summary

At the top of your resume, it’s a good idea to include a summary or objective statement to give prospective employers an overview of your qualifications and what you are looking for in the next stage of your career. This should be in the present tense, but also passive voice, meaning that the subject is being acted upon by the verb. Your English teachers may have warned you against from overusing the passive voice in your writing – and they are right – but it is appropriate to depend more heavily on this voice in a resume.

“Enthusiastic recent graduate with certification in bookkeeping. Looking for an entry-level position with growth opportunities while preparing for my CPA exam. Hardworking, curious, and diligent.”

“Experienced programmer seeking the opportunity to share expertise and mentor teams. Fluent in JavaScript, Python, and C++. Five years of experience in customer support.”

“Results-driven sales manager with 15+ years of experience ready to grow into a VP of Sales position. Led large sales teams to exceed annual targets. Well-established network of prospects in the hospitality industry.”

Job History

When discussing your employment experience, you want to portray yourself as a proactive “do-er,” so, therefore, you will limit the passive voice. Instead, start each bullet point with a verb in the first person (“I”) – first-person present tense when you are describing a current task or responsibility; first-person past tense for previous jobs or accomplishments that happened in the past.

Current position description:

“Recruit, hire, and train technical support staff.”

Current position achievement:

“Established evaluation processes that were adopted across departments and recognized by national leadership. Enforce standards with department managers and provide technical assistance as needed.”

Past position description:

“Cultivated sales prospects throughout the tri-state area.”

Past position achievement:

“Selected as Employee-of-the-Month following the implementation of a successful interoffice recycling program.”

Depending on your industry or experience level, you may want to go into more detail about your education or experiences in school. Just like with your job history, you should only use the present tense for anything that describes your current situation. Anything else should be in the past tense.

Examples: Current student and experience:

“Mentor first-year students as part of the Student Advising Project.”

Current student and experience/past achievement:

“Lead study groups and give feedback on undergraduate papers. In the first semester, my cohort received grades above 90% on all exams.”

Current student/past experience:

“Elected chair of Sustainability Alliance and planned annual Earth Day events around campus.”

Past student and experience:

“Planned social events for Graduate Student Association.”

Before you send your resume, make sure to give it one last thorough review. Don’t trust your grammar-check – it doesn’t know your experience or the context of what you are writing. Read it out loud to yourself to see if flows well and ask a friend or family member to review as well. By following these simple rules and avoiding common resume mistakes, you can ensure that a hiring manager won’t get stuck on minor details and can focus on what makes you a great candidate for the job.

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