Should You Write a Resume in Past or Present Tense? Our Editor Explains
Should you describe previous jobs and past accomplishments using past tense verbs? Using the correct resume verb tense is essential to submit a grammatically correct application. According to a survey, 59% of hiring managers will reject a resume that has typos or grammar mistakes. Hiring professionals believe that spotless writing translates to attention to detail and good communication skills in the workplace.
However, job-seekers often get confused ty the verb forms in resumes. If you are puzzled by resume grammar, keep reading this guide. Our resume expert will explain when to use past and present tense verbs to clearly communicate your ongoing responsibilities and completed projects to potential employers.
At ResumePerk.com, we offer resume editing services on budget. Our consultant will strengthen your resume text, fix errors and shortcomings, and update the formatting for a better visual impact. Don't let past and present tense confuse you – our editor will correct everything in no time!
What is past and present tense?
Before we find out what tense to use for your past and current positions, let's have a quick English class first.
- Past tense verbs are the ones that end with –ed, with few exceptions like bring – brought, rise – rose. Past tense refers to events that already happened or ended, so you can use them for past achievements and job duties.
- Present tense in English is used for usual actions or current responsibilities (i.e. Develop, Analyze, Create). In resumes, we use a simple present tense to highlight usual and regular actions. Avoid listing your past jobs in a simple past tense, as it might mislead the recruiter.
Should You Use Past or Present Tense on a Resume?
The answer to the question "Should resumes be in past tense?" is: it depends. Using the past or present tense on your resume depends on your employment history and whether you have a job now. To make things clearer for you, let's review each grammatical structure of your resume closer.
When should you use a past tense on your resume?
To list your past positions and completed projects.
Always use past tense to list the past job, education, or volunteering project. Make sure that each bullet goes in the past tense. Experts also recommend using strong action verbs (i.e. not just Led or Managed, but Organized, Headed, Initiated, etc.) So, most of your resume will use the past tense, and this is considered a norm.
For listing accomplishments.
Past simple is the proper tense for listing accomplishments as well. Since accomplishments have a sense of completion, they should use past tense as well. This rule works for your completed accomplishments and ongoing accomplishments in your current job, too.
Examples:
- Onboarded and trained 5 technical support specialists resulting in customer satisfaction increase by 20%.
- Implemented 2 digital marketing strategies resulting in 20% more leads and a 7% increase in sales in 6 months.
When should you use present tense?
To list current responsibilities in the role you have now.
You should use present tense to outline duties in the current job – the ones you do repeatedly or time after time. Present simple is a correct tense here because it highlights that you are actively engaged in these duties on ongoing basis.
Examples:
- Manage a cross-functional team to ensure timely deliverables on a software development project.
- Create monthly reports for investors and directors.
- Deliver presentations to senior management on a quarterly basis.
In your summary paragraph or objective.
Career Summary, an opening paragraph of your resume, should be written in present as well. This resume entry refers to your overall areas of expertise, skills, and achievements. During a job search, summary serves as a presentation of your abilities, so verbs in present will sound more convincing.
Examples:
- Proven track record in launching award-winning marketing strategies that drive profitability and customer loyalty.
- Delivers sales copy that increases conversion by 30% on average.
We hope that we've answered your question "How to choose correct tense for resumes?" for listing your job duties and achievements. Now, let's see whether you should use past vs present verb forms for different resume sections in other sections.
Resume Tense Rules for Summary, Headline, and Experience
The rule of thumb is using the present which tense to use in resume writing for your headline and summary section, and mostly past tense for experience. Here is a more detailed explanation.
Guidelines for Choosing Resume Verb Tense for the headline
Your resume headline is the line that appears at the top of the document after your contact info, summarizing your value proposition. It goes in the present tense.
- Meticulous Senior Accountant | CFA Certified | Banking & Corporate Finance
Tense for resume summary section
Your resume profile that summarizes your key skills and notable achievements also goes in the present tense. In it, you show what skills and expertise you can contribute to the employer if hired.
- Enthusiastic Sales Representative with 3+ years of experience in retail and a track record in exceeding sales targets by 15% on average. Proven ability to build rapport with customers and leverage consultative selling to achieve a 93% satisfaction rate. Seeking a challenging role where I can leverage my skills and customer-cenered approach to drive revenue and client loyalty.
Resume tense for experience
Here are the basic rules for resume tenses in the Experience section:
- Always list past jobs and achievements in the past tense.
- In your current job, write completed projects and achievements in the past tense. Use present tense for ongoing and repetitive responsibilities.
- Start your bullet points with an action verb in the correct tense.
Tense rules for listing education
If you have already graduated from the university, use the past tense to list your extracurricular projects and achievements. If you're a student now, use present tense.
- Run fundraising initiatives for the college charity club.
- Served as an editor-in-chief of college newspaper.
Can You Mix Tenses in a Resume?
Resume experts don't recommend mixing past and present in one job description. When you mix tenses under one job title, a hiring manager might see it as a grammar tense resume mistake. However, it's acceptable to use different tenses in certain situations. Here are some resume consistency tips.
Let's assume that your current job had some responsibilities or key achievements that you had a year ago, and haven't repeated since then. In this case, it's best to list your current duties in present at the top of the list, and put achievements in past at the bottom. Here's an example:
- Use consultative sales approach to identify customer needs
- Develop sales strategies for existing accounts and oversee a sales team
- Awarded #2 Sales Rep in the company in 2023.
Resume Grammar Tips for Job Seekers
Once you've worked things out with tenses, take a critical look at the resume content in general. Review the grammar, writing style, and consistency to make a strong impression on the hiring manager. Here are some resume tips for job-seekers:
Format professionally
Use the bullet point resume writing format - it saves resume space and makes the resume easier to read. Start each bullet with an action verb in the right tense. Format each job as a bullet point section. In 2025, this is the most preferred resume format.
The document should be easy to read (large margins, font no less than 10 pts, bullet points instead of paragraphs, and enough white space between sections). Recruiters are more likely to skim through resumes rather than read them top to bottom.
Double-check contact details
Double check the contact information. If you misspell your email address or a phone number, a recruiter will not be able to reach you. Speaking of email, use a professional one that consists of your first and last name. Don't use your current corporate email to apply for new jobs.
Optimize for ATS
About 98% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems these days. So, a modern resume must be optimized for them. Use keywords from the job posting, for example, overseeing staff members, direct sales, or team player. If crucial skills and competencies from the job ad are missing from the resume, it might get tossed by ATS.
Include achievements professionally
To make accomplishments shine on your resume, use action verbs in correct tense for each bullet point. Here's how to write resume achievement:
- Use a strong action verb in the past tense.
- Use the STAR method to describe your achievement in detail: describe the situation, actions you took, and the result you achieved.
- Add a number or percentage to illustrate your impact.
Example: Improved timely project completion rate by 15% by implementing regular team meetings and providing performance feedback to employees.
Keep it short
Keep your resume to 1-2 pages. A one-page resume is perfect for entry-level professional, whereas a candidate with 10+ years of experience can use the second page. Longer resumes rarely get read by a human reader. If yours is too long, consider removing jobs older than 15 years or irrelevant positions.
Resume grammar mistakes to avoid
In addition to confusing between past tense or present, there are many other mistakes that applicants make. Here's what you want to correct in your resume immediately:
- Writing your resume in the first person. Resume is a professional document, so you want to write it in the third person without pronouns.
- Punctuation and spelling errors. Typos and missed commas might seem a minor issue, yet they show slopiness and poor attention to detail. Carefully read the resume before sending it, and use an online spell checker to fix minor issues quickly.
- Abbreviations and jargon. Spell out all words to avoid misunderstadning. Use in plain English so that even non-native speakers or non-technical recruiters can understand.
- Homophones. Confusing between their and there, cell and sell is a popular mistake, especially for ESL job-seekers. Read your resume aloud or consult the dictionary to make sure that each sentence makes sense.
- Focusing too much on daily operations. You want to include at least 1-2 achievements for all previous roles. Accomplishments show that you're result-driven and motivated to contribute.
- Missing information. Lack of company names, job titles, college names or even contact details is not uncommon. Check that you've included all the important details.
- Unprofessional writing style or humor. Avoid writing personal details, stories and don't use humor. Of course, there is a tiny chance that some recruiter will appreciate your joke, but most of them will find it unprofessional.
Resume Action Verbs — Past vs Present
Action verbs for resumes show your impact in the project, emphasize your initiative, and help your accomplishments sound more persuasive. You may use action verbs in the present tense and past tense, using various resume verbs for job duties.
Examples of good resume language:
- Achieved
- Boosted
- Collaborated
- Developed
- Directed
- Facilitated
- Implemented
- Increased
- Launched
- Optimized
- Resolved
- Streamlined
Resume verbs: Past vs Present
|
Past tense |
Present tense |
|
|
How to Fix and Improve Resume Grammar (and When to Ask for Help)
Now you are aware of how to choose verb tenses. Yet, the resume success depends on many tiny elements you shouldn't overlook. So, if you want better results from your job search, consider working with a resume professional.
Our experts offer resume editing services at the price every job-seeker can afford! Your writer will improve sentence structure, strengthen your bullet points, and ensure spotless spelling and punctuation. We guarantee customer satisfaction for all writing orders: if you aren't happy with a new resume, we offer 2 weeks of free revisions. Hire a resume expert today and get better results with your job search!
Contact us anytime to place an order and get resume fixed by an expert. Or, chat with us to learn more and claim your special welcome discount! or chat with us to learn more.
FAQ
What tense should a resume be in?
Most of your resume should be written in past tense, as you list experience and achievements that happened in the past. Yet, always use the present tense for ongoing responsibilities and projects in your current job.
Can you mix past and present tense in a resume?
Yes, it is acceptable to mix present and past tense in a resume. Use present tense for your current role, resume headline, and summary, and write the rest of the resume in the past tense.
Should your current job be in present tense on a resume?
Absolutely! Using present tense for your current job indicates that you are still actively performing those duties, providing an accurate description of your current employment status for a potential employer. You may add achievements and past duties in your current position using past tense.
What tense should resume bullets be?
Most resume bullets in your resume should go in the past tense, as they describe completed tasks, past job duties, and achievements. However, be sure to start bullets for your current job in the present tense, for example, Maintain, Direct, Oversee, and so on.
How to use verb tense in resume summary?
As a rule, rsume summary always goes in the present tense, as its purpose is to showcase your skills, achievements, and strengths to the hiring manager. However, when listing accomplishments in a summary, use the past tense as the result relates to a completed project.