Experience section key to impactful CV

YOUR experience section is the beating heart of your CV and LinkedIn profile. Hiring managers look there to understand your professional trajectory, gauge your accomplishments and decide whether you can do the job — and do it well.

- ANDREW SEAMAN

Unfortunately, many job-seekers fall into the trap of listing responsibilities rather than results.

Achievement focus

When crafting your experience section, focus on illustrating the impact you've made and not just on the tasks you've completed. Responsibilities like “managed social media accounts” may describe what you did, but they don’t communicate the value you brought to the organisation. Instead, provide achievements with measurable results - for example: “increased social media engagement by 35% within six months through targeted campaigns”.

This results-driven approach is particularly effective because metrics speak louder than words. Numbers provide hiring managers with tangible proof of your capabilities.

Power of metrics

Including quantifiable metrics wherever possible is a surefire way to make your experience section compelling. Metrics showcase your ability to drive results and solve problems. They can highlight everything from revenue increases and customer satisfaction improvements, to time or cost savings and process efficiencies.

For example, if you're in a creative field, your achievements might include the fact that you designed marketing materials that contributed to a 15% increase in sales.