The work experience section is the heaviest-weighted part of your resume. Recruiters spend more time here than on every other section combined. Three rules, five mistakes.
The three rules
- Reverse chronological order. Most recent role at the top. Earlier roles get fewer bullets.
- Every bullet has a measurable outcome. If you can't attach a number, ask whether the bullet belongs.
- Use the verb-object-result template: "Rebuilt the checkout flow, lifting conversion from 2.1% to 3.4%."
Five mistakes to cut first
- •Responsibilities in paragraph form. Break them into bullets or cut them.
- •Weak verbs like "worked on," "helped with," "involved in." Use the strong verb that actually describes your role: led, built, shipped, migrated, designed, owned.
- •Results without the baseline. "Lifted conversion by 60%" is meaningless without the starting number.
- •Every bullet the same length. Vary 1-line and 2-line bullets — it improves scanability.
- •Job-description-style bullets copied from the company's JD. Recruiters spot these instantly.