Describing an employer on a resume means showcasing your contributions and achievements within that organization, rather than detailing the company's business or mission. Your focus should be on your specific responsibilities and quantifiable accomplishments that highlight your value to potential employers.
Essential Employer Information
Start with the basic, factual details for each role under your "Experience" section. This provides immediate context for your employment history.
- Company Name: List the full, official name of the organization.
- Company Location: Include the city and state (or country if applying internationally).
- Your Job Title: State your exact title during your employment.
- Dates of Employment: Specify your start and end dates (month and year).
Crafting Impactful Bullet Points
This is where you move beyond basic facts to demonstrate your impact. Instead of summarizing what the company does, describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in relation to the job and the organization. Limit your description to the three or four most important and relevant points for each role.
1. Focus on Your Actions and Results
Shift the emphasis from passive descriptions to active, results-oriented statements. Recruiters want to know what you did and the outcomes you achieved.
- Avoid: "A tech company focused on software development."
- Instead, describe your role: "Managed a cross-functional team of 7 software engineers..."
2. Utilize Strong Action Verbs
Begin each bullet point with a powerful action verb that immediately conveys your capabilities and initiative.
Examples of Effective Action Verbs:
| Category | Action Verbs |
|---|---|
| Leadership | Led, Managed, Supervised, Coordinated, Mentored |
| Achievement | Achieved, Exceeded, Generated, Implemented, Spearheaded |
| Communication | Presented, Liaised, Negotiated, Communicated, Authored |
| Technical | Developed, Designed, Programmed, Analyzed, Optimized |
| Problem-Solving | Resolved, Diagnosed, Streamlined, Improved, Optimized |
3. Quantify Your Achievements
Whenever possible, use numbers, percentages, and metrics to demonstrate the tangible impact of your work. This provides concrete evidence of your success.
- Weak: "Responsible for customer service."
- Strong: "Resolved an average of 50+ customer inquiries daily, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rating."
- Weak: "Improved project efficiency."
- Strong: "Streamlined project workflows, reducing completion time by 15% and saving an estimated $10,000 annually."
4. Tailor to the Job Description
Customize your bullet points to align with the skills and qualifications highlighted in the job advertisement. This shows employers you have the specific experience they're seeking.
- If the target job emphasizes project management, highlight your project leadership roles and successes.
- If data analysis is key, emphasize your experience with data collection, interpretation, and reporting.
Practical Examples of Employer Descriptions
Here’s a look at how to effectively describe your role within an employer, using the recommended approach:
Example 1: Marketing Manager
Employer: Tech Solutions Inc., New York, NY
Job Title: Marketing Manager
Dates: August 2018 – Present
- Developed and executed comprehensive digital marketing strategies that increased website traffic by 30% and lead generation by 20% in Q4 2023.
- Managed a budget of $50,000 for online advertising campaigns, consistently achieving a 5x return on ad spend (ROAS).
- Led content creation for blog posts, social media, and email newsletters, resulting in a 10% increase in subscriber engagement.
- Collaborated with sales teams to align marketing efforts with sales goals, contributing to a 15% growth in new customer acquisition.
Example 2: Software Engineer
Employer: Innovate Labs, San Francisco, CA
Job Title: Software Engineer
Dates: May 2017 – July 2022
- Designed and implemented scalable backend services for a high-traffic e-commerce platform, supporting over 100,000 daily active users.
- Optimized database queries and application performance, reducing page load times by 25% and improving user experience.
- Developed new features using Python and Django, contributing to a 10% increase in customer feature adoption.
- Participated in agile development cycles, including sprint planning, code reviews, and deployment processes.
Key Takeaways for Describing Employers
- Focus on you: Your contributions, responsibilities, and achievements are paramount.
- Be specific: Use details and metrics to illustrate your impact.
- Be concise: Limit to 3-4 powerful bullet points per role, focusing on the most relevant information.
- Use strong language: Start with action verbs.
- Tailor: Adjust your descriptions for each job application.
By following these guidelines, you'll transform your resume from a list of job duties into a compelling narrative of your professional accomplishments and value.
