Listing projects on your resume allows hiring managers to see your capabilities and determine whether or not your style of work would make you a good candidate for their company. But how do you list them and where?
This article explains the importance of listing compelling projects on your resume and how to list them for the most successful impact.
See the table below for an overview of what to expect in this article.
Table of contents
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Why should you be listing projects on a resume?
It’s important to list your most relevant projects on your resume to communicate your experience and skills, but also to highlight hands-on examples of how you applied your capabilities to find a solution.
Depending on your role for a particular project, letting recruiters know what work you’ve done in the past could also show them your leadership skills.
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How to list projects on a resume
In listing your projects on your resume, you should start by selecting the most relevant projects to the role you’re applying for, but you should also consider where they’ll be housed on your resume to prioritize them best. Here are the most effective steps for listing projects on your resume:
- List the skills you want to highlight.
- Think of the specific projects you want to include.
- Decide where and how to list them on your resume.
- Consider adding a link to your online portfolio.
1. List the skills you want to highlight
Before adding your projects to your resume, think of the skills you want to highlight. Consider revisiting the job posting to get an idea of what the hiring manager is looking for in an employee. Job postings will often list a series of qualifications that they want future hires to meet.
The more you meet these qualifications, the better your chances are of getting the job. Consider what skills align with the role so you know the types of projects to showcase on your resume.
2. Think of the specific projects you want to include
Based on the skills you want to highlight, consider the projects you’ve completed that used these specific skills. It’s also important to consider what projects you’ve done that are the most relevant to the role you’re applying for. Make a list of all the projects you’ve completed and narrow it down to the most relevant for this position and industry. It’s important to select only the projects that will allow recruiters to see how you can transfer the skills you used in those projects to this new role.
3. Decide where and how to list them on your resume
Next, consider where you want to include your projects on your resume. There are three common locations for your projects on a resume. They are:
- Under each job description. You can highlight them under each job description, add them to a projects section on your resume or add them as part of your education section. If you choose to include them in your job descriptions, you’ll be able to showcase what you accomplished in each of your previous employments.
- Under a projects section. If you have a number of projects to list, you might choose to create a projects section on your resume.
- Under your education section. If you have education-related projects to list—such as senior projects or projects from training courses—you should consider adding them to your education section, listing them below your degree and university information.
4. Consider adding a link to your online portfolio
You should also consider including a link to your online portfolio, blog or website to encourage the hiring manager to review your projects in greater detail. This will allow them to see the variety of projects you’ve accomplished and the consequent skills you’re able to bring to a new role.
Before doing this, ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, and professional and showcases the projects you want them to see. Focus on the projects that present your mastery of a key skill they’re looking for in a future employee. It’s also important to only select a few projects to showcase so the hiring manager doesn’t get overwhelmed.
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Tips for listing projects on your resume
There are many things to consider when you list your projects on your resume. Consider the following tips to help guide you:
- Provide detail. While you should include the basics of the project such as the name and what it was, you should also include the project’s duration, how many people you worked with, the dollar value and if you were in a leadership role. This will give hiring managers a better idea of your capabilities.
- Be concise. Though you should provide detail when listing your projects, you should also make your descriptions as short as possible to avoid losing the hiring manager’s attention.
- Use consistent formatting. As you list projects on your resume, it’s important to be consistent with your formatting. Make sure your resume is visually appealing and that your projects use the same fonts and colors as the rest of your resume. Consider using bullet points to help you organize all of your relevant projects.
- Choose the right words. When describing each project on your resume, be mindful of the language and words you choose. Focus on action verbs that properly showcase your abilities. For example, you can use words and phrases such as the following: “created,” “managed,” “developed,” “established,” “was a key player in” and more.
Templates
Here are three templates for effectively listing projects on your resume:
In the job description
One way to list your projects on your resume is to include them as part of your job description. Here is a template for using the experience section of your resume:
[EXPERIENCE]
[Job title], [Company name][Dates worked]
[Job description] [Projects] [Project 1 description and your role in it]
[Project 2 description and your role in it]
In the projects section
You can also list your projects in their own projects section on your resume as follows:
[CAREER PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS]
[Project 1 name], [Company name], [Date of project 1][Project 1 description and your role in it] [Project 2 name], [Company name], [Date of project 2]
[Project 2 description and your role in it]
In the education section
Finally, you can also list your projects as part of the education section on your resume. Here is a template for doing this:
[EDUCATION]
[University name], [University city and state][Degree type and name] [Projects]
[Name of project 1], [Company name], [Date of project 1]
[Project 1 description and your role in it] [Name of project 2], [Company name], [Date of project 2]
[Project 2 description and your role in it]
Example
Here is a full resume example with project experience to help you when writing your own:
Madison Greene
123 Woodbridge Lane
Denver, CO 55555
[email protected]
Objective
Professional arts and entertainment reporter with experience working in newsrooms of all sizes. Focused and dedicated to all stories with the ability to produce high-quality news content at high volumes and on strict deadlines. Currently seeking a role as an arts and entertainment reporter at a professional newsroom.
Education
Blue University, 2008-2012
Bachelor of Science in Journalism
Senior Project
Celebrity Coverage in the News Media Landscape, Blue University, 2011-2012
Researched and wrote an in-depth report on the coverage of celebrities in the entertainment industry. Consulted with several local and non-local news outlets, analyzed stories and gathered further research to produce a thorough and conclusive report.
Experience
Arts and Entertainment Reporter
Valley Oak Times, 2018-Present
- Cover a wide variety of arts and entertainment stories as assigned
- Adhere to all story deadlines
- Provide quality coverage in all stories
- Proofread every story for grammar and spelling
- Adhere to the newspaper style guide
Entertainment Reporter
San Jose Star Journal, 2013-2018
- Covered various entertainment and celebrity news stories
- Wrote headlines and photo captions for all stories
- Edited stories for spelling and grammar before submitting
- Coordinated coverage with other arts section reporters
Freelance Reporter
The Denver Times, 2012-2013
- Wrote articles for the arts section of the newspaper
- Proofread all stories for spelling and grammar
Skills
- Multimedia reporting
- Breaking news reporting
- Proofreading
- Photojournalism
- Social media
Conclusion
If you’ve completed a project you’re especially proud of, it’s normal to show it off on your resume—and it might even help you land your next job. Projects that potentially appear on your resume can come from your past jobs, paid and unpaid side ventures, and—if you’re a recent grad—your academic coursework can be represented as your project on resume.
References
- indeed.com – How to List Projects on your Resume
- themuse.com – How—and When—to Include Projects on Your Resume (Plus Examples!)
- zippia.com – How To Put Projects On A Resume (With Examples)
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