How to Write a Resume - When Should I Use Past Tense?

How to Write a Resume - When Should I Use Past Tense?You're in the middle of writing a resume and you need to know how to tell if you should write in past tense in your current position or the past. You want to be careful when writing in past tense, especially if you're not sure if you'll still be working there next week.First, let's talk about the job title you have now. If you're still in the same job, you will likely be writing in past tense. If you're still in a different job, however, you might be tempted to change it to the present tense. Unfortunately, this can cause more problems than it solves.The problem with using the present tense when writing a resume is that it leaves future possibilities open. When the boss says you're going to go on vacation for the summer, he doesn't need to say that you're going to take off and work for him again in August.If you go on vacation, he could choose to work for you again next summer and leave your future prospects open again. It's much b etter to avoid the possibility of leaving your future prospects open by writing in past tense.This is also a good time to list your skills and accomplishments on your resume. If you've only recently been promoted to a new position, you should not use the past tense. Instead, list your responsibilities as an employee before you were promoted.If you plan to move up at some point in the future, list your tasks and responsibilities as an employee when you were promoted. This information won't be available to the potential employer until the future date, but if you are hired, you should be able to count it against your time as a team member.Since your future possibilities will never be completely closed, don't assume you'll be able to use the past tense the whole time. If the opportunity to move up comes up in the future, you should still use the past tense. Just change the date to be the current date.When writing a resume, be aware of what the boss may be tempted to do in the future. It 's not a good idea to change the present tense on a resume to keep your future opportunities open.