When to Use Past Tense and Present Tense on Your CV
Want to make sure your CV is grammatically sound before you send it to a hiring manager? Check out some of our tips for proper CV tense.
Want to make sure your CV is grammatically sound before you send it to a hiring manager? Check out some of our tips for proper CV tense.
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While you can use both past and present tense, they need to be used correctly on your CV. For example, when writing about a past job, use the past tense. If you’re talking about past positions you’ve held over the years, use past tense verbs to describe events that have already happened. For example: “Oversaw team of 15 employees.”
On the other hand, if you’re listing a current job that you have now, use the present tense. For example: “Creates quarterly financial reports.” Present tense verbs describe ongoing actions, and this allows you to write about your current job responsibilities on your CV. But can you mix both past and present tense statements on your CV?
Some situations may have you questioning what tense to use on your CV. Is it okay to mix past and present tense?
Generally, when talking about a specific job, you should avoid mixing past and present action verbs on your CV. For example, if you’re talking about one job, you wouldn’t want to put “Managed over 100 employees” in one sentence and “Conducts daily meetings” in another.
Overall, since your CV primarily focuses on past job positions, you’ll typically use past tense. However, when talking about a current position, you should use the present tense to list responsibilities and accomplishments.
Using the proper CV tense indicates your grammar skills. Using proper grammar is crucial on your CV since mistakes stick out easily. Using correct grammar helps emphasise your abilities and skills to recruiters and hiring managers.
Additionally, basic knowledge of grammar and punctuation shows your attention to detail and shows hiring managers that you’ve put time and effort into your CV. Poor grammar on a CV can indicate a lack of excitement and passion for the position.
Finally, correct grammar is easier for others to read and understand. So when potential employers look at your CV, they’ll have an easier time reading through your skills, experience and qualifications.
When you’re listing skills on your CV, you’re likely using action verbs to talk about your job duties, responsibilities and skills. Typically, you’ll use bullet points to list this information throughout the skills and work history sections of your CV.
That said, if you’re not sure how to take a skill from the job description and further expand on it, here are some examples of present tense verbs you may use to list your current responsibilities.
When you’re talking about management skills, you may include words like:
Next, if you’re listing organisational skills, you’ll want to add verbs such as:
Some action verbs to put along with your technical skills include:
Finally, when it comes to financial skills, you may consider adding verbs such as:
No matter what relevant skills you have, the ultimate goal is to list them effectively on your CV. If you’re listing past jobs on your CV or cover letter, here are some verbs you can use to describe your achievements.
Ultimately, most of your CV will likely consist of past tense verbs that describe your job experience and skills. If you’re listing past accomplishments, skills or certifications you’ve obtained from past positions, you may use verbs such as:
When you’re thinking about listing past skills on your CV, try to use some of these past tense verbs. Frequently, people use the same verbs repeatedly on a CV. Try expanding your vocabulary and listing some unique action verbs that accurately portray your past responsibilities.
Your cover letter is similar to a CV in the sense that you’ll want to use the same tense format. Include present tense statements for your current employment experience and past tense statements for previous jobs.
Yes, your CV should be grammatically correct before submitting it to a hiring manager or future employer. After all, your chances of an interview are higher if you use proper grammar on your CV.
Additionally, hiring managers and recruiters will notice grammatical errors, which may cause them to turn your CV away. Your CV should be free of mistakes, formatted correctly, and contain information relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Job seekers can eliminate writing mistakes on a CV by having someone look over it. Before you send it over to a hiring manager, have someone proofread it first. Then fix any grammatical errors or formatting mistakes so you can feel confident when you submit it.
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