How to Write Job Duty Descriptions in a Resume

How to Write Job Duty Descriptions in a Resume

Description
Job duty descriptions are the core part of a resume, used to showcase the specific tasks and roles a candidate undertook in previous positions. Many people fall into the trap of simply listing daily responsibilities, resulting in bland and non-targeted content. Excellent duty descriptions should highlight job relevance, action orientation, and outcome value, helping recruiters quickly assess a candidate's suitability.

Problem-Solving Process

  1. Clarify Target Job Requirements

    • Before writing, carefully analyze the target job's requirements (JD) and extract keywords (e.g., "project management," "data analysis," "cost control").
    • Example: If applying for a "Marketing Manager" position, focus on ability requirements such as "market strategy development," "team collaboration," and "budget management."

  2. Screen for Relevant Duties

    • Select the duties from past work experience most relevant to the target position, eliminating unrelated content. For instance, when applying for a technical role, there's no need to detail administrative tasks.
    • Tip: Prioritize by "importance > frequency," highlighting core responsibilities first and avoiding cluttering with trivial tasks.

  3. Use the "Verb + Object + Result" Structure

    • Start with strong action verbs (e.g., "led," "optimized," "drove"), clearly state the work content, and supplement with quantifiable results or value.
    • Incorrect Example: "Responsible for company social media operations" (too vague).
    • Optimized Version: "Led operations of social media channels including Weibo and WeChat, achieving a 40% growth in followers through campaign planning and increasing lead conversion rate by 15%."

  4. Incorporate Industry Keywords and Tools

    • Embed professional terminology (e.g., "KPI assessment," "user persona") and tool names (e.g., "Tableau," "SAP") to improve the resume's search pass rate.
    • Example: "Used Python to crawl competitor data, combined with Tableau for visual analysis to support product decision-making."

  5. Differentiate Focus for Junior vs. Management Roles

    • Junior Roles: Emphasize execution details and skill application, e.g., "Processed 50+ daily order exception reports and optimized investigation efficiency using Excel functions."
    • Management Roles: Highlight strategic planning and team contributions, e.g., "Formulated departmental annual goals and led a 5-member team to exceed performance targets by 20%."

  6. Avoid Repetition and Subjective Statements

    • Remove vague terms like "hardworking" or "responsible," replacing subjective evaluations with facts.
    • Before Revision: "Actively participated in teamwork and received praise from leadership."
    • After Revision: "Coordinated cross-departmental resources, drove project completion 2 weeks ahead of schedule, and received the Quarterly Team Contribution Award."

Summary
Effective duty descriptions must closely align with job requirements, showcasing actions and value through structured language. After completion, self-check: Does each description allow HR to see your match for the position? Have redundant details been avoided? Iteratively revise until the content is concise and precise.