How to describe your duties on a CV
Describe your duties in 3 to 5 bullet points per job, starting with a verb and ending with something concrete: a scale, a tool or a result. Instead of "responsible for the warehouse", write "picked 120 orders per shift in the WMS". Put the points that matter most for the job you are applying for at the top.
Duties are not a copy of your contract
The most common mistake is copying the duties from your contract or the job ad. That description looks the same for every candidate in that role. A recruiter wants to know what you did, at what scale and with what effect.
A good bullet point has three parts: a verb, the task and a specific detail. We collected suitable verbs in our list of action verbs for your CV. The detail can be a number, a tool, a type of client, the size of a team or a result.
A simple pattern
- Choose 3 to 5 tasks that best fit the job you are applying for.
- Start each point with a verb: served, prepared, checked.
- Add a detail: how many, how often, in which software, for whom.
- If you can, add the result: less time, fewer errors, more customers.
- Order the points from the most relevant for this job.
Not every point needs a number. In many jobs the name of a machine, a licence or the type of work is enough. What matters is that the point can be checked and that you can talk about it in an interview.
Examples for several jobs
| Job | Instead of | Write |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse worker | Warehouse work | Picked up to 150 orders per shift in the WMS and operated a forklift (licensed) |
| Sales assistant | Customer service | Advised customers on electronics and reached 110% of the monthly sales target |
| Accountant | Bookkeeping | Kept full accounts for 12 limited companies and prepared VAT returns |
| Driver | Transporting goods | Drove domestic routes in a C+E vehicle, around 9,000 km a month, with no damage |
| Caregiver | Care for an elderly person | Helped a bedridden person with daily tasks and kept to the medication schedule |
You will find many more ready descriptions in individual examples, such as the warehouse worker resume example. We also wrote about showing the value of hands-on work in warehouse experience can look ordinary on paper.
Matching your duties to the job ad
Read the ad and mark the tasks and requirements. Then check which ones you have done and put them at the top of your list, using words similar to the employer’s. This matters especially with ATS software, which compares CVs with the ad. Do not change the facts, though: if the ad asks for software you do not know, write which similar tool you have used.
Duties on a CV with no work experience
Without a regular job you still have something to describe. Anything you did regularly, where someone relied on you, counts.
- Internships: describe tasks as you would a job, with a detail, for example "prepared sales summaries for the sales team".
- Casual and seasonal work: waiting tables, harvest work or handing out flyers show reliability and stamina.
- Volunteering: organising a collection or caring for animals at a shelter shows responsibility.
- School and university projects: who did what, how big the team was, what came out of it.
Common mistakes
- Too many points. Ten bullet points for one job get lost.
- Nouns with no content: "communication, organisation, reporting".
- The same points under every job. Show how each role was different.
- Company jargon nobody outside it understands. Write so a recruiter from another industry gets it.
Other slips that weaken a good CV are in our guide to common CV mistakes.
Several roles at one company
If you were promoted or moved teams within one company, write the company name once and list the roles beneath it with dates, newest first. Under each role, describe only what was new. A promotion is a strong signal for a recruiter, so make it visible.
Ready-to-copy template
Fill in the brackets for each job. Delete the points that do not fit the offer.
[Job title], [Company], [City] [Month year] to [month year or present] - [Verb] [what you did] [how many or how often], [in which tool or for whom] - [Verb] [what you did], which [result, e.g. cut handling time by X] - [Verb] [what you were in charge of] in a team of [number] - [Licence, certificate or software] you used every day
Frequently asked questions
How many duties should I list per job?
Usually 3 to 5 points. For older or short jobs, 1 or 2 are enough. Give the most space to the roles that best fit the offer.
Do I need numbers on my CV?
Not always, but they help a lot: customers, orders, team size, percentage of a target. Without numbers, give another specific detail, such as a tool or the type of work.
Can I copy duties from the job ad?
Better not word for word. Show the same skills with examples from your own work instead.