When filling out a job application or resume, the job function section can be tricky to complete. However, this section is important because it communicates your skills, experience, and how they relate to the role you are applying for. Here are some quick tips on how to effectively fill out the job function or experience section of an application.
Understand the Purpose of the Job Function Section
The job function or experience section is where you provide details about your relevant work history. This includes job titles, company names, employment dates, and an overview of your responsibilities and achievements. The goal is to show how your background aligns with the open position and that you have the right knowledge, training, and skills for the role.
Tailor to the Specific Job
Always customize your job function description to match the target job. Carefully read the job posting and highlight key responsibilities and qualifications they are seeking. Then you can tailor your own experience descriptions to show how they directly relate to the position. This shows the hiring manager that you are a strong match for what they are looking for in a candidate.
Focus on Relevant Experience
Only include job functions and responsibilities that are truly relevant to the role you want. As a rule of thumb, go back 10-15 years max when listing positions. Exclude outdated or irrelevant work history that does not support your job candidacy. If you have related volunteer work or academic projects, you can include brief mentions of those under a separate section.
Use Keywords from the Job Posting
Incorporate keywords and phrases directly from the job description itself. Many large companies use applicant tracking systems that scan for relevant keywords. Including the right terms will help ensure your application makes it through any initial automated screening.
Quantify Achievements
Go beyond just listing generic duties. Recruiters want to understand the precise scope of your responsibilities and your specific accomplishments in each role. Quantify achievements with details like dollar amounts, percentages, number of people managed, awards won, goals met, etc. This will provide solid evidence of your capabilities.
Emphasize Transferable Skills
Think broadly about your transferable skills, not just task-specific duties. For example, communication skills, team collaboration, problem-solving, project management, customer service, market analysis, and other versatile capabilities can be applied across many different roles and industries. Highlight these transferrable skills in your job function descriptions.
Use Strategic Keywords
Sprinkling in some strategic keywords related to your top skills can give your job function descriptions more impact. For example: “Managed an analytics team of four data scientists” or “Led market research initiatives resulting in a 15% increase in customer acquisition.” Choose selective keywords that emphasize your most relevant strengths.
Be Concise
Hiring managers have limited time to review applications, so keep your job function bullet points concise. Try to condense descriptions to 1-3 bullet points per position maximizing the most vital information. Include succinct responsibilities that highlight vital skills for the job you are seeking.
Proofread Thoroughly
Carefully proofread all job function descriptions in your application. Check for spelling and grammar errors which can undermine your professionalism. Also verify that employment dates and company names match what is listed on your resume. Inconsistencies can raise red flags.
Ask for Feedback
It can be helpful to get a second pair of eyes on your application before submitting. Ask a friend, career advisor, or professional contact to review your job function bullet points. They may catch gaps or suggest areas to focus on that you missed.
Sell Your Fit
The job function section is a critical opportunity to “sell” how you are an excellent match for the role. Be sure to speak to how your background directly aligns with the position’s duties and qualifications. Highlight achievements that show you have precisely the skills and experience the hiring manager seeks.
Show Progression
Demonstrate upward career progression when possible. This might entail showing increased responsibilities, leadership roles, promotions, and accomplishments over time. This illustrates your ability to take on more advanced job functions and succeed in them.
Be Honest
Always provide truthful descriptions of your actual job responsibilities. Embellishing or exaggerating will only backfire if you are unable to fulfill the same duties once on the job. Any dishonesty on your application can lead to termination down the road.
Check for Consistency
Verify your job function descriptions match the work history outlined on your resume. Any discrepancies in employment dates, titles, or responsibilities between the two can raise doubts or perceived dishonesty. Keep things consistent for a stronger application.
Conclusion
Filling out the job function or experience section thoughtfully and accurately is critical for showcasing your fit to hiring managers. By tailoring your descriptions to the target role, emphasizing relevant responsibilities, and quantifying achievements, you can compellingly communicate your background. Take time to ensure this part of your application aligns to the open position for your best chance of moving forward. Highlighting the right capabilities will position you as a qualified candidate.
Job Title | Company | Employment Dates | Job Functions and Responsibilities |
---|---|---|---|
Marketing Manager | ABC Company | March 2019 – Present | – Develop and execute marketing campaigns across multiple channels including email, social media, and website resulting in 20% sales growth in first year. |
Graphic Designer | 123 Designs | January 2016 – February 2019 | – Designed print and digital advertising materials including brochures, flyers, posters, emails, and website graphics averaging over 50 projects per year. |
Customer Service Representative | Acme Organization | June 2013 – December 2015 | – Provided customer service to 200+ clients per day via phone and email to resolve account, payment, and order inquiries with 95% satisfaction rate. |
The table above shows a sample format for presenting your work history and related responsibilities in a clear, organized way. Listing job titles, companies, dates, and bullet points allows hiring managers to quickly scan your relevant experience. Quantifying your achievements with numbers also helps demonstrate the scope of your capabilities.
Here are some additional tips when formatting your job function descriptions into an application table like the example above:
- Always put your most recent, relevant positions first
- Keep bullet points short, 1-2 lines maximum
- Use strong action verbs – managed, led, designed, analyzed
- Optimize keywords and phrases from the job posting
- Quantify accomplishments and impact whenever possible
- Check for consistency with job titles and dates on your resume
- Ensure excellent spelling and grammar
Having a standardized and easy-to-scan table allows hiring managers to quickly identify if you have the right background and skills for the open role. Developing concise, accomplishment-focused job function descriptions in this format can help your application stand out.
Job Function Examples
Here are some strong examples of job function bullet points to give you an idea of how to craft impactful descriptions:
- Developed new customer loyalty program which increased member enrollment by 30% in first quarter.
- Managed a sales team of 8 reps covering 5 states, achieving 110% yearly revenue target.
- Implemented new HR onboarding system, reducing time-to-hire by 25%.
- Provided financial advice to clients with over $5M in assets under management.
- Redesigned company website, improving mobile user experience and SEO which boosted web traffic 15%.
Each of these job function examples includes strong action verbs, quantifies results, and demonstrates the candidate’s capabilities and skills in their past roles. This helps the hiring manager understand the precise scope and impact of the applicant’s experience in a concise format.
Words to Avoid
Here are some common words and phrases to avoid when describing your job functions:
- Responsible for – lacks impact and accountability
- Helped/Assisted with – downplays your contribution
- Various administrative duties – too vague
- Experienced in – focuses on skills rather than actual accomplishments
Rather than using weaker words like these, convey your most meaningful actions and achievements in each past job. Action verbs like “directed,” “managed,” “led,” and “spearheaded” can help emphasize your active role and capabilities.
Formatting Your Job Function Table
When constructing a job function table for your application, follow these best practices:
- Use a simple, clean format without colors or fancy styling
- Keep font professional – Arial, Georgia, Helvetica
- Font size 10-12pt for easy reading
- Include column headings – Job Title, Company, Dates, Responsibilities
- List most recent, relevant position first
- Right align dates and left align other columns
- Use line breaks and bullet points to break up text
- Proofread carefully to fix formatting errors
A properly formatted job function table makes it easy for hiring managers to scan your application and understand your related background at a glance. With well-constructed descriptions tailored to the target role, you can compellingly showcase how you are qualified for the position you want.
Common Job Functions/Responsibilities by Industry
Job functions and core responsibilities can vary significantly depending on the industry. Here are some examples:
Information Technology
- Program development and coding
- Software testing and QA
- Managing technical infrastructure and systems
- Database management and administration
- Troubleshooting hardware and software issues
- Providing IT support and training for end users
- Implementing new systems and upgrades
Healthcare
- Recording patient medical history and exam results
- Creating patient treatment plans
- Administering medications, injections, etc.
- Reviewing diagnostic test results
- Handling admission/discharge procedures
- Documenting treatment progress in medical records
- Collaborating with healthcare team members
Sales
- Prospecting potential new clients
- Making sales presentations and product pitches
- Building and nurturing client relationships
- Negotiating pricing and contracts
- Retaining existing customer accounts
- Attending industry conferences and networking events
- Achieving monthly/quarterly sales targets and quotas
Marketing
- Planning and implementing marketing campaigns across different channels
- Creating compelling marketing content – emails, social posts, web pages, ads, etc.
- Conducting market research and analyzing data to guide strategy
- Managing brand messaging and improving public perception
- Monitoring campaign performance and tweaking based on results
- Staying current on industry trends and innovations
- Establishing marketing budgets and tracking return on investment
This overview shows just a sampling of typical functions and responsibilities within some of the top industries and career fields. When constructing your own job descriptions, dig into the specifics of what the daily roles entail in your target profession. Identifying overlaps will help you write tailored bullet points.
Transferable Skills to Highlight
Beyond specific job duties, also emphasize transferable skills that apply across roles and industries. Some examples of versatile skills to call out include:
- Communication – written, verbal, presentation, active listening
- Research and analysis – data analysis, critical thinking, assessment
- Project management – planning, delegation, resource allocation, timelines
- Leadership – staff development, supervision, mentoring, team building
- Problem-solving – identifying issues, creating solutions, process improvement
- Technical skills – software, programming, tools, systems
- Creativity – innovative thinking, imagination, coming up with new approaches
Showcasing these well-rounded capabilities can strengthen your candidacy even for roles that differ from your official job titles. Highlight them wherever possible in your job function descriptions.
Constructing a Strong Job Function Table
Follow this checklist when putting together your job function table for applications:
- Use clear, legible formatting
- Tailor descriptions directly to the target role
- Include only relevant positions from the past 10-15 years
- Focus on transferable skills and achievements
- Quantify accomplishments with numbers/data
- Emphasize increased responsibilities over time
- Use keywords and phrases from the job posting
- Balance brevity with detailed information
- Proofread thoroughly for any errors
- Ask someone to review before submitting
With a polished job function table that aligns to the position description, you can make a compelling case for why you are a strong match. Follow these best practices, and you’ll be ready to complete this critical application section like a pro.