This is going to be the shortest introduction ever because I know why you're here.

You're staring at your resume, second-guessing every verb, wondering: "Do I write 'manage' or 'managed'? 'Develop' or 'developed'?"

You've probably changed the same bullet point seventeen times, and now you're not even sure if "managed" is a real word anymore. (It is. You're just having semantic satiation. Google it.)

I'm about to make this stupidly simple for you. By the end of this article, you'll never question resume tenses again. Let's go.

The Golden Rule of Resume Tenses

Here's the only rule you need to remember:

Current job = Present tense Past jobs = Past tense

That's it. That's the tweet.

But wait, there's a catch (isn't there always?). Your current job is where things get tricky, because you need to use BOTH tenses. Let me explain.

The Current Job Tense Split

For your current position, use:

Present tense for ongoing responsibilities
Past tense for completed achievements

Here's what this looks like in practice:

Marketing Manager | ABC Company | 2023 - Present

Manage social media strategy across 5 platforms (present - you still do this)
Develop content calendars for B2B and B2C audiences (present - ongoing)
Increased follower engagement by 150% in Q1 2024 (past - already achieved)
Launched viral campaign that generated 2M impressions (past - it's done)

See the pattern? If you're still doing it = present. If you already did it = past.

Past Job Tenses (Spoiler: All Past)

This one's easy. Everything in past positions should be in past tense. Everything.

Sales Associate | XYZ Retail | 2021 - 2023

Managed customer relationships for 200+ accounts ✓
Exceeded sales targets by 30% for 8 consecutive quarters ✓
Trained 15 new team members on sales processes ✓
~~Manage customer relationships~~ ✗ (You don't manage them anymore!)

I don't care if you did the exact same thing every single day for two years. Once you leave a job, all verbs go past tense.

Real Examples That Show the Difference

Let me show you how the same responsibilities look different based on timing:

Current Job Example

Data Analyst | Tech Solutions Inc. | 2024 - Present

Analyze customer behavior patterns to identify growth opportunities
Create automated dashboards that save 10 hours weekly
Present insights to C-suite executives monthly
Reduced data processing time by 60% through Python automation
Identified $2M cost-saving opportunity in Q3 2024

Previous Job Example

Data Analyst | StartUp Analytics | 2022 - 2024

Analyzed customer behavior patterns to identify growth opportunities
Created automated dashboards that saved 10 hours weekly
Presented insights to C-suite executives monthly
Reduced data processing time by 60% through Python automation
Identified $2M cost-saving opportunity in Q3 2023

Same job, different tenses. It's that simple.

Common Tense Mistakes That Make You Look Amateur

Mistake 1: The Time Traveler

❌ Current position using all past tense: "Software Developer | Current Company | 2023 - Present

Developed applications using React
Collaborated with design team
Resolved technical issues"

Why it's wrong: Makes it look like you've already left or do nothing currently.

Mistake 2: The Eternal Present

❌ Past position using present tense: "Project Manager | Old Company | 2019 - 2022

Manage project timelines
Coordinate with stakeholders
Deliver projects on time"

Why it's wrong: You can't manage projects at a company you left 3 years ago.

Mistake 3: The Flip-Flopper

❌ Mixing tenses randomly: "Account Executive | Sales Corp | 2020 - 2023

Managed key accounts
Generate new leads through cold calling
Exceeded quotas
Negotiate contracts with clients"

Why it's wrong: Pick a lane! (Past tense, in this case.)

Mistake 4: The Gerund Overuser

❌ Starting everything with -ing: "Marketing Coordinator | Agency | Current

Managing social media accounts
Creating content strategies
Increasing brand awareness"

Why it's wrong: Gerunds (-ing words) are weak and passive. Use strong action verbs.

Special Situations and How to Handle Them

Freelance/Contract Work

If you're currently freelancing:

Present tense for ongoing clients/projects
Past tense for completed projects

Freelance Graphic Designer | 2020 - Present

Design brand identities for tech startups
Create marketing materials for 10+ active clients
Completed rebrand for Fortune 500 company (past for finished project)
Increased client revenue by 40% through design improvements

Volunteer Work

Same rules apply:

Current volunteering = present tense
Past volunteering = past tense

Side Projects

If it's active:

Maintain e-commerce store generating $5K monthly revenue
Develop open-source Python library with 1K+ GitHub stars

If it's completed:

Built and sold online course with 500 students
Created viral TikTok account reaching 100K followers

Consulting or Part-Time Roles

Follow the same current/past rules based on whether you're still doing it.

The Power Verb Cheat Sheet

Here are strong action verbs in both tenses:

Leadership Verbs

Lead/Led
Direct/Directed
Guide/Guided
Oversee/Oversaw
Supervise/Supervised

Achievement Verbs

Achieve/Achieved
Exceed/Exceeded
Surpass/Surpassed
Deliver/Delivered
Complete/Completed

Creation Verbs

Develop/Developed
Design/Designed
Build/Built
Create/Created
Establish/Established

Improvement Verbs

Increase/Increased
Enhance/Enhanced
Optimize/Optimized
Streamline/Streamlined
Transform/Transformed

Analysis Verbs

Analyze/Analyzed
Evaluate/Evaluated
Assess/Assessed
Research/Researched
Investigate/Investigated

Advanced Tense Strategies

The Progressive Achievement Method

For current roles, show progression by mixing tenses strategically:

Operations Manager | Current | 2023 - Present

Manage team of 25 across 3 departments (ongoing)
Increased productivity by 30% in first year (past achievement)
Implementing new workflow system expected to save $500K annually (current project)
Reduced operating costs by $200K in 2024 (completed achievement)

The Results-First Approach

Lead with past-tense achievements, follow with present-tense responsibilities:

Sales Director | Current Company | 2024 - Present

Generated $5M in new revenue within first 6 months
Built partnerships with 3 Fortune 500 companies
Lead national sales team of 50+ representatives
Develop strategic growth initiatives for emerging markets

Industry-Specific Considerations

Tech Resumes

Tech loves present tense for skills you currently possess:

Code in Python, Java, and JavaScript
Maintain AWS infrastructure
Debug complex systems

But past tense for specific projects:

Built microservices architecture serving 1M users
Migrated legacy system to cloud

Academic CVs

Often use more present tense:

Research machine learning applications
Teach undergraduate computer science
Publish in peer-reviewed journals

Creative Portfolios

Mix based on ongoing vs completed work:

Design brand identities for startups
Created award-winning campaign for Nike

The Quick-Check Method

Before submitting your resume, do this 30-second check:

Highlight all your dates
For "Present" dates: Should have mix of present and past tense
For past dates: Should be 100% past tense
Read out loud: If it sounds weird, it probably is

Common Questions Answered

Q: What if I'm between jobs? A: Your most recent position should be all past tense if you're not there anymore.

Q: What about summary statements? A: Present tense: "Marketing professional who drives growth..." (you still drive growth)

Q: What about skills sections? A: Always present tense: "Proficient in Excel" not "Was proficient in Excel"

Q: Cover letter tenses? A: Present for current, past for previous, future for what you'll do for them.

Your Resume Tense Checklist

[ ] Current job uses present tense for ongoing duties
[ ] Current job uses past tense for completed achievements
[ ] All past jobs use only past tense
[ ] No gerunds (-ing) starting bullet points
[ ] Tenses are consistent within each position
[ ] Read aloud to check for natural flow
[ ] Each bullet starts with a strong action verb

The Bottom Line

Resume tenses aren't rocket science, but they matter more than you think. Inconsistent tenses make you look careless at best, confused at worst.

Here's your takeaway in 25 words: Current job gets both tenses (present for ongoing, past for completed). Past jobs get past tense only. That's it. Stop overthinking and start writing.

Now go fix those tenses. Your future employer will thank you for not making their brain hurt trying to figure out when you did what.

And please, for the love of all that is holy in recruiting, stop using "References available upon request." But that's a rant for another article.

Want to make sure your resume is perfect in every way? JobSeekerTools automatically checks your resume for tense consistency and hundreds of other factors that matter to recruiters. Upload your resume and get instant feedback on what to fix.

Resume Tense Guide: Should You Use Past or Present Tense?