Your work history reveals prior dates of employment and positions held with previous employers. When providing your work history, be accurate with starting and ending dates, job titles, and employer contact information. If you have gaps in your employment history, be prepared to explain them during an interview. A large gap in your work history can also be addressed in your cover letter. You should include volunteer activities and unpaid internships, although paid work experience should take precedence.

If you are a college student seeking first-time employment, list any work experience you may have. This work may include volunteering and internships during college, high school, and summer breaks. This will let employers know you have had exposure to a structured work environment.

An effective way to highlight your accomplishments is by using results statements. Result statements explain what situation you faced at work, what action you took, and the resulting outcome. Think about your successes or the problems you have solved. Be specific. The statement "works well under pressure" is general and does not tell the prospective employer much. Instead, give an example where you performed well under pressure. If your result is that you "completed the project under budget," be sure to state how much under budget.

The goal of these statements is to show an employer you have a proven track record of providing results. You can use results statements to both paid and unpaid employment.

Do not provide contact information for those current or previous employers you do not want contacted by your potential employer. If applicable, contact the personnel department of your current employer to inform them they may be contacted for purposes of verifying your employment. You should assume a potential employer will thoroughly research your work history based on the information you provide.