How to Write a Resume for a Part-time Job

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on MyPerfectResume.com.

If creating a resume for a part-time job is giving you full-time stress, we’re here to help. A good part-time job should showcase your qualifications, whether this is your first job or you’re looking to re-enter the workforce.

This professional document should present you as an ideal candidate — even for a role that requires a few hours.

Whether you’re looking for your first job, extra income or want to stay employed while managing your home life, this guide will help you craft a professional resume for part-time work with tips for a smooth process.

Choose a resume format

Start your resume by choosing a format that matches your years of experience in the industry. This resume will highlight your strongest qualifications, be it experience, skills or education.

Choose one of these three formats:

• Chronological resume format for experienced candidates
• An effective resume format for candidates with little or no experience
• Composite resume format for job seekers with three to nine years of experience

Once you’ve settled on a format, use the job description to create a CV that matches your desired role.

Restart the header

This is an easy section. Your name and contact information will be at the top of your resume. Remember to use your current contact information and professional email address.

You can also include a resume title, similar to your job tag, as an introduction to the hiring manager.

Restart the mission

The purpose of the resume is your formal introduction to the hiring manager. It provides you as a candidate with your strongest job-related qualifications, even if it’s your first job.

If you have experience, you can use the job summary instead and include that you are looking for a part-time role. For example:

“A motivated and enthusiastic person looking for a part-time position in a coffee shop to gain valuable experience in the hospitality industry. We are committed to providing excellent customer service and contributing to the success of the coffee shop team with a strong work ethic and friendly manner.”

If you have experience, you can use the job summary instead and include why you want the part-time role. For example:

“Results-driven sales professional with a track record of exceeding sales goals, increasing sales by 20%, and providing exceptional customer service. Looking for a position to work with part-time salespeople to improve my experience in improving revenue and fostering good relationships with customers.”

Skills

The special skills section of a part-time job resume brings attention to your strongest and most relevant skills. It will mainly involve hard skills, but you should also include soft skills that are important in your industry. For example:

• Branding
• Color theory
• UX design
• Typing
• Time management
• Cooperation

Specific subsets of skills

You can create categories to draw attention to a specific skill set. If you are applying for a job in information technology, you can add a section on programming languages. Check out this example from a project management candidate:

Risk Management Tools

• Risk Register+
• The RiskyProject

Document Management

• Meeting
• Microsoft SharePoint

Reporting and analysis

Languages

• Fluency in Mandarin for Business
• Conversational Spanish

Work history

The work history section goes beyond saying where you worked. It shows what you can achieve and how your career has grown. To find the impact section, enter the employer’s name, dates of employment and your position. If you hold multiple positions at the same company, list them separately.

Under each paragraph, add a bulleted list of your measurable achievements. Each bullet point can contain more than one sentence. For example:

The recipient

ABC Company, 2023 – present

• Greet visitors and direct them to the appropriate department, providing excellent customer service and a friendly atmosphere. Answer and transfer incoming phone calls, take messages and ensure fast and accurate communication.
• Manage the company’s primary email account, answering questions and sending messages to appropriate recipients. Manage incoming and outgoing email, ensuring timely distribution and correct documentation.
• Plan and coordinate meetings, conferences, and staff appointments. Assist with special projects, including event planning and communications, as assigned by management.

Education

If this part-time role is your first job, the focus will be on your education section. Make it as strong as possible. Include the name of the school, degree and year of graduation, accomplishments, awards, work-related courses, and any extracurricular activities.

For experienced candidates, you can limit the category to name, degree and year of graduation — if less than ten years.

Additional sections

If you’re writing a resume with no experience, these sections can help showcase your skills and non-traditional work experience. If you have experience, including these optional sections can help you stand out from other candidates.

• Internships: You can include internships under work experience, including significant achievements, or as a separate component.
• Voluntary work: Volunteering shows your commitment and honesty but can highlight valuable skills. Like internships, you can enter them under your job category.
• Extracurricular activities: If you are still in high school or pursuing a college degree, you can include your extracurricular activities, especially if they demonstrate skills relevant to the position.
• Certificates: Include any certifications relevant to the role or industry. You can always include the general ones, like a CPR certificate.

Include a cover

Life happens. You may be looking for a part-time role for health reasons, family life or simply to supplement your current income.

While there is no need to include all of this information, the cover letter is the perfect vehicle to control the narrative. For example, you could say, “I’m looking for this part-time opportunity to maintain my lifestyle while contributing to the industry with my expertise and skills.”

Whether or not you decide to share why you’re looking for a part-time role, a cover letter is a great addition to your resume. You can expand your skills and qualifications and show your interest to the employer.

Tips for your resume for part-time work

• Start the process by creating a resume outline. It will help you build a resume quickly.
• Look at resume examples for your industry to get inspiration for what you like and what to include on your resume.
• Match your resume to the job description by matching as much information as possible.
• Choose a resume template that reflects your personality and helps build a personal brand.
• Use a professional resume font to create an easy-to-read document.
• Include a resume title to bring your strongest skill forward.
• Proofread and grammar-check your entire resume.
• Check if your resume is ATS ready with our Resume Checker.