Work Experience Section

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi - would you recommend keeping work experience entries to 50-100 words each?

Hey!

I wouldn't stick too rigidly to a 50-100 word limit unless the application specifically gives you one. The more important thing is making sure each entry gives you a clear picture of what you did, the skills you demonstrated and what you gained from the experience.

For shorter experiences, 50-100 words may be more than enough, whereas a more substantial role might justify a little more detail. I would prioritise relevance and quality over trying to hit a particular word count. If you have a word limit for the overall section, then I would also think about allocating more space to the experiences that are most relevant to the firm and the role

 

[badmintonflyinginsect]

Hey!

I wouldn't stick too rigidly to a 50-100 word limit unless the application specifically gives you one. The more important thing is making sure each entry gives you a clear picture of what you did, the skills you demonstrated and what you gained from the experience.

For shorter experiences, 50-100 words may be more than enough, whereas a more substantial role might justify a little more detail. I would prioritise relevance and quality over trying to hit a particular word count. If you have a word limit for the overall section, then I would also think about allocating more space to the experiences that are most relevant to the firm and the role

I had a TC offer holder advise me to fit all my work experience entries in 50-100 words, ideally in bullet points. I know I should be writing in prose (and I do), but I'm unsure about the word count. I've spoken about my work experiences, specific tasks etc and skills in a way that they all kind of fit 200+ almost 250 words - but the person mentoring me was surprised by this

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

I had a TC offer holder advise me to fit all my work experience entries in 50-100 words, ideally in bullet points. I know I should be writing in prose (and I do), but I'm unsure about the word count. I've spoken about my work experiences, specific tasks etc and skills in a way that they all kind of fit 200+ almost 250 words - but the person mentoring me was surprised by this

Hey!

I generally used the word limit provided by the firm as a guide. If, for example, they give you 200-250 words and you are able to fill that space with relevant and substantive content, I wouldn't cut it down to 50-100 words just for the sake of it. Firms have differing preferences on whether to use bullet points or prose, but I've generally operated on the assumption to use prose unless otherwise stated.

However, I would always go back through your entries and make sure every sentence is adding something useful, rather than repeating the same skills or making points that could be said more concisely. I think the 50-100 word advice is a useful general guideline for ensuring that your entries are concise, but I personally wouldn't treat it as a rule. If you have 200+ words of strong content for a substantial experience, I would be comfortable using the space provided