You've likely heard a few catchphrases related to resume writing. Things like “show, don't tell” and “be an achiever, not a doer.” One of the most effective ways to put these principles into action is by including projects on your resume. But how exactly do you list projects on a resume, and why are they so important?

You've come to the right place. Here, you'll learn how to list projects on your resume in a way that catches the eye of hiring managers and helps you to stand out from the competition.

It doesn't matter if you're fresh out of college or have a decade of experience under your belt; including projects on your resume can significantly enhance your chances of landing your dream job.

Your old resume may have been a list of work experiences, but your new resume will outshine the competition and win you the interviews you seek.

Projects vs work experience

Depending on where you're at in your career, it can be tough to separate projects from actual work experience, especially if you're a freelancer or regularly tackle projects as a part of your job. While both are exceedingly valuable in telling your career story, you have to be a bit discerning to determine which is more important.

Obviously, you gain experience from working at jobs and completing projects, but listing projects separately can help you to highlight specific skills that might get lost when you explain work you did in a previous job.

The main differences can be summarized as:

Projects are concise and specific
Work history provides a broader view of your career trajectory

At the end of the day, you must pick the things you want to include on your resume with the aim of balancing your knowledge and skills with what's called for in the job description. Relevancy and tailoring your resume are critical, allowing prospective employers to see what you have to offer their team.

Why listing projects on your resume can be good for you

When you're trying to prove to an employer that you're an achiever rather than a doer, having a project or two to back up your claims can do wonders for your candidacy. Not only do projects on your resume have the ability to demonstrate relevant skills, but they also allow you to showcase initiative and accomplishments.

In the context of standing out from the crowd, projects on your resume can add depth to your experience to paint a more well-rounded and comprehensive picture of what you bring to the table for the new employer. One thing that a lot of people miss is that you can also use projects on your resume to fill in any experience gaps that may be present.

Types of projects you can highlight on your resume

While the projects you list on your resume are as unique as you are, there are some common types. Knowing the type of project you're going to list on your resume will help you to determine if the project is relevant and can also guide you in knowing where on your resume to list it.

There are four basic types.

1. Work projects

This is any project you've done in your position with a company. It was probably part of your job description, but it could've also been something you were called on to do outside of your day-to-day role.

Perhaps you led a team to launch a new product or created a new process for doing something that saved time and money. Work projects are good to have on your resume because they demonstrate that you're the type of person to go above and beyond to achieve an objective.

2. Academic projects

These are projects that you complete in a classroom or educational setting. You'll definitely need to include academic projects if you're fresh out of college and have little to no work history or relevant professional experience.

Academic projects for your resume can be anything from conducting a research study and authoring a thesis or dissertation to developing a software application as part of a class project.

Including academic projects on your resume gives you a chance to highlight relevant skills and prove to a future employer that you have a passion for learning and development. After all, continuous improvement is a highly sought-after skill.

3. Personal projects

Sometimes, you get bored at home and decide you want to build a personal website or create a blog. There have even been folks who've created apps that work with their smart home devices to automate activities.

It doesn't matter that these are personal projects, if you find that your resume is lacking particular skills or achievements you can use these projects on your resume to round out your candidacy. That said, adding a personal project to your resume should be a last resort.

4. Freelance projects

'Tis the time we live in – a lot of people work as independent contractors or freelancers. It's a great way to fill in employment gaps or have some income if you're on a work sabbatical.

The most common freelance projects center around things like graphic design, marketing, tech, and writing. These types of projects can be valuable additions to your resume.

How to put projects on your resume

There are some basic things that you need to know to help you add projects on your resume. The following step-by-step guide can guide you through this process and ensure that you’re adding projects the right way.

1. Identify the skills needed for the job

Since you want to keep your resume relevant to the job you're applying for, the first step is to create a list of the skills needed for the job. Analyze the job description to identify the keywords and phrases that highlight the skills and experience the employer is seeking.

2. Select the right projects for your resume

Once you have that list of required skills, compare it to the skills and achievements you can talk about with each project. Your goal is to ensure that the projects you select align with the job’s required qualifications. Beyond picking the right project to match the job, you also have to consider space.

Bear these guidelines in mind:

Pick projects for your resume that match the job description
Pick projects that allow you to keep your resume at no more than two pages in length

3. Decide where you’ll include these projects in your resume

Finally, you’ll need to decide where you’re going to add these projects to your resume. There are several possible options, including the experience section, education section, or even a special projects section devoted to key projects and accomplishments.

Where to include projects on your resume

For the most part, you'll format a project listing the same way you would a work history listing. The only difference is that you may not have a company to list indicating where you did the project. If you can't list the client or location associated with the project, don't let that stop you from adding it.

Projects in the experience section

If you're one of those people who get chosen by a boss to work on a project or if you've spent a significant time as an independent contractor, then it's probably going to serve you best to include projects within the “Professional Experience” section of your resume.

Example of projects in the experience section

When you choose this option, format your project experience like you would any other position within your experience section. Include the name of the company, the dates you were employed, your position title, and some achievement bullets. Then, beneath those achievement bullets for your job, add “Notable Projects” and provide details that show what you accomplished as an employee.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

XYZ Company | Location | 05/2015 to Present

Senior Biologist

Achievement bullet #1
Achievement bullet #2
Achievement bullet #3

Noted Projects:

Major Development Plan and Infrastructure Project – 03/2019 - 06/2021

Monitored site conditions to ensure the protection of sensitive species, including California gnatcatcher, cactus wren, least Bell's vireo, arroyo chub, arroyo toad, and general nesting birds.
Oversaw end-to-end project management processes, including scoping, planning, timelines, delivery, execution, and status reporting.

Subdivision Development Project – 04/2013 - 01/2017

Directed biological resource protection initiatives for a 180-acre development project, resulting in approximately 475 acres of preserved, restored, and enhanced habitats.
Conducted protocol and non-protocol environmental impact surveys for 3 years, in the wake of a widespread wildfire, to assess gnatcatcher habitat, population density, and movement.

Projects in the education section

It can be hard to craft a resume when you've just graduated college and have no real experience to show to prospective employers. Fortunately, you can rely on things you did at school to inject experiences, achievements, and skills into your resume. To do this, just write an expanded education section.

Example of projects in the education section

Whether you're listing your GPA or relevant coursework, you can always add some college projects to your resume education section if you need to prove your value to a new company.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Finance, | State University – Location (Expected May 2026)

Coursework: Current Economic Problems, Macroeconomics, Accounting Principles, Money and Capital Markets, Business Statistics, Spreadsheet Modeling in Finance, Global Financial Markets

Academic projects

Secured funding for a non-fungible token (NFT) from State University's Board of Trustees and generated a 100% return on investment (ROI).
Placed in the top 10% of a financial modeling competition. Analyzed comparative values over time to predict future performance and identified a portfolio of stocks that were graded and ranked in terms of profit and loss and accuracy of predictions.

Stand-alone Projects section on your resume

As you craft your resume, you should always include the six main sections employers want to see:

Contact information
Resume headline that includes your job title and descriptive keywords
Summary profile
Skills
Work history
Education

You can also add an entirely new section called “Projects,” “Selected Projects,” “Relevant Projects,” or “Academic Projects.”

Depending on how hard you have to lean on those projects to wow a hiring manager will be the deciding factor on whether you place this new section above or below “Professional Experience.”

If you really need projects on your resume to make your candidacy, then put them above your experience.
If you want projects on your resume to give the hiring manager one more glimpse into what you can do, then put them below your experience.

Example of projects in their own section

You should create a title for the section and then list each project with relevant bullet points that explain the things you achieved while working on that project. It's also appropriate to put the dates you were working on each project.

Selected Projects

Post Evaluation Platinum LEED Office Building | 04/2022 - 10/2022

Used advanced knowledge of Occupant Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Survey benchmarks and performed literature review / precedent studies to present data-driven solutions regarding visual and thermal comfort.
Authored and presented findings related to underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system analysis.

Integrated Façade Simulator: Hybrid Reality Simulations for Assessing Human Façade Interaction | 09/2020 - 05/2021

Created a novel integrated hybrid system that simulated a multi-sensory environment and observed participants and the impact of environmental stimuli for sensation, perception of comfort, and energy consumption.

Tips to help you be more effective when adding projects to your resume

The following tips can help you to be even more effective when you’re including key project information in your resume:

Be as specific as possible. When you’re listing projects, the goal is to impress the employer with your abilities and achievements. If you’re vague, that’s not going to impress anyone. Make sure that you add information about the type of project, how long it lasted, your role on the team, and the financial value of the undertaking. Use real numbers to highlight the project’s impact on the company.
Use action words. Try to use dynamic language that really captures your efforts and results. Use active verbs like implemented, executed, created, and directed – words that convey your ability to get things done. Avoid passive language that makes you sound like a disinterested bystander.
Be consistent in your formatting. As you’re editing your resume, make sure there are no formatting inconsistencies that might distract from the document’s message. Use the same font throughout the document and arrange project details in the same way for each listing.

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Projects on your resume win interviews

Remember that the main goal of your resume is to win interviews. Adding projects on your resume can be just the thing that makes you stand out from a crowd of rival job seekers. Use projects wisely, though. Leverage them to boost your skills, enhance your achievements, and inject necessary keywords into your resume that align with the qualifications outlined in the employer’s job description.

Wondering whether the projects on your resume are conveying the right message to employers? Get your free resume review today and let our experts help you craft the best possible resume for your job search needs.

This article was originally written by Marsha Hebert. It has been updated by Ken Chase.