Work From Home Resume Example
The flexibility of working from home is a growing trend, and many employers are increasingly seeking remote workers. Whether you’ve worked remotely before or are transitioning to a work-from-home job for the first time, it’s important to create a resume that showcases your qualifications and demonstrates your ability to thrive in a remote environment. Here’s how to craft a resume that will help you stand out as a strong candidate for work-from-home positions.
A work-from-home resume should not only highlight your professional experience but also emphasize your ability to manage time, stay organized, and communicate effectively in a virtual setting. Employers are looking for candidates who can adapt to a remote work environment and remain productive and engaged while working independently.
This article will guide you through the steps to create a resume that stands out and positions you as a strong candidate for work-from-home positions, regardless of your previous experience with remote work. Whether you're applying for a freelance role, a part-time remote job, or a full-time telecommuting position, crafting a tailored, well-organized resume is your first step toward landing the perfect job.
What to include in a work from home resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your work from home resume, while there are also a few optional sections. If you're an entry-level candidate without much work experience trying to establish yourself as a freelancer or a remote worker, then your work history section may be less prominent in your resume. You may focus instead on sections that showcase your skill set, such as education, projects, hobbies and hard and soft skills.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Header and Personal Information
The resume header is the place to add your name and contact details, along with your LinkedIn URL if you have a profile, so employers can find more information about your career journey and skills. You don't typically need to add a photo, or any other personal information to this section. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Philip Davis
philip.davis@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
linkedin․com/in/philip–davis123
Resume Summary
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in person working from home roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, you could use this section to reference your objectives and ambitions, and how this role would fit into your career journey.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for person working from home roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a work from home resume summary in the graphic below.
Experienced Remote Operations Specialist with a strong background in managing and optimizing virtual workflows, coordinating remote teams, and ensuring operational efficiency. Proficient in using advanced communication and project management tools to facilitate seamless remote work environments. Skilled in data analysis, problem-solving, and delivering high-quality results under minimal supervision. Proven ability to adapt to dynamic remote work settings and drive continuous improvement in operational processes
Remote operations specialist with experience in managing online tasks and working with teams from a distance. Familiar with tools for communication and project handling to support remote work. Capable of looking at data, solving issues, and working independently. Able to adjust to changing remote work situations and improve how things are done
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your work from home resume summary.
Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for person working from home jobs. These could be CRM software proficiency, IT literacy or various other relevant skills. Again, refer to the person working from home job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
How to include hard skills on your work from home resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for person working from home positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, your hard skills list helps to show employers how competent and experienced you are at key person working from home duties and responsibilities. Aim to include four or five key hard skills. If you have space, explain how and where you've used that skill to create successful outcomes in your career. These skills will demonstrate your credentials and show how you meet the job description.
You'll make more impact with your resume hard skills list if you focus on technical skills that reflect your unique expertise and specialism, and that match the key requirements in the job description. See the graphic below for some tips on hard skills for a work from home resume.
- Project management software
- Data analysis tools
- SEO and SEM
Adding soft skills to your work from home resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for a work from home resume, see below.
- Time management
- Self-discipline
- Communication skills
Education
In this section list any educational qualifications or degrees that are relevant to person working from home roles.
Candidates aren't usually required to have a degree for person working from home positions, but it's still worth listing your highest or most relevant qualifications. If you have a recognized certification or qualification, such as Certified ScrumMaster, be sure to include this. You might also want to include any educational achievements that showcase SEO and SEM or data analysis tools.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, 2017 - 2020
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Certifications
In this section, include any person working from home certifications, training or licenses you hold that are relevant to the job. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a person working from home.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for a work from home resume:
- Google Analytics Certification, 2022
- Project Management Professional, 2022
- Certified ScrumMaster, 2022
Employment History
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a person working from home. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. See below for some good examples of what to include in your resume work experience section.
Remote Operations Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Remote Nexus Solutions, Fort Worth
- Successfully managed and coordinated remote teams across multiple time zones, improving productivity by 30% within six months
- Implemented remote collaboration tools, resulting in a 25% increase in project completion rates and enhanced team communication
- Developed and executed virtual training programs, reducing onboarding time by 40% and boosting new hire performance metrics
Remote Operations Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Remote Nexus Solutions, Fort Worth
- Managed teams remotely, enhancing collaboration and communication
- Implemented tools for better teamwork and efficiency
- Developed training programs to improve new hire integration
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Resume tip:
Emphasize hands-on experience and relevant skills, such as customer service, teamwork, or problem-solving, to showcase your readiness for the role. (1) Use bullet points to organize your resume and keep it easy to read, especially for hiring managers scanning for key qualifications. (2)
Optional Resume Sections
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to a work from home resume. Choose optional sections from the list below, if they help to showcase your relevant skills and experience.
Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Just make sure any hobbies and interests you include in your resume add genuine insight into your personality, in ways other sections of the resume can't.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for person working from home roles. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
It's not typical to include references in a work from home resume, but some employers might ask for them. Don't add references unless requested by the employer. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References are available upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a work from home resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Manage
- Coordinate
- Execute
- Develop
- Communicate
- Strategize
- Innovate
- Optimize
- Facilitate
- Implement
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Example of a work from home resume
The work from home resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
•
philip.davis@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/philip–davis123
Experienced Remote Operations Specialist with a proven track record in managing and optimizing virtual workflows. Adept at utilizing advanced communication tools, coordinating remote teams, and ensuring seamless operational efficiency. Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, technical proficiency, and the ability to adapt to dynamic work environments. Committed to delivering high-quality results and enhancing productivity in remote settings.
Remote Operations Specialist
2020
-2022
TeleTask Solutions (Memphis)
- Successfully managed and optimized remote team operations, resulting in a 25% increase in productivity and a 15% reduction in costs
- Implemented advanced remote collaboration tools and protocols, enhancing communication efficiency and reducing project turnaround time by 30%
- Led virtual training programs for remote staff, improving skillsets and achieving a 95% satisfaction rate from participants
Project management software
Data analysis tools
SEO and SEM
Time management
Self-discipline
Communication skills
Google Analytics Certification
Project Management Professional
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for person working from home resumes
- Include key skills throughout your resume that reflect the job description, and include a dedicated skills section.
- Quantify your accomplishments by providing evidence that shows the impact you've made in your career.
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Use a clear resume format with professional elements, including suitable headings, line spacing, fonts and margins, to make your resume as readable as possible for hiring managers.
- Use strong verbs to help show the actions you've taken in different person working from home roles (e.g. facilitate, implement, manage).
- Don't use complex formatting that makes your work from home resume harder to read or less scannable by software such as applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't lie or exaggerate any information on your work from home resume, as this can cause you problems further down the line.
- Don't include any personal details, such as a photo, your age or marital status. These can create unwanted bias in the recruitment process.
- Don't use jargon or business-speak. It can make your resume appear clichéd and harder to read.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, opt for a simple email address based on your name.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. There are several things you can do when writing your work from home resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Use simple, concise language to keep your resume to a maximum of one to two pages in length. This will make it easier for ATS software to read.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
FAQs for a work from home resume
Accompanying your resume for person working from home applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to person working from home roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
As an experienced person working from home, you'll want your resume to showcase all of your relevant experience and achievements. As an experienced candidate, your work from home resume might include a work experience section that goes back beyond the standard 10 to 15 years. This will give you the chance to highlight your extensive experience and achievements. Add any optional sections that reinforce your image as a knowledgeable, respected professional in your field. This might include awards and other recognition, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for person working from home jobs. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, snappy heading for your resume including the job title and a reference to your experience, your track record or one or two of your key skills.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Remote Junior Professional Seeking Opportunities
- Remote Work Professional and Specialist
- Remote Senior Professional Seeking Opportunities
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For roles where you're lacking experience, such as graduate jobs or career changes, you could use a functional or skills-based resume format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Takeaways for a winning work from home resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
