Yes, you should list your current job in the present tense, focusing on ongoing responsibilities and active achievements. The first 50 words of your resume need to grab a recruiter’s attention, so start with a strong action verb and a measurable impact. For example, instead of “Managed a team,” write “Leading a team of 12 sales representatives to achieve 115% of quarterly targets.” This shows you are currently contributing, not just holding a title.
When writing your current job, structure it like this: Job Title, Company Name, Location, Dates (e.g., Jan 2023 – Present) . Then, under that, use bullet points starting with present tense verbs like Manage, Develop, Optimize, Coordinate, or Lead. Avoid past tense verbs like Managed or Led because they imply the work is finished. Quantify everything you can. If you increased efficiency, say “Reducing processing time by 20%.” If you improved team morale, say “Implementing a weekly feedback system that boosted retention by 15%.”
Here is a quick comparison table to show the difference between weak and strong phrasing for a current role:
| Weak Description (Past Tense) | Strong Description (Present Tense) |
|---|
| Managed social media accounts | Managing a portfolio of 5 social media accounts, growing engagement by 40% |
| Handled customer inquiries | Resolving an average of 50 customer inquiries daily, maintaining a 95% satisfaction score |
| Was responsible for budget | Overseeing a $200,000 annual budget, identifying cost savings of 12% |
| Assisted with hiring | Coordinating full-cycle recruitment for 10 open positions, reducing time-to-fill by 18% |
Recruiters and hiring managers scan for current roles to understand what you are doing right now. If you use past tense, they might assume you are no longer in that job or that your responsibilities have changed. Keep your bullet points concise—no more than two lines each—and focus on results that matter to the target role. This approach builds credibility and shows you are actively engaged in your career growth.
