Writing a great resume is top of the list when it comes to getting your next (or your first) job. It’s vital that you get this right or you’ll have little chance of getting to the next stage. You’ll have heard the standard advice: don’t make your resume too long, use lots of white space, don’t cram the page, and so on. However, there is one other thing to consider: can you put future things on your resume?
Hiring managers are picky, rightly so, and they will dismiss a poorly put-together resume. In fact, according to CareerBuilder, “Nearly one quarter (24%) of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds looking at a resume.” That’s not a lot of time to make a great impression.
You must correct your grammar and spelling, present your resume well, and include all the right things. However, you may get extra time and attention if you put a future job on your resume.
Not only is it possible to do this, but if done correctly, you can impress hiring managers.
In this article, I’m going to look at how to write future plans in resumes. You can then add that extra touch to your resume that might make all the difference in getting you the job.
“The challenge of life, I have found, is to build a resume that doesn’t simply tell a story about what you want to be, but it’s a story about who you want to be.” – Oprah Winfrey
Should you put your future job on your resume?
While we’ve established that you can put future things on your resume, there are some considerations before you do so:
Firstly, are you positive that your future job is impressive enough that it deserves a place on your resume? Is it a highly competitive position, for example, where you were chosen out of hundreds of candidates? Will it really make a difference in the minds of hiring managers? If not, leave it out.
Have you definitely got the job you want to include? If you’re still waiting to hear back, don’t put the job on your resume at this point. If you don’t get it and you do include it, you’re going to give a poor impression to hiring managers. Either you’ll look like you outright lied, or you’ll look like you’re trying to inflate your resume. Neither impression will get you the job.
Can you put future education on your resume? Yes, you can. Just take into consideration the points above and follow my tips below on what to say.
What about putting an internship on your resume before starting? This is a really good idea. Employers always want to see that people are willing to learn. Employers can see that you’re going to have beneficial work experience and transferable skills that they can benefit from. Adding an internship will improve your resume.
If you’re sure you’re going to include your future job, summer internship, or education, don’t worry too much if you don’t have all the details yet. In the next section, I’m going to give you some tips on how you can include this information in your resume.
“I always encourage people to learn the basics and nail the basics. Take the time to customize your resume and cover letter to reflect your qualifications, your research on the specific company and position, and how you believe you can add value.” – Kathryn Minshew
Read More: What Are the Best Stay at Home Mom Job Titles for My Resume?
How can you put future things on your resume?
When adding future items to your resume, there is a right way to do it. Ensure you follow these tips to create the best impression:
1) Be clear that this is a future position
Don’t ever lie on your resume. You aren’t trying to create the false impression that you have already worked at this future job or taken your future education. You’re not out to say that you already have these skills and knowledge unless you already do.
When talking about a future position or education, mark this entry on your resume as “Incoming.” That way it’s clear to potential employers that it’s in the future.
You should also use “will” when writing about what you’ll be doing or learning. For example, “Will answer the telephone and provide a reception service.” Again, this makes it clear that it’s a job you haven’t started yet.
Read More: “Should I Include My Likes and Dislikes in Resume?” – All You Need to Know
2) Use your keywords
As with any other job position or education, you need to include keywords that hiring managers are looking for. Most hiring managers skim resumes rather than reading them and they’re skimming to find the keywords that are important to them.
Not only that, but according to Capterra, “Up to three-fourths of large companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to automatically screen resumes for keywords.”
If you don’t include relevant keywords, your future position that might have made your resume stand out, won’t get picked up by this software.
3) Include start date and end date
Potential employers need to know when you will be available to start with them. It’s important to include start and end dates for future internships, education, and jobs so that they have this information.
The other reason to include dates is that it adds legitimacy to your future position. Solid dates make it seem more real and definite. However, don’t worry if you don’t know your exact dates. You can always estimate and say “September 2022 – January 2023” or “starting Winter 2022 until Summer 2023.”
4) Don’t overdo the details
Under any previous job, you’d be able to go into detail about what you contributed, what you learned, and more.
Obviously, with a future job, you can’t do that, so keep it short on your resume.
List the job title, where it is, the start and end dates, and a few bullet points about what you’ll be doing.
Here is an example:
Incoming Publishing Internship
Simon and Schuster, New York
Spring 2023 – Fall 2023
- Will perform office duties as requested.
- Will answer the telephone and respond to email inquiries.
- Will read incoming manuscripts and summarize for the managing editor.
- Will send out acceptance and rejection responses as directed.
That’s clear enough and doesn’t claim in any way that you already know how to do those things.
Can you put future things on your resume? Yes. Should you? As long as you’ve gone through my checklist and included future items for the right reasons, then absolutely. Just make sure you follow my tips above and present your future position in the right way.
“Emphasize your strengths on your resume, in your cover letters, and in your interviews. It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people simply list everything they’ve ever done. Convey your passion and link your strengths to measurable results. Employers and interviewers love concrete data.” – Marcus Buckingham
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a future job on my resume?
Yes, you can. Including a future job on your resume is beneficial, especially if the position is not full-time. It indicates that you may be interested in another part-time work, additional internships, or other opportunities alongside the upcoming job you have already secured.
Can I list a future internship on my resume?
You can definitely include a future internship on your resume. However, it’s important to make sure that the internship is really impressive and warrant a place in your resume. For instance, if it’s with a big and well-known company or if it’s highly competitive, then it’s worth mentioning on your resume, otherwise, just leave it out.
What are some tips on including a future job or internship on my resume?
When including a future job or internship on your resume, it’s important to follow these tips:
1. Be transparent: Clearly indicate it’s a future position, using terms like “Incoming” and phrases like “will” to convey it hasn’t started yet.
2. Use relevant keywords: Include keywords important to hiring managers to make your resume stand out and pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) scans.
3. Include start and end dates: Specify the future internship or job’s start and end dates for employer awareness and to add credibility. Approximate dates if exact ones are unknown.
4. Keep it concise: Since the job hasn’t started, avoid extensive details. List job title, location, start and end dates, and provide brief bullet points outlining expected responsibilities.
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