How to show a promotion on your resume: The simple guide

Are you a real go-getter bounding up the career ladder? If you’re brimming with ambition and always work hard, getting a promotion is the pay-off you deserve. Plus, when you’re ready to apply for a new job, highlighting this feat is a sure-fire way to get ahead. So, how do you show a promotion on your resume? Luckily, we’ve got you covered here.

Let’s take a look at how you can dazzle employers with your promotion in seconds. Within this bite-sized guide, we will cover the following: 

• How getting that all-important promotion matters to recruiters
• The three easiest ways to show a promotion on your resume
• How to format your resume when listing your promotions
• General tips and insights to help you along the way.

How a promotion helps you stand out from the crowd

Before we get started, we need a bit of background to kick things off. Let’s talk about why showing your promotion on your resume is important. Put simply, there are two core reasons that this impressive feat will ‘wow’ recruiters and hiring managers. 

First of all, the fact that your employer promoted you shows you were a great employee. You must have done something right to earn it. Hiring managers will see this as evidence that you are a dedicated worker who has ambition to climb the career ladder. 

It doesn’t end there. Your promotion suggests you’ve stayed with the same company for a matter of years. That’s music to the hiring manager’s ears. It costs companies an average of $4,000 to hire each new staff member. If new hires are in it for the short-term — and will move on after a year or so — that hefty price tag soon adds up.

Three ways to show a promotion on your resume

Ready to show your promotion on your resume? As the age-old saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. When you’re adding this information to your resume, there are three options to choose from — the stacked approach, the separate entries approach, and the duplicate entries approach. Which one you use will depend on the type of promotion.

Don’t let the terminology bamboozle you. We’re here to explain what each approach means, how you can format it on your resume, and why you might want to use it. With that in mind, here are three of the easiest ways to show off your promotion. 

The stacked entry approach 

Perhaps the simplest option here is the stacked entry approach. It’s slick, it’s clear, and it doesn’t take up too much valuable resume real estate. You should use this listing approach when you have held similar positions at the same company. Ensure that the duties you have had within each position overlap or, at least, have some similarities. 

To format a stacked entry promotion list, start with the company name and location. Under that, stack your job titles and dates at that company in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. 

Next up, you can use bullet points to illustrate your duties and achievements. Wherever possible, you should quantify your achievements. So, rather than saying that you "increased outbound sales," you should state that you “increased outbound sales by 20 percent.” See the example below: 

Separate entries (under one company) approach

Not all promotions are linear. If you took a side-step in your company or moved into a different department, chances are that your duties looked strikingly different. That’s okay. In that case, you can use the separate entries under one company name format. 

Once again, you should start with the company name and location. Beneath that, add your most recent position, the dates, your duties, and your achievements. After that, add all of the above about your older positions in reverse chronological order. See our example: 

This format is straightforward. It effortlessly shows hiring managers the difference between the roles you have held. While it’s ideal for a resume, if you are completing an online application form, you may find that you need to list the company name more than once. 

The duplicate entries approach

You will likely need to use one of the approaches above. However, there is one instance when you should make duplicate entries on your resume. If you have left a company and then returned after a period, you should list the business twice on your resume. That way, hiring managers can clearly see the dates you were employed at the company. 

You should list each of your positions — at the same company and different companies — are separate entries on your resume. That is important if you worked for different businesses in between your two roles. While you may be tempted to use the stacking approach, that could confuse recruiters. Instead, keep things simple, as in our example:

Formatting tips when listing your promotion

Want to get working on your resume and show off your promotions? Before you start typing away, there are a few pointers that will help you get things right: 

1. Use bullet points for your achievements. While you may be tempted to pop some stars, arrows, or circles next to your points, that’s a mistake. ATS software may have difficulty reading these symbols. Stick to bullet points.
2. Don’t cram too much information in. Got a lot to say? Recruiters are unlikely to favor ‘busy’ resumes. Avoid fluffy language. Only include information that is relevant to the job for which you’re applying. Edit, and then edit again.
3. Include the month and the year. This is no time to be vague. When you’re listing your promotions, make sure that you include both the month and the year. ATS software needs these details to accurately determine how long you held each post.

Key takeaways

• Promotions will turn recruiters’ heads for the right reasons. Make sure that you showcase yours front and center on your resume.
• As a golden rule, never list the company name and location more than once when listing promotions. The only exception is when you have worked for another employer in between two positions at the same company.
• You can use between five and six bullet points under each position to demonstrate your accomplishments and duties.
• The tips that we have shared within this guide will help you to optimize your resume and get past the ATS software.
• View our resume examples for some additional inspiration and build your own resume!