Do company descriptions deserve to occupy the precious little space we have on our resumes? Well, it depends. They can be useful. For instance, if you are pursuing a similar company to your current one, an introduction can have a powerful impact.
Before I talk about the three scenarios in which you should include company descriptions, if you’d like to download a copy of my resume cheat sheet, in which I break down the exact changes I made to my client’s resume to help them double their salary offer, you can grab it below:
Here are the three situations in which you should talk about what the company does:
1. When your accomplishments don’t make sense without the description because you worked at an organization that serves a niche market.
Here's an example: 
2. When your accomplishments become more impressive with the company’s description.
Here's an example: 
3. When you’re interested in highlighting parallels between your work cultures.
Notice how in this example, the company description hints at the fast-paced working environment this candidate had to work with:
However, only add company descriptions on your resumes if it makes sense to do so.
Below, I talk about when you should and when you should NOT talk about what your company does:
A company description on what it does
This applies if you have worked for a lesser-known business. Recruiters will appreciate the context that company descriptions could provide on your resumes, such as the size of the company or their business structure.
But it is important to know when to use this information.
Example: If you’re the VP of a pharmaceuticals company and you’re looking to branch into accounting firms, it might not be a good idea to mention pharmaceuticals.
On the other hand, if you worked in SaaS solutions provision and want more of the same, you can go with something like this:
A company description including its clients
If you’re applying for a customer-facing position, it might help including a brief line about the customers you dealt with. Again, this is ONLY if you'd be working with the same kinds of clients.
Example: If you’ve worked in sales for a software house serving large enterprises, but are now looking to switch to insurance sales serving the same, you can mention your clients, especially if they’re well known.
A description of the department you worked for
This becomes important if you’re changing fields. Strictly focusing on the work of your department can help detract from your perceived lack of experience with your target field.
Example: If you have worked as a sales coordinator for a company that offers software solutions, and now you’re looking to transition into insurance sales, you can highlight how you tapped into new sales opportunities.
A description of the departments you worked with
Additional information about the different departments you worked with help you make a career transition to a new function.
Example: If your last role was sales management, but you also worked with the marketing head to establish a campaign to improve sales, it can become a great selling point if you’re looking to go into marketing. Here's an example:
A company description highlighting your daily tasks
If you’re looking for a career change and you have good experience in the role you’re applying for, but your job title suggests otherwise, adding a line or two about your daily tasks can go a long way in persuading your recruiter.
Example: If you are a program manager, but you also ensured that your department’s hiring objectives were met, you can add this to your resume when applying for an HR role.
A company description stating your collaborations
This can be really useful if you want to transition to a different job function.
Example: The role of an entry-level IT person may mainly be maintenance. However, if you’ve worked with a Lead Systems Engineer to set up and install a complex information system, it can help you land a similar job because of your past experience. You can say something like the following on your resume:
- Are you struggling with your resume? These blogs will help:
- No Notable Accomplishments in Your Resume? Here’s How To Write Them.
- Entrepreneurial Experience on your resume — How to list it?
If you'd like one-on-one help with your resume and are interested in resume writing services, you can use this link to schedule a consultation call with us.
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