Should You Include Company Description in Resume?

Relevant experiences and qualifications play an important role in the job search process, and including these details on your resume showcases yourself as the best candidate for the job. However, sometimes the information you provide raises more questions than it answers.

If your resume confuses potential employers, you’re unlikely to land that all-important interview. So how can you make your experiences and accomplishments clear to hiring managers? One of the easiest ways to do that is to include a company description on your resume. Read our guide to help you with this tricky part of resume writing.

What is a company description on a resume?

First up, let’s talk about what a company description on a resume is and how it looks. As the name suggests, this is a short blurb about the business at hand. Should you decide to include this information on your resume, it will go in your employment history section.

When writing a description of a company on your resume, you want to keep things short and sweet. Don’t include more than a paragraph of information here. Ideally, the description should consist of between two and three lines. It needs to include the most important information about the company and give the reader an overview of it.

Including company descriptions: the right time to use them

Spoiler: Most of the time, you don’t need to include a company description on your resume. These paragraphs often take up more space than they are worth.

Resume real estate is valuable. You don’t want to cram the page with useless information that doesn’t add anything to your application – especially since new companies care about what you bring to the table and less about the companies you used to work for. However, there are exceptions to this golden rule.

Here are some of the times when it may be useful to include a company description:

1. The company is relatively unknown

Many smaller firms that serve niche market needs may maintain a relatively low profile. When the reader sees these firms on your resume, they will have to figure out exactly what the business does. That is an extra step that no hiring manager wants to take. You can provide context for any hiring manager or recruiter by inserting a brief description.

In this case, you don’t need to provide too much detail. Simply outline what the business does and the market it serves. That way, the reader won’t have to stop looking at your resume to quickly Google the company. Make sure your description is short and concise.

2. You need to explain your job role

Let’s say your last job involved responsibilities or achievements that may be difficult for outsiders to understand. You can use a company description on your resume to bring greater clarity. You should think carefully about whether this is the right step for you.

When you’re writing your resume, the last thing you want to do is waste space. If you feel that your role is unique and hard to explain, adding a company description could help the hiring manager understand your position, so go ahead and add it.

3. It will support your achievements

Leading a team of four workers isn’t quite as impressive as leading a team of 100+ professionals. When you’re creating your resume, you want to use everything in your arsenal. You may want to add one if a company description makes your achievements appear more astounding. Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn when applying for jobs.

For example, you may want to mention a company’s size if your accomplishment would seem mundane without that relevant information. Consider the overriding context the company description will add to your job role and description. It may be worth slipping in.

4. You’re changing careers

When you’re switching careers, it is often helpful to add a company description to your resume. Chances are, the hiring manager won’t be familiar with the companies you’ve previously worked for. Giving them this information is a quick way to get them up to speed.

Since you are switching careers, you will need to provide context to show how your skill set can apply in a new environment. Focus your attention on the similarities between your previous employers and the next sector you wish to enter. The more overlap, the better.

Proper resume format for including company descriptions

You’ve decided that you do want to include a company description on your resume. So, how do you describe a company on a resume? You need to know how to format this part of your application. It is essential to use an appropriate format. Luckily, there are two ways to approach the issue.

The first option is to include a brief description beneath the company name and above the job title. This approach can make it easier for a hiring manager or recruiter to identify the description. It’s a very straightforward, clinical way to address any potential questions about that company. It’s also super easy to do.

The second option is to include company information in your job description and duties paragraph. This move is useful for career experts and resume writers who focus on telling a compelling story. For the best effect, you should include that company description somewhere within the first sentence of the paragraph. That provides immediate context for everything that follows. Don’t try to make things too convoluted.

Company description on resume example

Need some inspiration to help you along the way? To illustrate this concept, here are two examples of company descriptions for a resume.

The first showcases the description as a standalone line and would work well with resumes that rely on brief, bullet-point presentations. The second is an example of what that company description looks like when it is included in your job description narrative. Choose the one that works best and makes sense for you, and modify the language.

Example #1

XYZ Corp, Anytown USA | 2010 to Present

Software firm with 17 employees and annual revenues of $20M, providing software-based training for Fortune 500 companies

Project Manager

Coordinated client project development, implementation, and testing for the JumpStart program. Worked directly with CEO on design and marketing strategies while providing oversight for client management and training programs.

Example #2

XYZ Corp, Anytown USA | 2010 to Present

Coordinated client project development, implementation, and testing for a 17-employee software firm with $20M annual revenue, providing JumpStart software-based training for Fortune 500 companies. Worked directly with CEO on program design and marketing strategies while providing oversight for client management and training programs.

Tips for including a company description on your resume

Now that you understand what format to use, you may be ready to get started. We’ve outlined a simple way that you can add a company description to your next resume. However, there are some final things you may want to keep in mind. Here are our top tips:

Keep things short and sweet

As we have already mentioned, you have limited space on your resume. If you choose to include company descriptions here, you need to keep them as short as you can. Don’t dedicate more than a few lines to each business you are describing. The hiring manager doesn’t need a history of the company — they simply need the highlights reel.

Make sure you’re adding value

What does a company description add to your resume? Before you decide to include this part on your application, make sure it’s bringing something new to the table. When you’re writing each blurb, consider what value it is adding. Only highlight information that will strengthen your application and give you a better overall chance of getting an interview.

Always edit when you’re finished

Think you’re done? The final thing that you need to remember is to edit. We all have a habit of writing too much when we’re on a roll. Once you’ve completed each description, return to it and take out any unnecessary information. When you are reviewing the sections, be as cut-throat as you can. If a sentence doesn’t add anything, take it away.

Context over detail

As you can see, the goal is to provide just enough detail for context without taking attention away from your resume accomplishments. Most resumes won’t require this additional information — so use the technique sparingly. In the right situations, including a company description on your resume can be the perfect way to shine a spotlight on your work history, previous experience, and accomplishments. Follow this advice to get it right.

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Should You Include Company Description on Resume?