How to List Projects in a Resume (Examples)

Projects on a resume can be just as important as job titles. They give hiring managers proof of your skills in action, whether you’re a student, a career changer, or a seasoned professional. A well-written project resume entry shows not just what you did, but the results you delivered. In this guide, you’ll learn how to list projects in resume format the right way, where to place them, and how to make them stand out in today’s competitive job market.

Why Projects Belong on Your Resume

Projects in resume writing are more than filler. They give hiring managers concrete proof of what you can deliver. A strong project description highlights experiences that translate into results, which matters far more than simply listing responsibilities. When you show how you solved a problem, built something new, or improved a process, you demonstrate value in a way that sticks.

For job seekers with limited work history, projects on your resume can bridge the gap. Academic projects, freelance work, or even personal initiatives show that you have put your skills into practice. Instead of looking like you are entering the candidate pool empty-handed, you come across as someone with relevant experience and initiative.

In project-driven fields like engineering, marketing, or software development, projects are often the best predictor of success. Employers care less about your title and more about what you built, launched, or improved. Highlighting projects signals that you can step into a role and start delivering impact right away, which sets you apart in a competitive job market.

Where to List Projects in a Resume

Within Work Experience Entries

If a project was part of your job, include it directly in the work experience section. Hiring managers want to see how your contributions are tied to a job description, so add projects as bullet points beneath the role. For example, after listing your title and company, you might write, “Led website redesign project that improved conversion rates by 18%.” This approach makes projects on a resume feel like a natural extension of your professional history and keeps the focus on relevant projects tied to real roles.

In a Dedicated Projects Section

If you’ve handled multiple projects worth showcasing, consider a dedicated projects section. This works well for job seekers in creative, technical, or freelance fields where related projects demonstrate breadth of skill. Label it clearly, “Projects” or “Relevant Projects”, and follow consistent formatting with a project title, your role, and measurable outcomes. A dedicated section helps projects in resume formatting stand out without overwhelming your main experience section.

As Part of Education History

For students and recent graduates, the education section is the best place to highlight school projects. Capstones, research assignments, or group work tied to relevant coursework can all serve as evidence of your abilities. List the university, your degree, and then add the project with a brief project description. This way, projects on your resume show how your academic background prepared you with practical, job-ready skills.

How to Write Projects on Your Resume Effectively

Give Each Project a Clear Title and Role

Every entry needs a project title that is specific and professional. Start with the project name, then state your role so hiring managers immediately know what you contributed. A short project description should follow, outlining the scope and impact. For example: “Mobile App Redesign | UX Designer | Improved onboarding flow and cut drop-off rates by 25%.” Clear, specific projects like this help readers understand your value at a glance.

Use Action Verbs and Measurable Results

When you list projects, treat them like achievements. Use bullet points and start each with a strong verb such as “managed,” “developed,” or “launched.” Pair those with numbers to show results, even if it’s just one bullet point per project. A project description that reads, “Developed a new reporting dashboard, reducing weekly analysis time by 5 hours,” communicates far more than simply writing, “Built reports.” Numbers highlight experiences in a way that generic descriptions cannot.

(Pro Tip: Struggling to turn your projects into strong, results-driven bullet points? Huntr’s Resume Bullet Generator helps you transform everyday tasks into powerful resume bullets that emphasize impact. Instead of staring at a blank page, you can generate options and choose the ones that best highlight your achievements.)

Focus on Relevance, Not Every Detail

Avoid flooding your resume with too many projects. Instead, select projects that match the skills and responsibilities listed in the specific job posting. If you’re applying for a marketing role, prioritize campaigns and client-facing work over unrelated tasks. Keep each entry concise, focusing on relevant skills and outcomes that prove you are ready for this specific job.

(Pro Tip: Tailoring projects to each job posting can feel tedious, but it makes a big difference. Huntr’s Job Tailored Resume and Resume Keyword Scanner streamline the process by surfacing the exact keywords and skills employers are looking for. That way, you can select projects that align with the role and ensure your resume speaks the hiring manager’s language.)

Add Links to Portfolios or Live Work

Whenever possible, give hiring managers a way to see your work in action. Add a link to your portfolio, GitHub, or live website within the project entry. This makes your projects in a resume format more interactive and credible. Be selective; only link to polished work that adds value and double-check that the details are accessible and professional.

Types of Projects You Can Include on Your Resume

Work-Related Projects

Projects tied directly to your work experience carry the most weight. These might include leading a product launch, improving a process, or contributing to project management efforts. Match them to the job description so hiring managers can clearly see your relevant projects. Keep the focus on impact: revenue gained, costs reduced, or efficiency improved.

Freelance or Contract Projects

A freelance project shows you can deliver results without the structure of a traditional workplace. Whether it’s freelance work in design, writing, or development, highlight the relevant skills you applied and the results you achieved. Hiring managers value independent work that demonstrates accountability and professionalism.

Academic or Training Projects

School projects and training assignments can be powerful evidence of ability, especially for current students or recent graduates. Use the education section to include university capstones, research, or relevant coursework. Describe the project outcomes and the skills developed, such as analysis, collaboration, or technical expertise.

Volunteer and Community Projects

Volunteer work and community initiatives count when they show transferable skills. If you organized an event, raised funds, or built resources for a local nonprofit, highlight experiences that prove leadership and teamwork. Emphasize the relevant skills gained, such as communication, planning, or stakeholder management.

Personal Side Projects That Show Job-Ready Skills

Personal projects created in your free time can strengthen your resume if they connect to the role you want next. Building a website, launching a podcast, or coding an app shows initiative and passion. Highlight experiences that demonstrate job-ready skills and frame them as preparation for your next role.

Resume Project Examples That Work

Student or Recent Graduate

If you are a university student or a recent graduate, school projects and relevant coursework can demonstrate ability even without long work experience. Place them in your education section like this:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | State University | Expected May 2025
Capstone Project: Mobile Health Tracker App

• Designed and coded an app that tracked user health data and generated personalized insights.
• Collaborated with a team of 4 to integrate APIs and improve usability.
• Presented findings to faculty, receiving top marks for technical innovation.

This format helps current students show real outcomes that matter to employers.

Freelancer or Independent Professional

Freelance work should be framed like any professional role. Treat each freelance project as proof of relevant skills and results:

Freelance Web Developer | Self-Employed | 2022–Present

• Designed and launched responsive websites for 10+ small businesses.
• Managed full project cycle, from client needs assessment to post-launch support.
• Improved site load speed by 35% on average, boosting client SEO rankings.

This shows freelance projects are not just side gigs, but also professional achievements.

Career Changer

Career changers can use projects to prove transferable skills aligned with a specific job. List projects under a “Relevant Projects” section to highlight experiences:

Relevant Projects
Marketing Analytics Dashboard | 2023

• Built a dashboard to track campaign performance for a nonprofit.
• Analyzed engagement data and recommended improvements that increased donor sign-ups by 20%.

This shows relevant experience that bridges the employment gap between past roles and the new field.

(Pro Tip: If you’re pivoting careers, it can be tough to know whether your projects are framed in the right way. Huntr’s AI Resume Review gives you immediate, role-specific feedback on whether your resume highlights the right transferable skills and project outcomes for your target field. It’s like having a career coach audit your resume in minutes.)

Corporate Professional With Notable Project

If you already have a solid career, highlight standout projects inside your work experience section. For example:

Project Manager | GlobalTech Solutions | 2019–Present
Successful Launch: Enterprise Software Rollout

• Led a team of 12 through planning, testing, and delivery of a company-wide system upgrade.
• Managed a $500K budget and ensured project delivery two weeks ahead of schedule.
• Improved system efficiency by 25%, saving the company significant annual costs.

This approach keeps the project description tightly connected to the role and shows clear business impact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Projects on Your Resume

Including Irrelevant or Unrelated Projects

Not every project deserves space on your resume. Select projects that connect directly to the job you want, whether through skills, industry, or measurable results. Irrelevant entries distract the hiring manager and make it harder for them to see the value of your relevant projects.

Overloading Your Resume With Too Many Entries

Projects in resume writing should be purposeful, not exhaustive. Listing multiple projects without filtering can overwhelm the reader. Focus on a few strong examples that show range and results. A resume shows judgment as much as experience, so resist the urge to add too many projects.

Being Vague Instead of Result-Oriented

A weak project description simply describes tasks without outcomes. Strong entries use bullet points that highlight details and measurable results. Instead of “Helped with marketing project,” write “Developed a campaign that boosted online engagement by 18%.” Clear outcomes help hiring managers see impact.

Formatting Inconsistencies That Confuse Hiring Managers

Even excellent projects lose power if they are poorly formatted. Keep your work experience section and projects section consistent in style and layout. Hiring managers need to scan quickly, so use a resume builder or consistent formatting rules to make each entry easy to follow.

(​​Pro Tip: A messy format can make even the best projects hard to follow. Huntr’s AI Resume Builder ensures your projects, work experience entries, and sections all follow a consistent layout so hiring managers can scan your achievements without distraction. Clean formatting puts the focus where it belongs: on your results.)

Conclusion

The right projects in resume writing can turn a simple list of jobs into a powerful story about what you can deliver. Always tailor your entries to the specific job, balance them with your overall work experience, and keep the format clean so each project draws the hiring manager’s attention. By choosing only the most relevant projects and presenting them clearly, you give employers every reason to see you as the right candidate. If you want an easier way to build a resume that does this consistently, sign up for Huntr today to help create a version that gets noticed faster.