The answer to whether you should use first-person pronouns like “I,” “me,” or “my” on a professional resume is generally no. The widely accepted convention in resume writing is to omit these personal pronouns from the document. This stylistic choice is part of crafting a concise, professional document that focuses immediately on your accomplishments rather than on a narrative voice. You should reserve the use of “I” for other career-related documents.
The Fundamental Rule of Resume Writing
The core stylistic convention of resume writing dictates a telegraphic style, meaning sentences are shortened by omitting unnecessary words while still maintaining clarity. This approach is most evident in the bullet points detailing your work experience, where the subject is implicitly understood to be you, the applicant. By adopting this style, you eliminate the need for an explicit subject like “I.”
This implied first person is standard. A resume is not a personal essay but a marketing document, and the omission of pronouns is a deliberate choice to streamline the content. Recruiters expect your experience statements to begin directly with a verb.
Why Avoiding First Person Improves Your Resume
Omitting pronouns forces a level of conciseness that increases the overall impact of your professional summary and experience descriptions. Removing words like “I,” “my,” or “responsible for” immediately cuts filler and moves the reader straight to the action and the result. This focus on brevity is paramount, as hiring managers often spend only a few seconds scanning a resume.
A resume that avoids first-person language maintains a professional, objective, and results-focused tone. The repetition of “I” can inadvertently make the document sound self-centered or less objective, which detracts from the professional image you want to project. The convention ensures the focus remains squarely on your qualifications and achievements.
How to Structure Action-Oriented Statements
The practical method for writing bullet points without first-person pronouns is to always start the statement with a strong, past-tense action verb. This is known as an action-oriented statement, and it immediately highlights what you did. The typical formula for a high-impact bullet point is: Action Verb + Task/Responsibility + Quantifiable Result.
For example, instead of describing a duty, you should describe an accomplishment using verbs like “Developed,” “Managed,” or “Spearheaded.” The past tense is used for all prior roles, while the present tense is reserved for your current position. This structure ensures that every phrase details an achievement and its impact, rather than simply listing job responsibilities.
Examples of First-Person vs. Action-Verb Statements
The difference between using the first person and starting with an action verb is substantial in terms of impact and professionalism. Seeing the contrast demonstrates why the action-verb approach is universally recommended.
Weak Example (First Person)
I managed a team of three junior analysts and was responsible for all client reporting across the Northeast region. I created a new financial model that saved my department a lot of time every month. I was in charge of increasing sales for my product line, and I achieved my goal by a good margin.
Strong Example (Action Verb)
Managed a three-person team of junior analysts, overseeing all client reporting for the 12-state Northeast region. Developed and implemented a new financial forecasting model, reducing departmental reporting time by 15 hours monthly. Increased product line sales by 22% over six months through targeted market analysis and a revised pricing strategy.
Related Professional Writing Contexts
The strict rule against first-person pronouns applies specifically to the resume itself. The narrative voice is different for documents like a cover letter or a LinkedIn summary, where first-person pronouns are not only acceptable but often necessary. These documents require a more conversational voice to introduce yourself and provide context.
A cover letter, for instance, is a written introduction that naturally uses “I” to explain your interest in a role and how your skills align with the company’s needs. Similarly, a LinkedIn summary is often written in the first person to provide a personal brand statement. It is also important to avoid the opposite error of using the third person (e.g., “She managed…”) on a resume, as this breaks the implied subject convention.
Final Polish and Review
Achieving a perfectly polished, pronoun-free resume requires a final, systematic review. Consistency in style is paramount, and any deviation from the action-verb structure will stand out to a hiring manager. You should check the document for any instances where you may have accidentally reverted to a conversational or narrative style.
A simple and effective final check is to use your word processor’s search function to look for the pronouns “I,” “me,” and “my.” Eliminating any overlooked instances ensures that every bullet point is focused on a measurable achievement that begins with a dynamic action verb. This simple step finalizes the document for a professional submission.