Showing “Demonstrated Experience” on your resume means documenting:

(1) When a skill was used
(2) Where a skill was used
(3) How long the skill was used for
(4) How the skill was used
(5) Your interaction with others while using the skill
(6) The subject matter of the project where the skill was used.

This information can be placed in the the "Experience / Job History" section of a resume, which is where an interested reader will go to get more detail.

(1) To document when, where, and how long a skill was used, make sure that the actual skill keyword and related keywords are specifically mentioned in EVERY job they were actually used.

(a) A bullet can be added at the top of the resume stating the total duration of the experience

* 4+ Years SQL Server and MySQL experience

(b) A "Technologies line can be added at the end of each position description containing the skill keywords.

Technologies: C#, Visual Studio, SQL Server, MySQL

To document HOW a skill was used, mention the skill keyword and related keywords in the position description. Describe what the skill was used for, how it was used, the environment it was used in, the scale and complexity of the use of the skill, and subject matter of the application of the skill. Also describe interactions with team members, team size and senior staff.

Instead of writing: "Maintained customer data"

Do this: Worked on a team of 4 senior developers to produce a custom marketing application. Used SQL Server, MySQL, stored procedures and custom C# Visual Studio applications to maintain over 2,000,000 customer records linking CRM data with, inventory and purchase records. Wrote queries for daily, weekly, monthly reporting of sales volume, by location and presented data to management and sales managers on a weekly basis.

  1. “Missing information is indistinguishable from lack of experience”
  2. “Everything you include, or leave out on your resume, sends a message.”
  3. Missing details lead readers to assume:

  • You really don’t have the experience.
  • The skill is not important to you or you don’t want to be involved with it.
  • You were too lazy to put it on your resume.

4. Merely parroting back the phrase “Demonstrated Experience in…” in a bullet at the top of a resume is not sufficient.

Summary:

Include the skill in the technology summary if you have one. Make sure the skill is mentioned in every position description where it was used. Explain how the skill was used, what you did with it, and any information that shows, or “demonstrates” that you understand the skill and have actually used it. You can even mention other skills which complement the skill in question. Companies ask for “Demonstrated Experience” because they’re looking for somebody who has actually worked with a skill or technology. Important skills may take several years to master and companies are looking for written evidence on a resume that a skill has been used for a significant period of time.