Should You Include Quotes On Your Resume? (And How To Do It)

In a competitive job market, most candidates are likely to list their education, qualifications and professional experience on their resume. You can include additional information that reaffirms or supports your qualifications to make it stand out from the rest. A quote is a piece of information you can include on your resume to highlight your qualifications and knowing how to include quotes on a resume can benefit you in a job search. In this article, we examine what a resume quote is, what benefits it offers and how to use one or more in your resume.

Should You Include Quotes On Your Resume?

The answer to the question ‘Should you include quotes on your resume?' is that you can. A quote or a recommendation is a portion of a positive testimonial, a letter of recommendation or an endorsement from a satisfied customer or manager. It is not common to include a quote on a resume. If you are particularly proud of the praise or recommendation you have received or if you believe it can help you gain credibility, you may choose to include it.

Consider whether including quotes in your resume can help you secure the job you want. Remove any quotes that are irrelevant to the position you are applying for. Also, if your resume is already two or more pages long, refrain from extending its length just to add quotes.

What Are The Benefits Of Adding Resume Quotes?

Quotes from reputable sources can help validate a candidate's skills and support the achievements they list on a resume. You can show employers that someone else thinks highly of you by including positive quotes about your work. Quotes can also effectively and persuasively communicate your work ethic and personality.

How To Include Quotes On A Resume

Follow these pointers to include quotes on a resume effectively:

1. Combine quotes with work experience

Combining quotes with relevant work experience is an effective way to add quotes to your resume. For example, if you wish to mention in your resume that you were the top salesperson in your previous company which had a sales staff of 180 people, you can include a quote from your manager that says, "Beena is the best salesperson I have worked with in the last six years". Mention the speaker's name so that your information is credible and verifiable.

Related: How To Write Work Experience On Your CV

2. List two or more quotes in a separate section

If you want to include over two quotes in your resume, you can create a separate section for them. Include this section in your resume alongside your work history and education. Make sure that each quote you use is from a credible source who can attest to your skills or abilities and give you credit for them.

3. Use quotes as a filler or include them in another section

Another great way to include a quote on your resume is to use it as a filler or in other sections. If you are a high-demand customer service representative, you can use a quote as a filler in your skills section. If you did an excellent job as a branch manager, request a written testimonial from the CEO of the company and include it in the achievements section.

Also, if you have a two-page resume with a sizeable gap or white space at the bottom, instead of leaving it blank, you can add one or two quotes to this portion. This not only shows positive feedback on your work, but also allows employers to make conclusions about your candidacy for the job.

4. Be selective

Instead of gathering many quotes, concentrate on who is providing them. For example, if a hiring manager sees that your accountant endorses your interior design skills on a resume, they may question the validity of the quote. The same quote may sound genuine if it comes from the CEO of the company where you worked or from one of your interior design clients.

5. Use a quote relevant to the position

It is also crucial to pick a quote that is relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have recently changed careers, use a quote that depicts the skills or abilities that you require to succeed in the job. If you are transitioning from a sales representative to a teaching position, find a quote that demonstrates leadership and instructional skills. Refrain from using a quote that is inaccurate in any way or that you cannot back up with specific examples.

If more than one individual provides you with material to refer to, choose one in a higher position within the company or one who was your direct supervisor. For example, instead of using a quote from a coworker with similar responsibilities, you can use a quote from a manager directly above you.

6. Always ask for permission

Before you use someone else's words in your resume, get their permission first. Internal documents such as performance reviews or emails can be proprietary information and thus confidential, while customer feedback and peer endorsements usually pose no issues. To avoid any complications, it is best to ask permission ahead of time.

7. Follow proper formatting

Make sure your resume quotes are brief. Use only one or two quotes, each of which is no more than a couple of lines long. Make sure each quote is on its own line, with quotation marks, italics font and left aligned. Using a visual cue like bolding, em-dash or indention can indicate the source's or speaker's name and title on the line below each quote to distinguish this information from the rest of the text. Here is an example:

"Arya is an excellent copywriter who specialises in SEO. Her articles have aided in the growth of our website's traffic."

- Katrina, CEO and Founder, CSD Solutions LLC

If you have a powerful quote that is too long to use in its entirety, you can shorten it. Make sure to acknowledge that you have done so. To show that you have skipped some words, use three periods and brackets to indicate that you have paraphrased or changed the case of a letter. While it is acceptable to edit a quote to make it shorter, make sure the modified version does not change the statement's meaning or the idea it represents. If you need to save space, do so, but be fair to readers. For example:

‘Kiran is a diligent employee... [and] a terrific copywriter.'

Related: Resume Format Guide (With Examples)

Resume Template With Quotes Section

Here is an example of a chronological resume with a quote section:

[Full Name]
[Job title]
[Address]
[Contact number]
[Email address]
[Website, online portfolio or professional profile]

[Resume Objective or Summary]

Professional Experience

[Job title], [Duration of employment with start and end dates]
[Company Name], [Location]

• [Job responsibility]

• [Job responsibly]

• [Job responsibility]

Education

[Name of institution], [Place]
[Degree and graduation date]

Certifications

• [Certification]

• [Certification]

• [Certification]

Key Skills

• [Skill]

• [Skill]

• [Skill]

Languages

• [Language], [Proficiency level]

• [Language], [Proficiency level]

Testimonials

[Quote]
- [Speaker's name], [Title]

[Quote]
- [Speaker's name], [Title]

Related: Resume For Freshers: Guide With Template

Sample Resume With Quotes

Here is a sample resume that includes quotes:

Swetha Reji
Administrative Support Specialist
875 PSN Park
Calicut, Kerala, 682030
+91 99780 94523
swethareji@email.com

Professional administrative assistant with a wide range of skills that can be used in any office setting. Advanced customer requirements knowledge combined with thorough analysis results in excellent customer service and high levels of client satisfaction.

Professional Experience

February 2013 - Present
Assistant to the President
Jakarta Technologies Inc., Mumbai

• Assisted the President in all aspects, including scheduling and providing logistical support for speaking events and large-scale meetings.

• Collaborated with the President and the entire executive team, earning a reputation as a trustworthy professional resource.

Education

Regional School of Higher Studies, Mumbai
Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management, 2012

Certifications

• Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)

• Organisational Management (OM)

Key Skills

• Time management

• Project management

• Technical writing

• Corporate communication

• Teamwork

• Office operations

• Strategic planning

• Critical thinking

• Leadership skills

Languages

• English (Fluent)

• Hindi (Fluent)

• Tamil(Proficient)

• Malayalam (Proficient)

Testimonials

"An impressive ability to handle a variety of challenging tasks... When it comes to managing a busy executive's schedule, she is a lifesaver."
- Srishti, President, JJK Solutions LLC

"Swetha had our front office running more efficiently than it had ever been in just three weeks. She was able to suggest ways to improve our process, cut costs and eliminate redundant tasks."
- John Roy, Office Manager, Persona Hotels