If you’re looking for an alternative to “hands-on experience,” you’ve come to the right place. There are some great options available, after all!
This article has gathered the best synonyms for “hands-on experience.” We’ll teach you how to use them and what to say to mix up your writing in CVs and cover letters.
Hands-on Experience Synonyms
- Proficiency
- I’ve worked closely with
- Practical experience
- Practical expertise
- Efficiency in
- Knowledgeable of
- Got stuck in with
- Have worked with
- Enjoyed learning about
- Have tested my skills with
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Hands-on experience” is correct to say on a resume, though there are better options.
- You could say “proficiency” to demonstrate comfortability with a specific skill.
- “I’ve worked closely with” is a great phrasal introduction to show people that you’ve worked with something before.
Keep reading to learn more about the best alternatives on your resume. We’ve explained the most effective ones and the best ways to use them.
Or perhaps the final section is more to your liking. We’ve explained whether “hands-on experience” is correct to include in your writing. So, skip ahead if that’s what you’re here to learn about.
Proficiency
“Proficiency” is another word for “hands-on experience” that is more concise. It’s made clear to the reader that you have experience in specific fields, which usually makes you more useful to a potential employer.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “proficiency” as “advancement in knowledge or skill.”
If you’re going to talk about your proficiencies in a resume, you need to make them relevant. The more relevant they are, the easier it will be to impress an employer when they read through what you have learned over your career.
Proficiency comes from time and practice. Therefore, it’s a hard skill worth highlighting when you know you’re good at what you do.
You should certainly use “proficiency” over “hands-on experience” in your resume. It’s more formal, making you appear more professional when you want to impress a potential employer.
Here are some examples that will explain more about it:
I have proficiency in technological fields such as this one. For this reason, I believe I’ll be an excellent hire.
My proficiency in mathematical modeling allows me to explore new ideas with relative ease.
I’ve Worked Closely With
“I’ve worked closely with” is a great phrase showing what you’ve learned over your career. It shows that you’ve developed an understanding of a specific field because you worked in it for a while.
“Worked closely” can apply to working with people or working with software or projects. If you have spent a long time working on something and learning about it, you can include this phrase in your resume to impress an employer.
You’ll want to make it relevant to the job you are applying for. That way, you will ensure that an employer will be impressed with your experience and knowledge.
We recommend using “I’ve worked closely with” and “hands-on experience” in similar situations. They are both useful, allowing you to mix things up a little when writing resumes.
Check out these examples to see how it works:
I’ve worked closely with this software in the past. Therefore, I think I’ll be a good candidate to train your other staff members.
I’ve worked closely with many physicists to develop a formula. I have developed a fool-proof solution because of this.
Is It Correct to Say “Hands-on Experience”?
“Hands-on experience” is correct to say on a resume. You can use it to show you have practical knowledge and experience with things that others might not. It shows you have worked closely with something before.
It is quite formal, though it’s not the best choice in all resumes. It’s best to use one of the synonyms we explored to mix up your language and sound more professional to potential employers.
Why not refer to the example below to see how to put it on your resume:
- I have hands-on experience working with databases. I am happy to demonstrate this in a larger capacity if you accept me.
You should remember to hyphenate “hands-on,” though. It is a compound adjective, meaning it modifies “experience.” Without the hyphen, the modification is lost, and the phrase “hands on experience” will make no sense.
Feel free to bookmark this page to remind yourself of all the synonyms for “hands-on experience.” There are plenty of great options, and you never know when they might come in handy.