5 better words for “extensive experience” on your resume (2023)

One of the most used words on a person's resume is "extensive experience". We've all used it before, and employers are generally tired of hearing it. In this article, we look at synonyms for extensive experience so you can impress potential employers from the start.

What is another way of saying "extensive experience"?

“Extensive experience” is an overused word on resumes and many employers are fed up with it. It's important to mix it up to try to convince an employer to read your resume. You might want to try "very experienced" or "extensive experience" or "considerable experience" instead.

Before we dive into the article, here we cover the most useful words. We'll get into that later, but we think these are some of the best synonyms to use in place of "extensive experience."

• Very experienced
• Comprehensive experience
• Considerable experience
• Great experience
• expert knowledge

Very experienced

We'll start by walking you through "very experienced" as an alternative. It's the only replacement on this list that uses "skilled" in the verb form (and "high" is an adverb used to describe it).

"Very experienced" means someone has achieved a high level of understanding or knowledge in a particular area or skill. We use it as an adverb + verb combination to show that we have put extra effort into achieving this level of experience.

Unlike everything else we'll mention afterward, here "experienced" is a verb. In the other cases (as well as "extensive experience") we use "experience" as a noun. This makes "very experienced" a unique choice in itself, but it's still a remarkably popular one.

1. I am very experienced in working with children.
2. I am very experienced in handling machines.
3. I am very experienced in owning my own business and building it from scratch.
4. Due to my excellent education at a high-ranking university, I am very experienced in psychological matters.

As you can see from these examples, in all cases we use "I am" before writing "very experienced". We must include "am" as a verb before we say "experience" because it is required as an auxiliary (or auxiliary) verb.

Comprehensive experience

Let's look at the first of the nouns on the list. When we use "extensive experience" we can also replace the word "experience" with "knowledge" or "understanding". Choose the one that you think is most appropriate for the context of your application.

"Extensive experience" shows that you have tried very hard to understand something "extensively". This usually means that you fully understand something and that you are also generally able to teach someone else fairly quickly.

As mentioned earlier, "experience" can be replaced here with either "knowledge" or "understanding" and work in the same tone. However, make sure you know the direct audience of your resume before you decide to change it.

1. I have extensive experience with all major software types on most operating machines.
2. I have an extensive knowledge of the human psyche and how to approach difficult situations.
3. I have a thorough understanding of the basics of mathematical theory.
4. I have extensive experience with heavy machinery.

We use "I have" in this way before using "experience" in the noun form. Sometimes we use "I have a" when we're talking more about an "understanding" of something, but that's the only instance where we could use it.

In general, stick to "I have experience" in all cases to make sure you get it grammatically correct.

Considerable experience

"Considerable experience" works the same as "extensive experience". We can substitute "knowledge" or "understanding" for "experience" here, although we will most likely use "experience" in most cases.

"Substantial experience" means you've spent time learning the ins and outs of something. "Considerable" is an adjective used to mean "a large quantity" of something.

So let's look at some examples of when "considerable experience" or variations thereof might be optimal.

1. I have a lot of experience working with mental illness.
2. I have considerable knowledge of the difficulties associated with impoverished neighborhoods.
3. I have a lot of experience working with animals.
4. I have considerableexperience indangerous jobs and gladly take this opportunity.

As you can see from these examples, we can use "considerable experience" just as we can the overused "extensive experience." In general, "significant" isn't such a popular word, but it has a similar meaning that's just as strong as "extensive."

Great experience

Next, let's look at when we might use "great experience" as an adjective/noun combination. This is less common than some of the others, but that could make it all the more impactful when it comes to diversity on your resume.

"Great experience" means you have a lot of knowledge in an area, just like all the other examples before it. 'Vast' means something that is 'big' or 'large' and in this sense means that we have a significant amount of experience in a field.

While "far" is the shortest adjective to describe "experience," it still holds up when you look at the implications of the following examples.

1. I have many years of experience in amusement parks.
2. I have many years of retail experience and I know how to keep my customers happy.
3. I have a great deal of knowledge in the field of chemistry and I look forward to sharing it.
4. I have a great understanding of all things football and would be a great coach.

We can use "know" and "understand" in the same way as in the examples we shared above. We can always find synonymous words with "experience," although sometimes it's best to know your audience before attempting to risk it.

Finally, “experience” is a keyword most CV readers look for when hiring new employees.

expert knowledge

Finally, we come to the topic of “expert knowledge”. This is the only one on the list that doesn't use "experience" as part of the phrase. The words "expert experience" just don't make sense, so we can't use them in the same way.

"Expert knowledge" means that you fully understand a subject. That's very high praise, and if you consider yourself an "expert" in any field, you may be asked to prove it. Only use it if you are sure you are an "expert" in your understanding.

Let's go through some examples so you can see when we might use them:

1. I have expert knowledge of dealing with young children.
2. I have expertise in art and literature and would be a great fit for the team.
3. I have an expert understanding of medical things, but I always gain from learning new methods.
4. I have expert knowledge when it comes to video games.

As you can see, the knowledge area is not important. If you think you're an "expert" (which generally refers to the best of the best), then you can say you have.

What does "extensive experience" mean?

It's great to know what all of these synonyms mean and when to use them, but we should also quickly take a look at what "extensive experience" actually means.

"Extensive experience" means you have spent a long time learning something in a field or profession. "Extensive" means "to a great extent", which means that you have learned how to master certain things for a long time.

It's one of the most popular lines on a resume, and many employers will now skip it because it's so uninspiring to read. That's why it's important to find a good alternative that will appeal to a potential employer.

Can you say "extensive experience"?

Many people worry about the accuracy of the word "extensive experience."

"Extensive experience" is grammatically correct. “Extensive” is used as an adjective, while “experience” is used as a noun in this sense. An adjective describes a noun, meaning both words work perfectly together.

However, it's important to remember that you can't just say them on your own and you generally need to include who has "extensive experience" in a field.

1. I have extensive experience.
2. You have extensive experience.
3. We have extensive experience.

All of thoseSentences are correct; You just need to make sure you include a pronoun and an auxiliary verb (“to have”) beforehand to keep it flowing.

How to use extensive experience in a sentence

There are a few ways you can use "extensive experience" in a sentence. It's important to understand these examples before we throw alternatives at you. If you have never used or seen it then these are some good examples of when to use it.

1. My work has given me extensive experiencehereinafterFelder.
2. My school offered a wide rangeWork experienceprogram in which I participated.
3. I made sure to gain extensive experience in this area before applying.
4. You cannot get a high-paying job without extensive experience in the field you are applying for.

As you can see, the situation can varyrelated towhat we're talking about. We can also add additional nouns like “work” between “extensive” and “experience” if needed. The meaning is always the same.

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„Years of Experience“ oder „Years‘ Experience“: Korrekte Version