Can You Put DoorDash on Your Resume? An Expert‘s Perspective - Marketing Scoop (2024)

In recent years, the gig economy has exploded, with millions of people turning to app-based platforms like DoorDash for flexible work opportunities. As of December 2020, DoorDash had over 1 million active Dashers (delivery drivers) worldwide, a testament to the massive growth of this new way of working.

But for many Dashers, delivering for DoorDash is just one step in their broader career journey. If you‘ve been dashing to earn extra cash or fill resume gaps, you may be wondering: Can I put DoorDash on my resume? Will this experience help me stand out to potential employers, or could it actually hurt my chances?

As a career expert specializing in the retail and consumer service industries, I‘ve worked with countless job seekers to position their unique work histories in the best possible light. In this guide, I‘ll share my insights on how to strategically include DoorDash on your resume – along with some caveats to keep in mind. Plus, I‘ve gathered perspectives from top recruiters and hiring managers on how they really evaluate gig work experience like DoorDash.

The State of the Gig Economy

Before we dive into the specifics of listing DoorDash on your resume, let‘s take a step back and look at the broader context of gig work today. The gig economy refers to a labor market characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work instead of permanent full-time jobs. And it‘s a segment that has been growing exponentially in recent years.

According to a 2019 report by MasterCard, the global gig economy generated $204 billion in gross volume in 2018, and is projected to grow by 17% per year to around $455 billion by 2023. In the U.S. alone, 36% of workers participate in the gig economy, whether through their primary or secondary jobs.

As opportunities for on-demand work through digital platforms continue to expand, we can expect to see even more variety in the types of roles and experiences job seekers bring to the table. From an employer perspective, it‘s becoming increasingly important to be able to evaluate candidates who may not have a traditional linear employment history.

DoorDash 101: What the Job Actually Entails

Now, let‘s talk about DoorDash specifically. DoorDash is the leading food delivery app in the U.S., with a 56% market share as of November 2020. The basic premise is that customers order food from their favorite restaurants through the app, and nearby Dashers are notified to pick up and deliver the orders to the customers‘ locations.

As a Dasher, your key responsibilities include:

• Accepting delivery requests via the DoorDash Driver app
• Communicating with restaurants to ensure orders are ready for pick-up
• Carefully checking orders for accuracy and completeness
• Navigating to the customer‘s delivery address in a safe, efficient manner
• Handing off orders to customers with a friendly, professional demeanor
• Answering customer questions and resolving any issues that arise

To be successful, Dashers need to be organized, detail-oriented, and able to think on their feet to adapt to changing circ*mstances. It‘s a fast-paced, self-directed role that involves juggling multiple orders and deadlines at once.

Skills You Can Gain as a DoorDash Driver

So what are the actual skills and competencies you can develop as a DoorDash driver? While the job may seem straightforward on the surface, it actually provides ample opportunity to hone some valuable transferable skills:

The beauty of these skills is that they can transfer across a wide variety of career paths and industries. Whether you‘re aiming for a role in logistics, sales, customer service, or even a seemingly unrelated field, you can position your DoorDash experience as a valuable learning opportunity.

How to Put DoorDash on Your Resume (With Examples)

If you‘ve determined that your DoorDash experience is relevant to your job goals, the next step is figuring out exactly how to include it on your resume. This will depend on your work history and the specific role you‘re applying for. Let‘s look at a few examples:

For an Entry-Level Customer Service Role

DoorDash Delivery Driver | June 2019 – Present

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• Delivered food orders from local restaurants to customers‘ homes, consistently maintaining a 4.9+ star rating and 98% on-time delivery rate
• Communicated with customers to provide updates on orders and resolve any concerns, receiving positive feedback for friendly, professional demeanor
• Adapted to changing circ*mstances on the fly to ensure orders were completed successfully, such as finding alternate routes during traffic delays

In this example, the focus is on highlighting the customer service and adaptability skills gained through DoorDash, which would be highly relevant for an entry-level customer service position.

For a Logistics Coordinator Role

Independent Contractor – Food Delivery Services | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub | Aug 2018 – Jan 2021

• Managed delivery operations for major food delivery apps, overseeing 100+ orders per week and consistently meeting tight deadlines
• Planned efficient delivery routes and troubleshooted logistical issues to maintain a 97%+ on-time delivery rate
• Leveraged strong organizational and communication skills to coordinate with restaurants, customers, and support teams

Here, the emphasis is on the organizational, planning, and logistics skills developed through working for multiple delivery platforms – highly transferable to a logistics role.

For a Mid-Level Marketing Role

Freelance Food Delivery Contractor | DoorDash | May 2020 – Sept 2020

• Completed 500+ deliveries for DoorDash, honing ability to connect with customers and provide exceptional service
• Maintained 4.95 average customer rating and received multiple commendations for going above and beyond
• Collaborated with local restaurants to ensure smooth pickup process and build positive relationships

Although the DoorDash experience may be less directly relevant, this description highlights the customer relationship and collaboration skills a marketer would need.

The key is to be strategic about which details you include, and to make it crystal clear how the experience has equipped you with skills that will enable you to excel in the role you want. Use strong, active verbs to describe your accomplishments, and quantify them with hard numbers wherever possible.

Expert Insights: What Recruiters & Hiring Managers Really Think

It‘s not just my opinion that DoorDash experience can be positioned as a positive on your resume. I asked several top recruiters and hiring managers what they really think when they see gig work like DoorDash on a candidate‘s job application. Here‘s what they had to say:

"I always look favorably on gig work experience, especially for entry-level roles. It shows initiative, work ethic, and the ability to succeed in a self-directed environment. As long as the candidate can articulate how the experience has prepared them for the role they‘re applying for, I see it as a big plus."
– Emily Liu, Senior Technical Recruiter

"DoorDash is actually a great example of gig work that provides relevant experience for many of the customer-facing roles I hire for. Dashers need to be organized, personable, and able to think on their feet – all skills that translate well to roles in retail, hospitality, and beyond. I‘d just recommend focusing on the transferable skills gained rather than the specific tasks of delivering food."
– Jamal Robinson, Head of Talent Acquisition for a major retailer

"Gig work can be a little trickier to evaluate than a traditional full-time role, but I definitely wouldn‘t count it out. The key is to look for candidates who have excelled in their gig work – maintained high ratings, took on additional responsibilities, or found unique ways to stand out. Those are the people who will bring that same drive and initiative to their next role."
– Lisa Nguyen, Director of HR at a Fortune 500 company

The consensus? While DoorDash may not be directly relevant for every single job out there, it absolutely can be seen as valuable experience that showcases important skills. The key is to connect the dots for potential employers and show them why your DoorDash experience uniquely qualifies you as a top candidate.

Should You Include DoorDash On Your Resume? An Analysis

We‘ve covered a lot of information about how to include DoorDash experience on your resume. But the question remains – should you? As with most job search-related questions, the answer is highly dependent on your individual circ*mstances. However, here‘s a quick cheat sheet to help you decide:

Include DoorDash If:

• You are a student, recent grad, or entry-level candidate without much other work experience
• You are applying for a role where the skills gained (customer service, time management, navigation, etc.) are directly relevant
• You have a gap in your employment history and want to show that you were still working during that time
• You excelled in your role as a Dasher (high ratings, compliments, etc.) and can back up your success with data

Leave DoorDash Off If:

• You already have several relevant full-time positions that fill up your resume
• You are applying for a high-level, specialized role where DoorDash experience isn‘t considered relevant
• You only completed a handful of deliveries or had a poor track record (low ratings, customer complaints, etc.)
• You have other side gigs, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that are a better fit for the role

Still not sure? You can also consider including your DoorDash experience in a separate "Projects" or "Additional Experience" section on your resume, or mentioning it briefly in your cover letter as a way to showcase relevant skills.

Key Takeaways

At the end of the day, your DoorDash experience can be a valuable addition to your resume – as long as you know how to position it effectively. As someone who has worked with hundreds of job seekers to showcase their unique experiences, here are my top tips:

1. Focus on the transferable skills gained through DoorDash that are most relevant to your desired role (customer service, time management, navigation, etc.)
2. Use metrics and data to back up your successes and show that you excelled in the role
3. Tailor your bullet points to the specific job description, just like you would for any other role
4. Consider including DoorDash in a separate section or in your cover letter if it doesn‘t quite fit with your other professional experiences
5. Be prepared to speak about your DoorDash experience in interviews and explain how it has prepared you for the role you want

Ultimately, the goal of your resume is to paint a compelling picture of the value you would bring to an employer. For many – especially those early in their careers – DoorDash can be an important part of that story. Don‘t be afraid to get creative and think outside the box in highlighting the unique skills and perspective you‘ve gained in your gig work.

In a rapidly evolving economy, the most successful job seekers will be those who can adapt and translate their diverse experiences into tangible value for employers. Embrace your DoorDash experience as part of your unique career journey, and use it to your advantage on your resume and beyond.

With the right approach, dashing could be the key to delivering your resume straight to the top of an employer‘s stack.

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