Résumés that work: include accomplishment statements

Résumés that include accomplishment statements, or the results of the work the job seeker did, get results faster.

The accomplishment shows the benefit to the employer of hiring this job seeker.

For every statement in your résumé, ask yourself the question “So what?”

So what was the benefit of this to my employer? Why would this be a worthwhile thing to have done?

Here are some phrases to get you started thinking about your accomplishments.

- Saved money
- Reduced time taken
- Improved performance
- Boosted sales
- Increased efficiency
- Enlarged customer list
- Provided excellent customer service
- Increased reliability
- Increased productivity
- Streamlined production
- Reduced costs
- Reduced waste
- Solved problems
- Took initiative

Follow these steps to create your accomplishment statements:

- Write out what you did
- Include the benefit to the employer
- Remove any unnecessary information
- Use statistics, and quantitative words wherever possible (25%, by $4000)

Here are some samples:

Increased sales by 15% in first 6 months, by instigating a regular follow-up/ call back system

Reduced customer service/ problem calls by an average of 25 per day by creating more effective one call resolution policy

Computerized all printed staff information sheets, streamlining performance and making all information instantly available to all staff

Need more help with resume writing?

.