I’ve often talked about the importance of quantifying your experience.  I’ve written a free ebook on writing results-focused resumes.  But I haven’t really shown you how to integrate your accomplishments into your resume in a way that affords them the attention that they deserve.  Well, the wait is over.

Too many resumes mix things up in a jumbled all-encompassing paragraph.  Job task, job task, job task, job task, fantastic jewel of a cool thing you did for your last company, job task, job task.  Your accomplishments deserve notice, so you should make sure that they jump off the page.  There are two major methods:

Insert a “Key Accomplishments” section in your resume

This method targets short attention spans (read: recruiters) by putting the bottom line up front.  Simply choose the 3-5 accomplishments that are most pertinent to the  job you’re applying for and give them their own section.  It typically looks like this:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:  …………..

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Accomplishment 1
• Accomplishment 2
• Accomplishment 3

EXPERIENCE: ……..

This also works well if the accomplishments that are most pertinent to the role aren’t from your last job, by pushing those key accomplishments higher on the resume page.

A paragraph of description, and resume accomplishments with bullets

The other major method involves splitting up your job responsibilities and your accomplishments, and highlighting the accomplishments with bullets.  So, if it tells the reader what you did, it’s job description, and belongs in the opening paragraph.  If it says how well you did your job, it’s an accomplishment, and it deserves a bullet.

If you were a circus clown, your resume might look like this:

Circus Clown
As part of a troupe of 12, entertain audiences of 1,000+ during two shows daily.  Build positive working relationships with monkeys, camels and elephants.  Operate and maintain very small car.

• Developed six original comedic routines for use in shows.
• Successfully juggled six flaming torches and one chainsaw.
• Recognized for “Best  Makeup” by the Clown Association of New York.

You get the idea.

How else do you highlight your accomplishments on your resume?

photo credit: visualpanic

Related posts:

1. Industry-specific resumes: What’s the difference?
2. Where’s the love?: Five ways to show enthusiasm and land the job
3. Your Guide To: RESUMES
4. Your resume summary statement: Quantify, quantify, quantify
5. 5 Keys to a Resume Summary Statement With Punch

Tagged as: accomplishment, entry level, free ebook, job change, job description, job hunt, job search, last job, new grad, resume, resume writing, resumes