Career Accomplishments to Put on Your Resume

Career Accomplishments to Put on Your ResumeCareer Accomplishments to Put on Your ResumeToo many of the resumes we see focus solely on job duties, sometimes copying them verbatim from corporate job descriptions, say greyzones founder Tami Palmer and resume writer Beth Kujawski. Instead, aim to frame duties as accomplishments.Ready to demonstrate that youre an achiever? Take these actions to create a resume that showcases career accomplishments1. BrainstormWrite down every professional achievement that comes to mind, large or small. Dont be judgmental about usability at this stage. (As a side note consider starting a success journal if you dont already maintain one. Jotting accomplishments as they happen will ensure they dont get overlooked. Plus, youll have a ready source at your disposal when you need a morale boost or want to state your case for a raise.)Look at past performance reviews and letters of recommendation for inspiration. Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides.com, sug gests also pondering these three questionsHow is the department better off today than when you joined the team?What personal characteristic are you most proud of and how has it played a role in your achievements?Have you ever recommended a process improvement the company implemented?2. RefineNext, weed through your list. Evaluate which successes best demonstrate how youve helped your employer or most clearly reflect the type of worker you are. Matias recommends honing in on specific core competencies that are important to your line of work. For example, an IT professional can focus on process improvement, people management, and hardware/software implementation. A customer service representative can address relationship building, reduced call times, and quality of service. Read through job postings to uncover core competencies in your field.3. FrameNow youre ready to present your best self. Choose high-impact verbs such as improved, increased, and achieved over lackluster ones like d id or made. Include quantities if possible Wrote 50 articles for Client X packs a great punch than Wrote many articles.Companies care most about how you managed costs and increased revenue, Kujawski and Palmer say. Data is powerful. Use statistics, name drop Fortune 500 clients, illustrate the unique stamp you left on a company.But dont eliminate significant triumphs simply because they arent quantifiable. As Matias notes, Receiving positive performance reviews and being selected for top projects are all accomplishments, even though a number cant be attached.Consider pulling excerpts from what others have said about you. Their words of praise regarding specific accomplishments can add a layer of believability to your resume and get across the message that youre a candidate worthy of attentionFind more resume tips hereReaders, do you focus on your career accomplishments or job duties on your resume? Will you make adjustments to focus on career accomplishments? Share with us below