24 Resume Accomplishments Examples to Impress

Table of Contents

•  Accomplishments vs. Responsibilities
•  How to write resume accomplishments on your resume
• 1. Highlight relevant expertise in your resume accomplishments section
• 2. Explain the situation, the action, and the result
• 3. Start each accomplishment on your resume with an action verb
• 4. Quantify your resume accomplishments when possible
• Resume accomplishments vs. Responsibilities
• Quick Answers: Resume Accomplishments FAQs

Accomplishments vs. Responsibilities 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when crafting your resume is to include a long list of nothing but job duties. Without any context, these tell the reader very little about your value as an employee. Your potential employer or hiring manager wants to know your contributions and accomplishments that drove the company forward. They want to see that you can show initiative and have a real positive impact on your job. their company

Hence, including powerful, value-driven resume accomplishments that highlight your impact is vital. Apart from your job-related achievements, also keep track of your academic and personal accomplishments. These often hint at your greatest strengths, soft skills, and areas of productivity. Overall, focusing on accomplishments can set you apart and make your resume stand out.

How to write accomplishments on your resume

The competition in the job market is extremely high, and your qualifications are likely to be the same as many other applicants’. To stand out, you need to demonstrate the value you can bring to the company. So, let’s look at some tips that will help you along in the process.

1. Highlight relevant expertise in your resume accomplishments section

For instance, one of the core competencies of the job might be “Communication & Negotiation.” Whether this refers to calls with customers or negotiations with suppliers, show your experience in the area. How can you tell the reader that you have used this skill in the past?

It might be that you helped save company expenses by getting better deals on office supplies. Or, you might have a track record of resolving customer complaints successfully. Either way, choose your most impressive achievements when addressing the core competencies. If you don’t have any large achievements yet, think about what value you bring to the company. Then, focus on that in your resume accomplishments statement.

2. Explain the situation, the action, and the result

Before writing down the accomplishments for your resume, think about the situation the preceded them. What challenges did you overcome? What problem did you solve? Then, move on to the next part: How did you solve it? What benefits did the company reap from your actions? The best way to write accomplishments on your resume is to use the PAR method. (Problem, Action, Result)

(P) Problem: What was the situation/problem that I resolved?
(A) Action: What steps did I take to overcome this problem? Remember to use an action verb when describing what you did!
(R) Result: What was the outcome of my actions? How did they help the company or your team?

Example

Problem: Company's profits stagnation at 7% year-to-year, poor customer retention
Action: Implemented a new customer loyalty program
Result: Developed and implemented a new customer loyalty program, which increased customer retention rates by 18%, and increased the company's profits by 27-39%

The order in which you present these depends on what information you consider critical. Keep the reader in mind when crafting the accomplishments for your resume. What information will be the most valuable to them?

3. Start each accomplishment on your resume with an action verb

Each of your accomplishment statements should start with a strong, specific action verb. Using action verbs to begin the accomplishments on your resume will draw the reader in and make them want to know more.

Forget about phrases like “responsible for” or “in charge of.” Instead, use expressive action verbs such as “conducted” or “integrated.” Be as precise and purposeful in your wording as possible.

Keep in mind that the phrasing of the accomplishments on your resume affects the reader’s impression. For example, if you “implemented,” it might suggest that you didn’t develop or execute projects of your own. And while following instructions is essential, employers want to see what makes you stand out.

So, be thoughtful and purposeful when writing your accomplishments for a resume. Always take credit for your achievements, and don’t downplay your role in projects.

4. Quantify your resume accomplishments when possible

You want to make sure that the reader understands how significant your work is. How will you do that? The most powerful accomplishments are those that are quantified using percentages and numbers.

Providing tangible evidence of your impact will give the reader more confidence in your abilities and expertise. You can choose from percentages, currency amounts, time, and more metrics to include. For instance, you can mention the time it took you to increase sales revenue by a specific dollar amount.

When deciding what numbers to feature, don’t be shy. Like before, take credit for the positive impact of your work. Choose statistics and numbers that are impressive yet realistic. While quantifying every bullet point on your resume isn’t necessary, you should include a few lines featuring numbers for each position.

The most important questions to ask when compiling your accomplishments for a resume

• How can I improve my accomplishment statements? Develop clear, value-driven statements that highlight the impact of your work. Use specific action verbs throughout your resume accomplishments. Also, keep in mind to take credit for your work.  Use strong verbs that show what you can achieve, not just that you can follow directions.
• Does each of my achievements begin with an action verb? Remember: action verbs can breathe life into dull, overused statements. They highlight the action you took and hint at the impressive results it garnered. Apart from being the norm for resume writing, it also makes it easier for the reader to understand your achievements during a quick scan.
• Have I added enough credibility to my resume accomplishments? The best way to establish credibility and add context to your achievements is to quantify them. Using statistics helps the employer gauge your value and makes your accomplishments more impactful.

Resume accomplishments examples

• Grew the organization’s product (Gillette) market share in the Latin American market by 27% in 3 years
• Exceeded sales goals by an average of 12% each year since 2013
• Received 3 promotions from the board of directors in 2 years
• Assisted an average of 150 customers per day in ordering, returning, or exchanging products; coordinated a new ticketing system that decreased waiting time by 12%
• Grew the affiliate database from 118 to over 1122 in 6 months without increasing the monthly budget
• Spearheaded brand introduction and integration across 8 global markets
• Coordinated daily activities of 35 employees and prepared weekly updates and reports to track performance and productivity across 6 departments
• Carried out over 8 real estate showings per week on metropolitan properties valued between $10 million and $25 million
• Organized the yearly company-wide retreat, including booking flights, transportation, and accommodation for over 350 employees and stakeholders
• Increased revenue Zara fashion in new European markets to $454.1 million in under 2 years
• Created and deployed successful social media ad campaigns with a monthly budget of $3,500
• Coordinated a weekly newsletter sent out to over 350 stakeholders and partners
• Monitored a $500,000 monthly budget, keeping track of all expenses and preparing monthly financial reports for management
• Expanded the company’s client base by 47% in 3 months as a sales representative
• Prepared and implemented a software training program for 45 associate-level employees.

Sample resume accomplishments for students

• Elected president of the student body for the academic years 2012-2014
• Kentucky National Honors Society member
• Voted the best article of the year in the school newspaper
• Implemented an innovative yearbook campaign, increasing ad revenues by 33% YoY
• Designed and implemented a student social media strategy on Instagram, which increased enrolment by 21%

Sample resume accomplishments for sales

• Increased the volume of distribution of branded supplements by 31% within a year on the pharmacy market
• Managed a team of five sales managers, consistently exceeding sales objectives by an average of 47% within the first 6 months.
• Suggested and implemented flexible payment options to increase customer retention by 12%

When it comes to your resume, less is more. Starting the accomplishments on your resume with an action verb followed by an impressive result can cement your position as a valuable team member. Yet, it should be easy to scan and quick to grab attention. Coincidentally, including impressive resume accomplishments is the best way to ensure that. Keep in mind that prospective employers will want to see your work outcomes and focus on them throughout your resume.

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