By now, everyone knows that resumes are a crucial part of the job search, and if you want to stand out from the crowd, listing achievements is the best way to do it. But what are achievements? And how do you go about listing them in resume writing?
What are Achievements
Achievements show what good things you achieved—either for your company or yourself. They might be work-related or personal, but they should be quantifiable and measurable.
Here are some examples of achievement statements
– Improved company productivity by 50% within one year.
– Redesigned and developed an award-winning website for our organization.
– Achieved ten consecutive sales targets in one year.
As you can see, achievements should be quantifiable and measurable, and they should focus on the positive rather than the negative.
Detail the Process of Writing a Resume
The process of writing a resume is one that we all have been through at some point in our lives. It’s a familiar process, but it does deserve detail to explain how to write a resume.
Here are the main steps involved in writing a resume:
- list your personal details – name, address, phone etc.;
- start with an objective statement that shows the prospective employer what you want.
- list your work history – starting with your most recent position;
- next, list your education – starting with the most recent institution attended;
- finish off with a section detailing any other relevant information such as language skills, computer skills, and additional training;
Remember that you also need to include achievements. Do this by listing them under each of the headings above – in the work experience section, for example. You could list an achievement such as “Worked on a team to achieve record sales figures.”
Listing Your Achievements on a Resume
Here’s how you can list achievements on a resume:
- place the objective statement at the beginning of the first page or two;
- in the work history section, ensure that each achievement is listed under its own section and separated by single-spaced lines;
- as you progress through your qualifications and skills, list them under their own section with clear subheadings. Avoid using bullet points, and make sure that you add an achievement for each qualification mentioned;
- list your achievements in chronological order.
When writing a resume, the main thing to remember is that it should show the employer why you are the best candidate for the job. To do this, you need to demonstrate what you have achieved in previous roles and during educational periods.
Remember that achievement can be a positive thing, such as a new business initiative or an award that you have received. Still, it can also overcome a negative circumstance or problem – such as dealing with difficult clients or situations where there were time constraints.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
The mistakes that many people make when listing achievements on a resume are as follows:
– Don’t use the same achievement for each of your jobs. This could cause you to appear unambitious, and it will also lessen the impact of the achievement;
– Don’t use subjective words such as “I developed a better working relationship with my boss.” This is not definitive enough, and you will also risk appearing arrogant;
– Avoid using generic statements, such as “helping to develop a more efficient working environment.
– Avoid putting a job title next to the achievement. This will make it harder for employers to find what you’ve achieved. A better option is to have them in the skills section at the end of the resume;
– When listing achievements on your resume, also make sure you include space between each one so that they are easier to read. Also, highlight important achievements in bold text and underline other achievements that pertain to your skills requirements.
Honing Your Skills
Writing a resume is an art that anyone interested in becoming a great writer can be honed. However, there is one skill that you need to hone to get the most out of writing a resume – the ability to evaluate what you have achieved.
There are four ways that you can evaluate your achievements
- by considering how well you have done compared to others of your age and background;
- by considering how useful the skills that you have acquired were or are;
- by considering how much of an improvement you have made;
- by considering whether the achievement was unique or of general benefit.
Remember, Your Resume Isn’t Just About You
The biggest mistake that people make when writing their resumes is to be self-centered. By failing to use resume writing achievements, they are making the mistake of hiding their personality and making it appear that they don’t have any personal attributes that might make them ideal employees.
In conclusion, when writing a resume, you need to make use of achievements. There are several ways to do this, but the most effective way is to use achievement statements and subheadings. By doing this, you will ensure that prospective employers notice your resume and that it is one of the first ones they consider for a position.
Finish off with any additional information you want to include
The most important thing to remember about listing achievements in resume writing is that they should be quantifiable and measurable. If you can’t measure it, don’t include it. You should also only include achievements that are relevant to the position you are applying for.