Most professionals in similar industries have the same set of responsibilities; for instance, a sales management professional will develop sales pitches, manage sales campaigns, administer a sales team, train salespeople, and engage in client relations.
Keep in mind: you need to do something to set yourself apart from the average job seeker.
Write your resume and cover letter in a way that will distinguish you as unique and show your passion for your field and for delivering results—it’s all in the wording. Convey that you don’t just perform your job, but you make a difference to a company. Make your resume stand out from the other job applicants by including impressive and relevant accomplishments.
Career achievements are an integral part of a resume.
What Career Accomplishments to Include
When creating your resume, listing all of your accomplishments since the seventh grade is overkill. However, you should have something to be able to show a prospective employer.
• What was the office like before you arrived?
• What was it like after?
• What did you do to change or improve the situation?
• What did you do to increase productivity?
• Did you increase sales?
All of these accomplishment-based questions can help you to beef up your resume and make you stand out from the competition.
• What articles or books have you written?
• Were you on any committees or leadership teams or special projects?
• Are you more of a leader or a follower?
These are questions to help you get started. When coming up with achievements, think of this series of questions: what was the challenge, what was the action you took, and what was the result. This will create an accomplishment statement you can incorporate in your resume.
Include Hard Statistics
Give examples that include facts and figures. Reflect the metrics of your achievements in your resume. An example would be “Increased product orders by 30% over one year”. Showing growth is an excellent way of displaying your success to a prospective employer—numbers give specifics. General statements are vague and may cause a company to take a step back. The important thing to remember is that the business is looking to improve its bottom-line results. It’s up to you to show how you can further that goal.
Accomplishment Section
The resume accomplishment section should concisely verify the results you’ve achieved and present the hiring committee with the proof. Prove to the reader that you can meet or exceed the results they desire. Since previous work performance is a significant indicator for potential contributions, a list of preceding achievements and successes could pique a reader’s curiosity and ultimately secure a job interview where you can elaborate on your skills, expertise, and successes.
Need additional help to create an accomplishment-based, keyword-rich resume? Reach out to Candace for assistance!