One of the main gripes recruiters and HR managers have about candidates is that they document their past work experience without identifying just how capable they were in carrying those tasks out. Job applicants often add skills without proving how talented they are with each one or include academic stats without going into detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s where achievements on a resume come in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, we\u2019ll show you how to list accomplishments on resumes in each major section, as well as how you can maximize its impact in each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ready to get started?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHere are the best ways to add your professional accomplishments on a resume:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Your Resume Summary or Objective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The resume summary or resume objective is a short little paragraph at the top of your resume, just below your contact information. It\u2019s meant to give the reader\u2014in this case, the recruiter or hiring manager\u2014the essential information about you, almost like an elevator pitch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s an example of a typical resume summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent college graduate with a bachelor\u2019s degree in digital marketing skilled in copywriting, social media management, and outreach. Seeking to build on relevant experience to become the next digital marketing specialist at WooXoo Unlimited. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
However!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This opening statement on a resume is a prime location for adding your achievements, whether academic, professional, or even personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now let\u2019s add a few accomplishments and see what happens:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent college graduate with a bachelor\u2019s degree in digital marketing skilled in copywriting, social media management, and outreach. <\/em>Increased social engagement by 53% in 2019. Received 2020 Digital Marketing Certification from the American Marketing Association.<\/em><\/strong> Seeking to build on relevant experience to become the next digital marketing specialist at WooXoo Unlimited. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small additions here, but very powerful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the second example, all we added for achievements were a digital marketing certificate from the AMA and one example of how your previous work has had real results. These tiny inclusions prove to the hiring manager you are capable at digital marketing much more than simply saying you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: Career Fairs: How They Work & 5 Tips for Making the Most of Them<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Your Work Experience Section<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On most resumes, especially those where you have previous work experience to show, your job history section often comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the core of your resume, which makes it an ideal spot for placing any professional accomplishments you\u2019ve had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, let\u2019s look at an example of a resume experience area without achievements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital Marketing Assistant
Ballytrouper Media Agency
December 2018\u2013August 2020
– Performed competitor research to identify opportunities in content and social media marketing.
– Drafted weekly email newsletter to engage with clients.
– Managed social media profiles and WordPress blog.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nNow\u2014 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s an example of accomplishments on a resume job history section:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital Marketing Assistant
Ballytrouper Media Agency
December 2018\u2013August 2020
– Performed competitor research to identify 15+ weekly<\/strong> opportunities in content and social media marketing.
– Drafted weekly email newsletter to engage with clients, growing subscriber base by 75,000 readers in 2019<\/strong>.
– Managed social media profiles and WordPress blog, increasing the conversion rate by 15% over a 1.5-year period<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWay more compelling, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this case, adding actual numbers when writing your achievements leave the reader with no doubt you\u2019re their top choice. Rather than saying \u201cI know such-and-such,\u201d you\u2019re telling them \u201cI can prove<\/em> to you that I know such-and-such because<\/em> I\u2019ve been able to achieve this-and-that in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 15+ Best Jobs For High School Students (Part-Time, Weekends, Summer)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Your Resume Education Section<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As a student or young professional, your education section is likely one of the most impressive areas of your CV or resume. This is especially true if this is your first job ever<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s an example of a bare-bones resume education section:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
And here\u2019s one which uses just a few more words to say a whole lot more:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 25 Best Interview Tips: Expert Advice for Acing Interviews & Landing Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Its Own Dedicated Accomplishments Section<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finally, a dedicated achievements section on your resume is a great way to show a variety of personal, professional, and academic accomplishments, especially when they don\u2019t fit anywhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, creating a dedicated place to add your resume accomplishments allows each one to get noticed more easily than being grouped as sub-items in other sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s an example of a possible resume achievements section:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accomplishments<\/strong>
– Increased blog conversion rate by 15% over a 1.5-year period.
– Led marketing club chapter at university.
– Created personal, bi-weekly marketing blog to discuss latest social media strategies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nJust as in a resume skills section<\/a>, adding an accomplishments area to your resume is the ideal way to showcase your proudest wins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 55 Resume Tips, Hacks & Expert Advice to Help You Score a Job Interview<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n