How to Effectively Showcase Your Accomplishments on Your Resume (With Examples)

Resumes are your opportunity to demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate for the job, and that requires effectively highlighting your accomplishments. While you typically want to avoid sounding boastful, a resume is one area where it’s essential to make an exception. It should clearly convey the ways in which you have surpassed expectations and showcase your key strengths.

Integrating accomplishments into your skills and job descriptions is crucial. If you’re unsure about what to include or feel your resume lacks impactful achievements, continue reading.

Key Takeaways:

• Include significant accomplishments such as honors, awards, surpassed goals, certifications, and contributions to improvements in previous roles.

• Position accomplishments in relevant sections of your resume.

• Ensure that accomplishments are pertinent and, where possible, quantifiable.

• Avoid listing outdated accomplishments.

• Brainstorm a comprehensive list of achievements, as having more options will help you select the most relevant ones for your resume.

What Are Accomplishments on a Resume?

Accomplishments are achievements that showcase your skills and abilities, derived from your professional, personal, or educational experiences. They can represent individual successes or contributions made on behalf of an organization or employer.

The most impactful accomplishments to include when crafting your resume are:

• Relevant: Your achievements should align directly with the position you are applying for. Irrelevant information can detract from your resume’s effectiveness.

• Quantifiable: Providing measurable achievements adds credibility to your qualifications. Employers appreciate specifics as they offer context.

• Demonstrating Growth or Success: Accomplishments should indicate some form of improvement or positive impact. Show not just what you did, but the significance of your contributions.

• Value to Previous Employers: Highlighting how you benefited former employers illustrates your potential value to prospective employers.

• Unique: Strive for achievements that differentiate you from other candidates. This helps ensure your resume stands out.

Accomplishments to Include on Your Resume

Types of accomplishments you should consider including in your resume encompass honors, awards, achievements of goals, and relevant certifications. Different employers prioritize various types of accomplishments, so focus on those that are pertinent and highlight your value.

1. Honors and Awards: Include any awards or honors you have received. For recent graduates, this might include graduating with honors or receiving departmental accolades. In a professional context, this could involve promotions or recognition from superiors.

2. Goals Achieved: If you met or exceeded professional goals, such as sales targets or project deadlines, include these achievements. For example, if your sales quota was 50 units per month and you sold 100, that’s a noteworthy accomplishment.

3. Certifications: Any relevant certifications earned through courses or training should be included. Ensure they align with the job you’re applying for.

4. Problems Solved: If you developed innovative solutions to challenges, particularly if you took the initiative without being prompted, highlight these instances. Focus on your actions and the results achieved.

5. Improvements Made: Recruiters appreciate candidates who actively seek ways to enhance organizational processes. Mention any efficiencies you introduced or improvements that had a positive impact.

6. Notable Work Outcomes: Highlight any significant results from your work, even if they weren’t record-breaking. This demonstrates your competency and reliability.

7. Volunteer Work: Especially relevant for recent graduates or those with limited work history, volunteer experiences can showcase your work ethic and well-rounded character.

How to Integrate Accomplishments on Your Resume

There are various strategies to incorporate accomplishments into your resume, but the most effective method is to integrate them throughout the different sections. Aim to highlight your achievements organically while detailing your skills or responsibilities.

1. Begin with a Comprehensive List: Before drafting your resume, create an extensive list of achievements. This gives you a wealth of options to choose from when tailoring your resume.

2. Tailor to Job Descriptions: Once your list is ready, compare your accomplishments against the job description. Select those that align best and incorporate them into your resume.

   Customizing your resume for each application is crucial, especially as many companies utilize automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for keywords.

3. Demonstrate Impact: Instead of merely stating actions like “redesigned processes,” quantify the results. For instance, say, “Streamlined data collection processes, resulting in a 10% increase in project completions and a 15% reduction in errors.”

4. Distribute Throughout Your Resume: To avoid giving the impression of stuffing accomplishments, place them naturally within relevant sections. Depending on the nature of your achievements, consider including them in:

   • Summary Statement: Integrate one or two key achievements to capture attention right from the start.

   • Work History: Most accomplishments should appear here. Reference notable achievements from your summary to reinforce their significance.

   • Education: For new graduates or those with advanced degrees, include relevant academic accomplishments, especially if recent.

   • A Dedicated Accomplishments Section: If your achievements don’t fit neatly into other areas, consider adding a separate section to highlight them.

Example of Accomplishments by Resume Section

Accomplishments Examples by Industry

1. Student/Recent Graduate

   • Led a five-person senior project team to develop a working flight simulator.

   • Volunteered weekly at a local homeless shelter.

   • Worked full-time while graduating with a 3.9 GPA within four years.

2. Administrative

   • Developed and implemented a new electronic filing system, allowing all branches to access files, reducing inter-branch faxing by 20%.

   • Achieved certification as a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) in 2018.

   • Trained and onboarded 15 employees over a four-year period.

3. Education

   • Founded a support group for approximately 350 teachers in the school district.

   • Increased class standardized test scores by 10% in the first year at Richmond High School, with a further 3% increase over the next four years.

   • Redesigned classroom filing system, which was adopted district-wide.

4. Design

   • Designed logos for 52 clients annually.

   • Recognized by the CEO for outstanding work at the company conference in 2019.

   • Negotiated material costs with vendors, lowering average project expenses by 5%.

5. Engineering

   • Developed an automated filing system for the design team, reducing project timelines by 15%.

   • Managed four teams of five, overseeing projects from design to final production.

   • Reviewed 104 designs for the auto parts division in 2020.

6. Finance/Accounting

   • Created an invoicing system that automatically organizes documents by vendor and date.

   • Oversaw 14 grants, consistently keeping them within budget throughout five years of employment.

   • Collaborated with 25 department heads to ensure timely and accurate expense reporting.

7. Marketing

   • Implemented SEO strategies, resulting in a 15% increase in website traffic.

   • Developed and managed social media profiles, gaining 12,000 followers within two years.

   • Expanded market reach, resulting in a 20% increase in sales.

8. Sales

   • Maintained the title of top salesperson for four consecutive years.

   • Exceeded sales quota by 50% in 2018, generating over $200,000 beyond regular sales.

   • Mentored six junior sales representatives, several of whom became top performers in their teams.

9. Customer Service

   • Handled over 200 calls daily while maintaining a customer satisfaction rate above 90% from 2017-2019.

   • Developed a reference handbook for new team members.

   • Led a team of 35 employees, managing complex customer interactions.

10. IT

    • Resolved over 115 help desk requests in 2020.

    • Implemented a company-wide single sign-on system, enhancing security and reducing password-related support requests by 10%.

    • Created a new web form system that halved average student registration time.

11. Restaurant

    • Managed employee scheduling to ensure full staffing for every shift.

    • Developed a new seating and bussing system that improved table turnover speed by 5%.

    • Trained 30 new employees over five years.

Accomplishments to Avoid on Your Resume

It’s important to refrain from including exaggerated, irrelevant, or outdated achievements on your resume. Doing so can make you appear unprofessional or untrustworthy, which could deter potential employers. Here are specific types of accomplishments to omit from your resume:

1. Fabricated or Exaggerated Achievements: Never misrepresent your accomplishments. While it’s essential to convey your achievements accurately, stretching the truth can backfire, as recruiters can often detect dishonesty.

2. Confidential Information: Avoid sharing proprietary information or industry secrets on your resume. Respecting confidentiality is key to maintaining trust with future employers.

3. Contentious or Polarizing Achievements: Leave out any accomplishments that may be deemed offensive or divisive. Keeping your resume professional and relevant is crucial.

4. Outdated Achievements: Your resume should evolve with your career. If you’re several positions into your journey, it’s time to remove high school awards or achievements that no longer reflect your current expertise.

5. Irrelevant Accomplishments: Only include accomplishments that are pertinent to the job you’re applying for. For instance, a knitting award from a class likely won’t be relevant to a corporate job. Focus on achievements that highlight transferable skills.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Accomplishments

1. What’s the difference between accomplishments and responsibilities on a resume?

   Accomplishments reflect instances where you’ve exceeded expectations or improved a process, while responsibilities refer to the standard duties of your job. Accomplishments are typically quantifiable and can come from various aspects of your life.

2. How can you make your accomplishments stand out on a resume?

   Use powerful action verbs, place them in relevant sections, and ensure they are distinctive to you. While this approach may not grab immediate attention, it emphasizes relevance and your value to potential employers.

3. What types of personal achievements can you include on your resume?

   Personal achievements, such as volunteering or significant personal projects, can be included if they demonstrate dedication or contributions. While professional achievements should take precedence, relevant personal accomplishments can enhance your resume.

4. How many accomplishments should you include on your resume?

   There’s no strict rule for the number of accomplishments to include. It varies based on the job and your experiences. Aim for a selection of relevant and impressive achievements that naturally fit within your resume.

References

1. Harvard Business Review – How to Write a Resume that Stands Out

Author

Abby McCain

Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.

Expert

Don Pippin, MHRM, CPRW, CDCS

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.