In one survey of recruiters and hiring managers, 33% of them said they consider a job seeker’s failure to demonstrate and quantify results on their resume to be a deal breaker. 

So when applying for a job, make sure you include measurable and tangible resume accomplishments to show prospective employers what you really bring to the table.

In this guide, we will help you craft powerful resume accomplishments as well as provide you with examples across various fields. This will enable you to create a killer resume that sets you apart.

Table of Contents

Make your resume stand out and get noticed

Upload your resume to see what’s missing and get a free match rate.

View full results and optimize your resume

What are resume accomplishments?

Resume accomplishments are work achievements that are both measurable and unique to a job seeker’s experience. 

Resume accomplishments prove to recruiters and hiring managers that you have the expertise and skills to benefit the company you are applying to.

Job Responsibilities vs. Resume Accomplishments: What’s the difference?

Job responsibilities are the duties and scope of the work that you do. These responsibilities are similar for any employee in a similar role.

On the other hand, resume accomplishments are unique and provable statistics of the results you achieved while doing your work. 

For example:

  • Job responsibility: “Manages customer complaints and resolves disputes.”
  • Resume accomplishment: “Created an efficient customer grievance system to manage customer complaints and resolve disputes in a timely manner which improved customer satisfaction by 30% in just 2 months.”

Compared to a job responsibility, which just states what you do, a resume accomplishment specifies the task you did, the measurable result of your action, and a specific timeframe.

Importance of Resume Accomplishments

Filling your resume with work accomplishment statements will help you stand out to recruiters and increase your chances of landing a job interview. Here’s why:

  1. Recruiters want to know how you can positively contribute to the company’s overall success with your proven track record.
  2. Work accomplishments are proof of your skills. Instead of peppering your resume with flowery words, listing success metrics on your resume is more attention-grabbing.
  3. Prospective employers value your past work accomplishments as these are a powerful indicator of your future job performance and your drive to accomplish company goals.

Where do you include resume accomplishments?

You can list your accomplishments in a few sections of your resume. Your work experience should absolutely include your achievements. Also, your resume summary statement sounds more professional and impressive if it includes measurable accomplishments. 

But what if you are a recent graduate? If you recently graduated and don’t have an abundance of experience to share on your resume, the volunteer section should include achievements. Also, projects and internships offer opportunities to share your accomplishments.

How to write resume accomplishments

It can be challenging to sit down and actually lay out your resume accomplishments. To start generating ideas for your summary of accomplishments, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Did I make or save the company money? 
  • Did I reach my goals quickly? 
  • Did I exceed my goals often? 
  • Did I contribute towards achieving company goals?
  • Did I create a system or process that helped the company’s productivity?
  • Did I help the company reduce costs and waste? 
  • Did I help improve customer satisfaction and retention? 
  • Did I receive awards for my performance?
  • Did I lead a team and drive them to achieve our KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)?

Pro Tip: When answering these questions, think primarily in terms of money and time. High-quality resume accomplishments are quantifiable and measurable. Dollar amounts, timespans, volume, and percentages are all great ways to quantify your accomplishments on a resume.

Other expert tips for creating powerful resume accomplishments

1. Use the CAR formula if you get stuck.

CAR stands for Challenge, Action, and Result. 

Every accomplishment should include the problem or challenge, the action you took, and the stellar result of your hard work. You can also invert this formula by leading with the result. 

Pro-tip: Use strong verbs like initiated, exceeded, outperformed, and mobilized. They grab the recruiter’s attention and are more impactful.

2. Include context when possible.

  • “Saved $100,000” doesn’t mean much on its own.
  • “Saved $100,000 year over year” is an improvement but still doesn’t paint a complete picture.
  • “Saved $100,000 year over year, decreasing operating budget by 52%” is better.

3. Incorporate keywords found in the job description.

Along with measurable results, resume keywords can make resume accomplishments stand out. These keywords are also critical in getting past the applicant tracking system (ATS), a software that allows hiring managers to search resumes for certain keywords, weeding out those that don’t match the job description. 

Pro tip: Reference the job posting to figure out which keywords the hiring manager will be looking for most.

Looking for more information on resume accomplishments examples?

67 Resume Accomplishments Examples

Quick Links:

Customer Service

1. Maintained a 97% satisfaction rating over a 24-month period as a customer care representative.
2. Increased client retention by 59% by implementing an efficient grievance resolution process and customer feedback system.
3. Managed 500+ customer accounts without any complaints in 5 years and with 100% customer rating in online reviews.
4. Increased customer base by 25% and improved customer response time by 11%, directly impacting sales in 2021.
5. Drove Quality Assurance (QA) from an average of 65% to 90%.

More Examples: Customer Service Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Sales

6. Exceeded retail sales goals by an average of 17% every quarter in 2021.
7. As the company’s primary sales representative, I expanded the start-up’s client base by 60% in just 3 months.
8. Implemented an efficient sales funnel, directly increasing sales by 30% in 2018.
9. Created a robust pipeline and improved closing rate by 11% in just two months.
10. Awarded as the Top Salesman in Company X for four consecutive years.
11. Led a team of 10 sales professionals who consistently brought big accounts, driving  year-over-year company profits at a rate of 80%. 

More Examples: Sales Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Marketing

12. Created campaigns that facilitated improved market share and customer engagement in 2020.
13. Grew email subscriber list from 300 to 2,000 in 8 months without expanding the monthly budget.
14. Managed and deployed profitable Facebook ad campaigns with a monthly budget of $20,000.
15. Created an SEO strategy that improved organic search traffic to the corporate blog by 58% year over year.
16. Created 32 new blog posts, 5 eBooks, and 6 landing pages, making up 30% of the company’s online content.
17. Exceeded customer acquisition target by 25% and increased new subscribers by 50% by launching niche-marketing campaigns.
18. Exceeded partner development sign-on goals by 20% in Q1 2018.

More Examples: Marketing Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Computer Science

19. Cut data processing time by 50% by building a new cloud data infrastructure, leading to more timely insights.
20. Worked with the CEO to analyze 10+ technology systems and consolidate them into a new system that encompassed all programs needed to reach business needs.
21. Set up and trained staff of 15 on how to use Microsoft Azure platform for cloud computing purposes.
22. Cut company spending from $6M to $800K and reduced mainframe software costs by proposing renegotiating strategies.

More Examples: Computer Science and Engineering Resume Examples

Management

23. Created a company culture initiative that raised employee satisfaction rates by 25% year over year.
24. Hired and managed a team of 6 data scientists to successfully deploy a new data processing platform ahead of schedule.
25. Implemented a bi-weekly meeting with 9 other department heads to discuss goals, updates, and challenges, increasing productivity across departments by 20% year over year.
26. Reimagined business development strategy to include a 20% increase in Salesforce, resulting in $550M in increased profits year over year.
27. Steered the company through a complicated re-organization, resulting in a 75% increase in profits with minimal employee turnover.
28. Grew working capital by 30% in 6 months, allowing the company to take advantage of better resources for continued growth.
29. Implemented a company-wide work-from-home policy, resulting in an 87% increase in employee satisfaction, a 21% increase in productivity, and a 38% decrease in PTO usage.
30. Received 2 promotions, from co-management to director-level, in less than 12 months.
31. Chosen for the team lead on 15 design projects in 2016, 30% more projects led than any other team members.

More Examples: Management Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Human Resources

32. Raised employee retention rates by 15% over a 5-year period by implementing a tiered interview system and organizing a minimum of 2 team outings per quarter.
33. Counseled, educated, and advised over 3,500 university students in a span of just a year.
34. Created simplified HR processes that boosted company productivity and morale by 10%.
35. Prepared bi-monthly payroll and employee benefits, took charge of regular HR-related invoices, and prepared regular pulse surveys for employees that increased transparency and engagement by 11%.
36. Recruited at least 30+ high-performing individuals who are now executives in big companies in the course of 3 years.
37. Organized the company’s annual international summit, including flights, accommodations, and itineraries for more than 30 attendees.
38. Scheduled and staffed coaching sessions for 70 weekly athletics classes.
39. Organized quarterly volunteer projects with upwards of 50 volunteers per event.

More Examples: HR Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Education

40. Assisted head teacher in overseeing and educating 18 students for three months.
41. Developed a comprehensive student submission system for final exam projects in the University’s online portal, accessible by more than 3,000 students.
42. Gave final approval on more than 50 pieces of new curriculum in the foreign languages department during the Spring semester of 2017.
43. Documented children’s learning processes, tracked their individual needs and challenges, and regularly met with parents, thereby increasing student performance by 32% and parent engagement by 20%.
44. Awarded as an outstanding secondary teacher in Mathematics within the district for 3 consecutive years.

More Examples: ​​Education Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Administrative Work

45. Reduced time spent on inventory by 20% by reorganizing the physical storage of supplies.
46. Digitized company’s internal microfilm library of more than 5,000 files.
47. Managed multi-line phone system and effectively handled 200 tickets on a daily basis, contributing to a 60% increase in customer satisfaction.
48. Established an efficient document database during my first 30 days in Company X, reducing slack time by 10% and improving overall efficiency.
49. Created policies for the entire Administrative team and streamlined processes that helped boost employee morale by 15%.
50. Provided administrative support to the Director of Operations and 50+ team heads in the office while helping HR with employee orientation and training.
51. Went above my duties as office administrator to implement a filing system for human resources, organizing more than 300 past and current employee documents.

More Examples: Administrative Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords.

Accounting and Finance

52. Led a process redesign and decreased the company’s month-end close time by 53%.
53. Increased the department’s productivity by 10% by establishing process improvement initiatives and implementing strict compliance with GAAP and SEC guidelines.
54. Provided timely financial reports that led to business improvement and a 25% drop in company costs in 2022.
55. Offered financial advice on crypto assets and investments to 50+ executives.
56. Contributed to over $65,000 in profits in 2021 through proposed system changes and investment strategies.

More Examples: Accounting and Finance Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Content

57. Wrote 400+ relevant and helpful articles and increased organic website traffic by 21%.
58. Trained 10 content writers on content generation and high-impact writing, which improved Company Y’s google rankings in 2022.
59. Created press releases that landed in the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and Financial Times.

More Examples: Writer Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

Other Fields

60. Provided exemplary in-home non-medical care for more than 15 senior citizens during my 4-year tenure, for which I won “Caregiver of the Month” on 4 occasions.
61. Published 6 scholarly articles in esteemed legal online publications on topics related to bankruptcy litigation over a 12-month period.
62. Increased shipping times by 100% by implementing computerized inventory and ticketing systems.
63. Created a 20-page training manual from scratch and led bi-weekly training sessions for new tour guides.
64. Performed an average of 15 real estate showings per week on upscale properties worth between $700,000 and $2 million.
65. Headed up a laboratory sleep study with 5 other research scientists in which we studied 25 participants with sleep apnea.
66. Facilitated the opening of 250 new customer bank accounts in 2015.
67. Directed 25 events per year, including complex public events with more than 20,000 attendees.

More Examples: Resume Examples for Any Jobs

Make sure your resume or cv is ready for ats

Key Takeaways

Resume accomplishments are a powerful way to convince recruiters and hiring managers to move you to the next step in the hiring process and interview you. Here are a few things to remember:

  • Resume accomplishments are more valuable to recruiters than job responsibilities and duties.
  • If you feel stumped in writing your work accomplishment statements, use the CAR method. Start with a challenge, then share the action you did and the result. Don’t forget to use powerful action words.
  • Since recruiters still use the ATS to sift through applications, make sure to incorporate relevant keywords in the job description into your resume accomplishment statements.

See all the keywords you need to include on your resume to optimize it for Applicant Tracking Systems by using Jobscan’s Resume Scanner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are resume accomplishments better than job responsibilities?

Using resume accomplishments in place of responsibilities makes the most out of resume space by showing the hiring manager that you are results-driven and have a history of going beyond the expected requirements. 

Unlike job responsibilities, resume accomplishments prove to recruiters and hiring managers that there are unique skills and expertise that you bring to the table and that you have a tangible track record of success.

How do you turn job responsibilities into resume accomplishments?

Converting job responsibilities into personal accomplishments is easy. You can use the CAR formula:

Challenge + Action + Result

For example: 

Job responsibility: “Wrote blog posts for Company X.”

To turn this into a resume accomplishment statement, you can say:

“Wrote relevant blog posts for Company X, which increased website traffic by 70% and customer conversion rate by 50% in three months.”

How do you identify your accomplishments?

You can start by writing down instances where you positively contributed towards company goals, profitability, or productivity. You can ask yourself the following questions:

  • Did I make or save the company money? If so, exactly how much?
  • Did I reach my goals quickly? If so, what was the exact time period?
  • Did I exceed my goals often? If so, to what degree?

How do you write an accomplishment statement?

Start your statement with an action verb, then follow the CAR formula wherein you state a challenge you faced, the action you took, and the measurable outcome of what you did.

Where do you list resume statements examples on a resume?

You can list personal accomplishments examples in the following sections of your resume:

  1. Work Experience
  2. Resume Summary
  3. Volunteer Section (especially for recent graduates)
  4. Projects, Internships, Awards

Why do employers care about past achievements?

Employers value your past successes and achievements because they show what kind of employee you are and are indicative of your future job performance.

What do you include in your resume accomplishments if you are a recent graduate?

You can include volunteer experiences and detail the skills that you were able to use and some measurable outcomes during volunteering. You can also highlight your academic awards and extracurricular achievements.

Check out this article about writing a resume with no experience.

How do you write resume accomplishments when you are a career changer?

If you are switching careers, you may include measurable achievements that are relevant to the job that you are applying for. You can specify how your previous achievements will help you in your new career.

Check out our guide on how to explain employment gaps.

Related articles…

webp_thumb

28+ Free Certifications to Add to Your Resume in 2023
webp_thumb

Everything You Need to Know about LinkedIn Certifications
webp_thumb

5 Sections You Should Never Leave Off Your Resume
Click to rate this article
[Total: 1 Average: 5]