Bullets: Turning Responsibilities into Actions & Results

Accomplishment statements are an important means of communicating the actions you took and the results that came from them. These simple statements serve as evidence of the value you brought to a role or experience. When describing your experience on your resume, avoid listing your responsibilities; instead, use the following suggestions to highlight your accomplishments.

General guidelines that can help you with writing your accomplishment statements:

• Begin with stimulating action verbs (see “Resume Power Words” below).
• Write in the proper tense (past or present, depending upon the time frame).
• Show the result gained from your action.
• Be brief yet stimulating.
• Demonstrate what you are proud of.
• Suggest what skills you used.

Did you:

• Solve a problem or handle a difficult situation?
• Provide excellent patient care?
• Recommend, develop, improve and/or implement a new idea, existing system or procedure?
• Demonstrate leadership in the face of challenge?
• Work on a team to accomplish a goal or institute a change?
• Train, mentor, or coach others?
• Save time or increase efficiency?
• Receive an award or special recognition?

Examples (“Before” focused on responsibility / “After” focused on actions and results)

Before: Possess excellent teamwork skills.
After: Gained a reputation for working well on a team to meet all deadlines; received a “Team Player” award.

Before: Distributed backpacks to underprivileged children.
After: Led a group of 20 volunteers in preparing and distributing backpacks to underprivileged students at a community center, satisfying an appeal made by the local school district.

Before: Helped with scheduling staff for upcoming shifts.
After: Prepared daily schedule for staff of up to 20 Certified Nursing Assistants to assure optimal coverage and continuity of care.

Before: Assisted pharmacy staff.
After: Assisted six pharmacy staff with drug inventory, purchasing, receiving, and supply management; was praised for thoroughness and reliability.

Before: Provided excellent customer service.
After: Improved customer satisfaction by 12% in three months, according to in-store and online surveys. Received an increase in hourly wages and additional management responsibilities.

Before: Volunteered to help youth in need.
After: Promoted positive youth development by offering programs and activities that enabled participants to develop leadership skills, network with peers, and experience personal growth.

Before: Offered customer service as needed.
After: Improved customer satisfaction by consistently demonstrating patience and professional behavior, even when dealing with demanding and frustrated customers.

Begin your bullets with action verbs.

Accomplishment Statements

Accomplishment statements are used throughout the career development process:

• In your resume, to highlight your skills, your capabilities, and the results of your actions
• In a cover letter, to identify what you can do for the organization and why you are a good fit
• In interviewing and other networking situations