Resume: Accomplishment statements and action verbs

1. Identify your target audience and skills they want

2. Reflect on your achievements

Consider your past experiences from work, internships, volunteering, community involvement, etc., and identify your achievement(s). Think of times when you:

• Solved a problem
• Received praise/awards
• Created efficiencies
• Exceeded expectations
• Achieved a goal
• Initiated something
• Prevented an issue
• Improved something
• Demonstrated leadership
• Were selected for added responsibility or promotion

3. Follow the formula

Example accomplishment statements

The following are pairs of statements identifying the same role. Consider how the second statement of each pair is written as an effective accomplishment statement.

• Provided customer service
• Provided customer service in a busy retail environment resulting in the creation of a loyal customer base and improved sales by 10%

• Initiated reorganization of file system
• Initiated reorganization of file system which made client information more accessible to staff of non-profit organization

• Initiated and completed system of data entry from manual to computerized
• Initiated and completed system of data entry from manual to computerized system, resulting in improved account analysis and report generation for tax and other purposes

• Maintained and updated files
• Maintained and updated patient files through a client management system (CMS) for a rehabilitation clinic with approximately 340 regular patients

• Trained administrators and other staff
• Trained administrators and other staff on MS Excel, supporting efficient team workflows and saving outside training expenses of more than $1000

• Created manual for volunteers
• Created procedural and responsibilities manual for volunteers at a community agency, which reduced overlapping duties and increased efficiency

• Worked on product layouts
• Revised merchandise layout and recommended changes that resulted in increased product visibility and increased sales by 33%

• Work well in a team environment
• Collaborated with team members to complete a group marketing project for final year commerce class ensuring tasks were identified and completed by the team members on time

Action verbs synonyms to use in your resume

Communication and people skills

Creative skills

Data and financial skills

Helping skills

Management and leadership skills

Organizational skills

Research skills

Teaching skills

Technical skills