subject: 5 Ways to Create a Success-Oriented Resume [print this page] Few things capture a recruiter or hiring manager's attention more than a resume that's heavy on real-world successes. What's the best way to present these in your document? Read on for the scoop:
1) DO NOT JAM TOGETHER ALL CAREER SUCCESSES WITHIN A SINGLE SECTION
While many job seekers opt for a "Career Achievements" or similar section listing everything right at the start of their resume, this approach DOES NOT WORK. It is critical that potential employers get a clear sense of your work history. Help them by INTEGRATING successes within the pertinent positions.
2) BULLETS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND
While too many bullets in a resume can cause a reader's eyes to glaze over, they are perfect when listing successes. A good rule of thumb is to create a "Major Accomplishments" or similar section for every job you've held in the past 10-12 years and list, bullet by bullet, the successes you've had.
3) FOCUS ON 1 IDEA AT A TIME
The whole purpose of a resume is to pique interest in a reader and have them call you in for an interview. Avoid the urge to list every single aspect of every success. Instead, focus on the main idea and keep sentences as short as possible.
4) UTILIZE ACTIVE LANGUAGE
Passive language can kill a resume, regardless of a candidate's background. For example, take a line like, "Worked on multiple projects for clients, solving problems and adhering to tight deadlines." While the information listed here is valuable, the language used makes the candidate come across as unprofessional and inexperienced. Now take a look at a revised version:
