YOUR ‘ACHIEVEMENTS’.
DON’T spend lots of time talking about the ‘Duties’ that you perform from day to day. Focus on the ACHIEVEMENTS that you have had in each role. When a CEO, HR Manager or Board member receives your resume they are thinking… ‘if we employed this person, what can they do for us? How will they make our business better’. So, if you TELL them in your resume how you have made another business better and it resonates with their business, then they WILL want to interview you.
They are looking to see if you can ACHIEVE the same things you have talked about and MORE in their business. Simple really !!!!!
So, what does an ACHIEVEMENT look like on a resume ?
The best achievements will show measurable transformations that you have been a part of. This could be people centric or business centric. Have a look at the job ad first and see what THEY are looking for you to achieve then think about whether you have achieved that and make sure that it is in your resume, along with every other achievement that is relevant.
Ask yourself some of these questions:
1. How have I assisted in reducing costs for the business ? (How have I assisted in saving the business money ?)
2. What effect have I had on the staff in the business ?
3. How do I stand out in the business ?
4. What would the business miss about me if I were to leave ?
5. Did I introduce anything into the business that improved staff morale, customer service, efficiencies etc ?
6. Did I oversee any major expenditure such as a refurbishment, new technology etc that was successful ?
7. What did I introduce that was unique and exciting ?
8. Did I assist in increasing membership, visitation or customer satisfaction ?
9. Did I assist in developing any processes, procedures or policies and how did they impact on the business ?
10. Did I assist in the business being rewarded with Awards or Recognition ?
11. Did I exceed any targets set for me (and the business) ?
12. Did I successfully manage any special projects ?
When you are listing your Achievements on your resume (below each Position you have had), make sure you list them in ‘dot points’. Make sure that you succinctly address what you did AND how it impacted positively on the business. Where possible, quantify and qualify the achievement with measurable outcomes such as increases/decreases in percentages, numbers, $$$, time frames etc.
Example of achievements may be;
- Managed the increase in total assets from $1.2million in 2004 to $6.8miillion in 2013
- Increased EBIT (DA) from 16% in 2004 to 29% in 2013
- Increased membership from 5,000 in 2004 to 22,000 in 2013
- Successfully negotiated new Contract Security resulting in a saving of $220,000 per annum, a measurable increase in customer satisfaction and a 22% decrease in security incidents.
Remember, a resume is a tool to get you to interview, NOT to get you the job. Do EVERYTHING that it takes to make this document a true ‘personal sales tool’ for you to ‘score an interview’. If you get to interview, then it is up to you to sell YOU to the business.
If you have any queries or need clarification on ‘Resume Achievements’, please contact any of the White Now team members at White Now on (02) 9807 1806 or chat to us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/whitenowwiz).