15 Apr
15 Aug
The key to getting a new job is a strong résumé. And the key to a strong résumé is writing well-structured bullet points.
We all know that a strong résumé is a key tool for a job seeker. No other document is as crucial or as closely read—either by a human or a machine—as your résumé. And no part of your résumé is as important as your bullet points. That’s because the bullet points show your actual accomplishments. As I discuss in my recent book, The Job Seeker’s Script, the résumé, structured chronologically and energized by this supporting evidence, will open doors for you. If you get those bullet points right, that is.
Hiring companies care far more about what you’ve accomplished than they do about your job titles. So document your successes clearly and forcefully in the bullet points you provide. To make them stand out, do these six things:
1. PROVIDE BULLET POINTS FOR EACH JOB
Create a single sentence for each job you’ve held and add bullet points that highlight your achievements in that role.
Suppose you introduce one of your jobs with this sentence: “Successfully managed HR programs as the company grew from 10,000 to 30,000 employees worldwide.”
Now create bullets to illustrate that statement. You might show that you (1) created new programs as the company expanded; (2) attracted more and
more employees to those programs; (3) improved employee retention through these programs.
In short, for each job on your résumé, give a main statement, and under it add a set of bullet points that show your achievements. Never simply list areas of responsibility. Nobody cares what job you were given. They care what you did with that role.
2. BEGIN BULLET POINTS WITH ACTIVE VERBS
Supercharge your bullet points by beginning them with active verbs. Many résumés these days are reviewed by a machine. “The machine identifies active verbs,” says Brett Tearney, vice president of HR at software firm ServiceNow. “These are pulled out by the machine, and [they] up the score of the application, as opposed those words that are passive.”
So begin each bullet point with active verbs like: “provided,” “created,” “developed,” “improved,” “led,” “initiated,” and “won.” In general, avoid verbs that suggest you were not the key player, as in “helped.”
Let’s say the main message for one of your positions is: “In this role, I led a team of art directors and freelancers who developed and delivered award-winning ad campaigns.” Your bullet points under this message might begin with the three active verbs:
- Expanded the existing team by hiring two top-flight creatives and a copywriter.
- Provided creative direction for two successful campaigns.
- Led an awesome team that won a Webby award and a Clio.
Bulleted statements that do not all start with verbs can seem haphazard. The following four are a case in point:
- Analyze produce package, fabrics, and trims.
- Helping with orders.
- I closely monitor choice of fabrics when needed.
- Follow up testing material of fabrics.
These bullets are grammatically askew and make the candidate seem like a person whose efforts are scattered. In short, consistently using active verbs will help you align your thinking with a set of accomplishments. And they’ll test better with your readers.
3. SHOW IMPRESSIVE METRICS
Make sure that you are using hard numbers that indicate your impact. Eighty-five percent of recruiters say it’s important to provide metrics that illustrate your accomplishments.
Include percentage increases, numbers that soared, year-over-year satisfaction levels, and numbers of people reached. For example, look at how impressive the following are:
- Built software teams of 55+ specialists in four years.
- Introduced mobile services that expanded our customer base by 20%.
- Executed an innovative software development strategy that allows us to reach three million users and earn annual revenue of $125 million.
4. BEWARE OF SOUNDING ARROGANT
Understandably, you want to sound like you’ve really made a difference in each job you’ve held. But beware of coming across as boastful or arrogant.
It’s better to show through examples, rather than simply telling the hiring firm how wonderful you are. Avoid statements like this: “Established a large client list through impeccable service, integrity, graciousness, and an unrivaled determination to delight every customer.”
5. KEEP YOUR SENTENCES SIMPLE
Avoid long-winded bullet statements. “Making it concise, focused, [and] coherent is what the machine is looking for,” says Brett Tearney. “Even when the human interacts with that content, they’re looking very quickly. They’re dealing with very high volume. They’re really scanning. They don’t have time to read a full paragraph.”
So, avoid sentences like this: “Served as a key member of the Investment Committee and, with client needs as a foundation, provided input into all aspects of the investment decision-making process for wealthy clients and made sure these decisions reflected the firm’s views on the economy and its impact on portfolios.”
All that may be true, but avoid this self-praise and stick to simple, declarative sentences. Similarly, don’t pack too many metrics into your bullet points. That would be overkill and will sound less impressive than one or two key data points for each bullet.
6. RECENT ROLES GET MORE BULLET POINTS
Keep in mind that your recent jobs should have more bullet points than your previous ones. I recommend anywhere from two to four bullets for each job—four for your present and next-to-present role, and two or three for the past ones.
Your bullets show your successes, and emphasizing recent successes will create a stronger résumé, rather than giving equal treatment to all your jobs.