A well written resume provides employers with a favorable first impression and the information they need about you to determine whether or not you’re a match for their position and organization.
The bullet point formula from Purdue University’s Center for Career Opportunities is a great way to structure your experience to show your impact:
POWER VERB (SKILL) + IDENTIFIABLE TASK + PURPOSE/METHOD/RESULT
List key tasks or accomplishments as bullet points, beginning with a dynamic, action verb. Avoid starting with “responsible for,” “assisted with,” or “helped with” as these phrases are a weak representation of your accomplishments. Don’t overuse action verbs; seek synonyms where possible.
PURPOSE: Why did you do it?
METHOD: How did you do it?
RESULT: What happened because of what you did?
achieved
acted
adjusted
administered
advised
advocated
aided
allocated
analyzed
applied
assembled
assigned
assisted
attained
boosted
budgeted
built
calculated
centralized
challenged
clarified
collected
communicated
compared
composed
computed
conducted
controlled
coordinated
corresponded
created
decided
defined
delegated
demonstrated
designed
detected
developed
devised
diagnosed
documented
downsized
edited
eliminated
encouraged
engineered
enhanced
established
estimated
evaluated
examined
executed
expanded
expedited
facilitated
familiarized
forecast
fostered
founded
gathered
guided
handled
headed
heightened
helped
identified
implemented
incorporated
informed
initiated
instructed
interpreted
intervened
introduced
inventoried
invested
investigated
launched
lectured
led
lessened
leveraged
located
maintained
managed
maximized
measured
mediated
merged
motivated
navigated
negotiated
operated
optimized
organized
originated
outlined
outsourced
performed
persuaded
planned
predicted
presented
prevented
prioritized
projected
publicized
recommended
recorded
reduced
reorganized
replicated
reported
researched
retrieved
reviewed
revised
scheduled
searched
simplified
solicited
solved
spoke
standardized
stimulated
streamlined
supervised
supported
surveyed
synthesized
systematized
taught
trained
translated
transmitted
united
upgraded
upheld
verified
volunteered
worked
wrote
Following through
Number manipulation
Financial analysis
Collecting data
Working with others
Coordinating
Problem-solving
Explaining
Accounting
Prioritizing work
Time management
Listening
Finding problems
Questioning
Budgeting
Computer modeling
Qualities
Team player
Results-oriented
Analytical
Integrity
Cooperative
Responsible
Trustworthy
Quantitative
Dependable
Administrative
Detail-oriented
Adaptable
Organized
Quick learner
Conscientious
Self-starter
Collecting data
Problem-solving
Researching data
Number manipulation
Dealing with ambiguity
Questioning
Coordinating
Market analysis
Explaining
Working with others
Developing ideas
Computer modeling
Initiating action
Working independently
Prioritizing work
Following through
Influencing others
Listening
Creating concepts
Prioritizing work
Dealing with ambiguity
Listening
Finding problems
Research
Time management
Working with others
Questioning
Financial analysis
Quantitative analysis
Number manipulation
Working independently
Following through
Finding opportunities
Accounting
Qualities
Dependable
Analytical
Quantitative
Detail oriented
Team player
Articulate
Responsible
Self-confident
Quick learner
Cooperative
Integrity
Decisive
Communication skills
Influencing others
Mentoring
Motivating others
Listening
Negotiating
Coordinating
Time management
Working with others
Qualities
Team player
Organized
Persuasive
Articulate
Administrative
Resourceful
Cooperative
Flexible
Coordinating
Initiating action
Working with others
Following through
Influencing others
Expediting
Prioritizing work
Organizing people
Managing people
Explaining
Delegating
Time management
Problem-solving
Inspiring others
Diplomacy
Motivating others
Dealing with ambiguity
Supervising
Managing projects
Implementing solutions
Negotiating
Following through
Time management
Prioritizing work
Listening
Negotiating
Explaining
Problem-solving
Initiating action
Diplomacy
Dealing with ambiguity
Working with others
Influencing others
Developing ideas
Working independently
Questioning
Motivating others
Finding opportunities
Market analysis
Expediting
Coordinating
Evaluating risks
Implementing solutions
Selling
