resume writing bullet points

Skip navigation

• Fall Updates
• For Employers
• In the Know
• Make An Appointment
• Internships
• Employer Connections
• CCE Programs
• Funding Programs
• Drop-in Hours
• Career Counseling Appointments
• Practice Interviews
• Programs & Services
• Design Your Next Steps
• Resumes & CVs
• Cover Letters
• Negotiating
• Career Advancement
• Graduate School
• Premium Resources
• Communications & Media
• Engineering & Technology
• Environment & Sustainability
• Financial Services
• International Affairs
• Non-Profits & Social Justice
• Psychology, Counseling, & Social Work
• Ways to Gain Experience
• Career Assessments
• Connect With Alumni
• Student Experiences
• First-Generation/Low-Income Students
• International Students
• Students with Disabilities
• Veteran Students
• LGBTQ Students
• Visiting Students
• Students of Color

Resumes with Impact: Creating Strong Bullet Points

How can you make your resume stand out to an employer?

• Use an easy-to-read format and structure that highlights your relevant education and experience.
• Develop bullet points or statements to show relevant skills and qualities. Be specific about what you did and how you did it.
• Start your bullet points or statements with strong action verbs.
• Provide contextual details to inform the reader about the purpose of your work, the scope of the project, and what you produced or accomplished.
• Quantify your work and achievements where possible.

Using the STAR method

The STAR method can help you create impactful descriptions for each experience on your resume.

First, read through the posting for a job that interests you. This will help you understand the role and the employer’s needs. Identify the skills and qualities they seek. You can usually find them in the responsibilities and qualifications sections.

Next, use the STAR method to describe the context of your work, your actions, and how your actions had positive impact on the organization.

Situation: What was the situation, problem, or conflict you were facing?

Task: What were you tasked with? What were your responsibilities or goals?

Action: What action did you take? What did you do to solve this problem? (start with action verbs)

Result: What was the result or outcome of your action? How did it benefit the organization? Can this result be quantified?

Follow the STAR method to create descriptions that incorporate the key skills and qualities the employer is seeking. Your final statement will start with the action section and include the results section when appropriate.

Skills/qualities you want to show: initiative, organization, analytical thinking, writing, interpersonal skills, problem solving

Situation: The trainees were learning too slowly and could not navigate the company’s data tracking system by the end of the two-week training period. Instead, they were not ready for another two weeks.

Task: Help trainees learn the system faster.

Action: Initiated, wrote, and edited the first training manual for the company’s data tracking system. Successfully presented proposal to use manual to management. Revised training program curriculum to implement new manual. Trainees worked through the manual during the two-week training period.

Result: At the end of the training period, trainees were ready to use the data tracking system two weeks earlier than expected; the training manual was adopted across the company and is still in use.

FINAL STATEMENT FOR RESUME: Initiated, wrote, and edited the first training manual for company’s data tracking system, which cut training period in half, was adopted across the company, and is still in use today.

This example could focus on different skills (communication, persuasion, leadership, training), depending on what’s relevant to the job.

Bullet Point Examples

What, how, and why.

Answer these questions to transform a generic description into an impactful  bullet point. 

• What did you do? What was the situation, problem, or challenge you were facing?
• What were your responsibilities or goals?
• How exactly did you do it? How did you accomplish your tasks? Did you use any tools, equipment, or computer programs?
• Did you work as part of a team or independently?
• Why are these actions important? How did they benefit the organization? What was the result or outcome of your actions?
• Can you quantify the results? (Note: Not every bullet point on your resume must be results-oriented.)

Generic Description

Public Health Society, Events Coordinator

• Responsible for organizing events and panels

In this example, it is not clear what the candidate did to organize events and panels, what skills they used, or what kind of events and panels they organized. Because of this, the writer misses the chance to showcase the skills used to carry out this task.

Strong, Concrete Description

• Plan and coordinate panels on public health for audiences of 25–50 undergraduates on a bi-monthly basis
• Identify and contact health professionals in the community to participate in panels
• Create marketing materials and publicize events through social media

Add context and skills (WHAT was the situation and HOW were the tasks accomplished) to deepen the information provided.

In this example, the first bullet point clearly highlights organizational skills. It also lets the employer know the scope, target audience, and frequency of the events. This efficiently illustrates the candidate’s abilities and experience.

The second bullet point indicates research and interpersonal skills, which were used to secure panelists. It also demonstrates the ability to communicate with professionals outside of the university.

The third bullet highlights a specific business skill and/or the ability to be strategic in marketing, as well as familiarity with using social media for marketing purposes.

Adding Accomplishments and Impact:

Employers review resumes to understand the impact you’ve had on a project, organization, or company. Explain WHY your actions matter; how did your actions affect outcomes? For instance:

• Were the materials and publicizing efforts successful?
• Did these actions result in reaching a new group of students?

Review each statement you’ve created for your resume. Can you add an accomplishment or achievement? What happened as a result of that action? How did it benefit the organization? You don’t need to add a result to every bullet point on your resume, but it’s helpful to demonstrate achievements when possible.

What does this look like? In the bullet point about marketing materials and social media, this might read:

• Create marketing materials and publicize events through social media. Increased attendance at several club programs by 75% (if you have an accurate figure)
• Create marketing materials and publicize events through social media. Saw increased attendance at several club programs throughout the year (if you are unable to quantify)

These statements combine the Action and Result sections of the STAR method.

Related Resources

Writing a Resume: Getting Started

If you’re applying for an internship or job, attending a networking event, or seeking a volunteer opportunity, chances are you’ll need a resume. We’ll walk you through the basics.

Your Resume: What to Put In, What to Leave Out

Wondering how to organize the information on your resume? This resource overviews the sections to include on your resume, and what information to include in each of them.

200+ Action Verbs to Spice Up Your Resume

Use varied, strong action verbs to grab the reader’s attention and make your resume stand out to potential employers. This resource includes over 200 action verbs you can use as a starting point.

How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

If you are in the process of changing careers, craft a powerful summary to highlight your accomplishments and relevant skills. Show an employer, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job!

Optimizing Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

90% of Fortune 500 Companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage high volumes of job applications. 75% of candidates are “phased out of consideration” because they don’t pass a screening! Our tips will help your resume make it through ATS.

Privacy Policy Accessibility Notice of Non-Discrimination Terms of Use

22 Resume Bullet Point Examples That Get Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: February 20, 2024

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

As a recruiter , the first place I look on your resume is the bullets under your recent work experience.

Then, if it looks like your experience is a good potential fit, I look back up to see your resume summary and other sections.

So writing great bullet points on your resume is essential if you want to get callbacks for interviews.

And there’s a specific strategy you can use to make your resume bullets stand out immediately. 

I’ll explain in the next section.

I also contacted a small group of top career coaches , resume writers , and other career experts to have them share their best resume bullet point examples. So I’m going to share those, too.

How to Make Your Resume Bullets Stand Out with Specific Accomplishments

The best way to make your resume bullet points stand out is to list specific accomplishments and results whenever possible.

First, let’s look at what NOT to do (and what most job seekers do, unfortunately).

And then we’ll look at some outstanding resume bullet point examples so you can see how other job seekers did this successfully.

How most people write bullets on their resume:

• Responsible for handling a high volume of inbound customer requests per day
• Managed day-to-day activities and long-term projects for large corporate accounts

FYI, those points above are from an actual resume of mine when I was applying for jobs in a new city – from very early in my career before I became a recruiter.

And that resume did NOT get interviews. It was a total failure.

The big reason why: It’s not listing any accomplishments. It’s just stating what I was responsible for or what my boss assigned me to do.

And that’s a surefire way to blend in, get your resume skipped over, and NOT get the interview.

So now let’s look at how those two bullet point examples above should have been written… with more data, and a focus on accomplishments/results…

The better way to write bullet points on your resume:

• Successfully managed 50-70 inbound customer requests per day, ranking in the top 5% of all support associates in 2017
• Managed day-to-day activities of 7 key corporate accounts while successfully completing 9 client projects, each with a budget above $500,000, leading to a $2.1 million increase in new business for the company

Notice how those bullet point examples are very specific and cite facts, data, and real accomplishments.

An added perk of doing this: numbers and symbols (like “$” and “%”) make your resume stand out visually before the recruiter or hiring manager has even read a word. This is very powerful for getting your resume read (rather than skimmed or thrown out).

22 Great Resume Bullet Point Examples That Get Interviews

Now that you know the difference between listing responsibilities and listing accomplishments in your resume bullets, let’s look at examples of bullet points that have gotten job seekers interviews and job offers !

Below you’ll find 22 bullet examples from seven different resumes, contributed by various resume writers and other career experts.

Some have more numbers and metrics than others, but they all focus on talking about what the person actually did and accomplished in their previous work.

Resume Bullet Point Examples From a Workplace Safety and Organizational Compliance Professional:

Successfully reduced worker’s compensation injuries from 20 to 2 in a one-year period through the introduction of a comprehensive employee incentive program. Brought organization back into federal compliance by establishing an organization-wide Leave of Absence process. Received corporate-wide Employee of the Year Award (pool of 1,250+ staff) and multiple Employee of the Month Awards (pool of 130 staff).

This resume quickly earned the candidate an interview, followed by a job offer, as a result of effectively communicating both their responsibilities and associated accomplishments.

Instead of focusing on what they do day-to-day (promote workplace safety and ensure organizational compliance), they highlight the end goal of their efforts (reducing worker’s compensation injuries and bringing the organization back into compliance). They then wrap it up with a final bullet that further backs up their accomplishments.

By: Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES, Career Coach at CaffeinatedKyle.com

Resume Bullet Point Examples From a CIO Resume:

Earned 2015 CIO of the Year Finalist accolades from the ___ Business Journal for directing a sustainable IT and global ERP strategy that supported 2.5X revenue growth to $3.5B through acquisition and regional expansion. Reduced annual expenses by 15% by leading cost reduction, quality improvements, productivity initiatives and infrastructure enhancements supporting business systems, core network and security. Launched a 5-year, $32M strategy that integrated acquisitions to IT, corporate standards, core business platforms and governance for this company with 50+ global manufacturing + sales facilities.

These resume bullets are proof you don’t need to be in sales to show quantifiable achievements. They are effective because they highlight skills key to CIO success…directing strategies that ensure IT supports executive vision for growth through expansion and acquisition, and by reducing bottom-line expenses.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of  Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor

CV Bullet Point/Accomplishment Examples From a Mid-Level Office Manager in the UK:

Introduced new document management system which improved document searchability and saved admin staff an average of 1 hour per day Negotiated new terms with office equipment supplier, resulting in an annual saving of £3,500 Gained buy-in from directors for purchase of new rota management software to improve team efficiency

These achievement-driven bullet points taken from a mid-level office management professional’s CV are powerful for several reasons.

The most important factor that all points share is that they demonstrate a clear positive impact that has been delivered to the business, solely by the candidate in question – this shows potential employers the benefits they can expect from hiring this person.

These achievements are also quantified which gives readers no doubt as to what level of impact this candidate delivers, and also allows them to benchmark them against competitors. Overall these points really demonstrate the ROI they will get if they invest in this individual.

By: Andrew Fennell, Director at  StandOut CV , contributor to The Guardian and Business Insider

Resume Bullet Examples From a Junior-Level Management Consultant:

Created 7-year business plan and investor marketing materials leading to a successful $2.5MM round of financing Designed and implemented company-wide loyalty rewards program for leading Swiss retail bank with revenue exceeding $2.3BN, resulting in a 10% rise in product cross-sales Defined strategic vision statement for the largest gas processing firm in the Middle East, gaining board approval

You might not know it from reading these bullets, but this resume was for someone relatively new in their career as a management consultant. But by showing the size of projects you’ve worked on, or the size of companies/clients you’ve worked with, you can immediately sound more experienced and more impressive.

So when you add metrics/data to your resume, think about your own accomplishments, but also lean on the impressive figures related to companies you’ve worked with and projects you’ve worked on. Use those to make yourself sound better!

By: Biron Clark, Executive Recruiter and founder of CareerSidekick.com

Resume Bullet Points From a Mid-Level Supply Chain Analyst:

Forecasted $100 MM across accounts and product line categories by analyzing trends, inventory and order history Devised a co-forecasting process with clients which uncovered issues in their analytical system and merged client forecasts with ours Collaborated with sales and marketing departments to improve forecast accuracy, thus reducing production of extra or outdated products

It’s crucial that your resume shows off all you’ve accomplished, which goes a step beyond simply listing your responsibilities. This resume does a great job of doing both simultaneously, slipping impressive achievements in along with day-to-day duties.

This professional shows they’re able to collaborate with both teammates and clients to improve the forecasting process and its effectiveness. This wasn’t done with an empty plate, either — this person was simultaneously responsible for forecasting nine other accounts while improving the overall process. That type of multi-tasking ability won’t be ignored.

By: Sarah Landrum, Founder of  Punched Clocks , contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes

Resume Bullet Examples From a Senior-Level Software Sales Executive:

Achieved over 120% of sales quota in Fiscal Year 2016 25% territory growth in Q4 2016 for Southern California branch Responsible for driving $5.8M revenue and market share in California Led and managed a team of 6 Account Managers, including recruiting, hiring, and training new reps on company sales process

This is a software sales executive with a lengthy career for top software firms, including Fortune 500 companies.

If you work in sales, you’re going to have an easier time finding accomplishments, data and results to put on your resume.

But in any profession, you should try to have at least some of your resume bullet points looking like this! You’ll notice that these bullets stand out visually because of the numbers, which boosts the chance they’ll get read.

Resume Bullet Point Examples for an HR Generalist:

Supported the hiring of 29 new team members in 2020 Collaborated with 9 hiring managers across 4 different teams to aid in hiring and recruiting efforts including writing and managing online job postings, screening candidate resumes, and conducting first-round interviews Spearheaded employee benefit overhaul, identifying a new, improved health insurance provider while reducing employee insurance costs by 27%

Next Steps: Write Your Own Resume Bullets

If you read this article, you now know the difference between listing responsibilities and accomplishments on your resume, and how to use those accomplishments to write great bullets that will get you a call with a recruiter , or an invitation to interview.

Now it’s time to start digging up data and updating your own resume in the same style as the bullet point examples above.

If you’re unsure about your own past accomplishments and results, talk to your former boss or coworkers and try to gather data.

For example, you could email a former boss and say:

“Hi <Name>. I’m trying to go back and review the results of the work I did at <Company Name>. Do you know how many new clients we ended up getting from that final marketing project I led? And if not, who could I speak with to get this data?”

It’s absolutely worth it. You’ll have those facts on your resume for your entire career now, and you can talk about it in your interview answers  too.

If you follow these steps, you’ll get more interviews and will likely get hired for a better job.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Just Use These Accomplishments in Your Resume Bullet Points

As a final tip – once you’ve gathered your list of accomplishments for writing bullets on your resume, think about other ways to use them to your advantage, too.

For example, you could practice incorporating one or two accomplishments into your answer to “tell me about yourself” in interviews.

This is also useful for answering, “what is your greatest professional achievement?”

And you could also consider putting these metrics and accomplishments on your LinkedIn, especially your headline , which can help you get more attention from employers and recruiters.

The bottom line is: The more familiar you are with your past accomplishments, metrics, and results, the more confident and impressive you’ll sound.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

Read our Resume Essentials Guides

10 best free resume builders, what to put on a resume: 9 things to include, sample list of accomplishments for resume (35+ examples), top 14 resume skills to add on your resume + examples, does a resume need an objective, resume summary with no experience: examples for students and fresh graduates, resume keywords: 80+ verbs and power words to use, previous work experience examples for a resume, 24 resume summary examples that get interviews, 4 thoughts on “22 resume bullet point examples that get interviews”.

Is there any way to do this when you’ve worked in retail all your life? When you’ve never had a fancy job, never been a team leader or had an office job and never had access to sales figures, worked in software of management or were ever considered responsible for those targets being met because you were a bog standard employee on a shop floor? how do you list ‘achievements’ when you’ve never really had any due to lacklustre employment history – due to – lack of achievements?

Hi Lara – I think it’s possible, even in an industry like retail.

You can talk about store-wide achievements you contributed to (Example bullet point: “Top-performing cashier at the nation’s third largest Whole Foods Market retail location for two consecutive years”)

You could look into individual metrics, too. If you won any recognition/awards (like employee of the month), etc.

It’s going to be a bit different for everyone, though. Do the best you can. If 2/5 of your bullet points under your most recent position are accomplishment-focused, that’s a lot better than 0/5.

Very useful tips.Could u also tell some tips for engineering freshers.? Im trained in java and testing.But not getting any offers..

Resume is the preface to one’s career experience, abilities, skills at work. I found the bullet points description of the past job experience really a practical and most effective way to increase the chance of the hiring. These are the things which a general candidate skips mostly. But in this blog, it gives a clear indication that these small things are really important while preparing your resume.

Comments are closed.

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Use Bullet Points on a...

How to Use Bullet Points on a Resume (With Examples)

6 min read · Updated on January 24, 2024

Here's how to incorporate bullet points on your resume to garner the right kind of attention

When your resume lands in the hands of a recruiter or hiring manager, they don't spend a lot of time reviewing it - nor do they read through every detail. Instead, they scan it to see if they can quickly see the qualifications they're seeking for the job.

That's why it's imperative that your resume is as concise and easy to digest as possible. Incorporating bullet points is one of the best ways to create a resume that's easy to scan. 

In this post, we cover how and where to incorporate resume bullet points, with examples. 

Why use resume bullet points?

As mentioned earlier, it's important your resume is easy for recruiters and hiring managers to look through quickly. When you use large blocks of text and paragraphs on your resume, it makes it difficult to scan and can be overwhelming. Resume bullet points allow you to create a resume that's easy on the eyes and highlights your skills and accomplishments in such a way that grabs the hiring manager's attention. 

Where should you use resume bullet points?

Your Work Experience section is where you'll primarily use bullet points on your resume. For each position you list, provide three to five bullet points of your key achievements in that position. 

If you include a Skills section on your resume, you can use bullet points to highlight each individual skill. The same goes for a core competencies list included below your resume summary. 

Resume bullet points are also used in many of the optional sections you might include on your resume, like Volunteer Experience , Hobbies & Interests, and Special Projects. 

Are there any sections that don't require resume bullet points?

An exception to the “no paragraph” rule is the resume summary , which sits just below your contact information. Your summary is written in paragraph form, using a few brief sentences that summarize your career highlights. 

Your Education section is another section on your resume where resume bullet points aren't common, though there are some exceptions. Learn more by reading “ How to List Education on Your Resume .”

How to write effective resume bullet points for your Work Experience section

Include three to five bullet points for each position . Highlight the most relevant experience and achievements from your work history.

Focus on accomplishments and achievements , rather than merely incorporating job duties and responsibilities. Avoid listing what you do (or did) from day to day. 

List your accomplishments in order of importance, from most to least significant.

Only include information that adds value . Don't use vague, non-specific words or phrases like “several” or “a variety of.” Instead, use specific data and details. For example, avoid a bullet point like “Designed several HR training documents for a variety of departments.” Instead, write something like, “Designed 30 HR training documents for 10 departments within the organization.” 

Incorporate plenty of numbers to show vs. tell . Quantify your achievements by incorporating plenty of numbers that emphasize and show the impact you've had. Quantifiable data helps a hiring manager to visualize your ability to succeed in the future.

Begin the bullet point with a strong action verb . Each bullet point you include should begin with a power verb , such as Crafted, Spearheaded, or Reduced. Use a variety throughout your Work Experience section to avoid sounding repetitive. 

Keep them succinct . Each bullet point should be no more than one to two lines long.

Don't include personal pronouns . It's understood that your resume is about you. 

Use simple and consistent bullet formatting. Select a basic bullet point type that you use consistently throughout your resume. 

Work Experience resume bullet points formula

When writing a bullet point for your Work Experience section , you'll include the action verb first. From there, you'll include the project or task completed and the results, with quantifiable data when possible. Here are two formulas to reference:

Power Verb + Result + Task

Reduced marketing department overhead costs by 17% by implementing a hybrid work environment and downsizing office space

Power Verb + Task + Result  

Spearheaded launch of new content management system and social media integration, resulting in a 9% increase in consumer engagement

The majority of your bullet points should include metrics whenever possible. However, there will be some instances where your bullet points might not contain quantifiable data, and that's okay, as long as the bullet point is still an accomplishment that adds value and is relevant to the job description. 

Work Experience bullet points: examples

Here are two examples of using resume bullet points for a Work Experience section.

HR Generalist                                      January 2006 - February 2023

ABC Oil & Gas, Houston, TX

Designed and launched improved supervisor training program, increasing enrollment by 10% over the prior year

Assisted employees at all levels with work-related questions and concerns, including benefits, paid time off, and career development, enhancing HR and employee relations

Led team to develop a new service award program, improving employee morale and satisfaction rating by 8%

Partnered with management team to enforce HR policies, support the performance appraisal process, and administer employee terminations to enhance management and employee interactions

Administrative Assistant               February 2000 - January 2024

123 Media, New York, NY

Provided administrative support to legal department leadership team to ensure smooth operations within the department

Produced 10 - 15 weekly reports for managers, outlining ongoing clients' legal costs and fees, providing the ability to clearly communicate necessary information with stakeholders

Spearheaded development of 3 new onboarding tools, including an onboarding handbook and welcome video, to enhance new hire orientation

Always include resume bullet points!

If you were ever wondering whether bullet points were really that important compared to using paragraphs for your resume, now you know - always use resume bullet points. With the above guidance, you know why bullet points are essential, where to include them, and how to write them effectively to stand out. 

If you're still unsure as to whether you're using bullet points effectively on your resume, you can submit it for a free resume review . Our team of TopResume experts will be sure to guide you so you have a resume that incorporates all the right elements to grab the attention of hiring teams! 

Recommended reading:

What Are the Best Fonts for a Resume

How to Check if My Resume Is ATS-Friendly for Free

9 Soft Skills Employers Want in 2024

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

Jobscan > AI-Powered Resume Bullet Point Generator

Resume Bullet Point Generator: Create the Perfect Resume In Minutes

Take the guesswork out of writing your resume bullet points with Jobscan's AI-powered resume bullet points generator. Create the perfect resume in minutes with tailored bullet points that highlight your achievements.

Jobscan users have been hired by

Try Jobscan’s resume sentence generator for free!

Demo Jobscan's resume bullet point generator and get 3 free phrase generations.

Make your resume bullet points stand out

Write a better resume in less time with Jobscan’s AI-powered resume bullet point generator.

Jobscan’s AI generates bullet points based on your specific skills. The result is a personalized resume that makes you stand out.

Use AI to optimize your resume bullet points to match specific job requirements, increasing your chances of getting past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and landing job interviews.

Jobscan automates the resume writing process, saving you time and effort, so you can apply for more jobs and get more interviews.

Jobscan’s AI technology analyzes job descriptions, keywords, and best resume practices to help you create a high-quality resume that aligns with recruiters’ expectations.

Designed for job seekers. Optimized for hiring managers.

Creating bullet points for your resume can be a time-consuming and challenging task. Jobscan’s resume bullet point generator makes it easy. With a streamlined resume creation process, you can quickly generate impactful bullet points for your resume that highlight your skills, experience, and achievements, saving you time and effort.

Some tools generate bullet points based on random skills. Jobscan’s allows you to generate multiple phrases based on your unique skills. By analyzing job descriptions, keywords, and best resume practices, Jobscan’s AI-powered tool generates resume bullet points based on skills mentioned in the job description that effectively showcase your qualifications, increasing your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.

97% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS and more than 90% of companies use a system to filter or rank potential candidates. Jobscan helps you make sure you mention the skills, qualifications, and achievements that companies are searching for.

How to use Jobscan's resume bullet point generator

From your Jobscan dashboard, upload your resume file into the scanner.

Paste the text of the job listing into the scanner.

You’ll see a list of skills that are mentioned in the job description but not on your resume. Click on a skill to get phrases generated about that skill. Click on a phrase to copy it. Paste it into your resume in the editing panel.

“I was having a hard time getting interviews, and every single one I submitted after using the tool received a response – either a screening or an invitation to interview.”

Thelonious B.

“I used Jobscan Pro throughout my job search to compare the job description to my resume. I really liked that there were in-depth tips based on what kind of ATS some jobs use to parse keywords and save time.”

“Jobscan helped me immensely. I applied to over 250 jobs over about 2 years and got only one job interview and no offer. I started using Jobscan, applied to only 12 jobs in 3 months and received 5 interviews and landed an awesome job. […] This software is incredible and worth every penny.”

“Once I signed up for Jobscan, I ran my resume with a job that I had applied for previously and found the my resume was really lacking! I used Power Edit and suggestions to rework the resume and resent it to a company that I really had interest in! Almost immediately, I got a positive response and landed an interview!”

Power Edit: Taking it a step further

Use Jobscan’s AI resume editor to get your best resume. Power Edit gives you tailored guidance and makes it easy to edit and optimize your resume.

Tailor your resume with AI

Match your skills to the job

Generate resume bullet points

Use ATS-friendly resume templates

Get a personalized cover letter

Stop guessing. start optimizing..

Use Power Edit to optimize your resume with AI features like a resume bullet point generator. Sign up for a Jobscan Premium subscription to get full access to Power Edit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can ai help tailor my resume bullet points to specific job descriptions.

By analyzing job descriptions, keywords, and your work experience, AI can generate customized bullet points that align perfectly with the requirements of the job you are applying for. This not only saves time but also increases the chances of catching the attention of recruiters and hiring managers who are looking for specific skills and qualifications. By using an AI-powered resume bullet points generator, job seekers can easily create a tailored resume that stands out from the crowd.

What is a resume bullet point generator and how does it work?

A resume bullet point generator is a tool that helps job seekers create effective bullet points for their resumes. It works by analyzing the job seeker’s work experience, skills, and qualifications and generating concise and impactful bullet points that highlight their achievements and contributions in previous roles. In short, it simplifies the process of crafting a professional resume that stands out to potential employers.

How can a resume phrase generator improve my job search?

A resume bullet point generator can significantly enhance your job search by effectively highlighting your skills and accomplishments. By using this tool, you can quickly create well-crafted bullet points that capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. These bullet points can convey a clear picture of your capabilities, experiences, and achievements, making it easier for potential employers to understand your qualifications and suitability for the job. With the help of a resume bullet point generator, you can streamline your resume creation process and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Is it OK to use bullets in a resume?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to use bullet points in a resume. In fact, using bullets can make your resume more organized and visually appealing, allowing the reader to easily scan through your qualifications and achievements. Just ensure that your bullet points are concise, relevant, and emphasize your most important skills and experiences.

What makes a good resume bullet point?

A good resume bullet point is concise, specific, and highlights your achievements or contributions in previous roles. It should clearly demonstrate your skills, qualifications, and the impact you had on the organization. Additionally, it should be relevant to the job you are applying for and tailored to showcase your suitability for the position.

Is 7 bullet points too much for a resume?

It depends on the length and content of your resume. Generally, it is recommended to keep your resume concise and focused, so if 7 bullet points effectively highlight your skills and experiences without overwhelming the reader, then it can be acceptable. However, it’s important to prioritize quality over quantity and ensure that each bullet point adds value to your resume.

Explore More Features

How to Write Resume Bullet Points (+ Examples)

• February 18, 2023
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

Resume bullet points help you effectively communicate your important information by capturing the attention of recruiters who scan your resume. Primarily, they emphasize your most significant achievements. When used well, resume bullet points can guide the reader, improve readability, and highlight your expertise.

Table of contents

The purpose of resume bullet points

Writing effective resume bullet points, where to include bullets, resume bullet point examples.

The purpose of resume bullet points is to effectively communicate your skills , accomplishments, and qualifications to potential employers. By using bullet points, you can make your resume more concise, organized, and visually appealing. Here are some key purposes of using bullet points in your resume:

• Highlighting key information: Bullet points allow you to present information in a clear and concise manner. They help to draw attention to important details, such as your achievements, relevant skills, and job responsibilities.
• Improving readability: Using bullet points makes your resume easier to read and scan. Hiring managers often spend only a few seconds initially reviewing a resume, so bullet points help them quickly identify your qualifications and determine if you are a potential fit for the role.
• Organizing information: Bullet points allow you to organize information in a logical and structured manner. You can use them to list your job responsibilities, skills, certifications, or educational qualifications in a way that is easy to navigate and understand.

Overall, the purpose of resume bullet points is to present your qualifications and accomplishments in a concise and impactful manner, making it easier for employers to assess your suitability for a job.

 Here are some tips to help you create impactful resume bullet points:

• Focus on accomplishments, not just responsibilities: Instead of simply listing your job duties, highlight your achievements and the impact you made in your previous roles. This helps to demonstrate your value and potential contributions to a prospective employer.
• Use quantifiable metrics: Whenever possible, include specific numbers, percentages, or other measurable data to quantify your achievements. This adds credibility to your claims and provides concrete evidence of your capabilities. For example, instead of saying “Increased sales,” you could say “Increased sales by 20% within six months”.
• Tailor bullet points to the job description: Customize your bullet points to align with the requirements and qualifications mentioned in the job description. Use keywords and phrases that directly relate to the skills and experiences sought by the employer. This helps to demonstrate your fit for the role and increases the chances of getting noticed.
• Start with strong action verbs: Begin each bullet point with a powerful action verb to make your statements more dynamic and engaging. Action verbs like “achieved,” “implemented,” “led,” “optimized,” and “resolved” convey a sense of action and accomplishment. Avoid using generic verbs like “responsible for” or “involved in”.
• Follow the P.A.R. framework: The P.A.R. framework stands for Problem, Action, and Result. Structure your bullet points by first describing the problem or challenge you faced, then detailing the action you took to address it, and finally highlighting the positive result or outcome. This framework helps to provide context and showcases your problem-solving abilities.
• Keep bullet points concise and focused: Aim for brevity and clarity in your bullet points. Use concise language and avoid unnecessary jargon or technical terms. Each bullet point should convey a single accomplishment or skill, making it easier for the reader to understand and remember.

Although bullet points can be used in any resume format , they are most effective for chronological or combination resumes. Meanwhile, a functional resume that includes longer paragraphs, they’re not as effective. 

• Work experience – Under the job heading of each position you’ve held in the past, explain your duties and accomplishments in bullet points. To choose only the most relevant experience, review the job listing and pick achievements that match the job.
• Summary of Qualifications – If you include a qualifications summary at the top of your resume, list your relevant qualifications as bullets. Choose only those that align with the job posting and make a shortlist under the section heading.
• Skills – Whichever skills you possess that align with the job, use bullet points to list them. Also, remember to include relevant soft skills , like communication or adaptability.
• Education – Much like with your work history, you can use resume bullet points to present your education. That is, under the heading of your educational level, list any awards or accomplishments you have earned.
• Volunteer experience – If it’s relevant to the position, you may include your volunteer experience in your resume. Group all your volunteer duties and achievements under one section heading, focusing on those that most align with the job.

Here are three job descriptions with bullet points

Project Manager , July 2019 – January 2021

• Developed 5-8-year strategies that identified new market opportunities, helping to achieve organizational objectives
• Led the transition to a cloud-based practice by implementing new software; reduced labor costs by 21% and annual expenses by 6%
• Evaluated existing processes and implemented strategies that improved productivity and cut costs by 12%

Customer Service Representative , July 2019 – January 2021

• Emphasized internal and external customer service by developing new communication pathways that increased subscriptions by 35%
• Conducted 5 customer surveys per year; created an outline of the issue, cause, and resolution, and implemented the strategy to increase customer satisfaction
• Cultivated valuable relationships with key stakeholders through various communication channels, including telephone, email, and social media

Sales Manager , July 2018 – January 2020

• Doubled annual revenue in 2018 to $5 million/ year across Europe and Middle East markets.
• Exceeded the 10% territory growth goal by 30% in 2017 for the East Asia market
• Spearheaded a $3.2 million revenue and 25% market share growth in the New York branch

As with all design aspects, the overuse of resume bullet points can do more bad than good. Too many bullets can negatively impact the readability, organization, and look of your resume. By using them wisely, you can grab the reader’s attention and bring your most significant accomplishments into the spotlight.

Popular related posts:

• How to Write a Resume With No Work Experience
• What is the Best Resume Format for 2020? [+ Examples]
• Resume Objective in 2020: Writing Tips & Examples
• https://www.resumeway.com/blog/cover-letter-examples-to-get-inspired-in-2020/
• “The Most Effective Resume Format in 2021 [Pros and Cons]

Get a Resume Expert Writing Help

No time to polish your resume, cover letter, thank-you letter, or LinkedIn? Our resume writing experts are ready to check your documents right now.

• No products in the cart.
• Resume Writing Service
• Free Resume Review
• Resume Templates
• Career Advice

86 Resume Bullet Point Examples That'll (actually) Get You Noticed

One of the best ways to figure out what to add to your resume is by looking at some resume bullet point examples.

According to recent polls, hiring managers said that less than 9% of the resumes they received were well written.

When you realize that on average each job opening gets 250 applications and only 6 people get an interview, it can make job searching feel very daunting.

But that’s exactly where your resume bullets come into play.

Taking a little time to learn how to write resume bullet points can be the difference between landing interviews vs wasting your time.

That’s why in this post I’ll show you:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The 2 biggest bullet point mistakes to avoid

The 3 parts to a great bullet point

Sales Examples

Product Examples

Customer Service Examples

Marketing Examples

Finance & Operations Examples

Bullet Point Generator

👉 If you’d like to get even more ideas for your bullet points, you can try one of these free resume builders that I’ve tested and recommend.

Each one of these can generate bullet points for your specific job using AI. These have gotten quite good these days so definitely worth a try.

Alright, now let’s jump in!

2 Biggest Mistakes 90% of People Make

While it may be exciting to jump straight into writing your resume bullets, there is a very good reason to learn what makes a great bullet point first.

On average, we only have about 10–30 seconds of a recruiter’s attention.

That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to make every bullet point count.

Before we jump into the resume bullet point examples, let me first cover the two big mistakes that you should avoid when writing your resume bullets.

If you avoid these two mistakes, you’ll be ahead of 90% of other job applicants.

Mistake #1: The “and” Test

The most common mistake that job seekers make when writing their resume bullets is adding too much information into every bullet.

This is a very easy mistake to make.

After all, when you’re not getting any interviews, the first logical conclusion to make is that you don’t have enough on your resume.

But, working with hundreds of job seekers, I’ve actually seen the opposite to be true.

👉 As we cover in our free resume course , resumes with 350–500 words tend to get the most interviews.

(Have you checked your resume word count? If you haven’t, just go to “Tools” and “Word Count” in Google Docs or Word to find out)

The easiest way to shorten your resume is by following these 5 simple steps:

• Press Ctrl + F (command + F on a Mac)
• Type in the word “and”
• This will highlight all the ands in your resume
• Look for any sentence or bullet point that has more than one “and” in it
• Reword your bullet points so that they only have one “and”

Use ctrl + F (command + F on a Mac) to find all your "ands"

Mistake #2: Responsibilities vs Actions

The second most common mistake is when job seekers write out their responsibilities instead of their actions.

Here are some examples of poorly written resume bullets:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to articulate product vision and strategy to stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive collaboration
• Experienced in user research, testing, and design thinking

These types of bullet points are passive and merely explain what skills you have.

Now, you might be thinking, “isn’t that the point of a resume?”

Well yes, your resume should show your skills, but it should do so through your actions .

👉 Here are those exact same 3 bullet point examples, but written in active voice using power verbs:

• Developed clear product vision and strategy for stakeholders
• Improved collaboration for cross-functional teams
• Ran user research and testing using design thinking principles

Compare the two examples and you can see how much clearer and more concise the active versions are.

3 Parts to Every Great Resume Bullet Point

Now that we’ve seen the two most common mistakes, let me explain what makes a great resume bullet point in the first place.

In short, every great resume bullet point has 3 elements:

• A power verb
• A method/skill

Diego Granados , a Senior Product Manager who has landed jobs at Cisco, Microsoft, and LinkedIn, explained this best when he said :

“It’s best to write your accomplishments with the X-Y-Z framework. In my resume I write my accomplishments using the X-Y-Z formula (shared by Google recruiters). 👉 “Accomplished [X], as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]” Follow this resume bullet point formula as close as possible, but don’t be afraid to put your own style into it (as long as you share your X,Y & Z).”

I’ve read hundreds of resumes over the years and I’ve noticed that most job seekers tend to get 2 out of the 3 elements in there, but rarely have all 3.

As you look through the resume bullet point examples below, notice that the strongest ones tend to have X, Y, & Z elements in them.

In simple terms you want to fill in the blanks for the following sentence:

I [Power verb] by doing [Skill/Method] to accomplish [result].

If you’re in a role where it might be tricky to figure out these pieces, here’s a great video from award-winning career coach, Gillian Kelly , that can help:

Alright, now that we know what to look for in a bullet point, let’s look at some resume bullet point examples.

Sales Resume Bullet Point Examples

If you’re writing a sales resume, you’ll want to focus a lot of your resume on the metrics that drive the business forward. Luckily, most sales roles have a lot great metrics you can use.

Here are a few bullet point examples for sales roles:

Resume bullet point examples for personal accomplishments:

• Exceeded annual sales quota by 20%
• Built a sales pipeline of 100 new clients
• Developed a new sales strategy resulting in a 25% increase in revenue
• Secured $1M in new business contracts
• Negotiated and closed complex deals with key stakeholders
• Improved sales processes to increase efficiency and productivity

Bullet point examples for sales management:

• Directed a team of 5 sales representatives resulting in a 40% increase in team performance
• Coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of products and services
• Monitored sales metrics and provided regular performance feedback to leadership
• Developed relationships with key customers and partners

Bullet point examples for sales featuring hard metrics:

• Boosted sales revenue by 30% through effective sales techniques
• Expanded customer base by 50% through strategic account management
• Improved customer retention by 20% through high-touch sales techniques
• Grew market share by 25% through successful product launches and marketing initiatives.

Want my free job-winning courses & tools?

Enter your email and I'll send you instant access to my 3 job-winning courses plus a few of our best guides that will fast forward your next career move.

Success! Check your inbox for your link to the courses!

YES, LET'S GO!

No upsells. No spam. Just helpful, proven strategies.

Product Manager Resume Bullet Point Examples

Product Manager resumes tend to focus a lot on cross-functional collaboration. That being said, you’ll still want to incorporate metrics into your resume if you want it to be as strong as possible.

Note: These resume bullet point examples tend to also work very well for other cross-functional roles such as Project Manager resumes and Product Marketing resumes.

Resume bullet point examples for Product Managers & Project Managers:

• Led cross-functional teams to develop and launch multiple new products
• Implemented agile methodologies to improve product development processes
• Conducted market research and analysis to inform product strategy
• Conducted user research and testing to inform product design
• Managed multiple product roadmaps, budgets, and timelines
• Negotiated partnerships and contracts with key suppliers and vendors

Bullet point examples for Product Managers focused on results:

• Achieved 20% YoY growth in revenue for key product line
• Increased user engagement by 40% through data-driven product improvements
• Reduced product development time by 50% through process optimizations
• Improved product quality and customer satisfaction ratings by 25%
• Increased product adoption by 20% by working with GTM teams

Bullet point examples for Product Managers focused on skills:

• Implemented Agile and Scrum techniques to increase productivity
• Identified key trends and insights from user data
• Presented product vision and strategy to leadership
• Led cross-functional teams to increase collaboration
• Led user research, testing, and product design
• Implemented JIRA and Asana to streamline product development

Customer Service Resume Bullet Point Examples

One of the main struggles when writing resume bullet points for a customer service role is a lack of clear metrics. Many customer service professionals find it hard to put metrics behind what is a very “people” focused role.

If you’d like to learn how to write better bullet points, I recommend reading our full resume bullet point guide here . In the guide, I break down exactly how to find your metrics for these types of roles.

Let’s take a look at some resume bullet point examples for more people-focused roles:

Resume bullet point examples for customer service roles:

• Responded to customer inquiries through phone, email, and chat
• Trained new hires on customer service processes and policies
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to resolve complex customer issues
• Managed and prioritized customer service queues to meet response time goals
• Conducted customer satisfaction surveys to gather feedback and improve service quality
• Implemented process improvements to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction

Bullet point examples for customer service roles focused on results:

• Improved customer satisfaction scores by 20% through regular engagement and feedback processes
• Reduced customer churn by 10% through proactive outreach and issue resolution
• Increased response efficiency by 30% by streamlining processes
• Achieved 100% compliance with customer service policies and procedures
• Resolved over 95% of customer issues within 24 hours
• Improved call handling time by 25% through enhanced training

Bullet point examples for customer service roles focused on skills:

• Established strong customer relationships to reduce churn
• Resolved conflicts and improved customer relationships
• Implemented Zendesk and Salesforce to streamline operations
• Identified trends and insights using company data
• Trained team members to improve performance
• Maintained accurate and complete customer records

Marketing Resume Bullet Point Examples

The best marketing resumes have a mixture of both hard and soft skills. The most common mistake that job seekers make when writing a marketing resume is not including enough metrics.

While it can be hard to find exact metrics for your marketing job, there are definitely ways to estimate your impact. You can see how in the resume bullet point guide I put together here .

Let’s take a look at some solid marketing bullet point examples you can use for your marketing resume:

Resume bullet point examples for marketing roles:

• Created a comprehensive market research plan to identify new business opportunities
• Implemented customer segmentation strategy
• Formed key partnerships with industry leaders, driving sales and brand awareness
• Implemented data-driven approach resulting in more efficient budget allocation
• Streamlined marketing processes to reduce costs on social channels
• Led company-wide brand re-positioning campaign
• Introduced new CRM system that improved customer data tracking and analysis

Bullet point examples for marketing roles focused on results:

• Revamped email marketing campaign that increased open rates by 30%.
• Developed lead generation program resulting in a 40% increase in qualified leads
• Created SEO strategy that increased organic traffic by 50%
• Produced 40 product videos that drove 1M impressions
• Increased website traffic by 65% through SEO optimization
• Created direct mail campaign that increased lead conversion by 25%

Bullet point examples for marketing roles focused on management:

• Hired and managed a team of 8 marketers
• Led execution of multi-channel marketing strategies
• Managed production team to create award-winning content
• Developed successful influencer marketing program featuring 23 industry influencers
• Led redesign of the company’s website resulting in a 20% increase in traffic
• Ran a series of webinars to convert potential customers
• Built content marketing plan to reach target audiences
• Implemented creative brief template to streamline the development of content
• Developed trade show program including 9 trade shows per year
• Built referral program from the ground up to increase lead generation

Finance & Operations Resume Bullet Point Examples

Finance resumes and Operations resumes have a lot in common since they are both very numbers driven. This makes writing resume bullet points a bit easier, but having a good diversity of skills shown is still very important.

In our resume bullet point guide I explain how to balance your bullet points across your various skills. Let’s take a look at some finance bullet point examples (which can also be adapted for operations roles):

Resume bullet point examples for finance roles:

• Reduced costs by $500,000 through streamlining procurement processes
• Achieved a 15% increase in investment portfolio performance through strategic asset allocation
• Increased revenue by 20% through market analysis
• Streamlined procedures to achieve 95% compliance rate for financial reporting

Bullet point examples for finance roles focused on management:

• Managed and coached a team of 3 finance analysts
• Managed a budget of $10 million across 3 industries
• Created monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements
• Reduced financial risk for the company by implementing internal controls and monitoring systems
• Led the creation of financial reports for the leadership team
• Developed new system for tracking and reporting sales commissions

Bullet point examples for finance roles focused on improvement:

• Improved cash flow by 25% through negotiating better payment terms with suppliers
• Improved accuracy of financial reporting by implementing X software
• Improved credit rating by addressing debt covenants and improving liquidity
• Increased accounting efficiency by 25% through automation and process improvement initiatives

Are there periods after bullet points in a resume ?

One question I frequently get asked is, “should I include periods after bullet points on my resume?” In most cases, you do not need to include periods after your bullet points.

The only time you would need to include periods after your bullet points is if you’re writing in full sentences. As we’ve covered before, it’s much better to use bullet points instead of sentences or paragraphs on your resume .

Is it worth using a resume bullet point generator?

You may have heard that some people these days are using resume bullet point generators to create their resumes.

While resume bullet point generators can be hit or miss, they can be useful. I personally like to use these generators to get ideas for my resume bullet points (which I then customize to my exact needs).

If you’d like to get even more ideas for your bullet points, you can try one of these free resume builders that I’ve tested and recommend. Each one has a resume bullet point generator that’s actually very useful for getting ideas.

Takeaways and Next Steps

Feel free to use any of the bullet point examples above on your resume. And, to learn more about the other elements you should include on your resume, such as how to write your resume summary or how to choose your resume color , I recommend going through our free resume course.

The course is broken up into 5 minute videos and is free for everyone. You can get the course by dropping your email below and you’ll instantly have access to it (plus a ton of useful tools):

2 Biggest mistakes to avoid

3 Parts to a great bullet point

More from the blog

77 LinkedIn Headline Examples That Will (actually) Get You Noticed

77 LinkedIn Headline Examples That Will (actually) Get You Noticed According to a recent JobVite...

7 Creative Job Application Ideas To Get an Employer’s Attention

7 Creative Job Application Ideas To Get an Employer’s Attention If you’ve been applying to jobs...

Zero to Hired: How To Get a Job With (little or) No Experience

Zero to Hired: How To Get a Job With (little or) No Experience As with most things in life, the...

Like this? Try our free courses!

Tired of sending your job applications into a black hole and never hearing back?  Get hired faster with our guided courses all for  FREE !

Bogdan Zlatkov is the Founder of GHYC and author of "The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunting", ranked #1 on Google. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, HR Dive, and more. At GHYC, Bogdan creates job search courses & tools by working with award-winning career coaches, best-selling authors, and Forbes-Council members. Prior to GHYC, Bogdan led the content programs at LinkedIn Learning.

Resume Templates

Resume samples

Create and edit your resume online

Generate compelling resumes with our AI resume builder and secure employment quickly.

Write a cover letter

Cover Letter Examples

Cover Letter Samples

Create and edit your cover letter

Use our user-friendly tool to create the perfect cover letter.

Featured articles

• How to Write a Motivation Letter With Examples
• How to Write a Resume in 2024 That Gets Results
• Teamwork Skills on Your Resume: List and Examples
• What Are the Best Colors for Your Resume?

Latests articles

• How To Add a Promotion on LinkedIn: Steps and Example
• The Highest Paying Blue-Collar Jobs Offer Stability, While Nearly 300,000 Layoffs Are Blamed on AI
• How To Prepare Your Resume for a Promotion in 2024
• The Essential Guide To Giving Two Weeks’ Notice in 2024

Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

How to Use Bullet Points in a Resume

As employers generally have  hundreds of resumes to look through  they only spend seconds scanning through each one. Employers don’t want to wade through long paragraphs so using  resume bullet points  is an effective way of getting to the point and getting noticed.

Should a resume have bullet points?  Yes, using  bullet points on a resume  clearly and concisely highlights your strengths. You can showcase your most relevant accomplishments and you most important  skills and qualifications  without burying them in chunks of text.

The  resume bullet points  you include should differ for each job application according to the job requirements. Using a  resume creator  allows you to make  quick edits for each application , allowing you to tailor your resume.

When to use bullet points in a resume

You should use  bullet points on your resume  in your  work experience  section to list your duties and accomplishments.  How many bullet points per job on a resume?  This depends on how many jobs you include and how much space you have for each, but  between 2-4 is a good number . Remember you need to keep your resume as short and concise as possible.

You can also  use bullet points  in other sections such as your  skills ,  education , and accomplishments. In general, if there’s a choice between writing  resume bullet points or paragraphs  it is generally better to choose bullet points.

How to write resume bullet points

The first thing to do is to carefully  read through the job description  for each job application and to  identify the key job requirements  for each position.  Pick out the keywords  and work them (and synonyms of them) into your resume.

It’s essential to show why you’re the  right candidate for a specific position  rather than just submitting a generic,  one-size-fits-all resume . Make each bullet point relevant to the role you’re applying for. Changing the bullets using  resume templates  is an easy way of  creating a tailored resume  for each application.

You should include  2-4   effective resume bullet points  beneath the basic job information (job title, employer details, job role). You should use simple, attractive, readable bullets such as  circles or hyphens . Whichever style you choose,  be consistent throughout your resume .

Make sure you  prioritize your bullet points . Place the most important and  most relevant points nearer the top  of your resume, and the less important ones nearer the bottom.

Each bullet should start with a strong,  dynamic action verb  (in the past tense) followed by what you produced or accomplished. You should also try to  quantify your achievements  as this is convincing for employers.

Resume bullet point examples

Here are some examples of  effective bullet points for a resume  which are positive, concise, and clearly demonstrate and highlight strengths:

Work experience

Web Designer, Falcon Development, 2010-2013

• Created over 20 websites which operated in 16 countries
• Used numerous platforms and programs including…..
• The average website attracted over 30,000 visitors a month

Team Leader, Bingo Car Insurance, 2012-Present

• Led and helped train a customer service team of over 15 employees
• Designed and implemented a departmental initiative scheme
• Oversaw a sales increase of 20% over an 18-month period

Nurse, Conquest Hospital, 2013-2016

• Provided award-winning care to a ward with 18 patients
• Helped to recruit and train junior nurses
• Introduced a new system for ensuring cleanliness

If you’re writing a  student resume  or an  entry-level resume , it may be the case that you need to  emphasize other accomplishments  such as your qualifications. Here is an example of how you can use bullet points to list a qualification:

Business Studies Degree, Harrowdown College, 2010-14

• Passed with a GPA of…
• Awarded best presentation for…
• Chairman of the social society 2012-14

Struggling with Resume Writing?

Ease the process with our templates

Related Blog

Press Enter to search

Should You Use Paragraphs or Bullet Points on a Resume?

Confused over whether to use paragraphs or bullet points on your resume? Here why bullet points are better, including how to turn full sentences into resume-friendly bullets

2 years ago   •   4 min read

One of the age-old questions of resume writing is, should a resume have bullet points or paragraphs?

The verdict is in: Resumes should be written using bullet points.

But is there ever an exception? Is it possible to write a good resume without bullet points? Are there situations where using full sentences on a resume is better? We’ll answer all those questions below, but first, let’s look at why you should use bullet points instead of paragraphs on a resume.

Why you should be using bullet points on a resume

The simple response is “because it’s convention.”

A lot of resume ‘rules’ exist simply because that’s what recruiters expect. Some of these change over time, like not including your mailing address or emailing resumes instead of delivering them in person. Others are in place for a reason and aren’t going anywhere — like using bullets instead of paragraphs on a resume.

Here’s why bullet points are better on a resume than paragraphs:

• Resumes need to be skimmable. Hiring managers have limited time to spend on each resume, so the more information they can get quickly, the better.
• Bullet points are easier to read than full sentences. Short, succinct bullet points are the key to your resume's readability.
• The most important information stands out at a glance instead of being buried in the middle of a paragraph.
• People in general are put off by walls of text (generally, three lines or longer). The longer the text, the less likely it is to be read.
• Bullet points look better on a resume. They preserve white space and keep things neatly organized.
• Hiring managers are used to reading bullet points. If they get to your resume and suddenly find paragraphs of text, it’ll stand out — and not in a good way.

How to turn paragraphs into resume bullet points

If you’ve started writing your resume in paragraphs, you don’t need to throw it out and start over. Here’s how to turn your sentences into resume-friendly bullets:

• Break your paragraph into single sentences or separate accomplishments.
• Take out personal pronouns , like “I” and “we.”
• Start your bullet point with an action verb , like “managed” or “coordinated.”
• Leave out as many extra words as you can, as long as it still makes sense.
• Run your finished resume through an ATS resume scanner for more tips straight from hiring managers.

For example, if you wrote:

I supervised a team of 15 associates in addition to overseeing a staff of 60+ associates while managing daily operations of the store. In a single year, I increased the overall departmental sales by 10% and GROWTHSI designer brand sales by 35%. As manager, I monitored the performance of each team member by conducting a monthly touch base, coaching in the moment, and implementing disciplinary actions in a write up. I also reviewed the operational records and reports monthly to project sales and determine our profitability.

It could become:

• Supervised a team of 15 associates in addition to overseeing a staff of 60+ associates while managing daily operations of the store.
• Increased overall departmental sales by 10% in a single year; and GROWTHSI designer brand by 35%.
• Monitored the performance of each team member by conducting a monthly touch base, coaching in the moment, and implementing disciplinary actions in a write up.
• Reviewed operational records and reports monthly to project sales and determine profitability.

See how much better that looks? By including the same accomplishments in bullet points instead of paragraphs, it becomes easier to read and your accomplishments stand out more.

After you’re done converting your paragraphs to bullet points, upload your resume to the tool below to check if your bullet points are correctly identified. It’ll also identify any mistakes and provide suggestions on how to improve your resume’s bullet points and impact.

Bullet point resume example

Here’s an example of a resume that uses bullet points instead of paragraphs to good effect:

Even the skills section at the end is in bullet points, broken up into different information like techniques, certifications , and technical skills .

You can download this template, including more tips for writing a recruiter-friendly resume using bullet points, at our resume guide.

When you can break the rules (and when you can’t)

There only a couple of places where it’s better to use paragraphs on a resume instead of bullets:

• In your resume summary ( here are some great examples )
• In your cover letter

Everywhere else — including your work experience , education , skills and additional sections — you should be using bullet points.

It’s never okay to write a whole resume without using bullet points, for all the reasons listed above.

How are bullet points different from paragraphs?

There’s more difference between paragraphs and bullet points than just putting a bullet at the start. Bullet points aren’t necessarily complete sentences. Here’s how they differ:

• Resume bullet points don’t use personal pronouns. Instead of “I developed …” resume bullets skip straight to “Developed …”
• Resume bullet points leave out unnecessary articles and possessive pronouns, like “the, “a,” and “my”. Instead of “for a Fortune 100 company,” a bullet point might read, “for Fortune 100 company.”
• In general, resume bullet points won’t read like complete, grammatically correct sentences — and that’s okay. Readability and being easily skimmable are more important than impeccable grammar in this case.

Spread the word

How to list tutoring experience on your resume, the best font for getting your resume past ats, keep reading, how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), oops what to do if there’s a mistake on your resume, getting the basics right: resume line spacing, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay updated with Resume Worded by signing up for our newsletter.

🎉 Awesome! Now check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address

Oops! There was an error sending the email, please try later

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

• Career Exploration
• Arts, Communications, & Media
• Education, Nonprofit, & Public Health
• Business, Consulting, Finance, & Marketing
• Government, International Affairs, Law, & Public Policy
• Health Professions Advising
• Career Essentials Resources
• Graduate School
• Application Support
• Short Internship Projects (SHIPs)
• Fellowships for Undergraduates
• Fellowships for Graduates
• Class of 2025 Fellowship Planning
• Fellowships for International Students
• Civic Engagement

How to Write Effective Resume Bullets

The Formula

The p.a.r. framework, make an appointment.

Writing resume bullets is often the most challenging aspect of creating your resume. Settling on the best design and format and determining the most relevant experiences to highlight on your resume can take time; however, effectively describing your experience is the most important task. Use the job posting to guide what skills to highlight and the most effective terms to describe your accomplishments. Your bullets provide the majority of the content on your resume, and they will distinguish an average resume from a competitive one.

The first step to writing more effective bullet points is to recognize that your bullets should be more than just a list of the tasks and responsibilities you managed in a particular role. Describe the tasks using specific, measurable details about your work. The job description is a fine place to start, but don’t just copy and paste directly to your resume because simply listing your duties doesn’t harness the full potential of a resume bullet. The resume is your first opportunity to grab the attention of the reader, communicate your skills and accomplishments, and distinguish you from other applicants with similar experiences. Including more details will engage the reader, convey your knowledge, expertise, and passion for your work. 

Think of your bullets as accomplishment statements. Using this framework, you are able to focus more on the results of your work and the skills you have developed through your various experiences. Ask yourself: What did you accomplish? Why and how did you complete this task? What was your unique impact or contribution within this role? What sets you apart from others in this or a similar role? The answers to these questions will help you outline the skills you will bring to your next position and demonstrate the results you are likely to produce once you are in the new role.

To help you get started, use the following basic formula to craft your resume bullets:

In addition to the above mentioned formula, many students find it helpful to think about their experiences using the Problem - Action - Result framework. For each task or responsibility, what problem were you seeking to address? What action did you take to address this problem? What were the results of your action? Once you have determined these answers, you can summarize the content into one (or more) bullets. 

We’ve compiled a list of “before” and “after” resume bullets to help demonstrate how you can transform your bullets from good to great.

If you are having difficulty turning your resume bullets into accomplishment statements or you would like someone to review your newly created bullets, set up an appointment with your Advisor for Career Exploration (ACE) or an industry/field Career Advisor in Handshake ! You can also come to Career Education Drop-In Hours for a quick resume review.

Related resources

How to Write Resume Bullets That’ll Make the Hiring Manager Pay Attention

Not to be a downer, but most job postings receive an average of 250 applications per role. This might seem like a depressing number, but it’s important to keep the competition in mind.

Why? Because it reminds you that it is worth putting that extra time into your application (even if you’d rather be doing something else).

As a professional resume writer, there is one change I’m always recommending to my clients: perfecting their bullet points.

Strong bullets will spice up your resume and help ensure that your content actually showcases your strengths, not just the boring tasks that you were assigned. And that’s what’ll help you stand out to hiring managers.

Here’s how to do it:

Do Lead With What’s Most Important

Hiring managers skim your resume bullets, so you want to have the most important information first. Since we know that the eye scans downward, following this rule will increase your odds that these crucial details will be seen. For example:

• Oversaw commercial operations for global travel agency serving nearly 15,000 customers each year, including corporate accounts and celebrity clientele.
• Spearheaded initiative to introduce new destinations, developing partnerships with international tour operators located throughout Asia and Europe to expand revenue channels.

While both of these bullets are impressive, the first bullet provides a broader description of the individual’s responsibilities and role within the organization, so it makes sense that it’s placed above one that’s narrower in scope.

To decide how to order your bullets, ask yourself: If the hiring manager could only read two on your list, which two would you want him or her to read?

But, Don’t Forget to Add Background

While you do want start off with a bang—you don’t want to do so at the expense of context that help the hiring manager understand why what you did was so impressive.

It’s much more effective if the first bullet also provides an overview, be it on the type of company you worked for, the scope of operations, the yearly revenue, or the number of clients served.

Here’s an example of a resume bullet dives right into the responsibilities without first providing context:

• Helped with creating, definining, and executing digital marketing initiatives and SEO/SEM goals, transforming and enhancing brand awareness and search engine results, and increasing overall traffic and conversion rates.

That sounds pretty good—but it’s even stronger with additional context:

• Spearheaded development and execution of digital marketing initiatives on behalf of leading agency generating more than $10.5 million in yearly revenue, serving hundreds of enterprise clients nationwide.

This makes your impact that much clearer, which is especially important if the companies that you worked for are not super well-known. So, don’t skip over the big picture. Lead with it, and then delve into the nitty gritty.

Do Explain Your Impact

You know that a good story includes who, what, where, when, and why (and how). And that’s true for your resume, too.

No one wants to know just what tasks you performed. They want to know why it was important and who was impacted. Let’s look at two different bullets:

• Project management including integration of acquired company (600+ users), NY office move, software deployment, collaboration tool rollouts, document imaging, GAL standardization, and much more.

While this effectively addresses the “what” it doesn’t address who, how, or why. When you incorporate this information, your bullet should look more like:

• Directly oversaw integration of operations throughout company acquisition and relocation, leading a three-year initiative which impacted 1,000+ users worldwide.

Many resumes look like long lists of tasks. You really can make yours stand out by simply adding information about your results. Company accomplishments count, too (just make sure to list them the right way ).

But Don’t Overdo the Details

More is definitely not more. In other words, while some additional information adds value and interest, you don’t want to get carried away. For example, there’s no need to include every department that you collaborated with.

By picking and choosing where you throw in details, you’ll show what you’re capable of accomplishing—without boring the hiring manager.

Overly-Detailed Bullet :

• Compiled and presented performance reports, working cross-functionally with Business Analytics and Business Insights to gather reporting data for all digital campaigns, encompassing metrics including click rates, streams, customer engagement, and site heat maps to build performance reports and executive-level presentations for business partners and senior leadership, including AVP, VP, Senior Director, Director, CMO, and CEO.

Trimmed-Down Bullet :

• Compiled reports outlining performance data pertaining to streams, click rates, site heat maps, and customer engagement, presenting key findings to CEO, CMO, Associate Vice President, and Senior Director.

If you want to add an example within a bullet, keep it to a maximum of three items. Go beyond that and your reader’s eyes will start to glaze over.

I don’t expect you to add brainstorming resume bullets to your list of hobbies. However, if you’re willing to put the time in to make them stronger, your application will be more memorable. And the more memorable you are, the stronger the chances that you’ll be called in for an interview.

Search form

Make a Gift

Department of Economics

• Undergraduate

18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

By  Allison Pohle

Updated May 11, 2021 2:15 pm ET

• A résumé isn’t just a list of every job you’ve ever had. It should demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Mirror language used in the job posting so your résumé isn’t discarded by an applicant tracking system.
• Use a clean and simple format. 

Companies increasingly  rely on software  to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm. Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

1. Highlight your achievements in your résumé. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.” 

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.  

2. Customize your résumé.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.  

The same applies to your cover letter. It is your chance to provide more detail on how your experience will help you succeed in the job.  Read our cover letter guide  for how to write one that makes you stand out.

3. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate.  Read more about résumé formats here.

4. Make your contact information easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

In addition to making it easy to connect with you, it is important to your job search that you grow your network.  Read our networking guide  for tips on how to do so.

5. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says. 

6. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of  7.4 seconds.  

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. 

For additional ways to make a good impression on recruiters and headhunters, read  our guide on how to work with headhunters .

7. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

• Optimize keywords.  Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.” 
• Use a straightforward format.  Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
• Think about order.  When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title. 

8. Prioritize relevant keywords. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. 

9. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed. 

• Don’t focus on tasks.  Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
• Instead, explain what those tasks achieved.  Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
• Use metrics.  Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says. 
• Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable.  Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your  soft skills.

10. Focus on transferable skills if you lack experience.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

11. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

12. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have  gaps  on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be  prepared to talk about them in an interview . “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

13. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to  add a skills section to your résumé , outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

14. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

15. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

16. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

17. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending. 

18. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

• How to Prepare for a Job Interview
• What Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
• Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• How to Dress for a Job Interview
• How to Write a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview  
• How to Negotiate and Counter a Job Offer
• How to Negotiate Salary for a New Job: The Do’s and Don’ts
• Severance Pay: What It Is and Why You Should Negotiate a Package Before Accepting a Job

Corrections & Amplifications Ashley Watkins is a résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Write Steps LLC. (Corrected on Nov. 20)

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the November 23, 2020, print edition as '11 Résumé Tips to Help You Get Noticed

195 Resume Power Words That Will Get You Hired (+ Examples)

3 key takeaways

• Power words in resumes can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers.
• Tailor your power words to your specific industry and job role for maximum effectiveness.
• Teal’s AI Resume Builder helps make every resume bullet point impactful with AI.

Power words are to resumes what headlines are to a newspaper—they highlight key details and orient the reader. Resume action words grab the attention of the hiring manager and applicant tracking systems—increasing your odds of standing out.

In this guide, you'll learn 195 resume power words, how to use them effectively, and the nuances of industry-specific power powers to help you craft a compelling resume that lands job interviews.

Struggling to land interviews? Write a more impactful resume with Teal's resume builder AI .

What are resume power words?

Resume power words are strong, descriptive words that highlight your skills, achievements, and qualifications. These words help you make an impact because they: 

• Grab attention: They draw the reader's eye to your key accomplishments.
• Convey confidence: You appear self-assured and capable by using assertive language.
• Showcase specificity: Power words are precise and help hiring managers skim your resume without missing important details.
• Improve ATS performance: Power words often align with keywords that applicant tracking systems are programmed to identify. This increases your chances of passing initial screenings. 

195 resume power words to supercharge your application

To make your resume stand out, use words that showcase your achievements. Here's a list of resume power words designed to help your application leave a lasting impression on hiring managers.

Resume action verbs

Strong action verbs communicate your exact responsibility in a job role. They help hiring managers assess your accomplishments in context. Here are 100 powerful verbs that can make each bullet point on your resume more compelling.

• Spearheaded
• Orchestrated

Communication

• Articulated

Problem-solving

• Troubleshot
• Streamlined
• Conceptualized

Achievement

• Outperformed
• Accelerated
• Investigated
• Benchmarked

Improvement

• Coordinated
• Administered
• Consolidated

Customer service

• Implemented

Project management

• Facilitated

Collaboration

Accomplishment, descriptive adjectives.

The right adjectives can paint a vivid picture of the candidate's personal qualities and strengths. These 50 descriptive words will help you make an impact.

• Collaborative
• Resourceful
• Enterprising
• Conscientious
• Accomplished
• Results-oriented
• Detail-oriented

Industry-specific buzzwords

Each industry has its own language, and using the right buzzwords can demonstrate your expertise and familiarity with the field. These 45 industry-specific terms can help you speak directly to hiring managers in your chosen field.

• Machine learning
• Cryptocurrency
• Risk management
• Quantitative analysis
• Content marketing
• Brand equity
• Conversion rate
• Customer acquisition
• Telemedicine
• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Patient-centered care
• Clinical trials
• Population health
• Differentiated instruction
• Blended learning
• Formative assessment
• Inquiry-based learning

Human resources

• Talent acquisition
• Employee engagement
• Diversity and inclusion
• Performance management
• Succession planning
• Due diligence
• Intellectual property
• Arbitration

Manufacturing

• Lean manufacturing
• Supply chain management
• Quality assurance
• Just-in-Time (JIT)

Environmental

• Sustainability
• Renewable energy
• Carbon footprint
• Circular economy
• Green technology

How to use power words effectively in your resume

Now, you can’t just replace regular words with their “powerful synonyms” and call it a day. You have to place them strategically to gently compel the reader or impress hiring managers. Here’s how:

Identifying key responsibilities in job postings can help you tailor your resume effectively, ensuring alignment between your skills and the specific demands of the job.

Using power words effectively requires strategy and balance. Here’s how to make the most of them in your resume.

Tailor power words to job descriptions

To maximize your chances of getting noticed, align power words closely with the specific job description:

1. Analyze the job posting: Identify key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities emphasized in the listing.

2. Highlight relevant keywords: Note industry-specific terms and power verbs used in the description. Tip: Teal's Matching Mode does this for you.

3. Match your experiences: Select power words that accurately describe your achievements and align with the job requirements.

4. Incorporate naturally: Weave these words into your resume, ensuring they fit contextually and don't appear forced.

5. Prioritize placement: Use the most impactful power words in prominent sections like your professional summary and recent job descriptions. If you're writing a cover letter, sprinkle power words throughout but don't stuff them in any one section.

Balance action words with concrete examples

While power words add impact, they must be supported by specific, quantifiable achievements:

• Start with a power word: Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb.
• Follow with a specific accomplishment: Provide context and details about what you achieved.
• Quantify results: Include numbers, percentages, or other measurable outcomes whenever possible.
• Show impact: Explain how your actions benefited the company or contributed to larger goals.

Power word example in a sentence

• Weak: Responsible for sales increase.
• Strong: Spearheaded sales initiative that boosted revenue by 35% in Q3, outperforming targets by 20%.

Avoid overuse and maintain authenticity

While power words are effective, overuse can diminish their impact and make your resume seem insincere:

• Use variety: Avoid repeating the same power words throughout your resume.
• Be truthful: Only use words that accurately reflect your experiences and abilities.
• Balance with simpler language: Mix power words with more straightforward language to maintain readability.
• Consider context: Ensure the power words you choose are appropriate for your industry and career level.
• Read aloud: Review your resume by reading it out loud to catch any awkward phrasing or overuse of power words.

Replacing weak words with power words

Not all words are created equal when it comes to your resume. By replacing weak, vague words with stronger alternatives, you can create a more impactful narrative. Here’s how to make those crucial swaps:

Common weak words to avoid

Frequently used weak words can dilute the impact of a resume by making your accomplishments seem vague or unimpressive. Here are some common weak words and why they are ineffective:

• Responsible for : Implies duty, not action
• Helped : Lacks specificity and doesn’t highlight your role
• Worked on : Vague and does not convey the impact of your initiative
• Assisted with : Implies a secondary role, not leadership
• Participated in : Does not show your direct contributions or the extent of your role
• Job duties included : Focuses on tasks rather than achievements
• Familiar with : Suggests a basic understanding and not proficiency
• Involved in : Does not clarify your specific role
• Handled : Too general; does not indicate outcomes
• Dealt with : Vague and non-specific

Power word alternatives

Replace weak words with powerful alternatives to make your resume more dynamic and impactful. Here’s a list of common weak words and their power word alternatives:

Examples of how to rewrite sentences using power words:

Weak: Responsible for managing team projects. Strong: Orchestrated cross-functional team projects, consistently delivering results 15% ahead of schedule. ‍ ‍ Weak: Helped with customer service issues. Strong: Resolved complex customer service issues, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate and reducing escalations by 30%. Weak: Worked on marketing campaigns. Strong: Developed and executed integrated marketing campaigns, driving a 25% increase in customer engagement.

Industry-specific power word examples

Tailoring your resume with industry-specific power words can draw the reader's attention to relevant achievements. These examples show how to align your language with the expectations and standards of various fields.

Technology and IT

In the world of technology and IT, precision and clarity are key. Here’s a selection of power words that can help you articulate your technical expertise and accomplishments.Power words

• Architected

Sample resume statements

• Architected scalable cloud infrastructure, reducing downtime by 99% and cutting operational costs by 30%.
• Debugged complex legacy code, improving system performance by 40% and eliminating critical security vulnerabilities.

Finance and accounting

Accuracy and attention to detail are crucial in finance and accounting. These power words will help you highlight your analytical skills and financial acumen:

Power words

• Diversified
• Strategized
• Forecasted quarterly revenue projections with 98% accuracy to aid expansion initiatives.
• Streamlined accounts payable processes, to reduce  processing time by 35% and eliminate $50,000 in annual late fees.

Marketing and sales

Success in marketing and sales depends on driving engagement and converting opportunities into results. These power words will help you showcase your ability to innovate, persuade, and achieve impressive outcomes:

• Transformed
• Revolutionized
• Launched an innovative social media campaign that led to increased brand engagement by 150% and drove 10,000 new qualified leads.
• Negotiated strategic partnerships with key industry players, resulting in a 40% boost in annual revenue and expanded market share.

Healthcare and medical

In the healthcare and medical sectors, your resume usually needs to reflect both your technical skills and your dedication to patient care. These power words emphasize your expertise in delivering quality healthcare and improving patient outcomes.

• Rehabilitated
• Collaborated
• Implemented new patient care protocols, reducing average hospital stay duration by two days and improving patient satisfaction scores by 25%.
• Researched and introduced cutting-edge treatment methods, resulting in a 40% increase in positive outcomes for chronic condition management.

Education and teaching

Educators are not just teachers—they are mentors and leaders shaping the future. Use these power words to highlight your contributions to student learning, curriculum development, and educational excellence.

• Differentiated
• Developed and implemented inquiry-based science curriculum, increasing student engagement by 45% and improving standardized test scores by 30%.
• Mentored struggling students through targeted intervention programs, resulting in an 80% improvement in academic performance over one semester.

How to add power words to different resume sections using AI

Strategically incorporating power words throughout your resume can make it seem more personalized and human. Here's how Teal helps:

Professional summary

The professional summary is your chance to make a strong first impression. Use power words to concisely convey your value proposition:

Example: "Dynamic marketing strategist with a proven track record of developing innovative campaigns that drive engagement and boost ROI. Skilled in leveraging data analytics to optimize performance and deliver measurable results across diverse industries."

You can add a professional summary by using Teal’s in-built summary generator. Follow these steps: 

• Import your existing resume into the Resume Builder

Import your LinkedIn profile or create a resume from scratch in minutes if you don't have one. Your summary will be more accurate if you provide more details about your career. 

• Update your work experiences and add achievements

Be sure to include multiple accomplishments related to your recent roles for the best results from the Resume Summary Generator.

• Generate your resume summary with AI

Save the AI-generated resume summaries to your Teal Resume Builder.

• Review and regenerate your summary

By clicking "Re-generate with AI", you can generate a new professional summary based on the existing settings. 

You can save multiple resume summaries so you can use different ones for different applications. 

Work experience

In your work experience section, use power words to highlight your achievements and responsibilities.

Teal's AI Assistant makes this easy, automatically adding power powers to the beginning of every bullet point.

• Before: Responsible for managing team and completing projects.
• After: Spearheaded a cross-functional team of 12, delivering complex projects 20% under budget and one week ahead of schedule.
• Before: Helped with customer service and solved problems.
• After: Resolved critical customer issues, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate and reducing churn by 15%.

Skills section

Enhance your skills section by using power words that align with industry-specific competencies:

• Proficient in data visualization and predictive modeling techniques
• Adept at agile project management methodologies
• Skilled in negotiating high-stakes contracts and partnerships

Achievements and accomplishments

Use power words to make your achievements and resume stand out:

• Pioneered company-wide sustainability initiative, reducing carbon footprint by 30% and generating $2M in cost savings.
• Orchestrated merger and acquisition strategy, resulting in 50% market share growth within 18 months.
• Revolutionized customer onboarding process, slashing time-to-value by 60% and boosting retention rates by 25%.

The impact of power words on applicant tracking systems (ATS)

In today’s job market, your resume must pass through ATS before reaching human eyes. Understanding how power words interact with these systems can give you a crucial edge in landing an interview.

How ATS process power words

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) play a crucial role in the initial screening of resumes. Here’s how they interact with power words:

• Keyword matching: ATS scan resumes for specific keywords related to the job description.
• Relevance scoring: Resumes are ranked based on the presence and frequency of relevant terms.
• Contextual analysis: Advanced ATS can understand the context in which words are used, not just their presence.
• Skill identification: Power words often signal specific skills or experiences that match job requirements.

Strategies for ATS-friendly power word usage

To ensure your resume is both ATS-friendly and impactful:

• Incorporate relevant keywords: Use keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume.
• Balance power words and keywords: Mix industry-standard terms with relevant power words.
• Avoid overstuffing: Don’t overuse keywords or power words to the point of reducing readability.
• Use standard formatting: Stick to simple, ATS-compatible formatting to ensure all keywords and power words are recognized.

Measuring the effectiveness of your power words

Crafting the perfect resume requires continuous refinement. A/B testing and gathering feedback are essential for measuring the impact of your power words and ensuring your resume resonates with employers.

A/B testing your resume

A/B testing your resume can help determine the effectiveness of different power word usage:

• Create variants: Develop two versions of your resume, each using different sets of power words.
• Submit both versions: Apply to similar jobs with both resume versions.
• Track responses: Monitor the response rate from employers for each version.
• Analyze results: Determine which version received more positive feedback or job interview invitations.

Gathering feedback

Professional feedback is crucial for refining your resume:

• Ask for reviews: Request input from career coaches, mentors, or peers.
• Use online services: Utilize professional resume review services for expert advice.
• Interpret feedback: Analyze the feedback received to understand how your power word usage can be improved.

Power up your career with resume power words

To create a distinct resume, use words that pack a punch and highlight your achievements with precision. Power words tailored to the job and industry can elevate your resume’s impact. But remember, balance is crucial—combine these words with metrics and case studies to avoid sounding superficial.

Start by refining your resume and adding or improving power words where needed. Teal’s AI-powered Resume Builder can streamline this process, helping you craft a resume that grabs attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many power words should you include in your resume.

Balance is crucial when incorporating power words into your resume. Aim for one to two power words per bullet point to maintain a strong yet natural tone. This ensures your resume is impactful without appearing exaggerated.

Can using too many power words hurt your chances of getting hired?

Yes, overusing power words can hurt your chances by making your resume seem insincere or cliché. It’s important to use power words genuinely to reflect your true experiences and achievements. Mixing power words with straightforward language helps maintain a natural flow.

Are there any power words you should avoid in your resume?

Avoid overused or cliché power words like "committed dynamic," "synergy," "hardworking," and "go-getter." These terms can make your resume seem generic and unimpressive. Instead, choose more industry-specific and impactful alternatives that accurately describe your skills and achievements.

How can you use power words if you're just starting your career?

If you're starting your career, focus on highlighting transferable skills gained from internships, volunteer work, or academic projects. Use power words to emphasize your enthusiasm and potential for growth. For example, instead of "participated in a marketing project," say "spearheaded a marketing project that increased social media engagement by 20%."

Related Articles

How to Make an InDesign Resume [+ Templates]

How (and What) to Name Your Resume File

ZipJob Reviews: Ratings & User Feedback

JobHero Reviews: Ratings & User Feedback

We help you find the career dream.

Kareem’s Job Search Newsletter

Want more interviews? Read this.

Tailoring your resume to align with a specific job description can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. 

At Relentless, we do this for candidates by inserting a “pitch” that’s tailored to every job at the top of each resume.

This feature alone increased our application to interview conversion rate across our candidates by 10 to 30 percent.

Here’s how it looks so you can copy it:

Notice that:

We insert the name of the company and role title into the resume in multiple places. This shouts “ Hey I took the extra time to personalize my resume to this job post!!! ”

We use a 5 bullet point argument to assert why the candidate is a terrific fit for the role. 

If you’ve been accepted into Relentless, don’t worry, we handle this for you.

If not, here’s how you can do a manual version of this on your own:

Step 1: Analyze the Job Description

Before you start tweaking your resume, it’s crucial to understand what the employer is looking for. 

Carefully read the job description and identify key responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications. Pay close attention to:

Job Title: Ensure your resume reflects your suitability for this role.

Responsibilities: Note the primary duties and think about your related experiences.

Skills: Highlight the skills the employer values most.

Keywords: Identify industry-specific terms and keywords used in the job description.

Step 2: Highlight Your Relevant Experience

Once you have a clear understanding of the job requirements, review your resume to identify experiences that align with the job description. 

Focus on positions where you performed similar tasks or used relevant skills.

Step 3: Re-Write Your Bullet Points

Re-write your bullet points to mirror the language used in the job description. Here’s a structure you can follow to make your bullet points impactful:

Action Verb: Start with a strong action verb that conveys what you did.

Task: Describe the task or project you were involved in.

Result: Highlight the result or impact of your work.

Metrics: Whenever possible, include quantifiable results to demonstrate your achievements.

Example Transformations

Example 1: Customer Success Manager

Job Description:

Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers to ensure high levels of satisfaction and retention.

Identify and resolve customer issues and concerns promptly.

Collaborate with internal teams to improve the customer experience.

Analyze customer data to drive account expansion and renewals.

Original Resume Bullet Points:

Handled customer relationships.

Resolved customer issues.

Worked with other teams.

Used data to help customers.

Transformed Resume Bullet Points:

Developed and maintained strong relationships with over 50 customers, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate and a 90% retention rate.

Identified and resolved customer issues within 24 hours, leading to a 30% reduction in customer complaints.

Collaborated with internal teams to enhance the customer experience, resulting in a 20% increase in Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Analyzed customer data to drive account expansion and renewals, contributing to a 15% increase in annual revenue.

Example 2: VP of Software Engineering

Lead and manage a team of software engineers to deliver high-quality software products on time.

Develop and implement strategies to improve software development processes.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align engineering goals with business objectives.

Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure continuous improvement.

Managed a team of engineers.

Improved software development processes.

Tracked performance metrics.

Led and managed a team of 30 software engineers, delivering high-quality software products on time and within budget, resulting in a 25% increase in project delivery efficiency.

Developed and implemented strategies to streamline software development processes, reducing the development cycle by 40% and improving code quality.

Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align engineering goals with business objectives, contributing to a 20% increase in product market fit.

Monitored and reported on key performance indicators (KPIs), driving continuous improvement and achieving a 15% increase in team productivity.

Step 4: Use Keywords Effectively

Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your bullet points. 

This not only makes your resume more attractive to hiring managers but also helps it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for specific terms.

Step 5: Review and Refine

After re-writing your bullet points, review your resume to ensure it flows well and that each point clearly demonstrates your value. 

Make sure the formatting is consistent and that there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

Additional Tips

Be Concise: Keep your bullet points clear and to the point. Avoid unnecessary jargon.

Prioritize: Place the most relevant experiences and skills at the top of your resume.

Tailor for Each Job: Customize your resume for each job application to highlight the most relevant experiences.

Show Impact: Focus on the impact of your work. Employers are interested in results and how you can contribute to their success.

Ready for more?

Scholarship Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Scholarship Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)

Most popular scholarship resumes.

• College Student
• High School Student
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Scholarship Resume

• Athletic Scholarship
• Student Scholarship
• College Scholarship

College Student Resume Example

High School Student Resume Example

10 Student Resume Examples

Scholarship Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Anthony Gentile (123) 456-7890 [email protected] Detroit, MI 12345 LinkedIn | Portfolio

An All-American student athlete with a strong history of success in high school football and basketball. A dedicated team captain with a proven track record of leading championship teams. Seeking the John Atkins Athletic Scholarship at the University of Michigan to pursue a college football career and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

Professional Experience

Quarterback , Ithaca High School, Ithaca, MI | August 2021 – December 2024

• Completed 229 of 315 pass attempts, achieved a 68% completion rating, and generated 3,210 passing yards, 490 rushing yards, and 37 total touchdowns during the 2024 season
• Led the Ithaca Warriors to a 13-2 regular season record and a state championship, resulting in recognition as an All-American Athlete
• Served as a team captain for the varsity football team from 2021 to 2024, which included mentoring junior athletes and increasing team morale throughout the season

Point Guard , Ithaca High School, Ithaca, MI | November 2021 – March 2022

• Acted as a team captain for the junior basketball team during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, contributing to a semi-final appearance in the state tournament
• Generated 17 points per game (PPG), 13 PPG, and five offensive rebounds PPG as a point guard
• Attended charity events with the team to raise funding for community initiatives such as food drives and Toys for Tots
• Team leadership

High School Diploma Ithaca High School, Ithaca, MI | 2024

• All-American Football Award | 2024

This scholarship resume is effective because it highlights the candidate’s athletic achievements using impactful numbers and hard data. The bullet points also convey who the applicant is as a team leader, which strengthens their overall application.

Aliya Jackson (123) 456-7890 [email protected] Philadelphia, PA 12345 LinkedIn | Portfolio

A high school student with a 3.97 GPA and a proven track record of performing community service and supporting social justice issues. Seeking the William Morris Scholarship at Temple University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer, Youth Volunteer Corps, Philadelphia, PA| September 2021 – June 2024

• Collaborated with diverse teams of student volunteers and coordinators to execute a wide range of community service projects within the Greater Philadelphia Area, including building a new youth recreation center
• Performed over 500 hours of community service, which included volunteering at food pantries, mentoring grade school students, and supporting charity events

Student Volunteer , North Philadelphia High School | June 2020 – June 2024

• Served as a student volunteer for over 40 public service initiatives at North Philadelphia High School in support of equitable causes, including cancer research, social justice awareness campaigns, and food drives
• Community service
• Communication
• Relationship building
• Fundraising

High School Diploma North Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia, PA | 2024

In this scholarship resume example, the applicant showcases their commitment to community service. Highlighting the number of hours they volunteered and the types of initiatives they supported helps to paint a compelling image of their background for the reader.

Hideo Araki (123) 456-7890 [email protected] Seattle, WA 12345 LinkedIn | Portfolio

A college student with a 3.96 GPA and two consecutive years on the dean’s list. A proven track record of executing innovative academic projects within the computer science field exploring AI and ML. Seeking the Morgan Technology Scholarship to continue pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington.

Academic Experience

Computer Science Major, University of Washington, Seattle, WA| September 2022 – June 2024

• Achieved recognition as a finalist in the Technovation Competition for a project exploring novel methods for training AI using deep learning and semi-supervised learning techniques
• Executed an academic project to build a calendar management mobile application with a UX design centered on improving accessibility for senior citizens
• Achieved a 3.96 GPA over four semesters and two dean’s list awards

High School Student , Seattle Central High School | September 2018 – June 2022

• Achieved a 760 score in the Silver Division of the USA Computing Olympiad in 2022
• Maintained a 3.92 grade point average, served as a member of the National Honor Society, and led the Seattle Central High School Computer Science Club
• Software development
• Application development
• Technology innovation

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Science University of Washington, Seattle, WA | Expected 2026

• Dean’s list | 2022 – 2024

High School Diploma Seattle Central High School, Seattle, WA | 2022

• USA Computing Olympiad Silver Division | 2022

This scholarship resume is effective because it explores the candidate’s unique academic achievements within the computer science field at both the high school and college levels. The document shows that the applicant has a genuine passion for technology and has continually gone above and beyond to excel.

To write an effective scholarship resume, start by organizing your academic accomplishments, extracurriculars, and volunteer experience. Scholarship applications are evaluated based on a wide range of factors, but highlighting these aspects of your background is the best way to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Below, we’ll walk you through each step of the resume writing process.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications

With the sheer number of candidates applying for scholarship programs, it’s essential to make a strong first impression on the reader. Introduce yourself and explain your academic goal. In the subsequent sentences, emphasize impressive accomplishments that demonstrate why you’re deserving of this opportunity.

For example, if you consistently achieved high grades, start by featuring your grade point average and academic awards. If you excelled in an extracurricular activity such as sports, theater, or music, display these achievements in your summary.

Strong Profile Example

A college student with a 3.96 GPA and two consecutive years on the dean’s list. A proven track record of executing innovative academic projects within the computer science field exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Seeking the Morgan Technology Scholarship to continue pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington.

Weak Profile Example

A college student with an excellent GPA and a strong work ethic. Passionate about computer science and academia. Seeking the Morgan Technology Scholarship.

2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section

In a scholarship resume, your content needs to be centered around your most impressive academic achievements, extracurriculars, and community service contributions. It’s impossible to know the exact preferences of any individual scholarship review board, so focus on emphasizing key aspects of your high school and college career that can help you stand out from other applicants.

Strong Academic Experience Example

Computer Science Major, University of Washington, Seattle, WA | September 2022 – June 2024

• Executed an academic project to build a calendar management mobile application with a user experience (UX) design centered on improving accessibility for senior citizens

Weak Academic Experience Example

• Completed difficult computer science courses and projects on time
• Maintained a high GPA over four semesters
• Worked well with professors and fellow students in the computer science program

3. Include relevant education and academic awards

Feature your high school degree and any relevant academic awards you’ve garnered on your scholarship resume. Be sure to mention your GPA and any other academic distinctions that can bolster the strength of your application. You could also feature memberships in extracurricular clubs, organizations, or honor societies in this section.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Science
• University of Washington, Seattle, WA | Expected 2026
• Dean’s list | 2022 – 2024
• High School Diploma
• Seattle Central High School, Seattle, WA | 2022

4. List pertinent key skills

It’s unlikely that a university or scholarship board will be using an applicant tracking system (ATS) to identify candidates during the selection process, so you won’t need to optimize your document for keywords. That said, still provide a list of your most impressive skill sets on your scholarship resume. Below, you’ll find a range of different key skills to consider adding to your document:

How To Pick The Best Scholarship Resume Template

To send the right message to the scholarship board, you need a professional resume template that organizes and presents your information effectively. Avoid formats that are overly reliant on visual elements, as this might draw the reader’s eye away from your academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Opt for a straightforward template with a top-down structure that displays each section of your scholarship resume in a sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions: Scholarship Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for scholarship resumes -.

Incorporating action verbs can add a unique and engaging element to your bullet points. That said, it’s easy to use the same words repeatedly during the resume-building process. We’ve compiled a list of action verbs to diversify your language and enhance the impact of your resume content.

How do you align your resume with a scholarship description? -

Adjusting your resume to match the scholarship you’re applying for is the best way to strengthen your application. As you begin building your content, start by researching the organization and what they’re looking for in a scholarship recipient. Feature key aspects of your background that match that description.

For example, if a university values students with extensive community service experience, emphasize these projects and initiatives heavily on your scholarship resume. If an organization is primarily interested in extracurricular activities, make those the focal point of your document. By tailoring your resume to each application, you’ll maximize your odds of receiving the scholarship.

What is the best scholarship resume format? -

A combination format is generally best suited for a scholarship resume, as it’s unlikely that your work history will be a key factor in the application. This allows you to reorder your education, volunteer experience, skills, and academic achievements depending on the scholarship. A reverse chronological approach can be considered if you have an impressive internship or relevant work experience you think is valuable.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!

Most scholarship applications will require a matching cover letter. To make a strong impression on the reader, explore unique aspects of your background that you wouldn’t normally include on a resume. For example, you could explore your cultural background and personal challenges you’ve overcome. You might also convey why you’re passionate about a particular academic field, sport, or extracurricular activity. For additional information, visit our internship cover letter guide .

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Check out Related Examples

College Student Resume Examples and Templates

High School Student Resume Examples and Templates

Student Resume Examples and Templates

Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

• How To Include Extracurriculars on an Entry-Level Resume Learn More
• How To Include Personal and Academic Projects on Your Resume Learn More
• Should You Include Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume? Learn More

Essential Guides for Your Job Search

• How to Write a Resume Learn More
• How to Write a Cover Letter Learn More
• Thank You Note Examples Learn More
• Resignation Letter Examples Learn More