Professional achievements in resume

Should achievements that are not related to professional activities be indicated?

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Expert opinion

Natalia Molchanova

HR manager

Victory doesn't come easy! But how to get around rivals and get a position for which hundreds of worthy competitors are ready to fight? Here you need a serious argument - why you. Do not give up, even if the competence of your opponents exceeds your personal achievements.

The main weapon in this battle is . Design it in such a way as to cause an acute desire of the employer to meet with you. A particularly important aspect is to correctly indicate professional achievements in the resume, emphasizing your strengths and.

What achievements to write about

Let's start with the fact that you need to be able to separate your personal qualities from professional ones. Do not mix them under any circumstances. Understanding this issue is quite simple. List yours, which, as you think, are in demand in the desired field of activity. If in another area they are completely unnecessary - professional skills, otherwise - personal.

Often does not focus on personal achievements. Stop only at those that are adequate to the position and can contribute to the work.
Bring to the attention of the employer your professional achievements: significant results and knowledge related to work, emphasizing:
implemented projects,
improvement in financial performance,
goals achieved,
results that have surpassed your past victories or the achievements of colleagues.

How to deliciously present professional achievements
When writing a resume, literally everything matters. Even seemingly small things can affect the course of events.
The most common mistakes
You will be passed over and you will never get a job if your resume is:
vague. Avoid common phrases: provision, promotion, implementation. It seems that you wanted to do it, but did not have time due to dismissal. It raises doubts whether you understand, in general, what is at stake.
wordy. The statements will not give results: “helped to avoid mistakes”, “led the team”, “conducted training”, “quickly completed tasks”.
negative. Bypass negative information: “analyzed complaints about:”, “controlled the decrease in the percentage of sales”, “moved from position:”.
Contain passive forms. The wording "responsible for the implementation", "found application" is rephrased to - "implemented", "effectively used". The expression "occupied an administrative position" should be replaced by the word "supervised". Instead of “worked there for five years,” we should write “got a promotion,” and rewrite the term “did extra work” as, “always did the job on time.”

How to write everything correctly?
Use business language.
Assumes business communication. It is based on numbers and calculations. Whatever topic is touched upon: corporate values, clients, working conditions of personnel, financial issues are always brought to the fore.
Presenting your achievements in the language of business is the key to success and an indicator of communication. A resume is an effective method of showing your abilities in the language of numbers.

Add specifics.
Orientation to the result and achievement of the set goal is the main component that affects the outcome of the selection of the best applicant for the position! However, not all successes will be credited to the candidate. The effect on the employer will only have the result that will be:
Make up the importance for the job seeker and recruiter.
be measured in quantitative terms.
Have a time frame.

To summarize, it should be noted that your achievements should be:
Job Responsibilities and Achievements Writing Examples
Your achievements in the resume can be described as follows:
Transition of the capital investment service to a new settlement system. Implemented a new accounting program and trained 30 employees to work with it in 2 months.
Increase in the supply of raw materials in 2016 - by 40%, in 2015 - by 20%;
During the period from June 2016 to February 2017, he developed 56 new projects that the company successfully implemented.
In the 1st half of 2016, he organized the work of a furniture production workshop, which led to the implementation of 80% of the plan, instead of the planned 20%.
Saved the company $15,000 by developing a rationalization proposal to improve equipment.

Expert opinion
Natalia Molchanova
HR manager
In the case of a ban on the disclosure of commercial information by your ex-company, it will be enough to indicate the figure as a percentage or limit it to the expression “several times”.
Rules for describing major achievements
Endure style
When it comes to previous work, it is appropriate to use the past tense verbs: erected, designed. You should talk about the real place of work, using the present tense of verbs: I build, I design. Finish the phrases.
When applying for a managerial position, state your key skills in the language of the manager. For example: Influenced, Activated, Directed, Proved, Instructed, Initiated, Justified.

Balance of results
Balance is the key to effective work. This indicator is characterized by the rational use of resources and the development of team capabilities.
Example:
Set a limit on bill payments;
eliminated unnecessary water consumption costs;
improved the mechanism for the distribution of equipment repair costs.

Link personal achievement to your workplace
Describe in the column your responsibilities and achievements in your resume, acquired recently. Outdated information has long lost its relevance. And if in your life you have changed a dozen employers, then only information about achievements from the last 2-3 positions should be indicated.
Provide relevant information
Sometimes, the achievements indicated by the applicant do not correspond to the level of the position. For example, a candidate aims for the position of the head of the department, but mentions the achievements of the master. Or vice versa. The applicant wants to get a position as a programmer, and describes the achievements in the resume of the highest managerial level in the business where he once worked.
So, remember: if you are applying for a job in the management team - indicate the successes of the manager level, if you want to work as a line specialist - meet these evaluation criteria. Forget what you did before and make a resume according to the requirements of the future job.

If there are no achievements
Do you think that you do not have labor achievements? You just need to think. Of course, not everyone can have special merits and feats, but if they wish, they will be typed into a small list. Success is different for everyone. And how many people, so many opinions.
A position, such as a janitor, does not require achievements. The same can be said for the professions of a loader, handyman, cashier, fast food restaurant worker, driver, etc.
Expert opinion
Natalia Molchanova
HR manager
Achievements can be omitted if your position is on the list of unskilled labor - they are simply unnecessary there.
Or maybe you just underestimate yourself? Then use the criterion: you brought the work you started to its logical conclusion, and everyone felt better. Apply this method.
Which section to post
Standard scripts used on work portals do not have a special “achievements” column.
For example, on the largest recruiting site HeadHunter, in the “work experience” section, you need to enter your key skills in the “duties, functions, achievements” field in your resume. Sample - see below.
Use of verbs in a graph
According to statistics - the correct use of verbs in the section will bring the desired result. Each type of activity has its own set of words:
Administrative management and management
Public relations and creativity
Financial management
Social assistance and nursing

office service
Research and analysis
Sales and Marketing