How to Write Effective Resume Bullets
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.
The Formula
To help you get started, use the following basic formula to craft your resume bullets:
| Action Verb + | What You Did + | Additional Descriptive Information/Results |
| Every bullet should begin with a strong action verb. Having a hard time brainstorming strong action verbs? Take a look at our list of action verbs sorted by skill categories to jumpstart your ideas | This is a brief statement of the task, duty or responsibility. Take any opportunity to quantify what you did. This is not the central focus of your bullet point. | Use descriptive language and details to go beyond telling what you did show the how and why of your work. Information to consider includes: frequency, duration, quantifiable outcomes, and impact of your work. you did it? When/how often?
You can provide links to products, websites, reports, and other deliverables related to the experience. |
The P.A.R. Framework
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.
EXAMPLES:
We’ve compiled a list of “before” and “after” resume bullets to help demonstrate how you can transform your bullets from good to great.
| Before | After |
| Responsible for data entry. | → | Accurately entered data into BannerWeb using strong attention to detail in order to update alumni contact information after yearly alumnae survey. |
| Provide after school tutoring support. | → | Tutored approximately 10 students in chemistry and biology on a weekly basis while constantly assessing each student’s needs in order to structure and scaffold instruction appropriately. |
| Answer phone calls at crisis hotline. | → | Provide weekly crisis counseling to sexual assault survivors to give them immediate emotional support and refer them to appropriate counseling, legal, and medical advocacy services. |
| Managed student organization website. | → | Managed, updated, and developed website using HTML and CSS in order to maintain consistent and reliable communication with organization members. |
| • Responsible for filing paperwork, and answering phone calls. • Researched and wrote memos on environmental issues. |
→ | • Researched and analyzed policy on climate change for the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). • Drafted memo on climate resilience for 10 lower income communities across the country. • Performed administrative duties and front office coordination for a 15 person office. |
Make an Appointment
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.
