In previous posts, we’ve demonstrated the effect a professionally written accomplishment can have on your resume. Clearly highlighted and dynamically written accomplishments facilitate resume skimming and ensure that your achievements get readers’ attention. But what if your achievements aren’t quantifiable? What if you haven’t been managing million-dollar projects, generating triple-digit sales growth, or increasing the size of a critical team? This doesn’t mean your accomplishments are any less impressive or important. Here are 3 before-and-after examples to show you how to make your own unique achievements stand out.

Example #1

BEFORE:
Did a variety of tasks on several software development projects, which helped provide experience in this new area.

AFTER:
Gained thorough knowledge of complete SDLC by serving as team member on 5 key development initiatives.

If you’re starting out in a new field, you can highlight what you’ve learned — and how — as an accomplishment. In the Before example, “did a variety of tasks” is weak and ineffective; you don’t necessarily have to detail every task you undertook, but you can write it in a way that more strongly shows the level of your participation. In the After example, “did a variety of tasks” has been transformed into “serving as team member.” The After example also follows the golden rule of accomplishment-writing: effect first, then cause. Your new expertise in the full SDLC is what you want to call out here.

A note on acronyms: If an acronym is common in your field and, most importantly, in the field in which you’re applying for a job, you don’t have to spell it out. If, however, you suspect your readers will be unfamiliar with the acronym, spell it out the first time you use it and put the acronym in parentheses: software development life cycle (SDLC).

Example #2

BEFORE:
I earned a reputation for making good impressions with potential new customers. Many told us they chose our business because of the relationships they had with me.

AFTER:
Contributed to growing customer base by forging strong relationships with potential new clients.

The first-person pronouns (“I earned,” “with me”) strike a note that’s too casual and informal here. But the biggest problem is that the actual accomplishment isn’t clear. You made good impressions — so what? What was the effect? Clarifying the cause and effect solidifies what you contributed and emphasizes how your relationship-building skills benefited the business.

Example #3

BEFORE:
The time for responding to customer inquiries was reduced with a new system I developed for managing queries from phone and email.

AFTER:
Accelerated customer inquiry response time by developing and implementing process improvements to facilitate phone- and email-based query management.

Once again, the After example provides the effect up front — “Accelerated customer inquiry response time” — which shows immediately what you contributed. The how of it — process improvements — then follows. The other tip-off that the Before example needs a makeover is the use of the passive voice — “was reduced.” Passive voice obfuscates the actor, leaving readers with the question “by whom or what?” Always steer clear of passive voice when crafting your accomplishments. Active voice is much more effective.

CleanTechies offers professional resume writing services specifically targeting green positions. Certified expert resume writers with years of experience and almost thousand of resumes written help job seekers at any career stage craft professional resumes. CleanTechies writes resumes targeting roles in renewable energy, resource efficiency, green building, and sustainable transportation as well as other environmental and sustainable positions. CleanTechies is dedicated to helping green job seekers pursue their dream careers.

[photo credit: Flickr ]

Related posts:

• Free Resume Writing Help: Long Client Lists
• Free Resume Writing Help: 3 Tips How to Format Resume
• Your resume s****! Here’s how to improve it.
• Top 3 Resume Examples on How to Highlight Key Accomplishments
• How To Improve Your Resume With 5 Quick & Easy Changes

For entry-level job seekers, resume writing seems like a catch-22: You need a resume to get a job, but you need experience to put on a resume. How are you supposed to show that despite your lack of professional experience you’re ready to jump in and make an impact? Entry-level resumes do look different from resumes for professionals with extensive experience, but many of the same resume-writing principles apply. Here are a few tips for how to package yourself effectively as you start your job search.

1. Emphasize your education.

On resumes for established professionals, educational details are generally presented as the final section, after the details on career history. The reason for this is that once you’ve been out of school for a while, your professional track record matters more in defining what you’ve done and what you’re capable of doing in the future. If you’ve just graduated, however, it makes more sense to highlight your education up front, including the date of graduation. This positions you as a promising new candidate ready to go out and make a difference.

2. Include extracurricular activities and involvement.

If you’re a new (or newish) graduate, including your extracurricular activities can be a good way to show what you’ve accomplished even as a student. This is particularly important if you’ve held any leadership roles. Such details are considered irrelevant on resumes for more experienced professionals, but for new job seekers, it makes sense to include them.

3. Focus on the groundwork.

If the only jobs you’ve had so far involve administrative work in the admissions office, don’t despair. When describing these sorts of jobs on your resume, focus on what you delivered, and on what you learned. Did you take the initiative with a project? improve a process? provide exceptional service to university staff? earn Employee of the Month recognition at the bookstore? Think about the skills and experiences that show the kind of person you are and what you’re capable of—the things that “lay the groundwork” for future success.

4. Keep it short.

Entry-level job seekers will almost always need no more than a one-page resume that clearly communicates your objective, your education, your background, and your key skills. If you’ve been in school for a very long time and have ten part-time jobs behind you, there’s no need to spend two pages detailing every one of them. Focus on what’s most relevant for your search, and simply mention the others in a note at the end of your resume. (“Previous experience also includes roles as…”)

5. Use dynamic language and a good positioning statement.

Starting each sentence on your resume with a strong action verb will demonstrate your professionalism and clearly communicate your skills and experiences thus far. A positioning statement at the beginning of your resume, which encapsulates your skills, achievements, and objectives in a concise, attention-getting paragraph, will help readers see what your education and experience add up to—and why they make you such a promising candidate.

CleanTechies offers professional resume writing services specifically targeting green positions. Certified expert resume writers with years of experience and almost thousand of resumes written help job seekers at any career stage craft professional resumes. CleanTechies writes resumes targeting roles in renewable energy, resource efficiency, green building, and sustainable transportation as well as other environmental and sustainable positions. CleanTechies is dedicated to helping green job seekers pursue their dream careers.

[photo credit: Flickr]

Related posts:

• Free Resume Writing Help: 3 Tips How to Format Resume
• CleanTechies Launches Professional Resume Writing Services
• How to Write Resume: Free Resume Help — Improving Readability
• Career Planning & Resume: How to Write a Resume to Change Career
• Free Resume Writing Help: Long Client Lists