I finished last month’s message by explaining you the difference between accomplishment and achievement. Here it is again:
An achievement is a goal that you have reached.
An accomplishment is a job or project that you have completed successfully.
The best resumes I see present a list of bullet points showing examples of what the candidate has done, accomplished or achieved. But just one or two lines with the job responsibility. Thank you, perfect, don’t stop, do it again. This is exactly what the model resume is meant to be, a show case of what you were able to do with your job description.
We also call it “deliverables” and it defines why you are considered extremely successful in your job. It’s the real stories of your career and about great on-the-job performance. And what it is not: personal attributes like skills, experience, education or traits.
Let me show some real great examples that I have received recently. They are from real people and it made their resumes stand out. I have on purpose changed names and places to avoid revealing any identity.
- Successfully implemented the new supply chain system within the planned six months. Delivery reliability improved from 60% to be 86% and the cycle time was dramatically reduced from 44 days to be 35 days.
- Reduced costs from suppliers pertaining to scrap and rework due to non conforming parts from THB 3. 6 million to only 2.0 million and charged all the costs back to the suppliers.
- Conducted vendor performance development process at suppliers’ sites as to improve the cycle time. Resulted in a cost saving of 96,000 USD in 2010.
- Designed and implemented a banc-assurance business model with one of Asia’s largest banks. Included product designs, product sales training to all bank staff, incentive campaigns for bank staff and visiting all branches to drive revenue. Outcome was a revenue increase of 47% in 12 months.
- Staff engagement survey with 91% response rate vs. target of 65%.
- Execution of three downsizing projects with a total of 490 employees being released and without any labour conflict.
- Project leader in implementing a complete ERP system, starting with three months’ preparation and followed by six months implementation which concluded in a smooth migration from the old accounting and production planning system.
- Successful grew professional staff, both expatriate and local staff, from 4 to 27 over a two year period and likewise the operating revenue from$4 million to $2 million in performed or backlog orders during an 18 months period.
You get the idea? It’s all about creating an excitement and presenting proofs of what you have accomplished or achieved in your various jobs. Remember, your resume has only one purpose:
