Make Your Résumé Sizzle with Success Stories

In today's competitive job market you can't afford a résumé that fizzles. Power up your résumé with solid success stories. Include simple, clear accomplishment statements to get and keep the attention of hiring managers.

Appreciate the value you bring to your employer! You haven't just been "doing your job." Recognize that the way you work-your dedication, creative suggestions, and ability to implement new ideas-sets you apart from your colleagues.

Where to Start?

1. Review old performance appraisals with a highlighter in hand. Mark the successes you've forgotten about and jot down additional details about those projects.

2. Review a list of action verbs and check those that describe tasks you most enjoy performing. Jot down specific examples of when you have successfully performed those tasks.

3. Think about specific problems you've solved or tough performance objectives you've met. Describe them.

4. Jog memories of your accomplishments by answering these questions:

* What has your manager complimented you on or recognized you for in your work?

* Give examples of a problem you solved or an emergency you handled.

* Give an example of something you built, made, or created.

* When did your idea or suggestion result in an award?

* How have you streamlined operations, increased productivity, or cut costs?

* How have you influenced individual or team productivity?

* What do you do better than your colleagues and why is this helpful to the organization?

Writing About Your Successes

Once you have a list of ten accomplishments (the more the better), write about each one using this formula:

PROBLEM. What was the problem or performance objective? This is the reason why you did what you did.

ACTION. What did you do to solve the problem or meet the performance objective? Begin this sentence with an action verb.

RESULT. Explain why what you did matters. The result should answer the question. "So what, who cares?"

Now you have ten or more success stories. These can play a valuable role during interviews, where there's time to present the story's beginning, middle and end. But for your résumé, you must edit each story down to an accomplishment statement: two sentences that describe the action you took and the results of that action.

Results are what employers are looking for! Other features contribute to a successful résumé, but solid accomplishment statements are the most important because they demonstrate what you can do for a potential employer.

Always, always, always write more success stories than you think you need. Then you can pick and choose the best for a particular situation and hold the rest in your "back pocket," ready to be pulled out at a moment's notice during an interview. Not only will your résumé sizzle, but you will too, as you enthusiastically convey your accomplishments in person.

Mary Jeanne Vincent is the author of Acing the Interview tip cards featuring answers to the top 20 "killer" interview questions. Also included are tips for interviewing in the new economy, ideas for responding to illegal and trick questions, and suggestions for avoiding 10 deadly interview mistakes.

Go to http://www.2bworkwise.com for free job search articles and to sign up for the free WorkWise e-zine. For information on individual job and career coaching or to find out about other practical, easy-to-use career tools call Mary Jeanne at 831.657.9151.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


6 Steps to Re-inventing Your Career

Meaningful work honors the deepest part of your being. It... Read More

Job Security Is Dead! Are You?

Job security is an out dated concept. The idea is... Read More

Job Search 101

The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at... Read More

Making Yourself More Relevant To The New Workplace

Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging... Read More

The Importance of Background Verification

Today's society has created an environment that requires business owners... Read More

Interviewing Over Lunch: Are You at Risk?

Sometimes a hiring process will include having lunch with the... Read More

Dissatisfied With Your Job? Stop Putting Your Attention on What You Dont Want!

If I were to ask you the percentage of time... Read More

Ideal Job and Handling Criticism

How many times have you been asked, "What is your... Read More

What Students and Parents MUST Know about Student Loans

A student loan helps you get through college. Then you... Read More

How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview

Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More

Waiting For the Official Job Offer

At the end of the third job interview, Helene was... Read More

Avoid Potential Job Interview Disasters

There are definitely things that you can do to avoid... Read More

Get a Life Why Dont Ya?!

It's okay to take your job seriously, to be a... Read More

Prepare for YOUR Future now --

All Presidential candidates (before and after) make all kinds of... Read More

Writing Resumes

Use a resume as a foot in the doorWhen you... Read More

How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top

Many people would love to get a better job. And... Read More

Aptitude Tests Reveal the Difference Between Your Aptitude & Ability

Aptitude tests measure your skills, abilities, values, interests and personality... Read More

Hello Work World, Im Un-Retiring

For many years, you looked forward to that day when... Read More

Dont Get Caught In The Security Trap

The day you begin to think of your job in... Read More

Career Transitions: Creating Complementary Careers in a Day

Down-sized? Outsourced? Burned-out? Wizened up? That's what I said. Wizened... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Career Advancement

Here's a list of the top 10 tips you can... Read More

Taking Your Words Seriously

When we ordered the stained glass window as... Read More

You Are Not Entitled to a Job!

Résumé TipsSome basics about job hunting...First of all, nobody owes... Read More

Cover Letter Warning: Watch Out For the BIG BAD WORD!

Dear Job-Seeker:Just as Goldilocks was suspicious of the big bad... Read More

Take Charge of Your Job Search: 12 Steps to Success

Despite what many people may say, a job search does... Read More

Five Fabulous Resume Tips for College Grads (or Anybody)

Fluffy clouds. Chirping birds. Green trees. Colorful flowers. It's springtime!... Read More

How To Get A Job Writing Speeches

Jobs in speech writing are amongst the most difficult to... Read More

Little Mistakes That Keep You Unemployed

If your job search is dragging on and on, you... Read More

How To Win the Job-Hunting Game

When I got over the initial shock of being urged... Read More

Are You Taking Your Inner Brat to Work?

Is your inner brat taking over your job? Everyone has... Read More

Behaviour To Climb The Stepping Stones To Career Success

The heading of this article could just as well have... Read More

Making Sure You Get a Good Reference

You've had 3 interviews with a potential employer and they've... Read More

3 Secrets to Landing a Home-Based Position

Landing a telecommute position isn't easy. Finding them in the... Read More