How to write achievement bullets

A simple pattern: action, task, method, result

Most strong points follow the same shape:

1. Action: start with a verb that says what you did.
2. Task: what you worked on.
3. Method: how, if it adds something: a tool, an approach, who you worked with.
4. Result: what changed, with a figure where you have a real one.

Not every point will have all four parts. Aim for most of your points to have at least an action and a result.

Before and after

All examples below were written for this guide and every figure is invented to show the pattern. On your own resume, use only figures you can explain.

Where honest numbers come from

Look for figures in records you already have:

• Counts: customers served, tickets closed, invoices processed, students taught, events organised.
• Time: turnaround shortened, hours saved, deadlines met.
• Money: budget handled, sales made, costs avoided, but only if you know the figure.
• Quality: errors reduced, audit points closed, scores from a formal review.
• Scale: branches, products, users, team size.

If you know a figure only roughly, say "about". Never invent or inflate one: you may be asked how you measured it, and a reference check may test it.

When there is no number

Some good work has no figure attached. You can still show its weight through:

• Scope: who relied on it ("used by all three branches").
• Frequency: how often ("every week for two years").
• Firsts: "first in the team to..."
• Trust: "chosen to train new joiners".
• Quality: "approved by the client without changes".

Verbs that say what you did

Start each point with a verb that names your action. Some to choose from, grouped by the kind of work:

Phrases such as "responsible for", "worked on", "involved in" and "duties included" describe the job rather than your work. The builder's checks point them out.

Keep each point to one claim

• One or two lines per point. The builder flags points over 35 words.
• Drop "I" and "my". The reader knows the resume is about you.
• Use the past tense for past roles and the present tense for your current one.
• Three to six points for a recent role is plenty. Put the most relevant first.

Use the advert’s words, honestly

If the advert asks for "accounts payable" and you did that work, use the phrase in the point that describes it. Career services recommend putting key words in context inside achievement-focused points rather than in a standalone list. Source: UMSL Career Services, checked 26 October 2026. A keyword attached to a real result also gives the interviewer something to ask about.

Quick checklist

• Does each point start with what you did?
• Can a stranger see what changed because of your work?
• Could you explain every figure in an interview?
• Have you cut points that only repeat the job description?
• Are the most relevant points at the top of each role?

Related guides

• How to write a fresher resume
• Writing a resume when you have work experience
• ATS-friendly resume formatting: what career services advise