You can describe yourself effectively on a resume by showing your value through accomplishments. Use the tips and examples below to ensure your main resume sections are detailed and achievement-focused.
Let Your Experience Do the Talking
In your work experience section, use bullet points to outline what you achieved under each role, not just what you were responsible for. Start each bullet with a strong action verb like “Created” or “Improved,” and include relevant metrics when possible.
For example, instead of saying:
Responsible for managing customer accounts
Say:
Managed over 40 client accounts and improved retention by 20% through tailored support and monthly performance check-ins
Detailed achievements like this help set you apart because few (if any) other applicants could claim the exact same experience.
Write a Strong Profile Summary
Focus the profile section on your most relevant qualifications. Think: job title, years of experience, and two or three strengths or achievements. For example:
Project manager with over seven years of experience leading cross-functional teams in tech and health care. Specialized in risk mitigation, agile delivery, and stakeholder alignment.
Notice how this summary paints a picture of a specific, capable professional? That’s your goal.
When writing your profile, you may be tempted to use buzzwords like “detail-oriented,” “hardworking,” or “self-starter.” But unless you back them up with action words and examples, these terms don’t carry much weight. Focus on what makes you different. Are you great at building systems? Streamlining communication? Solving tough client problems? Say so, with evidence.
Align Your Skills With the Job
Your skills section should reflect how you describe yourself in the rest of the resume. If you say you’re an expert in data analysis, include skills like Excel, SQL, or Python. If you’re a people-first leader, list “team leadership” or “employee training” as strengths.
Review the job posting carefully and echo its language, without copying word for word. This helps your resume pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) and resonate with hiring managers.
Achievement-Focused Resume Examples
Office administrator
Alex Brown
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | City, ST 54321 | LinkedIn
Reliable office administrator with over four years in administrative support, customer interaction, and inventory management. Skilled at coordinating office operations and raising efficiency, with demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Office suite and certifications from IAAP, Microsoft, and Professional Business Associates.
Key Skills
- Administrative support
- Customer service and relations
- Inventory management
- Office management systems
- Process streamlining
Professional Experience
Office Administrator, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
February 2021 to April 2025
- Coordinated office activities including meetings, employee communications, and schedules, leading to an increase in office productivity by 15%
- Consistently provided top-quality service as clients’ first point of contact, improving satisfaction scores by 20%
- Streamlined office supply inventory system, reducing associated costs by 10%
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, California State University, Long Beach, CA
Associate Degree in Business Administration, Community College of Philadelphia, PA
Certifications
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft
Certified Professional Secretary (CPS), Professional Business Associates (PBA)
Product manager
Sarah Johnson
[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | City, ST 54321 | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Strategic product manager with six years of experience creating user-focused solutions
Driven product manager with a background in e-commerce and Software as a Service (SaaS). Skilled in leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions, enhance user satisfaction, and meet business goals. Known for balancing user needs with stakeholder priorities to drive profitability.
Key Skills
- Agile methodology
- Data-driven decision-making
- Market research
- Product lifecycle management
- UX/UI design
Professional Experience
Product Manager
ShopEase Online, Inc. | Chicago, IL | June 2019 – present
- Spearheaded redesign of company’s mobile app, resulting in a 40% increase in daily active users
- Conducted user testing sessions to gather feedback, implementing changes that improved the onboarding process by 25%
- Managed a $1.2 million project budget, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery for all initiatives
Associate Product Manager
BrightTech Solutions | Seattle, WA | January 2016 – May 2019
- Created product roadmaps for two SaaS platforms, driving adoption and increasing customer retention by 18%
- Collaborated with marketing teams to craft go-to-market strategies, boosting sales by 12% in 2018
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science
University of Washington | Seattle, WA | 2015
Certification
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) | Scrum Alliance | 2021
Outside sales
Emily Carter
[email protected] | (333) 678-9012 | Denver, CO
Experienced outside sales professional with six years of success in building client relationships and expanding market presence. Adept at territory management and closing deals with high-value clients. Known for exceeding sales targets and delivering top-quality customer service.
Key Skills
- Customer prospecting
- Market research
- Negotiation
- Pipeline management
- Territory growth
Professional Experience
Outside Sales Representative, Premier Supplies, Denver, CO | August 2018 to present
- Achieved 150% of annual sales targets for three consecutive years by acquiring and retaining high-value clients
- Expanded territory coverage by 40%, leading to $3 million in additional revenue
- Conducted market research to identify new opportunities and tailored strategies for client acquisition
Sales Representative, Dynamic Distributors, Phoenix, AZ | May 2016 – July 2018
- Generated $2 million in annual sales by building strong customer relationships and providing personalized service
- Created a pipeline management system that improved deal closure rates by 20%
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Management | 2016
Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ
Why these resumes are effective: Alex, Sarah, and Emily give plenty of factual information and examples to support their candidacy. In the profile sections, they quickly follow descriptors like “Strategic” with more specific, active phrases like “creating user-focused solutions.” They also have strong experience sections, with detailed accomplishments as compelling evidence for their skillset.
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