Companies use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) portals to analyze and scan applications, résumés, and CVs to rank and filter the best-suited applicants for vacancy criteria. Recruiters typically notice and hone in on definitive results shown as numbers or metrics. In a tough job market, you need to stand out, adding results or accomplishments help recruiters and hiring managers visualize your potential impact to a job they are seeking to fill.

Employers want to know “how you can help their company.” Add results of what you did, or explain the steps you took to achieve an outcome, or add achievements. Creating an optimized résumé will help you to show the value you can bring to an employer. Here are a few more tips to consider:

Adding Accomplishments to Give You Credibility

Use numbers, percentages, specific dates, or dollar amounts to quantify your accomplishments will help recruiters or hiring managers visualize your potential impact, value you can bring to them, and serve as powerful negotiation tools when the topic of salary arises.

Consider a problem you solved or a solution you implemented and describe a benefit or outcome it had for a business, customer, or employee.
If you can answer the following sample questions with a metric or result, consider adding the metric/result to your résumé:
- Did you manage a budget (add the amount), did you manage any direct/indirect employees, or did they report to you (add the number)?
- Did you contribute to increasing customer service survey scores (add before and after score to show change) or increase efficiencies (describe how)?
- Did you have Profit & Loss or fiscal responsibilities for overall business operations or employees (add the amount or add number of people)?
- Did you add operational improvements (describe changes), manage people (how many), or contribute to growing company revenue (how much)?
- Did you bring in new business by creating a new product or service or retain customers by ensuring high-quality products and services (how many)?
- Did you save time or save costs, or reduce company expenses (add how much) to improve a process, procedure, or project (describe change)?

Tailoring Résumé to Targeted Job Description

Employers use keywords in their job description to describe what they are looking for in an applicant and use ATS portals to scan applications, résumés, and CVs to rank and filter the best-suited applicants for their vacancy criteria.

Develop a résumé with effective keywords to achieve an 80% match rate or higher to increase the chances it will be seen by a recruiter.
Focus on the effectiveness of both résumé content and keyword matches towards the criteria for a targeted position you are applying for.
Focus on content and keywords for hard skills, soft skills, and company-specific skills to help your résumé stand out.
Use "jargon" that “speaks the language” of the industry or employer you are applying for, it shows your understanding of the field or the company.

Strengthening Your Hard Skills and Soft Skills

Hard skills show proficiency while soft skills show communication and relational abilities.

“Skills” or “Valued Experienced In” section on your résumé will allow recruiters/hiring managers to see the skills you have at a glance.
The key to changing your career is identifying your transferable skills, such as critical thinking, strategic planning, organizing, or leading.
Hard skills and soft skills form a well-rounded job applicant and creates a good balance between knowledge and interpersonal attributes.
Soft skills are people skills or personality traits that revolve around character, teamwork, communication, time management, or work ethic.

Formatting Your Résumé and LinkedIn Profile

Send a consistent message in terms of content and design for all your career marketing documents.
Include city, state, and zip code as the ATS allows recruiters or hiring managers to filter candidates based on location.
Include a personal phone number (not work number) and professional email (e.g., marysmith@gmail.com), do not use a school or college email.
Explain employment gaps, as they may affect ATS filtering recruiters use when scanning work history. If gaps, consider using years only (e.g., 2019).

Creating Résumés With A Results-Focused Approach

Adding Accomplishments to Give You Credibility

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Use numbers, percentages, specific dates, or dollar amounts to quantify your accomplishments will help recruiters or hiring managers visualize your potential impact, value you can bring to them, and serve as powerful negotiation tools when the topic of salary arises.

Did you manage a budget (add the amount), did you manage any direct/indirect employees, or did they report to you (add the number)?

Did you contribute to increasing customer service survey scores (add before and after score to show change) or increase efficiencies (describe how)?

Did you have Profit & Loss or fiscal responsibilities for overall business operations or employees (add the amount or add number of people)?

Did you add operational improvements (describe changes), manage people (how many), or contribute to growing company revenue (how much)?

Did you bring in new business by creating a new product or service or retain customers by ensuring high-quality products and services (how many)?

Did you save time or save costs, or reduce company expenses (add how much) to improve a process, procedure, or project (describe change)?

​

Tailoring Résumé to Targeted Job Description

Employers use keywords in their job description to describe what they are looking for in an applicant and use ATS portals to scan applications, résumés, and CVs to rank and filter the best-suited applicants for their vacancy criteria.

Develop a résumé with effective keywords to achieve an 80% match rate or higher to increase the chances it will be seen by a recruiter.

Focus on the effectiveness of both résumé content and keyword matches towards the criteria for a targeted position you are applying for.

Focus on content and keywords for hard skills, soft skills, and company-specific skills to help your résumé stand out.

Use "jargon" that “speaks the language” of the industry or employer you are applying for, it shows your understanding of the field or the company.

​

Strengthening Your Hard Skills and Soft Skills

​

Hard skills show proficiency while soft skills show communication and relational abilities.

Hard skills and soft skills form a well-rounded job applicant and creates a good balance between knowledge and interpersonal attributes.

​​

Formatting Your Résumé and LinkedIn Profile

​

Send a consistent message in terms of content and design for all your career marketing documents.

Include city, state, and zip code as the ATS allows recruiters or hiring managers to filter candidates based on location.

Include a personal phone number (not work number) and professional email (e.g., marysmith@gmail.com), do not use a school or college email.

Explain employment gaps, as they may affect ATS filtering recruiters use when scanning work history. If gaps, consider using years only (e.g., 2019).

Creating Résumés With A Results-Focused Approach