60 Inspiring Examples: How To Write Accomplishment Statements

When you’re jazzing up your resume or preparing for an interview, crafting strong accomplishment statements can set you apart. Think of these statements as snapshots that capture how you’ve excelled in your roles. They’re your professional highlights reel where action verbs are your star players, setting the scene with energy and precision.

Your accomplishment statements should feel as though they are bringing a dose of enthusiasm to your narrative, not just listing duties. When drafting, consider how each sentence provides a window into the problems you’ve solved and the goals you’ve kicked. Give enough detail to spark curiosity and make recruiters want to learn more about what you bring to the table.

Part 1 Crafting Your Accomplishment Statements

Creating strong accomplishment statements on your resume can set you apart from other candidates. They not only show what you’ve done but also how well you’ve done it.

Starting With Action Verbs

Start your statements with powerful action verbs to capture attention and make your accomplishments stand out. Verbs like ‘executed’, ‘transformed’, ‘implemented’, ‘spearheaded’, and ‘orchestrated’ show you’re action-oriented. For example, instead of saying “Was in charge of,” you might say, “Managed a team of 10 to…”.

Highlighting the Impact

Quantify your achievements to provide a clear picture of your impact. Use numbers, percentages, and financial figures where possible. A statement like “Increased sales by 20% over a six-month period by implementing a new strategic marketing plan” clearly demonstrates your effectiveness.

Adding the Wow Factor

Use qualitative terms to give context and show the significance of your accomplishments. You might say, “Revitalized a stagnant brand by introducing a fresh social media strategy, resulting in a 50% increase in online engagement.” This shows not only what you did, but also the positive effect it had.

Part 2 Types of Accomplishment Statements

Crafting accomplishment statements effectively showcases your achievements in a way that’s clear and impressive. They typically come in two varieties: quantitative and qualitative.

Quantitative Accomplishment Statements

Quantitative statements rely on numbers and data to demonstrate your impact. Examples of these might include, “Increased sales by 20% within one fiscal quarter” or “Reduced customer call times by 30 seconds, improving the customer experience.” These particular phrases employ numbers to give a solid, measurable snapshot of your achievements.

Qualitative Accomplishment Statements

Qualitative statements, on the other hand, emphasize the quality of your impact, often in areas where numerical data isn’t the focus. For example, “Improved team communication by implementing weekly sync meetings” or “Enhanced customer satisfaction through personalized follow-up emails.” These statements spotlight the positive changes you brought about through your actions and decisions without relying strictly on metrics.

Part 3 Examples of Quantitative Accomplishment Statements

Quantifying your achievements means adding numbers to provide a clear and measurable impact of your work. This approach makes your contributions tangible and shows the value you’ve added.

  1. Start by reviewing your job duties and identify any areas where you’ve made a measurable difference. Look for changes in revenue, time saved, increase in customer satisfaction scores, or any other metric that can be expressed in numbers. If you are struggling to recall specific figures, try estimating conservatively or use percentages to indicate growth or improvement.
  2. For example, if you’re in sales, you could write, “Exceeded monthly sales targets by 20% for five consecutive months, resulting in a $50K increase in revenue.” This statement not only shows that you met your goals but surpassed them significantly.
  3. If you’ve streamlined a process, describe how much time you saved. A statement such as “Implemented a new inventory system, reducing stock-checking time by 30%,” makes it clear that your actions had direct, time-saving outcomes.
  4. Use action verbs in the past tense to emphasize your role in the achievements. Words like ‘achieved’, ‘expanded’, ‘developed’, ‘reduced’, and ‘negotiated’ pack a punch and give your statements power.
  5. Don’t underestimate smaller numbers. Even improving customer satisfaction by 5% can be important in a competitive market. Any positive change you’ve driven is worth mentioning, and quantifying these changes provides a clearer picture of your capabilities and results.

Examples:

Part 4 Examples of Qualitative Accomplishment Statements

Writing impactful accomplishment statements that aren’t centered around numerical data can be highly effective in showcasing your skills and experience. When you lack quantifiable results or when confidentiality concerns prevent sharing specific metrics, you can focus on qualitative achievements that speak to your abilities.

  1. Start with strong action verbs that convey your direct contribution. For example, verbs like ‘launched’, ‘improved’, ‘developed’, ‘expanded’, or ‘transformed’ demonstrate your active role in making things happen.
  2. You might say, “Developed a comprehensive onboarding program that improved team integration and productivity.” Here, the focus is on the creation and positive outcome of your action, emphasizing the value of your contribution.
  3. Describe your accomplishments through the lens of challenges faced and the solutions you provided. For example, “Resolved a longstanding customer service bottleneck, which heightened client satisfaction.” This showcases problem-solving skills and the impact on customer experience, both highly valuable to employers.
  4. Highlight your leadership and collaborative efforts with phrases that show your role within a team or project. An example might be, “Coordinated a cross-departmental project that harmonized communication and workflows.” This underlines your teamwork and organizational skills.
  5. Consider including advancements in personal skills or professional development. For instance, “Mastered advanced design software to enhance content quality and visual appeal,” which suggests dedication to self-improvement and keeping up with industry tools.
  6. Remember to tailor these statements to the job you’re applying for, aligning your achievements with the skills and attributes the employer is seeking. This personalized approach can often resonate more than raw numbers alone.
Personal vs. Professional References

Examples:

Part 5 Examples of Action Verbs to Describe Your Achievements

Choosing the right action verb for your accomplishment statements can give your resume or performance review the punch it needs to stand out. Use these dynamic verbs to clearly articulate your successes and make your contributions shine.

  1. Start with words like ‘orchestrated’ or ‘spearheaded’ when you want to demonstrate leadership and initiative. These words convey that you were at the helm of a project, directing it to success. If you improved a process or made something more efficient, consider ‘streamlined’ or ‘optimized’. These verbs suggest improvement without taking up too much space.
  2. Suppose you saved the company money or increased revenue. In that case, words like ‘generated’, ‘accelerated’, or ‘enhanced’ can show the direct impact of your actions. For teamwork, ‘collaborated’, ‘united’, or ‘fostered’ emphasize your ability to work effectively with others and contribute to a joint effort.
  3. When showcasing creativity, use terms like ‘conceived’ or ‘envisioned’. These indicate that you brought new ideas to life. And if precision or expertise was key to your role, ‘crafted’, ‘engineered’, or ‘calibrated’ can depict your skills in a field or intricate work.
  4. Compile your own list of powerful verbs tailored to the skills and accomplishments you want to highlight. Make sure each verb fits the action you’re describing and that it presents your experience confidently and accurately. With a well-chosen verb, your accomplishments will grab attention and clearly communicate your value.
Summary of Qualifications: 50 Powerful Action Verbs & 2 Examples

Examples of action verbs that can help make your achievement statements more impactful:

These verbs can be strategically used to describe your professional experiences and accomplishments with a strong sense of action and purpose.

Part 6 Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. When crafting accomplishment statements, one of the pitfalls you might fall into is using vague language. Your statements should be specific and clear to provide a concrete understanding of your achievements. Avoid generic phrases like “handled tasks” or “worked with clients.” Instead, say exactly what you did and the outcome, like “increased sales by 20% through direct client engagement.”
  2. Listing duties instead of accomplishments is another frequent error. Rather than just saying what your role was, focus on what you accomplished in that role. For example, don’t just say “responsible for sales team,” tell others how you improved the team’s performance.
  3. Resist the temptation to inflate your achievements. Honesty is key as it maintains your credibility. If you improved productivity, provide realistic figures to back it up. Inflated numbers or exaggerated claims can damage your reputation if scrutinized.
  4. Avoid a monotonous list of tasks. Mix in some qualitative accomplishments to show your skills in a broader context. These provide insights into not just what you did, but how you approached tasks, dealt with challenges, and contributed to the team or company culture.
  5. Neglecting the use of strong action verbs can weaken your statements. Start your accomplishments with verbs like ‘orchestrated,’ ‘innovated,’ or ‘transformed’ to grab attention and immediately inform about the action you took.
  6. Lastly, make sure your accomplishment statements are not too long or complex. You want your reader to grasp your successes quickly. Dense paragraphs or overly technical jargon can detract from the impact of your achievements. Keep it concise and straightforward.
8 Examples: Confidently Explain Employment Gaps on Your Resume

Part 7 Editing and Refining Your Achievement Statements

After drafting your accomplishment statements, review each one to ensure they are clear, concise, and impactful. Focus on active verbs and precise language to make your accomplishments stand out. Ask yourself, does the statement convey the impact of your work?

Quantitative results often speak for themselves but check that the context is also there. A 20% increase in sales is impressive, but noting that this was a key part of a successful product launch adds depth. Keep the numbers simple, and make sure they stand out—people are drawn to concrete evidence of success.

Qualitative statements can be trickier. Strive for vividness by using strong action verbs and sensory language where appropriate. Instead of “Managed a team,” personalize and punch it up: “Steered a dynamic team towards surpassing annual goals.”

Solicit feedback from peers or mentors. Sometimes, you’re too close to your own experience to see unclear points. Fresh eyes can spot areas where more specificity is needed or where jargon slips in.

Lastly, trim the fluff. Eliminate unnecessary words and focus on the ‘what’ and the ‘why’. This distillation process will leave you with powerful statements that clearly demonstrate your value. Keep refining until each statement reads well and has a distinct purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I craft an effective accomplishment statement for my resume?

When writing accomplishment statements, start with a strong action verb to capture attention. Follow with a description of the task you completed and conclude with the positive outcome or impact. Likewise, quantifying accomplishments helps to provide a clear understanding of your capabilities.

What are some powerful action verbs to enhance accomplishment statements?

Use dynamic verbs like “achieved,” “expanded,” “optimized,” and “streamlined.” These words can effectively convey your contributions and exhibit your active role in achieving success. Action verbs also add energy and clarity to your statements, showing your dynamism in various roles.

Can you give me examples of accomplishment statements with quantifiable results?

Certainly, for instance: “Increased sales by 20% over a 6-month period through strategic business development initiatives,” or “Cut customer support response time by 30% by implementing a more efficient ticketing system.”

Could you provide examples of accomplishment statements that highlight qualitative achievements?

Here’s an example: “Improved team morale and productivity through the introduction of monthly team-building activities.” Another could be “Enhanced the company’s brand image by redesigning the customer service protocol to be more user-friendly.”

What’s the best structure to use when writing a professional accomplishment statement?

Your accomplishment statement should have three parts: a strong action verb, the task or project you were responsible for, and the positive result or impact that task had. Ensuring these elements are present gives a comprehensive view of what you did and the value you brought to the company.

How should one present their skills and accomplishments in a resume to make a strong impact?

Highlight your skills and accomplishments in a resume by tying them to specific results and using metrics whenever possible. Present your achievements in a way that matches the job description, aligning your experience with the prospective employer’s needs and showing that you have a proven track record of success.