Use a formula to write effective bullet points for your resume

Do you want your resume bullet points to scream, “Hire Me!” or do you want them to be saying “meh”? The way you word your professional accomplishments on your resume can change the entire first impression you give a recruiter. Writing powerful resume bullet points is essential when you want to impress a hiring manager.

Did you know that there are many formulae used by professionals all over the world to write impactful resume bullet points? These formulae not only help you to bring out the best of your skills, but they also help make your resume a compelling read. Here are a few resume bullet point formulae for you to try the next time you write a resume:

Action verb + Accomplishment + Outcome

This is one of the easiest ways to write a powerful resume bullet point. You just need to begin each of your bullet points with a descriptive action verb. This article explains all about maximizing the effectiveness of your resume using action verbs, so you should give it a read. Be sure to keep your bullet points concise and relevant to the job. Here’s an example to help you out:

• Action verb - Directed
• Accomplishment – A contemporary rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in immersive style
• Outcome – $500k profit
• Bullet point: “Directed a contemporary rendition of the classic play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with an immersive style experience, generating a profit of $500k.”

Problem + Action + Result

You can also narrate your accomplishments using what is known as the P.A.R. framework. When you are using the PAR formula, you will be talking about your achievements in a way that highlights your problem-solving abilities. Here’s an example for you:

• Problem – Inefficiency in filing
• Action – Automated filing process
• Result – Saved 5 work hours a week, improved filing efficiency by up to 98%
• Bullet point – “Improved the existing manual filing process by incorporating an automated filing system into the workplace to improve efficiency to 98% and save 5 work hours a week.”

STAR

We have talked many times about writing STAR bullet points for your resume because they are one of the most impressive types of bullet points you can ever write. The STAR formula stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result and helps you summarize complex achievements in a very simple manner for your resume. Here’s an example for writing a STAR bullet point:

• Situation – New recruits were struggling to use the data tracking system of the employer after onboarding training
• Task – Facilitate fast learning of the system for trainees
• Action – Created a new training manual for the data tracking system and incorporated it into the revised onboarding training program
• Result – Trainees learned the system within one week, reducing training time by half
• Bullet point – “Developed a new training manual for the data tracking system of employer and incorporated it into the onboarding training program to facilitate fast learning and reduced training time by half.”