If you want your resume to stand out from other applicants, perfecting your bullet points is a must. Bullets not only draw the eye, but they also highlight the best of what you have to offer. However, many job seekers find that writing these short statements is more challenging than completing nearly any other section.
Luckily, there are techniques that can help you write effective bullet points on your resume. Whether you are seeking out third shift jobs in Cleveland or any other kind of opportunity, here’s what you need to know.
Follow a Basic Formula
One way to make writing bullet points easier is to follow a basic structure. Begin by stating the skill involved using a power verb, mention the associated job responsibility, and end with the results or outcome. Then, choose strong, descriptive language to make the content more compelling.
For example, “Led weekly meetings with staff” isn’t nearly as interesting as, “Headed weekly 12-person team meetings to share critical project updates, gather status information, and delegate new tasks.”
Typically, this formula ensures that you regularly speak about your achievements and is designed to make quantifying your experiences easy.
Cover the Five W’s and H
Resumes tell a story, so you want to cover the same kind of information as you would during any other narrative. Usually, this means you need to address the who, what, when, where, why, and how or your career story.
Ultimately, hiring managers aren’t interested in just the duties you covered. They want to hear about your impact on the company or the results you achieved, as well as what it took to accomplish those feats.
Be Concise
By nature, a bullet point is meant to be brief and highly focused. If you add too many details into a single bullet or combine two ideas in a point, you create a massive block of text, making it harder for the hiring manager to skim the content.
While there isn’t a hard and fast rule about the length, you do want to get to the point as quickly as possible while being thorough. When in doubt, try to keep it at three lines of text or below. And, if you have more than one idea to express, separate them into additional bullet points.
Choose the Proper Order
After you create your bullet points, you need to list them in the best order. Typically, you want to start with those that are most relevant to your target position. By referring to the job announcement, you can pick and choose the bullets that best speak to the requirements. Plus, if you need to cut back on the number of points, this makes it easier to determine which provide the least amount of value.
By using the techniques above, you can increase the effectiveness of your bullet points on your resume. If you would like to learn more or are seeking out new job opportunities, the professionals at Vector Technical Inc can help. Contact us to discuss your career goals with one of our experienced staff members today and see how our services can benefit you.
