How to Write Resume Bullet Points That Get Read

Use action + task + result

Start with a strong verb, say what you did, then state the outcome. Weak: Responsible for reports. Stronger: Built weekly sales reports that cut review time by 30%.

Add numbers when you honestly can

Use percentages, money, team size, volume or time saved. If you lack exact figures, use a defensible estimate and be ready to explain it in an interview.

Before and after examples

Teacher — Before: Responsible for teaching students. After: Raised class reading scores by 18% in one academic year by switching to project-based reading tasks.

Developer — Before: Worked on website performance. After: Cut page load time from 3.8 seconds to 1.9 seconds by removing unused scripts and compressing images.

Fresh graduate — Before: Helped organise a university event. After: Organised a charity event with 120 attendees that raised 1,500 USD for the computer lab.

In each case the job is the same. The difference is a verb, a task and a measurable result.

Common bullet mistakes

Starting with Responsible for or Duties included turns a bullet into a job description. Starting with a verb turns it into proof.

Listing ten generic duties for one role buries the two achievements that matter. Keep three to five bullets per recent role and drop duties anyone in the role would have.

Stuffing buzzwords without proof — fast learner, team player, hard worker — says nothing. Show the same qualities through a result instead.

Keep it short

Aim for one or two lines per bullet and three to five bullets per recent role. Drop duties that any person in the role would have.