How to Write Achievements
When developing your CV a major focus will be to concentrate on what achievements you encountered in the positions you have fulfilled.
Achievements can be drawn from a review of your performance appraisal where you can check what projects you were involved with, or KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) you had to measure up to. Then re-write these as achievements.
To help you with this, I have compiled a selection of accomplishment based verbs I like to use when constructing people's CV:
Turned around ...
E.g. Turned around the company's loss into a profitable venture within 7 months.
Accelerated ...
E.g. Accelerated the ROA by focusing on corporate finance.
Executed ...
E.g. Executed asset purchase of Whitcoulls in Australia.
Consolidated ...
E.g. Consolidated 29 warehouses down to 4 generating annual savings of $5.8m.
Generated ...
E.g. Generated over 100 key client profiles.
Launched ...
E.g. Launched systems engineering group to managed predictive failure analysis, root cause analysis and remediation projects.
Surpassed ...
E.g. Surpassed all regulatory compliance standards despite issues negatively impacting product performance.
Spearheaded ...
E.g. Spearheaded prototype development of next generation products.
Enhanced ...
E.g. Enhanced product manufacturability with the introduction of an in-house systems engineering and design group.
Initiated ...
E.g. Initiated human resources partnerships with key operating divisions worldwide to drive common vision and achieve financial objectives.
Championed ...
E.g. Championed development of offshore operations to reduce labour and overhead costs associated with food product manufacturing.
Increased ...
E.g. Increased ROA on real estate investment by 26%.
Saved ...
E.g. Saved $4.6m by reducing headquarters space by 30%.
Reduced ...
E.g. Reduced costs by 20% by putting in place strong inventory controls.
Created ...
E.g. Created a worldwide international sales organisation through direct, VAR, reseller and mass merchant channels.
Instituted ...
E.g. Instituted a new procedure to increase efficiency by 40%.
Restructured ...
E.g. Restructured corporate pricing on all major product lines and delivered a 12% margin improvement.
Upgraded ...
E.g. Upgraded the computer system to SAP.
Aggressively ...
E.g. Aggresssively marketed the launching of the Dolby Prologic stereos in the markeplace.
Assumed a key role in ...
Played a pivotal role in ...
Played an instrumental role in ...
Pioneered ...
E.g. Pioneered innovative organisational development initiatives including pay for performance, diversity management, process redesign and change management.
Abated ...
E.g. Abated the number of problems from staff relating to the introduction of a new machine.
Streamlined ...
E.g. Streamlined corporate operating infrastructure.
Actively participated ...
E.g. Actively participated in company driven initiatives and committees.
Realigned ...
E.g. Realigned product mix and captured a 12% margin improvement.
Revitalised ...
E.g. Revitalised corporation and introduced market-driven management systems to accelerate revenue growth against competition.
Fostered ...
E.g. Fostered employee empowerment and participated management practices throghout the manufacturing organisation.
Improved ....
E.g. Improved occupancy ratings by 27% within the highly competitive corporate travel market.
Co-founded ...
E.g. Co-founded the company's social newsletter.
Founded ...
E.g. Founded the Institute for Editors in New Zealand.
Expedited ...
E.g. Expedited the elimination of bulk wastage resulting in a reduction of expenditure.
Leveraged ...
E.g. Leveraged the company's position into the marketplace with strong brand development.
Strategised ...
E.g. Strategised and implemented TouchTone's first ever corporate risk management insurance.
Orchestrated ...
E.g. Orchestrated complex due diligence reviews in co-operation with outside financial advisers, accountants and legal counsel.
Captured ...
E.g. Captured the niche market in scrapbooking, gaining competitive advantage.
Outmanoeuvred ...
E.g. Outmanoeurved competition in a selective field.
Penetrated ...
E.g. Penetrated the brand into new emerging markets.
Positioned ...
E.g. Positioned the company ...
Quadruped ...
E.g. Quadrupled sales within 6 months of tenure.
Significantly ...
E.g. Significantly increased sales from 12% to 50% within one year.
Troubleshooted ...
E.g. Troubleshooted technical problems and glitches in the mainframe system.
Chosen ...
E.g. Chosen to lead a team of 50 support personnel.
Requested ...
E.g. Requested to join a select committee.
Invited ...
E.g. Invited as a guest speaker to give a talk at the Career Counsellors' Association Conference in 1998.
Selected ...
E.g. Selected by the CEO to direct a cross-functional team evaluating potential re-engineering, change management and technology acquisitions.
Awarded ...
E.g. Awarded the Salesperson of the Year Award in 1999 within the company (a nationwide context held annually each year).
Yielded ...
E.g. Yielded a large gross profit margin for the introduction of a new product line.
Negotiated ...
E.g. Negotiated $2.5m in World Bank project financing for economic development programmes in Niue.
Expanded ...
E.g. Expanded the company's market into South East Asia.
Resolved ...
E.g. Resolved staff downtime by putting into place whole team/project approach based job descriptions.
Introduced ...
E.g. Introduced proactive management techniques to strengthen focus on cost avoidance and elimination within each manufacturing process.
There are many more but these will get you started.
Paula Stenberg ©
Achievements can be drawn from a review of your performance appraisal where you can check what projects you were involved with, or KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) you had to measure up to. Then re-write these as achievements.
To help you with this, I have compiled a selection of accomplishment based verbs I like to use when constructing people's CV:
Turned around ...
E.g. Turned around the company's loss into a profitable venture within 7 months.
Accelerated ...
E.g. Accelerated the ROA by focusing on corporate finance.
Executed ...
E.g. Executed asset purchase of Whitcoulls in Australia.
Consolidated ...
E.g. Consolidated 29 warehouses down to 4 generating annual savings of $5.8m.
Generated ...
E.g. Generated over 100 key client profiles.
Launched ...
E.g. Launched systems engineering group to managed predictive failure analysis, root cause analysis and remediation projects.
Surpassed ...
E.g. Surpassed all regulatory compliance standards despite issues negatively impacting product performance.
Spearheaded ...
E.g. Spearheaded prototype development of next generation products.
Enhanced ...
E.g. Enhanced product manufacturability with the introduction of an in-house systems engineering and design group.
Initiated ...
E.g. Initiated human resources partnerships with key operating divisions worldwide to drive common vision and achieve financial objectives.
Championed ...
E.g. Championed development of offshore operations to reduce labour and overhead costs associated with food product manufacturing.
Increased ...
E.g. Increased ROA on real estate investment by 26%.
Saved ...
E.g. Saved $4.6m by reducing headquarters space by 30%.
Reduced ...
E.g. Reduced costs by 20% by putting in place strong inventory controls.
Created ...
E.g. Created a worldwide international sales organisation through direct, VAR, reseller and mass merchant channels.
Instituted ...
E.g. Instituted a new procedure to increase efficiency by 40%.
Restructured ...
E.g. Restructured corporate pricing on all major product lines and delivered a 12% margin improvement.
Upgraded ...
E.g. Upgraded the computer system to SAP.
Aggressively ...
E.g. Aggresssively marketed the launching of the Dolby Prologic stereos in the markeplace.
Assumed a key role in ...
Played a pivotal role in ...
Played an instrumental role in ...
Pioneered ...
E.g. Pioneered innovative organisational development initiatives including pay for performance, diversity management, process redesign and change management.
Abated ...
E.g. Abated the number of problems from staff relating to the introduction of a new machine.
Streamlined ...
E.g. Streamlined corporate operating infrastructure.
Actively participated ...
E.g. Actively participated in company driven initiatives and committees.
Realigned ...
E.g. Realigned product mix and captured a 12% margin improvement.
Revitalised ...
E.g. Revitalised corporation and introduced market-driven management systems to accelerate revenue growth against competition.
Fostered ...
E.g. Fostered employee empowerment and participated management practices throghout the manufacturing organisation.
Improved ....
E.g. Improved occupancy ratings by 27% within the highly competitive corporate travel market.
Co-founded ...
E.g. Co-founded the company's social newsletter.
Founded ...
E.g. Founded the Institute for Editors in New Zealand.
Expedited ...
E.g. Expedited the elimination of bulk wastage resulting in a reduction of expenditure.
Leveraged ...
E.g. Leveraged the company's position into the marketplace with strong brand development.
Strategised ...
E.g. Strategised and implemented TouchTone's first ever corporate risk management insurance.
Orchestrated ...
E.g. Orchestrated complex due diligence reviews in co-operation with outside financial advisers, accountants and legal counsel.
Captured ...
E.g. Captured the niche market in scrapbooking, gaining competitive advantage.
Outmanoeuvred ...
E.g. Outmanoeurved competition in a selective field.
Penetrated ...
E.g. Penetrated the brand into new emerging markets.
Positioned ...
E.g. Positioned the company ...
Quadruped ...
E.g. Quadrupled sales within 6 months of tenure.
Significantly ...
E.g. Significantly increased sales from 12% to 50% within one year.
Troubleshooted ...
E.g. Troubleshooted technical problems and glitches in the mainframe system.
Chosen ...
E.g. Chosen to lead a team of 50 support personnel.
Requested ...
E.g. Requested to join a select committee.
Invited ...
E.g. Invited as a guest speaker to give a talk at the Career Counsellors' Association Conference in 1998.
Selected ...
E.g. Selected by the CEO to direct a cross-functional team evaluating potential re-engineering, change management and technology acquisitions.
Awarded ...
E.g. Awarded the Salesperson of the Year Award in 1999 within the company (a nationwide context held annually each year).
Yielded ...
E.g. Yielded a large gross profit margin for the introduction of a new product line.
Negotiated ...
E.g. Negotiated $2.5m in World Bank project financing for economic development programmes in Niue.
Expanded ...
E.g. Expanded the company's market into South East Asia.
Resolved ...
E.g. Resolved staff downtime by putting into place whole team/project approach based job descriptions.
Introduced ...
E.g. Introduced proactive management techniques to strengthen focus on cost avoidance and elimination within each manufacturing process.
There are many more but these will get you started.
Paula Stenberg ©
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