Recruiters and employers receive dozens, if not hundreds of CVs on a daily basis. This puts any prospective employee in a position where they must be able to present their accomplishments and achievements to set them apart from other potential candidates. As such, a CV must not only present information in a coherent and detailed manner, but it must also do so with impact and uniqueness in mind. One way to strategically place yourself above other applicants is by including your key achievements.
Coupled with advancements in ATS technology, companies and recruiters can now enter a pre-defined set of search criteria and shortlist requirements from hundreds of applicants within a split second. Not only do you now have to beat others in the game in terms of showcasing suitability, but you must also be able to present information in your CV in such a way as to be shortlisted. When it comes to CV writing, key achievements are the best way to present more specific examples of how you are able to go above and beyond the regular expectations or duties of the role. Other reasons for replacing duties with key achievements in your CV include:
They create more impact
Employers are interested to know more about how you are able to take your skills and apply them to the work context to influence positive results. By avoiding general statements that read like a job description, you are able to present a clearer and more specific picture of how you will bring similar commendable results to your prospective roles.
They differentiate you from other applicants
Picture this: you and a peer are applying for the same role. Judging by face value, your educational attainment, training, courses attended, and level of seniority may be exactly identical, but you can set yourself apart from other applicants by specifying how you were able to bring about measurable outcomes in your team. You must show that you were a valuable part of the process, leading to outstanding results, or perhaps where you have implemented new processes to streamline operations or reduce costs. You must also show that you were indispensable and that the team may not have been able to achieve the said outcomes without your help or intervention. This is what gives you more power and leverage to emphasise your personal contributions to any team.
They present measurable information
Anyone who has ever worked with me will know how much I love to see numbers on a CV. Numbers don’t lie, they’re a great way to break up text and really catch the eye. If you include trends, figures, and concrete examples of how your support and contributions to the team resulted in positive outcomes for the company, you will have more chances of attracting strong interest from prospective employers. Go back to your key performance indicators and ratings, your appraisals and chart your progress in terms of actual performance scores. Specify actual outcomes against expected values or projections. Always mention any commendations, awards or recognition for your invaluable contributions.
They offer transferability in other positions
Often, generic information may be hard to contextualise or translate into actual deliverables. Sure, you can state that you have excellent communication skills, but employers may want to see exactly how you were able to adapt these skills in a difficult context or within a particularly challenging situation. Recruiters respond well to definitive statements instead of baseless claims or theoretical statements. It is hard to deny your capability to influence impactful outcomes if you have done it before. Thus, this makes it easier to place you in departments where similar circumstances are to be expected.
There is definitely a delicate art of phrasing and expressing one’s achievements in a way that presents your skills and competencies. With the right construction and formats, you should be able to present what makes you unique and different, whilst also beating ATS scanners in the process.
Allow me to assist you in this process by getting in touch today! I can advise on the right service that will be compatible with your level of experience and desired position.
Amelia Brooke, ABCV Solutions
