Highlight your achievements
and dramatically
improve the chances of getting the interview
I'm sure you have probably read that when
writing a CV, you should mention your achievements,
either in a separate section on the first page, or
within your employment and experience section. A
candidate with proven achievements will
have the advantage over an equally good candidate
who does not list their achievements. This can make all the
difference whether the interviewer will want to see you or them.
An achievement is a result that you personally
brought about while fulfilling your previous
positions. It
is different from responsibilities that are itemised
below the job description, these remain fixed no matter
who is employed in that particular job. An achievement is
something that you personally brought to that role
and will be unique to you, it will emphasise your
abilities and highlights your ability to exceed
expectations.
First think
about how you made a difference in a particular job.
It's a good idea to start off with any results that can be
measured in terms of figures. Financial figures carry
particular weight: improving profit margins is
always a good focus, while all
organisations (including the public sector) are
concerned with reducing expenditure and increasing
efficiency.
This is easy if you are in a sales
role: for example, "exceeded
sales target by £x last year." Savings can
also be quantified: "developed new administrative
systems and proceedures that reduced the companies
overheads by £x".
Not all achievements can be
demonstrated in
financial terms. If you have written a
report which carried major influence
within your organisation, include it.
If your Manager singled you
out for an award, that is a great achievement.
An outstanding educational or training result is
definitely worth mentioning, as long as it's in a subject
which is relevant to the job you're applying for. If you were promoted in a short space of
time, mention it, every employer will know this doesn't happen
for no reason.
Achievements are not confined to the workplace.
Being involved in a community campaign that secures a result can also be included.
Major Sporting achievements can be
mentioned if the employer requires
a high level of motivation for the advertised
position. Just use your judgement, don't include
irrelevant achievements if you have plenty of work
related ones. Probably the only exception to
this rule is for school or college leavers who will
not have an abundance of relevant work experience.
Approximately six achievements will carry
the maximum impact, unless, of course, you have a very high level of
experience and there are several more which are all
equally relevant. Whichever you
select, be sure to present them clearly and
succinctly. Prioritise the points within the achievements section
of your CV, be sure
that it's always clear which job each achievement
relates to. The easiest way to lay them out is using
bullet points with short concise sentences by each.
A good way to inspire yourself
when writing these is to ask the following
questions:
-
What do other people think
that I am good at? (If you're not sure, ask them.)
-
When did
I feel proudest of my work?
-
When have I known that
I'm really good in my job?
-
Which of my actions has
received the most praise?
Usually people will look at their
completed list of
achievements and think "is that person really
me?" This reaction reflects the fact that many
people (sales people excluded) are not very good at
selling ourselves, although, with an impressive list
of achievements on your CV, all that will change, as
it will also focus your mind when you sit down for
the interview.
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