By: Randy Samsel

In my line of work, I have the benefit of seeing hundreds of resumes on a regular basis. It is easy for me to compare and contrast. Our clients also provide feedback on resumes that we submit for open positions. The feedback also helps me evaluate resumes.

Most individuals do a very good job on their resume, and there is an abundance of free information available about how to write a resume. Oh, everyone has an opinion about the “right way” to write a resume. Only one page, never more than 2 pages, don’t include an Objective, include your GPA, but only if it’s greater than 3.0, leave off dates on education, use bullets, leave blank space, etc. It can be a bit overwhelming.

Personally, I am not a resume Nazi. However I feel strongly that a resume should reflect your skills and experiences in a manner that will catch the eye of a hiring manager. What does catch the eye of a hiring manager? Well, there are usually certain requirements in order to even be considered, i.e. education, certification and job experience. But what often really gets a hiring manager excited is your accomplishments. If you include those achievements you have and they address challenges the hiring manager is currently facing, they can start believing that hiring you will make their life easier. On the flipside, without accomplishments your resume will look ordinary.

To set yourself apart, your accomplishments should include three basic elements: The challenge or problem you were pacing: What you did to address or solve the problem: and the positive results your solution made for your company. Try to make the results as quantifiable and impactful as possible.

The longer you are in your career, the duties and responsibilities you have are less important to enumerate and detail on your resume since they are expected. The accomplishments will help you stand out.