Writing Strong Resume Bullet Points by Using Accomplishment Statements
Use this handout to create strong accomplishment statement bullets on your resume, rather than just listing your
duties. Accomplishment statements focus on (1) what you accomplished, (2) how you accomplished it, and (3) the
impact of your accomplishment.
We communicate these details by using the PAR framework; PAR stands for Problem – Action – Result. Problem – what
problem were you trying to address? Action – What action did you take to address this problem? Result – What were
the results of your action? Once you have answered these questions, you are ready to summarize the content into a
bullet point. Here are some examples of using PAR to write an effective bullet point.
Greek Life/Philanthropy Involvement
Problem
(The need/challenge addressed)
Action
Result
My sorority needs to raise
money for a philanthropy event
Collaborated with a team of 15
philanthropy committee
members to organize a
fundraiser
Raised over $15,000 for
children’s cancer research
Final Bullet
Collaborated with a team of 15 sorority philanthropy committee members to organize a fundraiser,
raising over $15,000 for children’s cancer research.
Customer Service/Web Design
Problem
(The need/challenge addressed)
Action
Result
Our company cannot handle the
volume of calls we receive
asking questions about using
our website
Designed and published a
webpage answering many of
customers most frequently
asked questions
Decreased incoming calls from
customers by 50%
Final Bullet
Reduced incoming call volume by 50% by designing and publishing a webpage answering customers’
most frequently asked questions.
Fast Food/Retail
Problem
(The need/challenge addressed)
Action
Result
Standards of store/service need
to stay exceptional despite high
customer volume during busy
times
Provided excellent service in-
person and over-the-phone to
each customer in all situations
Maintained high standards of
customer service at all times
Final Bullet
Maintained high standards of customer service in-person and over-the-phone in a high-volume, fast-
paced environment.
Use the blank PAR boxes on the back of this page to create your own accomplishment statements!
Also utilize the included PAR checklist to ensure each of your bullets are as strong as possible.
Problem
(The need/challenge addressed)
Action
Result
Final Bullet
Problem
(The need/challenge addressed)
Action
Result
Final Bullet
Problem
(The need/challenge addressed)
Action
Result
Final Bullet
Checklist for Writing Accomplishment Statements
Ensure your bullet points are strong by using this checklist for each one.
Start with a strong action verb (i.e., Created, Managed, Spearheaded, etc.).
o Avoid using weak verbs like “assisted” or “helped”
o See our Action Verbs handout for help with this
Bullet is 1-2 lines long.
o Short, concise bullets are key to your resume’s readability. Any longer, and they are unlikely to be fully
read.
Quantify your impact using numbers and metrics. Did your accomplishment save the business/organization
time? Increase revenue? Improve customer experience? You may not have metrics for every bullet but include
them where you can!
Don’t use filler words (i.e., “various,” “multiple”). Instead, be specific by using numbers. For instance, don’t say
you “implemented multiple features;” instead, say you “implemented 10+ features.”
Remove personal pronouns (“I,” “my,” “their”).
