Turning Your Tasks into Accomplishments

The practice of listing job duties on your resume and letting the tasks speak for themselves has proven to be outdated. Employers want and need to know about your accomplishments. When writing a resume, turn your tasks into accomplishments to showcase what you can produce for a potential company versus providing a blanket list similar to a job description.

Job candidates must first know the difference between job duties and accomplishments. A task describes what you did in previous jobs, whereas an accomplishment describes how well you accomplished these tasks, according to Forbes. Highlight more than just what you were tasked with in previous jobs, and explain how you impacted the company's overall bottom line, productivity and culture. Instead of providing a bulleted list of tasks, such as planning events, training and mentoring new employees and filing paperwork, show how these tasks turned into accomplishments, such as raising funds at a company event or implementing a training program that improved employee retention.

Hiring managers are often familiar with the common tasks associated with positions in their respective industries. Avoid stating the obvious when writing a resume by listing commonly known job duties. A list of accomplishments is much more enlightening and impressive to prospective employers. Brainstorm characteristics that set you apart from other candidates. Make a list of processes you improved, problems you solved in past positions, recognition from supervisors, goals and quotas met and personality traits that made you stand out among your co-workers. Evaluate how you went above and beyond your normal duties and what led to any awards or recognition to determine the accomplishments you want to include on your resume.

Paint a clear picture of your abilities by using numbers. Hiring managers want clear and concise facts, figures and statistics that show what you have accomplished in past positions. Detail how much money you have managed, what size budgets you have created, the percentage in which goals were exceeded, and how much time and money was saved due to processes and procedures you helped implement. Although job duties are an important part of your past positions, save the specifics of your daily tasks for the interview where you can elaborate in person.

Capture the attention of hiring managers by using power words on your resume. Instead of detailing job duties, highlight accomplishments by describing promotions as accomplishments. Use power words such as adviser, consultant, manager and leader to show you have promoted within companies and advanced into upper management. When referring to specific accomplishments that enhanced the companies you worked for, use power words such as acquired, supplied or secured to show confidence in your abilities.

A resume revamp is common practice when applying within different industries, but it is also necessary to highlight your accomplishments instead of just your job duties. Show off what you can do for a potential employer by showcasing what you have accomplished within your career.

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