When choosing which accomplishments to include, focus on examples that show how your work made an impact and how that impact relates to what you will be expected to do in your next role.

Here is a list of accomplishments for a resume that you can use as inspiration or a starting point:

Increased sales or profit margins
Reduced costs or improved the bottom line
Improved productivity or time efficiency
Solved problems through new ideas or process improvements
Introduced innovations that led to measurable change
Improved workflows, systems, or procedures
Earned awards or recognition (with context)
Achieved promotion or expanded responsibilities
Supported the development or performance of others
Delivered strong service to customers or clients

Reference table

Type of accomplishment	What it shows	Example
Revenue growth	Ability to drive business results	Increased sales by 20% through targeted outreach
Cost savings	Efficiency and financial impact	Reduced operating costs by 15% by improving workflows
Productivity	Time and process improvement	Cut reporting time by 30% by automating tasks
Problem-solving	Initiative and critical thinking	Developed a system to fix recurring reporting errors
Leadership	Team impact and responsibility	Managed and trained a team of 10 employees
Recognition	Performance and trust	Promoted within 12 months for strong results

What are 3 accomplishments you can include on a resume?

Three common types of accomplishments to include are:

Increasing revenue or performance (for example, improving sales or output)
Reducing costs or improving efficiency (such as saving time or resources)
Earning recognition or responsibility (such as promotions, awards, or leadership roles)

In all of these cases, the accomplishment shows the difference you made.

How to list accomplishments in your resume

To list accomplishments effectively, focus on results, not responsibilities.

Strong accomplishment statements clearly show what you did, how you did it, and what impact it had.

This helps hiring managers quickly understand what you can bring.

Step 1: Start with a clear action

Begin each accomplishment with a strong action verb that shows what you did.

This immediately highlights your role and makes your experience easier to scan.

Be specific about your contribution, especially if you worked as part of a team.

Step 2: Describe the task and context

Briefly explain what you worked on or were responsible for.

Keep this concise and focused on relevant details that help explain the achievement.

Step 3: Show the result with numbers

The result is the most important part.

Show what changed because of your work and include numbers where possible.

You can quantify your accomplishments using:

Timeframe (how quickly results were achieved)
Scale (size of the impact)
Range (consistency or volume of results)

Top tip: When writing your resume, start by listing your responsibilities, then rewrite each one as a result-focused accomplishment.

Example of turning a task into an accomplishment

Before: Managed social media accounts
After: Increased social media engagement by 45% over six months through a targeted content strategy

Using the STAR method

You can also structure accomplishments using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

On your resume, focus mainly on the action and result, keeping the context brief.

Use Resume.io’s resume builder to quickly test different accomplishment statements and refine your results-focused bullet points.

Using action verbs in a resume with examples — Example use of action verbs in a resume

What are examples of STAR statements for resume achievements?

STAR statements help you turn responsibilities into clear, results-focused accomplishments by showing the situation, task, action, and result.

On a resume, you should keep the situation and task brief, and focus on the action and measurable result.

Example 1

Situation/Task: Managed social media accounts for a growing brand
Action: Developed and implemented a targeted content strategy
Result: Increased engagement by 45% over six months

Resume version: Increased social media engagement by 45% in six months by implementing a targeted content strategy.

Example 2

Situation/Task: Responsible for onboarding new employees
Action: Created a structured training program
Result: Reduced onboarding time by 30%

Resume version: Reduced onboarding time by 30% by introducing a structured employee training program.

Example 3

Situation/Task: Handled customer complaints
Action: Improved response process and follow-up system
Result: Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20%

Resume version: Improved customer satisfaction scores by 20% by redesigning complaint response and follow-up processes.

Where to list accomplishments in a resume

You should include accomplishments in the sections of your resume where employers expect to see proof of your impact.

The most important places are your work experience and your resume summary, where achievements help demonstrate your value quickly.

1. Work experience section

Most resumes include a work experience section with several bullet points for each role.

This is the main place to highlight your accomplishments.

You can include achievements within your bullet points or list them separately if there are several great examples.

Focus on measurable results that show how you contributed in each role.

2. Resume summary section

Your resume summary is one of the first things a hiring manager reads, so it is a strong place to highlight one or two key accomplishments.

Keep them concise and relevant to the role.

A well-chosen achievement at the top of your resume can immediately show your worth and encourage the reader to continue.

3. Optional: Awards and highlights

If awards or recognitions are important in your industry, you can include them either in your work experience or as a separate section.

In most cases, it is more effective to include them alongside the relevant role so they are supported by context.

where should you list accomplishments in your resume? The answer is simple

Examples of achievements in resume by industry

Looking at real examples can help you understand how accomplishments should sound in practice.

Across all industries, the strongest ones clearly show what was done and the result that followed.

Below are examples of resume accomplishments by industry.

Accounting and finance

Financial analyst: Created a purchasing commodity price dashboard that led to 22% cost savings.
Accountant: Managed tax reporting for 50+ clients, improving efficiency and identifying savings opportunities.
Financial advisor: Advised 100+ clients over three years, helping increase passive income by up to 80%.

Healthcare

Clinic coordinator: Implemented a prescription tracking system and mobile app with 80% adoption.
Child psychologist: Managed 20+ complex cases per quarter, supporting both patients and families with tailored care plans.
Nurse: Conducted assessments and procedures for 150+ patients per month in a large hospital setting.

Engineering

Research engineer: Designed an inflation system for an intragastric balloon that became a market leader within 18 months.
Health and safety engineer: Led inspections across 12 industrial sites and developed new safety procedures for a 300-person facility.
Electrical engineer: Managed maintenance for a large-scale manufacturing site with 500+ pieces of equipment.

Marketing

Digital marketing manager: Increased occupancy by 45% through a multi-channel campaign across five platforms.
Creative director: Led production of 25 successful campaigns and multiple national billboard projects.
Social media manager: Managed content and engagement for a brand with 30,000+ followers across four platforms.

Administration

Administrative assistant: Coordinated travel for 60 press trips, increasing media coverage threefold.
Office manager: Oversaw operations for a 450-employee headquarters, including events and administrative workflows.
Receptionist: Managed front desk operations and scheduling in a high-volume corporate office.

Sales

Sales associate: Exceeded annual sales targets by an average of 45% over six years.
Account manager: Managed multi-million dollar client contracts and consistently met quarterly goals.
Sales manager: Reorganized a sales department, increasing team performance by 35% over two years.

IT and technology

Web developer: Built an e-commerce platform that increased sales by 18%.
Data analyst: Led a data team and improved data processing workflows.
Software developer: Contributed to 12 product launches using Java, Python, and C.

Real estate

Architect: Haines & Barton building design won “best small office” in the 2018 NY IntDes awards.
Realtor: Closed more than 120 real estate deals over 2 years, from small homes to luxury mansions.
Interior decorator: Designed large-scale office spaces for IT and biotech companies, with areas of over 1000 square feet and high demands for office ergonomics, comfort and aesthetics.

Remote work accomplishments

Remote Project Manager: Led a distributed team across 3 time zones, implementing a virtual collaboration system that increased productivity by 27% and reduced meeting times by 35%.
Remote Customer Service Representative: Handled 40+ daily customer inquiries through multiple digital channels while maintaining a 98% satisfaction rating and resolving issues 15% faster than in-office counterparts.
Remote Team Leader: Successfully transitioned a 12-person sales team to fully remote operations during the pandemic, developing new digital processes that maintained team performance at 105% of pre-remote targets.

These examples show how accomplishments are written across different roles, focusing on measurable impact.

What are the best practices for listing sports achievements on a resume?

Sports achievements can be valuable on a resume if they demonstrate skills like teamwork, leadership, discipline, or performance under pressure.

The key is to present them in a way that connects to the job you are applying for.

1. Focus on transferable skills

Highlight what the achievement shows about you, not just what happened.

For example, team captain roles show leadership, while competitive results can demonstrate discipline and consistency.

2. Keep them relevant

Include sports achievements if they add value to your application.

This is especially useful if you are early in your career, have limited work experience, or the role involves teamwork or performance.

Avoid listing older or less relevant achievements if you already have strong professional experience.

3. Add context and results

Where possible, treat sports achievements like professional accomplishments.

Include measurable details such as rankings, wins, or improvements.

For example:

Led college team to regional championship win
Ranked top 5 in state competition over two seasons
Trained 15 hours per week while maintaining academic performance

Where do I include these achievements?

You can include sports achievements in:

Education section (if linked to school or university)
Activities or extra curricular section
Work experience (if coaching, training, or leadership is involved)

Key takeaways

Strong resume accomplishments show the impact of your work, not just your responsibilities.

Focus on understandable, measurable results that help employers understand your value quickly.

Use a simple structure: action, task, and result
Start with strong action verbs to highlight your role
Quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, or timeframes
Focus on results that are relevant to the job you are applying for
Include accomplishments in your work experience and summary sections
Avoid vague statements that do not show measurable impact

Explore our resume examples for more inspiration and guidance.

FAQs for resume accomplishments

Short answers to common questions about choosing and writing strong resume accomplishments.

What are good accomplishments to put on a resume?

Good accomplishments are results that show how your work made a measurable impact.

This often includes increasing revenue, improving efficiency, solving problems, or earning recognition such as promotions or awards.

Focus on achievements that are relevant to the role and supported by clear results.

What are some amazing accomplishments?

Amazing accomplishments are those that show exceptional impact, scale, or progression.

Examples include significantly exceeding targets, leading major projects, saving substantial costs, or being promoted quickly.

The strongest examples combine clear action with impressive, measurable results.