Does your resume stand out?

Quantify Accomplishments

Last week I browbeat folks with the following post, Like bad porn, 95% of all resumes show the same.  Seen one bad porno, you’ve seen em’ all.  Same with most resumes.  Look at one, you have seen them all.  Why is this?  Because most people just add adjectives to the job description and paste it into their resume.  The way you differentiate yourself is to quantify accomplishments on your resume.  Today we talk about specific examples of how to add effectively play the numbers game with your resume and quantify accomplishments on your resume.

So how do you quantify accomplishments?  For this exercise, we will use the job posting for Acme Bank’s Teller job description because everyone can relate to this position.   Notice the job description doesn’t quantify any of the responsibilities with numbers.  (just like most resumes)

Acme Bank is looking for a Bank Teller to help serve customers by completing account transactions.  

Responsibilities:

*Provides account services to customers by receiving deposits and loan payments; cashing checks; issuing savings withdrawals; recording night and mail deposits; selling cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, and series e bonds; answering questions in person or on the telephone; referring to other bank services.
* Records transactions by logging cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, and other special services; preparing currency transaction reports.
* Reconciles cash drawer by proving cash transactions; counting and packaging currency and coins; reconciling loan coupons and other transactions; turning in excess cash and mutilated currency to head teller; maintaining supply of cash and currency.
* Maintains customer confidence and protects bank operations by keeping information confidential.

Skills/Qualifications:
Customer Service, Attention to Detail, General Math Skills, Verbal Communication, Integrity, Selling to Customer Needs, People Skills, Financial Skills, Financial Software, Thoroughness, Documentation Skills

The job descriptions looks familiar, you understand the format and just about anyone with bank teller experience should feel like “I can do that job”.  Everyone should recognize the above format and unfortunately, the typical resume will mimic the above job description and make an AVN award.  The bad porno will have the accomplishments listed as follows:

Acme Bank

Teller                                                                                                                                                                         Jan 2010 – December 2011

• Provided excellent customer service
• Maintained confidential information.
• Assisted clients with cashing checks, recording deposits, withdrawals, and referring clients to other banking services.
• Worked at the drive-thru teller station
• Reconciled cash drawer

Blah, Boring, and unimaginative.  The above resume reads just like the job description and similar to a bad porn video is less than exciting after 3 seconds.  It lists what EVERY bank teller does at ANY BANK and the accomplishments are not quantified or personalized.  Without the numbers, we don’t have a sense of scale or your grandeur.  We don’t know how big or fast you were at your job. It is a resume that ANY bank teller applicant can claim as their own.  Below is a document I will take notice of.  This has the makings of an academy award winner and is a good place to start if we want to quantify resume accomplishments.

Acme Bank – a local bank specializing in consumer and small business loans

Teller                                                                                                                                                  Jan 2010 – December 2011

• Recognized as the teller of the month for providing excellent customer service.
• Reconciled cash drawer at the end of each shift.  My bookkeeping error rates were the lowest in the bank and rated me in the top 2% of all of the tellers including tellers with much more experience.
• Promoted to the drive-thru teller because of my customer service, the speed of handling transactions and accuracy of transactions.  Averaged 12 transactions an hour. 

The above job description lists the same accomplishments as the AVN nominee but quantifies accomplishments within the resume and separates itself from the rest of the pack.  I don’t know even know if 12 transactions an hour is decent, but you can’t help but take notice.  Bolding key phrases will draw the reader to focus on the accomplishment.  Notice the nice touch describing what kind of bank it is?  If the company you worked at is not a household name, how the frick am I supposed to know what the company did.  Not a mind reader people!

If you are not receiving any calls on your resume, maybe it doesn’t pop as much as it could.  Add numbers to quantify accomplishments on your resume and it will stand out in a sea of bad pornoso’s.  What other ideas do you have for making your resume stand out?

Good Luck,

HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone who is good at something. “He has a nasty forkball.”

If you felt this post was valuable, subscribe to weekly updates here, or “like” us on Facebook. Thank you!