Your resume is your chance to brag about yourself—but how do you do that the right way? I’ll be the first to tell you how organized my garage is (for now, anyway) or go on about my favorite sports team. But when it comes to bragging about work accomplishments, it somehow feels harder to strike the right tone. So, let’s make it easier. Here are a few quick pointers about writing your bullet points (see what I did there?):
1. Be Specific
Recruiters want to know what you actually did in your previous roles—but figuring out how much to share can be tricky. Most companies use internal lingo that doesn’t make much sense to outsiders, which can make your bullet points confusing. So here’s a tip: imagine explaining your job at Thanksgiving to your aunt or uncle. Would you say, “I delivered a QTR to the VP of Product Development for the tiger team on Organizational Effectiveness”? Probably not.
Instead, you'd say something like, “I organize and present key performance indicators to upper management every quarter.” It's clear, specific, and easy to understand—even if your aunt still has no idea what a KPI is.
2. Show Breadth of Experience
Each bullet point is an opportunity to highlight something new about your experience. If you know a coding language—awesome! Include it. But don’t list the same skill in every single job. Instead, ask yourself: what else did I do? Maybe you reviewed code, led a team, or managed timelines. Show the variety of your responsibilities so your resume reflects your full range of experience.
3. Customize it to the Job
Most companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)—a tool that helps recruiters review and score resumes. To get past the ATS, you need to speak their language. That means using similar terminology to what's in the job post and highlighting the experiences that match what they’re looking for. A little customization goes a long way.
Updating your resume can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. That’s where Hirelingo comes in. We help transform your resume into a powerful, personalized tool by making it specific (and clear), highlighting a range of experience, and tailoring it to the job you're applying for. Because you’ve done the work—now let’s help you show it off.