In this article we discuss the importance of including your accomplishments on your CV and how it will benefit your job search.
We appreciate there are a lot of CV advice articles online already, but most just discuss how to construct your CV. In this article we drill down on one of the most important elements of your CV… your accomplishments. If you haven't included accomplishments on your CV then here's how you do it...
Why are accomplishments important?
Remember, an employer WANTS to know what you have accomplished and it will be one of the first things they look at. So including your achievements clearly is key to helping you with being considered for the role you are applying for. It will help to indicate how hiring you will benefit their business and the value you will bring.
Being modest = underselling yourself
Modesty is an endearing trait, but during the application process modesty will only lead to underselling what you have achieved, your skills and your ambitions. So for each role listed on your CV we suggest you include 3-5 key accomplishments within the role clearly and concisely.
What are accomplishments?
It’s simple really, accomplishments are results you have achieved, which positively impacted your employer. This could be something you implemented that helped create more efficiency, it could be successfully completing a project on time and within budget or it could be something you did which saved money or created revenue for the business.
Often we see people include work duties in accomplishments, this is not what this section of your CV is about… it’s to highlight successes not what you do on a day to day basis.
Are you struggling to think of your accomplishments
OK, so if you’re struggling to think of clear accomplishments to include on your CV, then the best thing to do is think about your proudest moments. Have there been any times where you had to overcome a challenge at work, have you done something which positively changed the outcome of a project or a bid, or have you received praise from your manager or team leader for something you did? Think about it, write it down and work out how you can include a measurable to it, to make it an accomplishment!
Examples of accomplishments
Lastly, here are a couple of examples of well laid out accomplishments to get your creative juices flowing:
Example 1: Worked closely with clients to deliver a project. In our feedback survey, 95% of all clients were satisfied with the outcome.
Example 2: Took 8 active building projects from research to development to completion in under 2 years.
Example 3: Increased performance of the engineering team by 15%, to successfully meet end-of-year KPIs.
Looking for more CV advice?
We have written a number of helpful articles to help you write a CV that will improve your chances when applying for jobs, including the power of numbers on your CVand 3 pieces of information every CV must have.
Looking for a new job?
We have a huge number of great opportunities with great employers across the Canadian construction, civils, rail, power and telecoms sectors. Search our current construction jobs, civils jobs, rail jobs, power jobs and telecoms jobs.
Get in touch with our recruitment specialists
If you are keen to discuss your current situation and want to find out how we can help you make your next career step then get in touch with our team of recruitment experts. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you and your career progress.
