Writing Accomplishment Statements

A well-formulated accomplishment statement has two parts:

The results or benefits that came as an outcome of your work. These results/benefits should be stated in terms of the value-added and in as tangible and quantified a manner as possible.
The action you took to achieve those benefits/results. (What steps you took or what techniques you used.)

How to Write Accomplishment Statements

Always start with an action word.
1. Good: "Responsible for leading team for classroom assignments."
2. Stronger: "Directed team of 3 classmates to complete an assignment on time."
Use colorful and unique action words.
1. Good: "Started a new program."
2. Stronger: "Created and implemented a new mentoring program with 80% participation of residents."
Avoid wordiness and unnecessary adjectives.
1. "Provided training and mentoring to first-year students through superior planning."
2. "Organized "Teapot Exhibit" for 30 artists presenting interesting work."
Attempt to quantify at all times.
1. "Handled $1,000 in transactions every week."
2. "Routed over 100 calls daily to an Annual Giving staff of 10."
3. "Planned 3 campus-wide teas per semester."
When different elements are significant to the accomplishment, put them all in one accomplishment.
1. "Developed relationship with a local merchant, which increased food offerings at the student-run Miner Coffeehouse and doubled profits."
2. "Established recycling program in the residence halls which increased environmental awareness and decreased amount of trash by 10%."
State first the benefit to the employer and then what you did to accomplish that result.
1. Good: "Developed a marketing strategy that increased student involvement by 15%."
2. Stronger: "Increased student involvement by 15% through a creative marketing strategy."

"Saved $60 a year in service charges by proposing and acquiring a checking account at a new bank for College Council."
"Instituted residence hall tutoring program that increased average overall GPA from a 2.9 to a 3.3."
"Increased membership in ABC student club by 50% through creative advertising."
"Presented training for a new campus-wide email system to approximately 30% of the student body."

You should be able to answer "yes" to each of the following questions for each statement:

Does the statement begin with an action word?
Is that action word as colorful and descriptive as possible?
Are all other words and adjectives as descriptive as possible?
Are all unnecessary words eliminated?
Have you quantified everything that can be quantified?
Has the statement been put in terms of interest to the employer?
Have the results been stated before the action that you took to achieve them?
Is the statement as clear and concise as possible?
Does the statement speak to only one accomplishment, unless appropriate to include two?
Is it true?

When all the statements are finished, look at the whole list and check for these two things:

To help list your accomplishments, think of a time when you: