Why Bullet Points Matter on Your Resume
Let’s be honest—no one likes reading giant blocks of text on a resume. That’s where bullet points come in. They make your resume easier to skim and help your achievements stand out. But there’s a catch: not all bullet points are created equal.
You can’t just list job duties and expect to impress anyone. You need bullet points that show results, that make a recruiter think, "Wow, this person gets things done." So how do you do that? Let’s break it down.
The Basics: What Makes a Good Bullet Point?
A strong bullet point has three main parts:
- Action Verb: What did you do?
- Task or Responsibility: What was your role?
- Result or Impact: What was the outcome?
Example:
- "Led a team of 10 in executing a major logistics operation, reducing delivery time by 20%."
Notice how this isn’t just about the task ("led a team"). It also shows the impact ("reducing delivery time by 20%"). That’s what makes it powerful.
Don’t Just List Duties—Show Results
One of the biggest mistakes people make is turning their resume into a job description.
Weak Bullet Point:
- "Responsible for managing inventory."
Impactful Bullet Point:
- "Managed inventory of over 1,000 items, reducing stock discrepancies by 30% through improved tracking methods."
See the difference? The second one shows not just what you did, but how you made a difference.
Use Numbers Whenever You Can
Numbers make your achievements more credible. They add a sense of scale and impact. But you don’t need to turn your resume into a math problem. Even simple metrics can make a big difference.
Examples:
- "Trained 50+ new recruits, improving team performance by 40%."
- "Saved the company $15,000 annually by optimizing supply chain processes."
If you don’t have exact numbers, that’s okay—estimates are fine as long as they’re honest.
Action Verbs Make Everything Stronger
Starting your bullet points with action verbs keeps them clear and direct. Here are some great action verbs to get you started:
- Achieved
- Reduced
- Improved
- Led
- Implemented
- Coordinated
- Streamlined
Weak Bullet Point:
- "Was responsible for customer service."
Impactful Bullet Point:
- "Resolved customer inquiries and complaints, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rate."
It’s all about taking ownership of your actions.
Translate Military Experience into Civilian Language
If you’re a veteran (or anyone coming from a specialized field), avoid using jargon that a civilian recruiter might not understand.
Military Jargon:
- "Served as NCOIC of supply operations."
Civilian Translation:
- "Led supply chain operations for a team of 20, ensuring on-time delivery of mission-critical supplies."
Remember, the goal is for anyone reading your resume to understand your impact immediately.
Tailor Your Bullet Points to the Job You Want
Not every achievement needs to be on every resume. Focus on the ones that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
If you’re applying for a management role, highlight leadership and team achievements. If it’s a technical role, emphasize your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
How Career Compass Makes It Easy
If writing bullet points still feels like a struggle, you’re not alone. That’s why Career Compass by Vetnet.Social is here to help. It offers:
- AI-Powered Suggestions: Get optimized bullet points that highlight your achievements.
- Resume Scoring: See how your bullet points perform and get instant feedback.
- Keyword Optimization: Make sure your bullet points match the job description for better ATS performance.
👉 Try Career Compass now and see how it can transform your resume: https://compass.vetnet.social
Conclusion
A resume is more than just a list of your job duties—it’s your personal sales pitch. And your bullet points are the most powerful part of that pitch.
So next time you update your resume, don’t just list what you did. Show how you made a difference.