Important information about your job search

Turning A Job Description Into An Achievement

In a session with one of the people we've coached - a woman who had worked for a rehabilitation group for seven years - she remarked: "It's hard to turn my job descriptions into achievements." We hear that remark often.

We had been talking about this job description in her resume:

"Responsible for developing a network of relationships with case managers, provider associations, funding sources, financial planners, trial lawyers, trust officers and related referral sources..."

So we asked her the following question:
"What was the result of the work you did in building a network?"

"The client base went from ten individuals when I started to seventy."

"That's an increase of 700%, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"And in terms of revenue, how much is each client worth to the organization?"

"At least one hundred thousand dollars."

"So you raised revenues from one million dollars to seven million dollars, is that right?"

"I guess I never thought of it in those terms," she said.

"So you could write as two distinct accomplishments in that job that, as the person in charge of admissions, you increased the client base by 700%, and you grew revenues from clients from $1,000,000 to $7,000,000?"

"Yes," she said, and paused, " - and when you say it that way, it sounds pretty impressive."

"It is ... and it ought to go in your resume. Don't you think an employer might be interested in hiring someone who could increase the client base and raise revenues that much for them?" 

Read related articles >>