- Ed Herzog
- September 25, 2025
- 9:27 pm
- 0 comments
If you’ve ever wondered why some résumés seem to leap off the page while others sink into the “maybe” pile, the answer is often hiding in plain sight: the bullet points.
I review hundreds of résumés every year, and the pattern is unmistakable. Top candidates don’t just list what they were responsible for. They demonstrate impact. Their bullet points tell concise, data-backed stories that make hiring managers think, I need to talk to this person.
Below are three proven strategies you can use right now to turn flat, forgettable bullets into powerful proof of your value.
1) Lead with Results, Not Tasks
Most résumés read like job descriptions:
❌ Managed social media accounts and created content for company platforms.
It’s not wrong but it’s forgettable. Anyone with the same job title could write the same thing.
Instead, flip the script and start with the result you achieved:
✅ Grew Instagram following from 5,000 to 25,000 in six months by developing a targeted content strategy and implementing paid advertising campaigns.
See the difference? The second bullet tells me what happened because you were there. It shows growth, a time frame, and the action you took to make it happen.
How to apply it:
- Scan each bullet. If it starts with a verb like “Managed,” “Responsible for,” or “Assisted,” ask yourself: What was the outcome?
- Replace vague duties with a measurable achievement: percentage growth, dollars saved, time reduced, customers reached.
Think of it as shifting from “I did tasks” to “I delivered results.” That’s the language of top candidates.
2) Use the “BY” Formula
A quick trick to strengthen any bullet is the simple Achievement BY Action formula:
[Result] BY [specific action you took]
It forces you to name both the outcome and the method. Here are a few examples:
- Reduced customer complaints 40% BY designing and implementing a new training program.
- Saved $250K annually BY automating manual reporting processes.
- Increased team productivity 25% BY redesigning workflow systems.
This structure does two important things:
- It keeps you concise. You’re naturally limited to one clean sentence.
- It proves cause and effect. You didn’t just hope productivity rose. You drove the increase with a specific step.
Try it as a rewrite exercise:
Take one of your current bullets, write “BY” in the middle, and fill in the blanks. Even if you tweak the final wording, the exercise will sharpen your thinking.
3) Add Scale and Scope
Hiring managers need context to appreciate your accomplishments. Saying “Led a team” is a start, but it leaves questions:
- How many people?
- How large was the budget?
- What was the volume of work?
Adding scale and scope paints the full picture:
❌ Supervised customer service team
✅ Led 15-person customer service team handling 500+ inquiries daily for a Fortune 500 retail client.
Now we know this wasn’t a small side project. It was a high-stakes operation.
Consider these elements of scope you can weave in:
- Numbers of people: direct reports, cross-functional partners, clients served.
- Financials: revenue, budget, cost savings, deal size.
- Volume or reach: number of transactions, global markets, site traffic.
Even if your role wasn’t “big,” you can often show scale. For example, a teacher might note, “Taught 120 students across four grade levels,” which conveys responsibility and organization.
Putting It All Together
Think of each bullet point as prime real estate on a crowded street. Space is limited, attention spans are shorter, and you pay “rent” in the form of the opportunity cost of what else you could say. Don’t waste that space on vague statements.
A quick checklist before you hit save:
- Specific results: Did I show measurable impact—numbers, percentages, dollars, or clear outcomes?
- Concrete actions: Did I highlight the steps I took, not just team efforts or job duties?
- Clarity and brevity: Could a recruiter grasp the value in five seconds?
If you can answer “yes” to all three, you’re in star territory.
Final Thought
Your résumé is more than a record of where you’ve worked; it’s a marketing document that sells your ability to deliver results. When you lead with achievements, use the BY formula, and add scale and scope, you transform your bullet points from bland descriptions into powerful mini-case studies.
That’s how you stand out in a stack of applications—and land the interview you deserve.
Copyright © 2025 Ed Herzog