How to Make Your Resume Stand Out: Show, Don’t Tell

Introduction

When it comes to creating a standout resume, one crucial mistake most people make is simply listing their previous jobs and responsibilities. The truth is, having a job is not enough. What truly makes a resume stand out is demonstrating that you were good—no, great—at your job.

Unfortunately, most resumes only accomplish the former. They focus on what you did rather than how well you did it.

Shift the Focus: Evidence of Excellence

So how do you prove that you were great at your job?

That’s your assignment for today.

For each position you include on your resume, sit down and ask yourself this simple but powerful question:

“What is the evidence that I was good at my job?”

This single question shifts your resume from a list of duties to a showcase of achievements. It invites you to go deeper than just outlining tasks and prompts you to reflect on your impact, growth, and successes. This evidence will form the basis for your resume bullet points.

Here’s why this is critical: Employers aren’t just hiring someone to perform tasks—they’re hiring someone who will deliver value and make a positive impact. Your job is to highlight how you’ve done that.

Turning Responsibilities Into Achievements

Let’s break this down further. Instead of stating your responsibilities (which everyone who’s had that job could also list), focus on quantifiable results and concrete accomplishments.

For example:

Instead of this:

  • Managed a team of 10 customer service representatives.

Try this:

  • Led a team of 10 customer service representatives, increasing customer satisfaction scores by 20% through targeted training and process improvements.

Notice the difference? The second version not only tells what you did but also proves you were successful at it by including specific results.

Tips for Highlighting Evidence of Success

  • Quantify your impact: Numbers are powerful. Whether it’s a percentage increase in sales, a reduction in customer complaints, or cost savings, use data to illustrate your accomplishments.

  • Highlight awards or recognition: If you’ve received formal recognition, promotions, or awards in your role, don’t be afraid to mention them. These are strong indicators that you were highly effective.

  • Focus on outcomes: Instead of focusing on the process, emphasize the outcomes. What was the result of your work? What was better because you were in that role?

  • Use action verbs: Strong action verbs like “led,” “improved,” “implemented,” “increased,” or “streamlined” give your achievements weight and demonstrate initiative and leadership.

The Resume Bullet Point Transformation

Let’s go back to the exercise. Sit down and revisit each position on your resume.

Ask yourself: What is the evidence that I was great at this job?

For example:

  • Did you implement a new system that saved time or money?
  • Did you lead a project that exceeded its goals?
  • Did you train team members, and as a result, saw improved performance?
  • Did you take initiative to solve a problem others hadn’t addressed?

Once you have this evidence, reframe your bullet points. Make each one a testament to your impact, not just a recap of your duties.

Setting Yourself Apart From the Competition

Including this kind of information on your resume—evidence that you excelled at your job—is what will set you apart from your competition. Most resumes simply don’t go this far. They tell, but they don’t show. By providing real proof of your effectiveness, you create a resume that leaves a lasting impression on hiring managers and recruiters.

Remember, it’s not just about what you did, but how well you did it. And when your resume reflects that, you elevate yourself from just another applicant to a top contender.

Take the time today to revisit your resume with this in mind, and see how you can transform it into a powerful document that tells the story of your success.

Because being great at your job isn’t something you should just assume people know—show them.