In times past it was acceptable to have a resumé that was little more than a grocery list of outdated tasks and duties that were performed at one point and time, but are no longer. My friend Jay Block (@JayBlockCareers) referred to these documents as "chronological obituaries". They did very little to accurately portray the individual's value or communicate the kind of skills the individual has acquired overtime. In the last four years the job market has changed considerably and along with it the resumé has changed.
Where as accomplishments my have once been considered an optional component of the resumé; something that could be included in the rare occasion that someone actually contributed something spectacular to their place of employment, that is no longer the case. Accomplishments, achievements, value add, recognition, etc, are among the most critical elements of the resume because they serve as the differentiating factor when all other factors are equal. In other words, accomplishments represent the individual's unique value.
Accomplishments are an illustration of the individual's value or demonstrated abilities/impact on the job. Therefore an accomplishment can range from the more visible forms of impact or contribution, such as receiving an award, merit increase, or promotion from the organization where they are employed, to more subtle illustrations of value, such as assisting in the transition of new leadership or serving as the point of contact for a particular scenario or circumstance, i.e. technical assistance or support when difficult occurrences present themselves. Accomplishments are critical because they demonstrate, to the prospective employer, the individuals practical abilities and skills. Accomplishments paint a picture, in a manner of speaking, of the value the individual can add to an organization. This is what makes accomplishments so critical and why they are a necessary component of the resume. To that end, ideally the individual is able to articulate 2 - 3 accomplishments from each of their previous employment opportunities listed on the resume. Including accomplishments everywhere the individual has worked demonstrates to the employer that the individual consistently adds value regardless of job title or organization. In this way the individual is associated with consistency and impact. As a result the employer is more apt to extend an invitation for an interview because they have a good idea of the kind of value the individual can add.
