When listed properly, achievements on a CV are often the key to securing a job interview. They grab recruiters’ attention and help your application stand out from all the others. This is paramount because hiring managers rarely spend much time on a single CV, but they might if your accomplishments are impressive enough.
In this article, we will teach you how to include achievements on a CV, where to add them, and what mistakes to avoid. Furthermore, we will provide numerous examples for various industries to inspire you when writing your own application.
Key Takeaways
CV accomplishments show what you’ve achieved in your past position and demonstrate your skills and capabilities to your potential employer.
To write about achievements on a CV, you should use action verbs, include a time frame, highlight measurable results, and provide a scale for your contributions.
You can include achievements in work experience, CV summary, and a dedicated achievements section; if you’re a student, add your accomplishments to the education and volunteering sections.
Avoid being vague, focusing on responsibilities, using passive language, adding irrelevant achievements, exaggerating, or writing long paragraphs.
What Are Achievements on a CV?
Achievements on a CV are particularly impressive contributions in your past positions, academic pursuits, or personal life. They showcase what you’re capable of and demonstrate the skills you’re bringing to your new role.
Considering that, it’s hardly a wonder most employers like to see career accomplishments on a CV. After all, they are more persuasive than claims that you possess a particular skill without any proof to back them up. Also, they are verifiable, so recruiters can check whether you’re truly capable of everything you’ve included on your application.
Achievements vs. Responsibilities
Although the distinction between achievements and responsibilities should be clear, many candidates confuse the two and write about their duties rather than their accomplishments. However, this is a mistake; recruiters don’t need to hear about your responsibilities, as they already know what your previous position entailed.
Achievements, on the other hand, are interesting because they demonstrate what you have accomplished that not many others have. They help your CV stand out from the crowd and explain why you’re a good fit.
Now, let’s see what precisely the difference between achievements and responsibilities is, using real examples:
The Difference Between Achievements And Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Answered customer phone calls and emails.
Achievements:
Resolved 94% of customer inquiries during the first phone call, raising satisfaction scores by 18%.
Types of Achievements
Different types of accomplishments you can put on a CV include the following:
Professional achievements (increased revenues, improved processes, reduced costs, exceeded targets)
Academic achievements (high grades, honours, grants, scholarships, awards, dissertations, projects, conferences, competitions)
Volunteering achievements (charity events, raising funds, community programmes, engagement in non-profit organisations)
Personal achievements (new skills and languages, overcoming challenges, sports awards, art recognition, competitions)
All these can find their place on a CV, but professional achievements are, without a doubt, the most important ones.
How to Write Achievements on a CV?
To write achievements on a CV, you should consider the following tips:
Use action verbs. Action verbs, such as “administered,” “developed,” “designed,” “contributed,” and “created,” are highly impactful and make you appear proactive when included on a CV. Therefore, it’s wise to start every description of an achievement with one of these verbs.
Include a timeframe. Including a time frame, such as “within a year” or “in a single quarter,” gives your accomplishments context. The shorter the timeframe for achieving something, the more impressive the achievement.
Add measurable results. Measurable results on a CV demonstrate your effectiveness and show the recruiter what you might be able to accomplish in the new workplace, too. Thus, they are particularly important and should be included whenever possible.
Illustrate the scale of your accomplishments. The scale of your accomplishments refers to their impact or reach; for instance, the number of people you managed or the value of the project you worked on. Once again, this data backs up your credibility and proves your worth.
That said, the best way to spot the difference between correctly and incorrectly written achievements is through examples:
Incorrect:
Wrote many articles.
Correct:
Produced 400+ pieces of written content over 2 years, increasing the click-through rate by 45%.
Where to Include Achievements on a CV?
On a CV, you should include achievements in the work experience section, CV summary, or the dedicated achievements section. If you are a student, you can do so in the education or volunteer experience sections, too.
Now, we’ll show you how to discuss achievements in each of these sections.
#1. Work Experience
The work experience section is the most common place to include accomplishments, as recruiters are particularly interested in work achievements. It’s simple to do so; you just have to write 3–6 short bullet points under each entry.
Here’s a short example:
Highlighting Achievements in Work Experience
Work Experience
Editor XYZ Company May 2022–September 2024
Edited and proofread 1000+ articles, maintaining a 99.9% error-free rate.
Mentored 5 writers, helping them adjust to our company’s voice and improving their efficiency by 22%.
Streamlined content workflow to reduce turnaround time by 23%.
#2. CV Summary
Since the summary is very short, it typically contains only one key achievement on the CV, complete with measurable results, action verbs, and specific phrasing. Here’s what that usually looks like:
Key Achievement in Your CV Summary
CV Summary
Detail-oriented editor with 5+ years of experience proofreading content, streamlining workflows, and training new writers. Edited and proofread 1000+ articles over the course of my career, maintaining a 99.9% error-free rate. Known for my accuracy, meticulous approach, and excellent communication skills.
#3. Dedicated Achievements Section
Although it’s optional, you can create a dedicated achievements section on your CV to include those accomplishments that don’t fit in elsewhere. For instance, this section is the right choice if you want to mention some relevant personal or volunteering achievements that can’t be added to work experience.
However, even though it’s a separate section, the same rules still apply; use bullet points, action verbs, and measurable results. This is what this section may look like:
Optional Achievements Section
Achievements
Raised £5,000 for cancer research through community fundraising and charity events.
Organised an effort to feed the homeless in my community, reaching 50+ people.
Completed three 10K marathons in the past two years.
#4. Student/No Experience CV
If you’re a student or have no work experience, you won’t be able to write about your achievements in the section about your professional background. Instead, you should do so in the education or volunteering sections.
So, here’s what achievements on a CV for students may look like:
Highlighting Achievements Without Work Experience
Education
BA (Hons) English Language and Literature University of Greenwich, London, UK October 2023–Present
Achieved First Class (79%) in the first year.
Became an editor for the student-led university newspaper.
Received a student award for my research paper on Shakespeare and gender roles in his works.
Volunteering
Volunteer Public Library, London, UK January 2024–March 2024
Organised community reading programmes attended by 20+ locals of all ages.
Developed a new cataloguing system that increased efficiency by 20%.
Promoted the library on social media, leading to a 14% increase in sign-ups for membership.
80 Examples of CV Achievements
Now, here are some examples of career achievements to add to your CV and boost its impact:
#1. Marketing
Increased social media engagement by 50% in 3 months using content strategies targeting specific demographics.
Secured 10+ media features in industry publications, improving my company’s visibility and credibility.
Boosted website traffic by 40% in a single quarter through SEO optimisation and content marketing.
Managed a marketing budget of £80,000 and reduced costs by 16% through vendor negotiations.
#2. Finance
Identified cost-saving opportunities that reduced operational expenses by 16% annually.
Improved cash flow forecasting accuracy from 80% to 90%, which led to better investment decisions.
Secured £1,500,000 in funding through detailed analyses and investor presentations.
Managed an annual budget of £500,000 for 10 years.
#3. Customer Service
Maintained a 97% customer satisfaction rate for the entire duration of my employment at XYZ Company.
Resolved 85% of customer issues during the first call, improving customer loyalty and retention.
Handled 40–50 tickets daily, while maintaining high-quality service standards.
Upsold products and services during support calls, generating an additional £30,000 in annual income.
#4. Administration
Streamlined office procedures, using management software to improve efficiency by 25%.
Coordinated schedules for a team of 15 members, ensuring their smooth cooperation.
Introduced a centralised scheduling system to reduce the number of calendar conflicts by 45%.
Implemented reporting templates that improved management’s access to real-time data by 45%.
#5. Management
Led a team of 15 employees, achieving a 95% project completion rate on time and within budget.
Reduced staff turnover by 20% by implementing employee development and recognition programmes.
Developed a new training programme that improved onboarding efficiency by 44%.
Aligned team strategy with company objectives, driving sales growth by 23% in half a year.
#6. Software Engineering
Developed a web application that handled 8,000+ daily users with 99.9% uptime.
Led a migration from legacy systems to cloud infrastructure, which decreased the hosting costs by 23%.
Designed and implemented a new feature that increased user engagement by 40%.
Improved system security by introducing multi-factor authentication, which reduced vulnerabilities by 38%.
#7. Hospitality
Consistently achieved 95% guest satisfaction rates on popular booking websites.
Implemented a new booking system that reduced booking errors by 46%.
Resolved guest complaints efficiently, reducing the number of negative reviews by 65%.
Boosted guest loyalty by promoting membership programmes, which led to a 23% increase in repeat bookings.
#8. Data Entry
Maintained a 99.9% accuracy rate while entering and verifying large volumes of data.
Implemented a new strategy for quality control checks and validation, which resulted in a 30% reduction of data entry errors.
Assisted in digitising over 10,000 documents to improve their accessibility and retrieval speed.
Received the staff recognition award two months in a row for outstanding attention to detail and reliability.
#9. Human Resources
Successfully recruited and onboarded 50+ employees across multiple departments in one year.
Implemented training programmes that improved employee performance by 20%.
Created diversity and inclusion policies that increased minority representation by 21%.
Launched an employee engagement initiative that improved their satisfaction by 17%.
#10. Aviation
Maintained a 100% safety record by adhering to regulations and protocol.
Coordinated group operations that ensured 98% of departures were on time.
Resolved in-flight issues, contributing to a 97% positive feedback score from passengers.
Implemented a new maintenance scheduling system to reduce aircraft downtime by 19%.
#11. Dentistry
Treated 100+ patients in a month, retaining a 95% patient satisfaction rate.
Introduced optimised appointment scheduling to reduce patient wait times by 33%.
Conducted preventive care programmes to decrease cavity incidence in patients by 17%.
Performed root canals, crowns, and other complex procedures with a 99% success and satisfaction rate.
#12. Education
Developed and implemented a new curriculum that increased student engagement and participation by 31%.
Led a school-wide literacy programme, boosting reading comprehension rates by 22%.
Collaborated with parents and staff to develop individualised learning plans for students with special needs, improving their outcomes by 40%.
Introduced digital learning tools, which resulted in a 20% increase in classroom efficienc
#13. Construction
Successfully completed 15+ residential and commercial projects with high client satisfaction.
Introduced sustainability measures to reduce project waste by 37%.
Managed construction projects worth £2,000,000, delivering the results on time and within budget.
Improved site safety through training and strict compliance, reducing workplace incidents by 39%.
#14. Engineering
Developed a new filtration system, receiving a patent and increasing efficiency by 29%.
Led a team of 10 civil engineers on a project that was completed 3 months ahead of schedule.
Automated repetitive engineering calculations, saving 200+ hours annually.
Conducted testing and quality control that improved product reliability by 40%.
#15. Graphic Design
Developed a brand identity for a startup, resulting in a 60% growth in social media following within half a year.
Created digital campaigns that generated over 10,000 impressions and boosted click-through rates by 37%.
Redesigned a company logo, contributing to a 25% increase in brand recognition.
Improved workflow efficiency by creating design templates and asset libraries, which helped reduce repetitive work by 34%.
#16. Content Writing
Produced over 200 high-quality articles and landing pages that increased website traffic by 47%.
Wrote email campaigns with an average open rate of 42% and click-through rate of 20%.
Optimised content to achieve a top 5 Google ranking for crucial keywords.
Implemented content strategies that boosted social media engagement by 44%.
#17. Editing
Edited and proofread 200+ articles, maintaining a 99% error-free rate.
Streamlined editing process to reduce content turnaround time by 23%.
Mentored a group of 6 content writers, teaching them how to appropriately implement SEO strategies and maintain a consistent brand voice.
Edited marketing materials that contributed to a 22% increase in campaign effectiveness.
#18. Healthcare
Administered care to 50+ patients daily, maintaining a 97% patient satisfaction rate.
Contributed to a public healthcare initiative that increased local participation in check-up exams by 33%.
Administered vaccinations and preventive care methods, increasing patient coverage by 29%.
Managed electronic health records, improving data accuracy and retrieval efficiency by 22%.
#19. Acting
Performed in 30+ stage productions and 3 films, receiving generally positive feedback from the audience and critics.
Played a leading role in a movie that grossed £10,000,000 worldwide.
Received the best actor award at a local film festival.
Assisted in promoting productions through my social media accounts with over 10,000 followers.
#20. Photography
Captured and edited 1,000+ professional photos for events, brands, and promotions.
Sold 200+ prints in a solo photography exhibition.
Mastered post-processing techniques that helped me reduce editing time by 33%.
Won a photography award for my landscape series.
What If Your Job Isn’t Achievement-Oriented?
If your job isn’t achievement-oriented, you might struggle to include measurable results on your CV. After all, you likely don’t know your actual impact; or, at the very least, not the numbers.
However, you should still include achievements and be as specific as possible, but focus on the times you helped your team, received recognition, or improved a process. Highlight your soft skills instead of the results, and your value will surely be recognised.
To illustrate, here are some examples:
Including Achievements in Non-Result-Oriented Jobs
Won a staff recognition award three months in a row.
Mentored a team of young writers, helping them improve their efficiency, performance, and style.
Mediated disputes between colleagues, ensuring smooth collaboration on projects.
Which Common Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Achievements to Your CV?
Common mistakes to avoid when adding achievements to your CV include the following:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Being vague. A lack of context and information can backfire, making your achievements sound generic and unconvincing. That’s the last thing you want; recruiters should read your CV and be impressed, not uninterested.
Focusing only on responsibilities. Many candidates mistakenly write about their past duties in the work experience section, but this is usually a waste of space. Recruiters know what most jobs in a particular field entail, so there’s no need to tell them that; instead, they want to hear how you’ve contributed.
Using passive language. Passive language makes you appear passive, too; note the difference between “was in charge of a team” and “led a team.” You should show proactivity by using words that demonstrate action and place the focus on your contributions.
Adding irrelevant achievements. Everything on your CV should be relevant to the position you’re applying for, including your achievements. Refrain from adding those that don’t demonstrate relevant skills or experiences.
Exaggerating. You may be tempted to bump the numbers or claim you’ve done something you haven’t, but this isn’t a good idea. It’s best not to lie on your CV; after all, your employer’s likely to find out the truth about your capabilities eventually.
Using long paragraphs. Achievements should be described in a single sentence; there’s no need to write more than the basic information. If you want to elaborate on anything further, use your cover letter or talk about it during the interview.
Create a Professional CV Within Minutes
If you’re still not sure how to effectively include achievements on your application, use our CV builder for assistance. All you have to do is enter the required information, follow the instructions, and pick an adequate CV template; you’ll have a submission-ready document in less than 15 minutes!
However, if you want to write your own application from scratch, you can consult our CV examples for some inspiration. We have an extensive selection for various industries, so you’ll surely find something that suits your needs.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand how to include achievements on your CV to maximise their impact and impress recruiters. The key is specificity; the more context you include, the better your odds and the more likely you are to stand out from other candidates.
Achievements on CV FAQ
#1. Are achievements important for CVs?
Achievements are important for CVs because they illustrate your skills and capabilities better than anything else. A concrete accomplishment, backed up by measurable data, demonstrates to your employer that you have a proven track record of reliability and good work ethic.
#2. Should I put achievements under each job role or in a separate section?
You should put your achievements under each job role, but you can also add them to a separate section if they don’t fit elsewhere. For instance, if you want to talk about a personal accomplishment that might contribute to your employability, you should list it in a separate section.
#3. How many achievements should I include on my CV?
You should include 3–6 achievements per role on your CV and, optionally, add a few more in a separate section. Select the most relevant ones, describe them as specifically as possible, and include measurable outcomes to demonstrate their impact.
#4. Can I include personal or academic achievements on my CV?
You can include personal or academic achievements on your CV if they are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Academic accomplishments can be listed in the education section under the appropriate entries, while personal achievements typically require a separate section.
