CV Writing Tips : How to highlight Your Achievements, Example Included

By SeliphaKihagi

Employers in Kenya are always looking to find suitable candidates to join their team and the one document that communicates best the value a job seeker will be bringing the organization, is the CV.

The CV entails different sections, and with each comes something the employer is looking for or not looking to find. Today we focus on the Achievements section on the CV and how you should go about it to get the job.

To come up with information that works for you in this section, you need to first understand what Achievements are.

What Are Your Achievements?

“Your achievements include something you have done beyond expectation, it is anything you have done that is not in your job description and done it well,” says Perminus Wainaina, a Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services.

These achievements should be quantifiable if they are to get you the job. Try as much as you can to detail what you did in terms of numbers, figures and if you can, use even percentages.

How Do You Present Your Achievements?

The achievements should be listed under the job or position you held at a particular organization and should be limited to only two, not more.

Why two? You need to only include achievements you have made very recently in the position. Achievements that were made two years ago or more will not count so much because the employer needs to know what you can do for them now.

When listing the achievements, remember to make them as personal as possible. Do not just list them down but reference yourself; use terms such as “I was able to do…” or “I did…” or “In my position as…”

Example of an Achievement

As an auditor for xyz company, I found out there was misappropriation of funds; money(indicate figure) was not accounted for.
I was then recommended the introduction of an improved monitoring system that enabled the company increase transparency by 16% (indicate actual figure).
When listing your achievements on the CV, remember that your course work or added qualifications, such as an MBA, is not an achievement. If you are a fresh graduate, your achievements something you did in your internship.

Always remember that a CV with achievements is of more importance than one with duties and responsibilities only.

According to “Brilliant CV: What employers want to see & how to say it”, applicants with CVs that are focused on achievements are three times more likely to be

shortlisted for an interview compared to applicants with duties-focused CVs.

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