One of the challenges I see job seekers facing when they send me their resume is distinguishing between scope and achievements.
But there is a difference.
Scope is the context within which you do your job. Think of it as the setting for you to razzle dazzle your audience with your amazing achievements.
Scope captures the breadth of your job and/or leadership. Examples might include the number of people on your team, the value of a portfolio you inherited, or the territory for which you’re accountable.
Scope is important to include because it demonstrates your ability to lead and manage initiatives.
But it’s those BIG, JUICY achievements that set you apart.
Example #1
Let’s use territory management as an example.
🌐 You’re talking about scope if you say you managed markets that included North America, Europe, and Asia.
🏆 BUT you’re talking about an achievement if you say you expanded that market by 80% in under two years.
Example #2
How about team leadership?
🌐 If you say you led a team of 150 high performers, you’re still talking about scope.
🏆 On the other hand, if you say you built a team of 150 high performers from scratch, that’s an achievement.
Example #3
Say you’re communicating what you do in sales.
🌐 If you simply say you managed a $60M portfolio, that’s scope.
🏆 However, if you say you grew your portfolio from $10M to $60M in one year…now that’s quite an achievement!
TIPS
🌐 Include scope in the paragraph under each job title.
🏆 Reserve your bullets for those BOLD and BODACIOUS impact stories.
By the way, if you’d like to get tips like this more frequently, I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn. Please do connect with me. You can find me here.
Here’s the link to the episode on Apple podcasts
Your feedback is valued!
Loved this episode? Follow Career Cohort on Apple, Spotify, and other major platforms—or sign up to get monthly tips delivered right to your mailbox (I guarantee no spam!).
We’d so appreciate a review and/or a 5-star rating. We provide an ad-free experience, so your support helps us reach new listeners and attract rockstar career experts so you can stay current on the latest tips and trends.
Thanks for listening!
Connect with me:
For more tips and advice for your job search, I post regularly on LinkedIn (emilysfwong), Instagram (@YourResumeCoach), Facebook (@CareersEmily), and Twitter (@CareersEmily)
You can also follow my blog, sign up for my monthly job search tips, and schedule a free discovery call right on this site.
Other episodes you’ll enjoy:
How to Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills Without a Formal Title