Every bullet must earn its place
Under each job, your bullets are where the reader decides whether to believe you. A bullet that only describes your duties tells them little. A bullet that proves something makes them want to meet you.
One bullet, one claim
Each bullet should make a single claim and back it up. Two claims in one line weaken both. A claim with no support reads as a duty.
Good backing usually includes at least one of these:
- Scale. How big, how many or how much.
- A measure. A before-and-after change.
- A method. How you achieved it.
Choose bullets for the reader
You may be proudest of your hardest achievement. But the reader cares about what matches their posting. Before writing bullets for a role, list the posting's top requirements. Then choose bullets that show those. Your proudest moment can wait for a job where it fits.
Vary the shape
Bullets that all start the same way read like a list of chores. Mix different patterns. Some can lead with scale. Others can describe a problem, your action and the outcome. Others can show something you introduced and its effect.
Specific beats impressive
Precise details show you were really there. "Supervised weekly stock counts at three Kisumu outlets" is more convincing than "oversaw operations across the region". Avoid vague, inflated phrases.
Honesty under pressure
Someone on the panel may have done your job. They will question numbers that do not sound right. If you are unsure of a figure, round it and say "about". If a result belonged to the team, explain your part.
How many bullets
Give your current and previous roles the most space. Earlier roles need fewer bullets. Very old roles may need only a single line. Do not delete short or unrelated jobs entirely, because unexplained gaps raise questions.
Try it now
Pick your current role. Write down the top three requirements from a posting you want. Check whether each has a matching bullet. If not, write one with scale or a result.
In the full lesson
- A weak bullet rebuilt into a strong one, with each part explained
- Four reliable bullet shapes, each with a worked example
- Exact guidance on how many bullets each role should get
- How to describe team results honestly without underselling yourself