The #1 Content Mistake Recruiters See on Resumes - and How to Fix It
Most resumes read like a job description. Learn the simple formula that turns flat responsibility bullets into accomplishment-driven proof of your impact.
FREE RESOURCE
Not ready to book? Start uncovering your hidden accomplishments with this free guided worksheet - the same one I use with my consulting clients!
THE PROBLEM
Your Resume Lists What You Did.
It Should Prove What You Achieved.
Here's the truth: hiring managers skim your resume for about 7 seconds. If every bullet starts with "Responsible for…" or "Managed…" you sound like every other applicant with your title. Responsibilities describe the role. Accomplishments describe you.
The difference is subtle on the surface but massive in impact. One tells an employer what the job looked like. The other tells them what happened because you were the one doing it.
Responsibilities
WHAT YOUR WERE EXPECTED TO DO
X
Managed a team of five sales associates
X
Developed weekly email campaigns
Oversaw the quarterly reporting process
X
Accomplishments
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY ACHIEVED
Grew team revenue 22% by restructuring territory assignments
Improved campaign open rates from 18% to 42% by A/B testing subject lines
Reduced quarterly reporting process time by 30 hours/month by streamlining data sources
See the difference? The top section could be copied from any job posting. The bottom section can only come from you — and that's exactly what gets you the interview.
THE FRAMEWORK
The X-Y-Z Formula for Accomplishment Bullets
Originally popularized by Laszlo Bock, former SVP of People at Google — and the formula I use with every client.
X
What You Accomplished
The achievement itself - the win, the initative, the result you drove.
Y
How It Was Measured
The metric, number, proof - the evidence that makes it credible.
Z
How You Did It
The method, approach, process, or action - the strategy behind the result.
EXAMPLE BULLET USING X-Y-Z
-
Grew revenue for 15 small-to-mid-size clients in financial services by 10% quarter-over-quarter by mapping new software features as solutions to their business goals.
CLIENT RESULTS
What Happens When You Get This Right
Mid-career Professional - Transitioned to senior role
“Christina completely transformed how I thought about my career on paper. I went from listing duties to actually showing the impact I'd made — and I started getting callbacks within two weeks."
Marketing Director - Resume rewrite clilent
"I had no idea my resume was just a copy of my job description until Christina walked me through the difference. The X-Y-Z approach made everything click. I finally felt like my resume sounded like me."
C-suite Candidate - 10 years in same role
“When we talked through my experience, I realized I wasn't communicating the business impacts, only what my actions were.”
WANT EXPERT HELP?
Resume Refresh
$300
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Best for professionals with an existing resume
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7+ years of experience
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2 rounds of edits with Zoom check-ins between rounds
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Resume only
MOST POPULAR | RESUME + LINKEDIN
Career Story & Branding
$500
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Best for professionals with 10+ years of experience
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Needing to better clarify their career story
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Good for long tenures at one company or frequent career changers
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3 rounds of edits with Zoom check-ins
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Resume and LinkedIn headline suggestions
Executive Positioning
$700
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Best for c-suite candidates, c-suite + 2 levels - VPs and Directors
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Targeting a $200K+ base comp role
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3 rounds of edits with Zoom check-ins
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Resume and full LinkedIn optimization suggestions
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Unlimited revisions (30 days)
You've seen the framework — now imagine what it looks like when a strategist with 20+ years of marketing and branding experience applies it to your entire career story.
©2026. Resume Services by Christina Martin. christinamartin.com