4-6 bullet points per job on a resume is ok if you want your resume to stand out. You should be aware of the exceptions as well as the reason why in the following.
You might be surprised to learn that your resume doesn’t actually need to list every accomplishment you’ve ever had. That job at the fast food restaurant you had twenty years ago? the awful job you left after two months? the dozens of incredibly impressive achievements you made at your previous job that have nothing whatsoever to do with the position you’re applying for now? These don’t have to remain on your resume.
Table of Contents
What Are Bullet Points on a Resume?
How exactly do bullet points on a resume work? Let’s start there.
The main purpose of bullet points is to draw attention to your qualifications and accomplishments and to make a list that is simple to read.
Remember that hiring managers review numerous resumes each day.
They find what they need more quickly and effectively by using bullet points.
It also benefits you because the hiring manager will have no trouble identifying your qualifications.
Don’t get me wrong, though; don’t just use bullet points for their own sake.
A purpose is required.
Make sure that each bullet point in your application addresses a potential question the hiring manager may have about why you are the best candidate.
In order to improve your chances, you should use mainly action verbs.
They genuinely help you stand out from the competition.
How Many Bullet Points Per Job Should You Include?
The number of bullet points you use will vary depending on how recently you held the position, how much experience you have overall, and of course, how many relevant accomplishments you have.
Here are some general rules to keep in mind:
- Per role, aim for 4-6 bullet points.
- For your most recent role, it’s acceptable to list up to 8 bullet points.
- Older positions might only require one or two bullet points.
- If you held a job more than 10-15 years ago, omit the bullet points or leave it off your resume entirely.
- Choose fewer bullet points if doing so will prevent your resume from exceeding one page.
How Long Should Each Bullet Point Be?
The length of each bullet point in your list should also be something you pay attention to.
Be mindful of the length of the list and the length of each bullet point unless every accomplishment you have is particularly interesting.
A bullet point should be between one and two lines long.
Any more than that would be excessive and would again be detrimental to you.
If you really need to include more than you are allowed in your bullet list, you can always transfer some information in your Resume Summary or Cover Letter.
Your accomplishments will stand out more if your bullet list is strict.
When to Use Bullet Points in a Resume
Bullet points are beneficial for every resume format:
- Reverse Chronological Resume
- Functional Resume
- Hybrid Resume
Additionally, they can be used anywhere on the resume.
The most important bullet points you can include are in the Work Experience Section.
The accomplishments and responsibilities from previous positions should be listed in bullet points within this section.
The amount of experience you have and the type of job you are applying for will both have a significant impact on how many bullet points you should include; however, we will delve deeper into that subject later.
Other places you can include bullet points on your resume are:
- Education Section
- Resume Header
- Skills Section
If you’re ever undecided about whether to use a paragraph or a list of bullet points, always choose a list because hiring managers find them easier to read and they create a more favorable impression.
The Right Number of Bullet Points for Different Experience Levels
Entry Level Positions
Even if you lack much (or any) experience and are applying for an entry-level position, your resume still needs to include information. Internships, student placements, volunteer work, personal projects, and even coursework and extracurricular activities can all go on your resume in place of paid work experience. Just keep in mind to celebrate all of your accomplishments, no matter how modest they may be! Even including 2-3 relevant bullet points can be the key to landing your first position.
Mid-level Positions
It would be ideal if you had some experience in positions that are comparable to the one you are applying for. Start by listing your top accomplishments, then compare them to the requirements of the position. Pick 4-6 of the top skills or competencies the hiring manager is looking for and write your bullet points in a way that demonstrates those.
Senior Or Leadership Positions
If you’re well-established in your career and applying to more senior roles, it can be tempting to want to exceed the 4-6 bullet point rule. While up to 8 bullet points for your most recent job can be fine, anything more than that is going to make a recruiter’s eyes glaze over, no matter how impressive your accomplishments are.
Pay attention to your accomplishments that demonstrate your suitability for the position, such as starting or leading brand-new projects or significantly improving operations.
Freelance and Consulting
More than any other type of role, self-employment, freelance and consulting positions can benefit from a short blurb at the top describing what exactly the job entailed. Additionally, you might think about segmenting your bullet points into distinct clients or projects. Your bullet points should be the same even though your job may have been very different from a typical in-house position; emphasize your accomplishments, highlight the impact of your work with numbers, and don’t forget to include the traditional company name and job title.
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How to Write Resume Bullet Points?
Here are the key things to keep in mind about your resume bullet points:
- Always use bullet points— not paragraphs.
- Instead of concentrating on job duties, concentrate on accomplishments.
- Use a powerful action verb to begin your bullet point.
- Quantify accomplishmentswith metrics.
- Put the bullet points that are most pertinent to the position you’re applying for first.
- Show career progression with your bullet points.
- Use important keywords to improve your bullet points.
Where Else Can You Use Bullet Points?
Every section of your resume is a candidate for bullet points. In addition to your work experience section, you can format nearly every part of your resume using bullet points:
- Resume header
- Summary
- Skills
- Education
- Additional sections
Why Should You Use Bullet Points for Your Resume?
Employers are more likely to notice your skills and experience when you use bullet points in your resume. For describing your professional accomplishments and responsibilities for the jobs listed in your work experience section, bullet points are especially helpful. In order to organize information and make it easier to read, you can also use bullet points in your resume’s skills section and other places.
Do You Need Bullet Points for Every Position?
While it is not required, it would be preferable if you listed at least a few bullet points for each job position.
But that begs the question: Should you even include a position on your resume if you have no accomplishments to list for it?
You can omit the bullet list if the job description dates back ten years or more but is still current.
However, if it is a recent position, you shouldn’t skip your bullet list; instead, you should add at least a couple of bullet points.
The hiring manager might dismiss your resume if you only list recent employment without including a bulleted list of your accomplishments.
Can You Use Sub-bullet Points for Jobs on a Resume?
Your work experience section may contain sub-bullet points, but only if there are exceptional circumstances.
If you needed to mention the publisher of one of your publications or if you needed to include a certification number, for instance, you would need to include it as a sub-bullet point.
The sub-bullet points should not be used in any other circumstance.
Additionally, if you use too many sub-bullet points, your resume will start to look disorganized and messy.
Office Manager Resume Bullet Points Example
Mark Sanchez
202-555-0108
linkedin.com/in/msanchez_zety
Dedicated office manager looking to increase productivity at Prescott Global by leveraging proven leadership and mentoring skills. In a high-volume engineering firm, I was in charge of seven administrative assistants. spearheading efficiency drives that reduce costs by 25% yearly. 30% increase in the productivity of the admin team.
Work Experience
Office Manager
Sunco Steel, Seattle
June 2016–Present
- office coordination in a large-scale engineering firm. In order to maximize organizational effectiveness, I oversaw seven administrative assistants.
- achieved revenue targets with effective task scheduling control. removed redundant process steps, which resulted in a 45% reduction in processing times.
- supported online marketing initiatives, which promoted new contract growth. new customer accounts increased at a rate of 27% annually.
- All administrative team members’ daily work schedules were planned. team growth through constructive performance feedback and efficient yearly evaluations. 50% less turnover overall.
Office Assistant
Coniston Machine Supplies, Seattle
August 2012–June 2016
- performed efficiently as an administrative office assistant in a busy manufacturing company.
- Onboarded and mentored two new office assistants, including orientation training and acting as “onboarding buddy” during initial stages of employment.
- ordered supplies and oversaw inventory tracking. negotiated bulk purchase discounts with suppliers to save 20% on supplies contracts.
Education
Communication & Media BA, Seattle University, Washington
2009-2012
Skills
- Leadership skills
- Communication skills
- Business operations management
- Scheduling
- Inventory management
- Attention to detail
- Preparing reports
- Customer service
Hobbies & Interests
- Chess: Avid player and volunteer facilitator for community chess and checkers club
Foreign Languages
- Spanish: Fluent
Frequently Asked Questions
How Should You Format Resume Bullet Points?
Maintain a simple and easy-to-read format for your bullet points, just like the rest of your resume. Stick to standard bullet point symbols; automatic bullets or dashes are acceptable, but stay away from images and fancy symbols.
Although full stops are not required in your bullets, they should always begin with a capital letter. You should use a full stop at the end of your bullet points if they are complete sentences or if one bullet point contains several sentences. Whatever you decide, be sure to maintain consistency throughout your resume.
How Long Should Each Bullet Point Be?
Each bullet point should not exceed two lines. Your bullet points should be a concise summary of your resume’s accomplishments — if you really want to elaborate on them, save it for a resume summary, short blurb, or cover letter. The key components of your accomplishments stand out more when your bullet points are concise.
What If You Have More Than 4-6 Bullet Points for a Job?
The bullet points for each role that are most pertinent to the position you’re applying for should generally be your main focus.
This might sometimes imply that you’re omitting some less noteworthy successes. However, by doing this, you’re giving the most pertinent information priority, and making your resume simple to scan will increase your chances of getting hired over stuffing your resume with as much information as you can.
That said, if you’ve held multiple roles at the same company — especially if this represents a promotion — you can list each job separately underneath the same company heading. If you’ve worked for the same company for the majority of your career, this workaround lets you list 4-6 bullet points beneath each role.
Do You Need Bullet Points for Every Position?
In general, every position you list on your resume should have at least 1-2 accomplishments underneath in bullet points. Having said that, you don’t have to include every job you’ve ever held on your resume.
If the position is more senior, 10 years or more) but relevant, you can include just the job/role title on your resume with the date (without any bullet points) — essentially, this will only take up one line on your resume. Nevertheless, if the position is recent (i.e. within the last 10 years), you must include at least 1-2 bullet points! A recent position with just a job title and a date on it sends the wrong message to hiring managers about your accomplishments.
When Should You Leave a Role Off Altogether?
If it’s an outdated position, one you held for a brief period of time, or one that isn’t particularly relevant to the position you’re applying for right now — in other words, if it won’t help you land the job and leaving it off wouldn’t leave a sizable gap — feel free to omit it entirely.
Takeaways
We are all done.
Now that you are aware of what a bullet point is, you can use it to your advantage in the work experience section.
Now that you’ve finished preparing your list of accomplishments, it’s time to start listing them.
Consider carefully how many and how long of each bullet point you will need for various circumstances.
Action verbs should be used, and the bullet points should be listed in ascending order of importance.
Make sure to follow our examples and tailor your section to the position you are applying for.
