Achievements to Put on a CV

“What achievements do I write on my CV?” is a question most of us have asked at some point. Knowing where to start, or even what counts as an achievement, can feel confusing. Do they have to be work-based? Can you include achievements from education or personal life? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

The good news is that achievements aren’t limited to big awards or promotions. In fact, some of the best achievements to put on a CV are everyday examples that show effort, growth, and results. 

In this blog, we’ll help you understand what counts as an achievement, how to write them clearly, and share CV achievements examples you can adapt for your own CV.

What counts as an achievement?

An achievement is anything that shows a positive outcome as a result of something you did. It doesn’t have to be formal or impressive on paper. Achievements can indeed come from paid work, voluntary roles, education, training, or even personal projects.

Some common types of achievements to put on a CV include:

• Improving a process or system

• Hitting or exceeding a target

• Supporting customers, patients, or colleagues

• Learning a new skill or completing training

• Taking responsibility or showing initiative

If you’re early in your career, achievements from education or volunteering are absolutely acceptable. These can still be strong achievement examples for a CV as long as they show skills, effort, and results. The key is to focus on what you did and what changed because of it.

How to write achievement-based statements

One of the most common mistakes people make is listing duties instead of achievements. Duties explain what your job involved, while achievements show how well you did it.

A simple way to write strong achievement statements is to think about:

• What you did

• How you did it

• What the outcome was

For example, instead of saying “I was responsible for customer service” you could say “I provided consistent customer support, which helped improve customer satisfaction and repeat visits.” This turns a task into an achievement and shows it’s all in the wording.

Good CV accomplishment examples are clear, specific, and easy to scan. Numbers can help, but they’re not essential. Even small improvements or contributions can be valuable if they’re relevant to the role that you’re applying for.

When choosing key achievements for your CV, always think about the job description, and remember; the most effective achievements are the ones that match the skills and qualities the employer is looking for. 

Achievement examples for different roles

Office roles

For office-based roles, achievements often focus on organisation, communication, and efficiency.

Some examples of achievements to put on a CV for an office role might include:

• Improving filing or record-keeping systems

• Supporting projects or deadlines

• Communicating with clients or internal teams

These examples help show both skills and achievements to put on a CV, especially for administrative or professional roles.

Retail roles

Retail achievements often centre around customer service, teamwork, and targets.

Some key examples include:

• Exceeding sales targets

• Supporting customers and resolving issues

• Training new starters or supporting the team

These are all good achievements to put on a CV, as they demonstrate reliability, communication skills, and the ability to work in fast-paced environments.

Healthcare roles

In healthcare, achievements often focus on care, safety, and teamwork.

Some examples might include:

• Supporting patient wellbeing

• Following safeguarding and care procedures

• Working effectively under pressure

These achievements show responsibility and commitment, which are highly valued in healthcare settings.

Let Scriberly help word your achievements professionally

When deciding which achievements to put on a CV, remember that you don’t need to impress with big titles or awards. What matters is showing impact, effort, and relevant skills. Whether your achievements come from work, education, or personal experiences, they all help tell your story.

If you’re unsure how to word your achievements clearly, tools like Scriberly can help you turn everyday experience into strong, achievement-focused statements that fit naturally into your CV. Browse our range of free-to-download CV templates today and let your achievements elevate your employability.