Ask a Resume Writer: Should I Use Bullet Points in My Resume?

Applying for jobs with a resume that includes the right information is key, but how you format that information is also important. You want a resume that’s ATS-friendly but also eye-catching and appealing to human readers.

Fonts, color, shading, and graphics aside, there’s another seemingly simple formatting element many job seekers aren’t sure about: resume bullet points.

Should you use bullet points in your resume, and if so, how? Do resume bullet points help you stand out? Do you put periods after bullet points on a resume?

We turned to Laurie Ballow, Certified Advanced Resume Writer at iHire, for the answers to these questions and more.

How to Write Resume Bullet Points

Resume bullet points help keep your document concise and reader-friendly, and that’s why so many resume templates and formats include them. But there is such a thing as using too many bullet points.

“Bullet points should be used strategically to help certain details on your resume stand out, and in almost all cases, you want your quantifiable achievements to get the spotlight. If you use bullet points for everything on your resume, all of your information blends together,” Ballow said. “By only using bullet points for your achievements, you draw the reader’s eye there first.”

Your unique accomplishments and contributions are what will set you apart from other applicants with similar experience. Here’s an example of how to separate your job description paragraph from your bulleted achievements for a specific role:

Provide accounting expertise and human resources management for animation production studio with 15–25 employees and annual revenues of $8M–$10M. Report directly to CEO regarding strategic planning, business development, and company’s financial status. Oversee accounts receivable and payable, monthly and annual close, and cost management.

• Improved productivity 50% by reorganizing accounting and human resources functions and implementing new policies and procedures.
• Created new commission structure to increase productivity of sales staff and suggested new strategies to revitalize collections procedures, resulting in 90% increase of collections on outstanding accounts receivables.
• Revamped departments and streamlined operations to achieve targeted goals despite 75% reduction in staff.
• Implemented new reporting functions for contractor on multi-million dollar Charmin Bear commercial account.

How Many Bullet Points Should You Use Per Job on Your Resume?

“Aim for four to six bulleted achievements for each job in your career history,” advised Ballow. “If you don’t have that many for short-term roles or positions from further back in your career, that’s okay too.”

On the other hand, if you have a lot of achievements for a single position or want to use bullet points on your resume for an early-career accomplishment, consider using a hybrid resume format with a separate Select Achievements or Career Highlights section on the first page.

“A hybrid resume gives you the freedom to select your most impressive and relevant contributions from any point in your career and make them jump off the page with bullet points,” Ballow added.

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Do You Put Periods After Bullet Points on a Resume?

It depends.

“If you’re using bullet points to describe achievements in complete sentences, then yes, you should use periods,” Ballow explained. “If you’re using bullet points or sub-bullet points to make a list of items, then you would not use periods.”

Here’s an example of how you might use sub-bullets and a list to showcase an achievement:

• Increased revenue in every assigned territory:
  • Maryland – 25%
  • West Virginia – 45%
  • New York – 20%

With Ballow’s quick tips on how to use bullet points, go back and edit your resume to make those achievements shine! For more guidance, check out our resume writing resource library or use our tools to build a professionally designed resume in just a few clicks.