I’m sure you are all on pins and needles wondering what I meant by task-based vs. value-based points on your resume. I do apologize, but I had to take a small break to celebrate my 28th birthday. Now with that out of the way, let's dive into some definitions.
Task-based points are probably what most people are accustomed to. They are the listing of common tasks that could be inferred directly from the job title on your resume. For example, a bus driver might put, “Drove students to and from school” on their resume. This is task-based because it does little to show what value you provided your employer at the time. The point is pretty ineffective and doesn’t engage the person reading your resume.
On the flip side, value-based points are what HR professionals and hiring managers are seeking nowadays. This is the listing of tasks, skills, and most importantly accomplishments in a way that conveys how you may potentially benefit a future employer. I’m going to take our previous example and transform it to a more value-based point as I would for any client. “Utilized knowledge of local traffic ways to optimize route efficiency to and from school for 60 students.” POW…see what I did there? No? No, you don’t? Okay, well I guess I’ll show you. By saying, “Utilized local traffic ways…” we show the future employer, more than likely a transportation company of sorts, that you either know your way around or how to figure out you way around which is essential in this field. “…Optimize route efficiency…” tells them not only are you always looking for ways to potentially be better, but also for ways to provide efficiency gains which are crucial to any operation. Lastly, indicating the number of students shows how many passengers you can handle on any given route.
A convincing resume is going to have a healthy combo of both task-based and value-based points. With that being said, the industry is quickly moving away from mundane task lists on resumes and towards points that display what you have provided previous employers and may potentially provide future employers. After all, just like any relationship, the relationship with an employer is a two-way street. Companies are making an investment in you when they hire you so they want to know what they will get in return. They look to your past behavior because it is the greatest indicator of your future behavior, so take the time to sell your value.