Your career highlights are the backbone of your personal brand. They give credibility, showcase your strengths, and show the real-world results you’ve delivered. When done well, they don’t just list what you did — they tell a story of impact.
Measurable — supported by numbers, metrics, or tangible outcomes
Impactful — showing the difference you made for a company, team, or client
Memorable — easy for someone to repeat in a conversation
The Story Arc Formula
A great career highlight follows a simple story arc:
Challenge — What was the problem or situation?
Action — What did you do?
Impact — What was the outcome? (Use numbers whenever possible.)
Example “Led a global team to streamline operations across 12 countries, reducing costs by 18% while improving service delivery times by 25%.”
Using Numbers & Data
Whenever possible, attach numbers to your results. Numbers make your impact real and concrete. For example:
“Increased revenue by 30% year-over-year.”
“Cut project delivery times from 6 months to 4 months.”
“Built and scaled a team from 5 to 25 people.”
Even if exact numbers aren’t available, you can still use estimates or percentages:
“Doubled client satisfaction scores.”
“Launched a product that expanded into 3 new markets.”
Do’s & Don’ts
Good general rules to keep in mind:
DO
Lead with the impact, then explain the how
Use active, powerful verbs (led, built, transformed, accelerated)
Show breadth (leadership, strategy, execution) across a few highlights
DON'T
List generic responsibilities (“Responsible for managing a team”)
Bury the impact at the end — put results front and center
Overload with too much detail — one sentence is enough
Examples of Strong Career Highlights
Here are a few examples of different styles:
“Launched a new product line that generated $15M in revenue within its first year.”
“Turned around an underperforming division, growing profit margins from 8% to 22% in two years.”
People-Focused
“Helping Teams Thrive Through Purposeful Leadership”
Your Next Step
Here are a few examples of different styles:
1. Draft 3–5 career highlights that you’re most proud of. 2. Use the story arc (Challenge → Action → Impact) and include numbers wherever you can. 3. Add your highlights into the Messaging Form before our kickoff meeting.
