What is the XYZ formula for resumes?

The XYZ formula is a structured approach to writing resume bullet points: Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]. X is the achievement or result, Y is the quantified metric, and Z is the method or action you took. For example: 'Increased customer retention (X) by 25% (Y) by redesigning the onboarding email sequence and implementing automated check-in calls (Z).'

What if I do not have exact numbers for my achievements?

Use reasonable estimates and qualify them with words like 'approximately,' 'over,' or 'nearly.' For example, 'Reduced processing time by approximately 30%' is far more compelling than 'Improved processing time.' You can also use ranges ('saved $50,000-$75,000 annually') or relative comparisons ('doubled the team's output').

How many achievements should I include per job on my resume?

Include 3 to 6 bullet points per role, with at least half being achievement-oriented with metrics. Not every bullet needs a number, but your most impactful contributions should be quantified. For older or less relevant roles, 2-3 bullets is sufficient.

What types of metrics can I use on my resume?

Common metrics include revenue generated, costs reduced, time saved, percentage improvements, number of users served, team size managed, projects delivered, customer satisfaction scores, efficiency gains, error reduction rates, and growth percentages. Choose metrics that are most meaningful in your industry.

Does the XYZ formula work for non-technical or non-sales roles?

Absolutely. Every role has measurable outcomes. Teachers can cite student performance improvements. HR professionals can quantify hiring metrics and retention rates. Administrative staff can measure process efficiencies. The key is identifying what changed because of your work and putting a number to it.

How to Write Resume Achievements With Numbers (The XYZ Formula)

Published January 30, 2026

Most resume bullet points describe what someone did. The best resume bullet points describe what someone achieved. That distinction is what separates a resume that blends into the pile from one that makes a recruiter pause and reach for the phone.

The secret to writing achievement-oriented bullet points is a simple framework called the XYZ formula, popularized by Google's recruiting team and now widely used by career coaches and resume writers worldwide. This guide breaks down the formula, shows you exactly how to apply it, and provides before-and-after examples across multiple industries.

What Is the XYZ Formula?

The XYZ formula structures a resume bullet point into three components:

Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]

X = The accomplishment or result (what changed because of your work)
Y = The metric or quantification (how much, how many, by what percentage)
Z = The method or action (what you specifically did to achieve the result)

Example: "Increased quarterly sales revenue (X) by 35% or $480,000 (Y) by restructuring the sales pipeline and implementing a consultative selling methodology for enterprise accounts (Z)."

This formula works because it answers the three questions every recruiter asks when reading a bullet point: What did you accomplish? How significant was it? And how did you do it?

Why Numbers Matter on a Resume

Numbers are the most persuasive element on a resume. Here is why:

They provide scale: "Managed a team" could mean 2 people or 200. "Managed a team of 35 engineers across 4 offices" paints a clear picture.
They create credibility: Specific numbers signal that you actually measured your work and can back up your claims. Vague descriptions sound like filler.
They stand out visually: In a sea of text, numbers catch the eye. Recruiters scanning your resume will naturally be drawn to bullet points that include figures.
They enable comparison: When a recruiter is choosing between two candidates, quantified achievements make it possible to compare impact objectively.
They signal business awareness: Professionals who think in terms of metrics understand how their work connects to organizational goals.

Before and After: Transforming Weak Bullets into XYZ Achievements

Let us look at real examples across different roles and industries.

Software Engineering

Before: "Worked on improving application performance."

After: "Reduced API response times by 65% (from 1.2s to 420ms) by implementing Redis caching, query optimization, and database indexing across 12 high-traffic endpoints."

Before: "Built features for the mobile app."

After: "Designed and shipped 8 user-facing features for the iOS app, contributing to a 4.2 to 4.7 star rating improvement on the App Store and a 28% increase in daily active users."

Marketing

Before: "Managed the company blog and social media."

After: "Grew organic blog traffic from 15,000 to 85,000 monthly visitors in 10 months by executing an SEO-driven content strategy, publishing 40+ articles, and building backlinks from 25 high-authority domains."

Before: "Ran paid advertising campaigns."

After: "Managed a $120,000 monthly ad budget across Google and Meta platforms, achieving a 4.1x return on ad spend while reducing cost per acquisition by 30% through systematic A/B testing of creatives and landing pages."

Sales

Before: "Exceeded sales targets consistently."

After: "Exceeded annual sales quota by 140%, closing $2.8M in new business across 22 enterprise accounts and ranking #1 among 35 account executives in the APAC region."

Before: "Managed key client relationships."

After: "Grew revenue from the top 10 strategic accounts by 45% year-over-year, expanding average deal size from $85,000 to $125,000 through consultative upselling and multi-product positioning."

Human Resources

Before: "Handled recruitment for the engineering team."

After: "Filled 28 engineering positions in 6 months, reducing average time-to-hire from 52 days to 31 days by optimizing sourcing channels and implementing structured interview scorecards."

Before: "Improved employee engagement."

After: "Designed and launched a quarterly employee engagement program that increased eNPS scores from +12 to +45 across a 500-person organization over 12 months."

Operations and Project Management

Before: "Managed multiple projects simultaneously."

After: "Delivered 14 cross-functional projects on time and within budget over 18 months, managing a combined resource pool of 60+ team members and a total budget of $3.5M."

Before: "Improved warehouse efficiency."

After: "Reduced order fulfillment time by 40% by redesigning the warehouse layout, implementing barcode scanning, and automating inventory replenishment triggers for 5,000+ SKUs."

Education and Training

Before: "Taught mathematics to high school students."

After: "Improved average student math scores by 22 percentile points over one academic year by developing a supplemental practice program and implementing weekly diagnostic assessments for a class of 45 students."

Customer Service

Before: "Resolved customer complaints."

After: "Resolved an average of 85 customer tickets per week with a 96% satisfaction rating, reducing average resolution time from 48 hours to 12 hours by creating a troubleshooting knowledge base used by the entire 15-person support team."

Finding the Right Metrics for Your Role

One of the most common objections to quantifying achievements is "But my work is not measurable." Almost all work is measurable if you know what to look for. Here are metrics organized by the type of impact:

Revenue and growth metrics

Revenue generated, new customers acquired, deals closed, average deal size, upsell or cross-sell revenue, market share gained, user growth rate, conversion rate improvements.

Efficiency and cost metrics

Cost savings (dollars or percentage), time saved (hours per week or per process), processing time reduced, error rate decreased, resources optimized, manual work automated.

Scale and volume metrics

Team size managed, budget managed, number of projects delivered, number of users or customers served, transactions processed, events organized, documents produced.

Quality and satisfaction metrics

Customer satisfaction scores (CSAT, NPS), error or defect rates, compliance rates, audit results, retention rates, employee engagement scores, quality assurance pass rates.

Time and speed metrics

Time-to-market, time-to-hire, cycle time, response time, delivery speed, ramp-up time for new hires, project turnaround time.

What to Do When You Do Not Have Exact Numbers

You do not always have precise data. That is okay. Here are strategies for approximating:

Use reasonable estimates: "Reduced response time by approximately 40%" is better than "Improved response time."
Use ranges: "Saved between $50,000 and $75,000 annually in vendor costs."
Use relative comparisons: "Doubled the team's weekly output" or "Cut processing time in half."
Use frequency and scale: "Managed a portfolio of 120+ client accounts" or "Conducted 30+ interviews per month."
Use qualifiers: "Generated over $1M in pipeline" or "Served nearly 500 customers monthly."

The goal is specificity, not precision to the decimal point. Any number is more compelling than no number.

Applying the XYZ Formula Step by Step

Here is a practical process you can follow for each bullet point on your resume:

Start with the task or responsibility: What were you asked to do?
Identify the outcome: What changed because you did it? Was something faster, cheaper, bigger, better, more efficient?
Quantify the outcome: By how much? Use percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, or volume numbers.
Describe your method: What specific actions did you take to achieve the result?
Combine using XYZ: Structure the bullet as Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z].

You do not have to follow the X-Y-Z order literally. The formula is a thinking tool, not a rigid template. These variations all work:

"Reduced costs by 25% by renegotiating vendor contracts" (X-Y-Z)
"Renegotiated 8 vendor contracts, reducing annual procurement costs by $200,000" (Z-X-Y)
"Achieved a 25% reduction in procurement costs ($200,000 annually) through strategic vendor renegotiation" (Y-X-Z)

All three convey the same information. Choose the structure that reads most naturally for each bullet point.

How Many Bullet Points Should Be Achievement-Oriented?

Not every bullet point needs to follow the XYZ formula. A mix of achievement-oriented and responsibility-oriented bullets works best:

3-6 bullet points per role is the ideal range
At least half should include metrics or quantified results
Your top 1-2 bullet points per job should be your strongest, most quantified achievements
Supporting bullets can describe scope, responsibilities, or technologies used

For your most recent and most relevant roles, lean heavily toward achievements. For older roles, a brief description of scope is fine.

Pair Strong Achievements with Strong Verbs

The XYZ formula works best when combined with powerful resume action words. Instead of "Was involved in increasing sales," write "Drove a 35% increase in quarterly sales." The verb amplifies the achievement.

Review our comprehensive list of 200+ action verbs organized by category to find the perfect verb for each of your achievement bullets.

Put It Into Practice

Open your current resume right now. Pick your three weakest bullet points, the ones that describe duties without outcomes, and rewrite them using the XYZ formula. You will be surprised how much stronger your resume reads after just this one change.

When you are ready to build a complete, polished resume with properly structured achievements, EasyResume's free builder guides you through each section step by step. Pair XYZ-formatted achievements with our ATS-friendly templates, and you will have a resume that communicates your value clearly to both automated systems and human recruiters.

For more resume writing strategies, explore our guides on writing professional summaries and top tips for landing your dream job.