Bullet points are one of the best things you can do for a resume. They make it easy to skim, and standard bullets parse cleanly. What matters is which bullet characters you use and what you write after them.
Safe and risky bullet styles
| Safe | Risky |
|---|---|
| Round bullets (•) from your word processor's list tool | Arrows, checkmarks, stars or other custom symbols |
| Simple hyphens (-) | Emoji |
| Numbered lists, where order matters | Images or icons used as bullets |
Unusual symbols can turn into question marks or random characters when a parser converts your file, which looks careless to the recruiter reading your profile.
How to write bullets that parse and persuade
A strong bullet follows a simple pattern: action verb + what you did + result, using a keyword from the job where it fits naturally.
Weak openers to avoid
These phrases describe duties rather than achievements, and recruiters skim past them:
- Responsible for...
- Worked on...
- Helped with... or Assisted with...
- Duties included...
Start with a strong verb instead: led, built, reduced, grew, launched, negotiated, automated, resolved.
Length and number of bullets
- 3 to 6 bullets for recent, relevant roles
- 1 to 3 bullets for older or less relevant roles
- Each bullet one or two lines long
- The most important, most relevant bullet first
Formatting tips
- Use the built-in bullet list tool rather than typing symbols and spaces.
- Keep punctuation consistent: every bullet with a period, or none.
- Don't put bullets inside tables or text boxes. See why tables cause trouble.
What Go Resume Go checks
The Quality tab counts your bullets and measures how many start with an action verb, how many include a measurable result and how many use weak openers. The Suggestions tab then tells you what to fix first, and the ATS-friendly checklist covers the rest of your formatting. Check your bullets now.