Beyond Job Duties: How to Show Results on Your Resume

When I review resumes, one common theme pops up: candidates often list only their job duties instead of their achievements. While it’s important to show what you’ve done, employers are much more interested in the impact you’ve made.

Think of it this way, job duties tell an employer what you were responsible for. Results show them what you can actually deliver.

Why Results Matter

If two candidates both write “Operated a 10-color flexographic press,” there’s nothing to set them apart. But if one writes, “Operated a 10-color flexographic press while maintaining an average waste rate 15% below plant target,” that’s the candidate who stands out.

Results show:

• Your value to past employers

• Your ability to improve processes, save money, or boost efficiency

• That you understand what matters to a business — productivity, quality, and profitability

  
  

How to Shift From Duties to Results

Here are some ways candidates in the printing and packaging industry can frame their achievements:

1. Use Numbers Whenever Possible

• Instead of: “Ran a wide web press.”

• Try: “Operated a wide web flexo press producing 500,000+ linear feet per week with 98% on-time delivery.”

Numbers make your contributions real. Think: waste reduction, speed improvements, quality ratings, downtime cuts, or production volume.

2. Highlight Efficiency or Cost Savings

• Did you reduce material waste?

• Improve changeover times?

• Suggest a new process that saved the company money?

Example: “Implemented new setup procedure that reduced press changeover time by 20 minutes per run, saving ~8 hours of downtime per month.”

3. Show Quality Improvements

• Instead of: “Performed quality checks.”

• Try: “Led quality inspections that cut customer returns by 30% in 12 months.”

  
  

4. Demonstrate Leadership & Training

Even if you weren’t in management, showing leadership helps. Example: “Trained three new press assistants who advanced to operator roles within 18 months.”

5. Don’t Forget Safety

Safety is a top priority in plants. If you contributed, show it. Example: “Recognized for 2 years of incident-free press operation.”

A Quick Formula You Can Use

Whenever you write a bullet point for your resume, try this simple structure:

Action Verb + What You Did + Result

Example: “Implemented preventative maintenance schedule for flexo presses, reducing unscheduled downtime by 25%.”

Final Thoughts

Your resume should show more than just what you were asked to do, it should tell the story of how you made a difference. Whether you’re a press operator, maintenance tech, plant manager, or sales rep, highlighting results is the best way to prove your value and stand out from the competition.

If you’d like help polishing your resume or making sure your achievements stand out, you can reach us at Flexo Finders & PrintConvert Network. Contact Kellsie Fink at kfink@flexofinders.net.