The XYZ Resume Formula: How to Write Bullet Points Like Google Recommends

The XYZ Resume Formula: How to Write Bullet Points Like Google Recommends

The XYZ formula is a simple way to write resume bullet points that show impact. It's often credited to former Google HR leader Laszlo Bock, which is why it's also called the "Google resume format".

The formula

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

• X: what you achieved.
• Y: how it was measured, ideally a number.
• Z: what you did to make it happen.

Example: "Reduced customer churn by 15% in six months by introducing a proactive onboarding call for new accounts."

You don't need to use the exact words "as measured by". The three parts just need to be there.

Why it works

• It turns duties into results.
• Numbers make your claims believable.
• The "by doing" part shows how you work, which interviewers love to ask about.

Before and after examples

• Sales. Before: "Responsible for new business." After: "Won 18 new B2B clients in 12 months, adding 240,000 euros in revenue, by building a targeted outreach program."
• Marketing. Before: "Managed email newsletter." After: "Increased newsletter open rates from 22% to 35% by testing subject lines and segmenting our list."
• Customer support. Before: "Answered support tickets." After: "Cut average response time from 8 hours to 2 by introducing ticket templates and priority tags."
• Software engineering. Before: "Worked on the website." After: "Improved page load speed by 40% by optimising images and introducing lazy loading."
• Data analysis. Before: "Made reports." After: "Saved the sales team 5 hours a week by automating weekly reports in Power BI."
• Operations. Before: "Planned shifts." After: "Reduced overtime costs by 15% by redesigning shift planning for 40 warehouse staff."
• HR. Before: "Handled recruiting." After: "Shortened time to hire from 45 to 30 days by restructuring interview stages."
• Finance. Before: "Did month-end closing." After: "Cut month-end closing from 10 to 6 days by standardising reconciliation steps."
• Teaching. Before: "Taught maths." After: "Raised average exam grades by one level across two classes by introducing weekly practice quizzes."
• Project management. Before: "Managed projects." After: "Delivered 12 ERP rollouts on time by introducing a shared risk tracker for all stakeholders."
• Design. Before: "Designed app screens." After: "Increased sign-up completion by 20% by redesigning the onboarding flow based on user testing."
• Research. Before: "Did lab experiments." After: "Shortened sample analysis time by 30% by developing a new testing protocol."

What if you don't have numbers?

Use the best measure you have:

• Time saved, volume handled, people trained, error reduction, feedback received.
• Honest estimates with "about" or "around".

Read more in how to write resume bullet points with measurable results.

Common mistakes

• Making up numbers you can't explain.
• Writing bullets that are too long. Keep each to one or two lines.
• Using XYZ for every tiny task. Focus on your most important achievements.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use XYZ for every bullet?

No. Use it for your strongest achievements and keep other bullets short.

Is the XYZ formula only for tech jobs?

No. It works for any role where you can describe results.

Does XYZ help with ATS?

It doesn't change how ATS reads your resume, but it makes your achievements stronger for human readers. Combine it with the right resume keywords.

Write XYZ bullets in a clean layout

Build an ATS-friendly resume for free with the JobStacky Resume Builder.