A Guide to the X by Y by Z Resume Framework

We’re always looking at the most effective ways to write a resume and the best examples for creating a resume. Google hiring managers recently explained how they assess resumes from candidates. Candidates that land job interviews tend to use the x by y by z framework.

So what is it, and how can you use it in your job search?

Table of Contents

The framework is a structured way to present achievements in your resume, making it easily understandable for recruiters looking to fill a role. In each bullet point on your resume, you should focus on an accomplishment, how it was measured and what you did to accomplish it. Broken down, each bullet point should have these three points:

  • Accomplished [x]
  • Measured by [y]
  • By doing [z]

How to outline an accomplishment on your resume

Many people worry that they lack significant accomplishments or measurement frameworks, and therefore can’t use this model. But we guarantee, most of the time, if you outline these three points, you’ll be able to find a few things to outline for each role you’ve held.

For example, did you lead a successful project launch? Save money or time for your company? Reorganize or redevelop a protocol or framework? Start with what you accomplished and work backward from there.

How to measure your achievements in past job roles

Once you are clear on your accomplishments, you can think back to how you knew you were successful. Most likely, it wasn’t just because you got praise from your boss. Maybe you had a key performance indicator that you exceeded, or a financial target you had to hit. This is how your achievement was measured.

Now the easy part – describe what you did in your previous job on your resume

Now comes the easy part – describing what you did to meet your goal! This is the day to day work that you did, which is what most people outline on their resume without thinking about including the measurement framework or goal achieved.

An example of the xyz resume framework

Let’s look at bullet points on a logistics coordinator resume and review how they could be rewritten for the xyz framework.

Without xyz:

Logistics Coordinator – Logistics Company                                                 Jan 2020-Present

  • Coordinated logistics for international shipping company – this is part of every logistics coordinator position so implied, and not necessary to include
  • Liaised with agency and delivery partners in five countries – what impact did this have on your organization?
  • Created shipping schedules and delivery frameworks – what impact did this have on your organization?

These bullet points outline what was done on the job, but give no indication of how impactful these tasks were to the overall organization or how significantly this person improved or exceeded their targets.

With xyz:

Logistics Coordinator – Logistics Company                                                 Jan 2020-Present

  • Improved delivery time by 15%, increasing customer retention by 55%, by creating an automated shipping schedule and delivery framework
  • Created and managed CRM system to streamline and organize communications with agency and delivery partners in five countries

Not every relevant task that you have done can be quantified, and that’s okay – it’s about drawing in data and metrics when you can, and demonstrating how your other contributions were impactful even if you can’t quantify it.

Use action words when you present your accomplishments

Action verbs such as led, developed or achieved call out your accomplishment clearly and succinctly. Use an action verb when you can and make sure it aligns with keywords from the job description to get your resume past the ATS[KJ3]  and into the hands of a hiring manager.

The xyz framework is a great way to organize your thinking when you’re working on your resume, and a wonderful way to showcase the impact you’ve had in your previous roles to your next employer. Good luck!

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