The Resume Bullet Formula That Got Me Hired at John Deere

Most engineers write resume bullets that describe what they did. But hiring managers don't care what you did—they care what you delivered. Here's the exact formula I used to transform my resume and land offers at John Deere and beyond.

The Problem: Why Your Resume Gets Ignored

[Share a brief story about a time you or a client had a resume that wasn't working. What happened? How many applications? How frustrating was it?]

The issue isn't your experience—it's how you're presenting it. Most engineers fall into what I call the "Doer" trap: they list tasks instead of impact.

"Maintained spreadsheets for test results."

This tells the hiring manager nothing. Were you good at it? Did it matter? Could anyone have done this? Let's fix that.

The Pyramid of Value: Where Do You Rank?

Every candidate falls into one of three tiers. Understanding this pyramid is the first step to leveling up your resume.

Bottom Tier: "The Doer"

• Lists tasks and responsibilities
• Example: "Maintained spreadsheets."
• Result: Ignored

Middle Tier: "The Achiever"

• Lists results with some numbers
• Example: "Maintained spreadsheets for 3 projects."
• Result: Considered

Top Tier: "The Launch to Lead Standard"

• Lists Impact + Validation + Method
• Example: "Automated tracking for 3 major programs, saving 85% time and enabling daily executive visibility."
• Result: Hired

[Add a sentence or two about why this matters to hiring managers. What are they actually looking for?]

The 4-Part Bullet Framework

Here's the exact formula I teach my clients. Fill in each part, and you'll have a bullet that stands out:

The "Boring to Booming" Transformation

Let me show you this framework in action with a real example. Every engineer has done "boring" data entry—here's how to make it compelling:

See the difference? The second bullet proves competency, shows initiative, and demonstrates business impact.

The "Me-in-We" Extraction

One of the biggest mistakes I see: hiding behind the team.

"We completed a team capstone project that built a drone."

This tells me nothing about you. Even if it was a team effort, your resume bullet must describe:

• The specific gear you designed
• The code you committed
• The analysis you ran

The "Universal Translator" Technique

When I pivoted from Civil Engineering (Iowa DOT) to John Deere, I had a resume full of "pavement gradation" and "highway design." A mechanical engineering manager would have tossed it in the trash.

I realized the content didn't matter, but the competency did. I wasn't "designing highways"; I was "managing complex project constraints." I wasn't "analyzing asphalt"; I was "performing data-driven material analysis for compliance verification."

The problem: Candidates get pigeonholed. A Civil Engineer can't get a Mechanical job because the recruiter doesn't understand "Highway Design."

The fix: Perform a "Jargon Audit." If a word is specific to your old industry, delete it and replace it with the universal engineering competency:

This turns a niche candidate into a universal hire.

The "Passion Proof" Indicator

Want to really stand out? Show skin in the game.

Don't just list the class—list the extra thing you did that wasn't required. That voluntary effort is the ultimate signal of genuine interest.

• Personal projects related to the role
• Side research or self-study
• Open source contributions
• Certifications you pursued on your own

One client, a mechanical engineer wanting to break into software, didn't just list a Python course. He built a script that automated his fantasy football draft.

It wasn't complex code, but it proved he could identify a problem, build a solution, and deploy it. That single "passion proof" dominated his interview and got him the offer.

Your Action Plan

Here's what to do this week:

1. Audit your current bullets: Are you a "Doer," "Achiever," or operating at the "Launch to Lead Standard"?
2. Rewrite your top 3 bullets using the 4-part framework
3. Do a jargon audit: Replace industry-specific terms with universal competencies
4. Extract the "Me": Make sure every bullet shows YOUR contribution
5. Add a passion proof: Include at least one voluntary/extra-mile item

The Bottom Line

Your resume is not a list of duties; it is a Competency Evidence Locker.

When you stop writing about what you were "assigned" to do and start writing about the impact you "delivered," you stop competing with the "Doers" and start operating at the "Launch to Lead Standard."

Rewrite your bullets today. The job offer is waiting on the other side of that "Impact Equation."

Your resume isn't a list of duties—it's a Competency Evidence Locker. Every bullet should prove you can deliver results, not just perform tasks.