I get it—it’s not easy to write about yourself. I don’t know many people who excel at writing about themselves. Even some of the best resume writers in the industry hire their colleagues when they need a bio written or their resume updated. So how can you make the daunting task of putting your career history down on paper a little bit easier? Here are three tips to help you out.

Focus on Facts

Figuring out how to focus on facts and figures in your resume can be difficult. It can be ever so tempting to speak in generalities. You hit up a resume sample site, see some vague statement on a sample resume and think to yourself; that sounds good—and it could apply to me. Next thing you know, it’s on your resume. The only thing you’ve succeeded in doing here is making yourself look just like thousands of other candidates who went to a free resume site and copied a free resume. Resist the temptation to be vague—and focus on the facts. Try to answer the following questions:

• How much (money, time, resources)
• How many (people, projects)
• How often (times per day/week/month)

When you focus on the facts it’s impossible for your resume to sound like anyone else’s. There is no one else alive with your unique set of skills, experiences, or expertise.

vHit Your Target

Can you write a general resume that you can use to apply to a variety of different types of positions? Sure, you can. But I wouldn’t recommend it, though. The problem with writing a catch-all resume is that it won’t catch ANYTHING. Unfortunately, coming off as a jack-of-all-trades means you look like a master of none. You need to position yourself so the employer will see the value in hiring you and the benefit they’ll get from choosing you over another applicant. To do this, you need to target your resume for a specific position, and use it to support how you’re the best candidate for the role.

Show You Are an Overcomer

It’s fine that you met the minimal requirements of the position. Almost anyone can say that. How did you go above and beyond, though? If it’s hard to remember what you’ve accomplished, think in terms of challenges and obstacles you ran into. When writing your resume, write about the following:

• What are some challenges you faced during your time in the position?
• How did you address the obstacles you ran into?
• What was the outcome? Did you overcome? Was it a success?

Using questions like these help to jog your memory about all those great things you accomplished in your past. But what’s even better is they create great substance for marketing your value to potential employers.