Next, review the job announcement and description and map out the key qualifications and attributes sought.  Brainstorm and list all parts of your background that relate to the employer’s ideal candidate.  Link and think!  Devise relevant stories about your past accomplishments that relate to the employer’s specific qualifications.  Use the CAR formula – a challenge you faced, the action you took, the positive results of your actions  – to describe your successes. 

An accomplishment illustrating communication skills might be:

Delivered career transition training to 100 public school teachers facing a potential reduction in force.  Administered, scored and interpreted career-related assessments and reviewed resumes in individual counseling sessions.  Participant evaluation scores averaged 4.7 out of 5.  Received a letter of appreciation from the school system superintendent.