Stop Underselling Yourself: How Women Can Write Resumes That Own Their Wins

In our resume writing business, we regularly have to address the elephant in the room. Frankly put, too many women are underselling themselves on paper.

At Grammar Chic, we work with professionals from all walks of life, but we’ve noticed a very real trend, especially among women. Clients send us resumes that reflect incredible accomplishments: promotions, strategic wins, team leadership, and measurable impact. But more often than not, those achievements are buried in language that’s overly modest or hedged with doubt.

We hear things like:

• “I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging.”
• “This probably isn’t a big deal, but…”
• “I’m not sure I’m actually qualified for this role.”

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone.

Even now, women are often socialized to minimize their achievements, to avoid sounding arrogant, and to hesitate before applying for a role unless they meet every single qualification. That same mindset bleeds into resumes and LinkedIn profiles, resulting in materials that sound safe, vague, and far less impressive than they should.

We want to be clear here. A resume is not the place to downplay your impact. It’s a marketing tool, and if it doesn’t reflect your value, you risk being passed over for opportunities you absolutely deserve.

Confidence Isn’t Bragging

There’s a real difference between confidence and cockiness—and owning your achievements is not the same as boasting. Confidence on your resume is about clarity. It’s about telling your professional story in a way that reflects your worth, so a recruiter doesn’t have to piece it together on their own.

And here’s some data to back it up: studies have shown that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the listed requirements. Women often wait until they hit 100%. That hesitation shows up in the language women use on their resumes—softer phrases, qualifiers, and fewer hard numbers, even when they’re available.

And here’s the truth, vague resumes don’t get callbacks. Strong ones do.

What It Looks Like to Own Your Wins

You don’t need to turn into a hype machine. However, you must also present the results of your work in direct, confident, and measurable language.

Use metrics.
Numbers tell a story. They show scale and impact in a way that words alone can’t.

Instead of: “Helped increase revenue”
Try: “Drove 18% year-over-year revenue growth by launching new product line and streamlining sales strategy.”

Focus on outcomes, not tasks.
Hiring managers don’t care what you were “responsible for.” They care about what happened because you were there.

Instead of: “Managed marketing calendar”
Try: “Created and implemented marketing calendar that increased campaign engagement by 40% in six months.”

Highlight leadership—even if you weren’t the boss.
Leadership can manifest in various ways, including mentoring, initiating process improvements, or leading cross-functional teams.

Instead of: “Assisted with project rollout”
Try: “Led cross-departmental rollout of new CRM system, training 20+ users and reducing reporting errors by 30%.”

Visibility and Representation Matter

There’s a broader reason this matters, beyond just landing your next job. Representation in leadership begins with being visible, and resumes are often the first place where your value needs to be showcased.

When women write resumes that confidently showcase their experience, they don’t just elevate their own careers. They also help shift the narrative of what leadership looks like. That has a ripple effect for other women and marginalized professionals following behind.

Confidence on paper isn’t just about personal gain. It’s about equity and representation, too.

Let Us Help You Tell Your Story—Without Apology

At Grammar Chic, we specialize in helping professionals—especially women—tell their stories with confidence. Our resume writing process is not just about bulletpoints and formatting. It’s about identifying your wins, surfacing your strengths, and crafting content that feels powerful, strategic, and completely authentic to you.

One of the things we hear most often from our clients?

“I didn’t realize I’d done so much until you wrote it out like this.”

That’s not a coincidence. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to shine a light on the full scope of your impact. We’re here to help you own that impact, without second-guessing a single word.

Isn’t it about time that you stop underselling your achievements and start to kick some ass? We think so.

Partner with us to build a resume that reflects everything you bring to the table. Schedule a consultation with our team and step into your next opportunity with confidence.