{"id":446,"date":"2025-02-13T11:59:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T16:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/?page_id=446"},"modified":"2026-08-21T13:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T17:57:13","slug":"sar-statements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/job-search\/resume-cover-letter-cv-guides\/sar-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"SAR Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        SAR Statements\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your resume must contain concise bullet points to describe your experiences. SAR statements effectively outline your accomplishments in a simple, informative way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Situation:&nbsp;<\/strong>Scenarios you have had to deal with in your experience<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Action:<\/strong>&nbsp;What you did to resolve the problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Result:<\/strong>&nbsp;Outcomes that resulted from your actions<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"422\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2025\/02\/sar-statement.png\" alt=\"Graphic showing Situation, Action, Result (SAR)\" class=\"wp-image-448\" style=\"width:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2025\/02\/sar-statement.png 422w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2025\/02\/sar-statement-320x196.png 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"example\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Action: Reorganized a<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Situation: cluttered office supply store,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Result: which led to a 20% increase in sales of merchandise<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note:<\/strong>&nbsp;Placing a strong verb at the start of the statement can grab the attention of the reader, and will convey important tasks and information to the employer quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"questions-to-consider\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions to consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What tasks did you complete (what did you do and how?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What skills did you use when you took action on the problem?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What obstacles were you required to overcome?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What was the result, outcome, significance or conclusion?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong>&nbsp;Begin <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/07\/Creating-a-Wins-Tracker.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tracking data<\/a> to incorporate stronger metrics (e.g., numbers, percentages, dollar amounts) into future SAR statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"quantifying-your-results\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quantifying your results<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When writing your SAR statements, try to incorporate numbers that show the frequency, scope, scale, or impact of your work. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Money:<\/strong> Did you save, generate, manage, or recover money? By how much?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Targets:<\/strong> Did you meet or exceed a sales, performance, fundraising, or other target? By how much or what percentage?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>People:<\/strong> How many customers, clients, students, patients, or community members did you serve or support?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Volume:<\/strong> How many orders, applications, files, projects, reports, or transactions did you handle?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Frequency:<\/strong> How often did you perform the task? Per shift, day, week, month, quarter, semester, or year?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time:<\/strong> Did you save time or complete a process faster? How much time did you save?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Growth:<\/strong> Did you increase participation, sales, engagement, membership, followers, or another metric? By how much?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quality:<\/strong> Did you improve accuracy, satisfaction, completion rates, or another measure? By how much?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scope:<\/strong> How large was the team, budget, event, caseload, audience, or project you worked with?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Results:<\/strong> What measurable difference did your work make? Use a number, percentage, comparison, dollar amount, or other concrete evidence whenever possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"ranges-and-estimates\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Ranges and estimates<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t know the exact number? Use a reasonable range or approximation based on what you know. For example, write \u201csupported 15-20 students per week,\u201d \u201cmanaged 10+ projects,\u201d or \u201cserved approximately 50 customers per shift.\u201d Estimates can still demonstrate scale and impact, as long as they are honest, conservative, and explainable in an interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"writing-sar-statements-based-on-industry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Writing SAR Statements based on industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following handouts are designed to help you brainstorm stronger, results-focused resume content using the Situation-Action-Result (SAR) method. Each handout is tailored to a specific industry and includes guidance for both early experience (e.g., co-ops, internships, placements, projects, clubs, and entry-level roles) and advanced experience (e.g., professional and leadership roles). Use these resources as a foundation for identifying relevant tasks, reflecting on your accomplishments, and developing tailored resume bullet points that align with your target opportunities. Remember to customize your resume for each application by incorporating keywords and priorities from the job posting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Architecture-and-Industrial-Design.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Architecture and Industrial Design<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Business-General.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Business-General<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Communications-Journalism-PR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Communications, Journalism, and Public Relations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Computer-Science-and-IT.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Computer Science and Information Technology<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Data-Science-AI-ML.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Engineering-General.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Engineering-General<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Environmental.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Environmental<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Film-and-Entertainment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Film and Entertainment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Government-and-Public-Affairs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Government and Public Affairs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Graphic-Design-and-Animation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Graphic Design and Animation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Human-and-Social-Services.pdf\">Human and Social <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Human-and-Social-Services.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Services<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/International-Affairs.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Affairs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Legal-Criminal-Justice-Compliance.pdf\">Legal, Criminal Justice, and <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Legal-Criminal-Justice-Compliance.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Compliance<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Mental-Health-and-Counselling.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mental Health and Counselling<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Public-History-and-Cultural-Heritage.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public History and Cultural Heritage<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Research-General.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research-General<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Retail-and-Food-Services.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Retail and Food Services<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Science-Lab-Research-Development.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Science, Laboratory, Research and Development<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Teaching-and-Learning.pdf\">Teaching and <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/Teaching-and-Learning.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2026\/08\/User-Experience-and-Web-Design.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">User Experience and Web Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your resume must contain concise bullet points to describe your experiences. SAR statements effectively outline your accomplishments in a simple, informative way. Situation:&nbsp;Scenarios you have had to deal with in your experience Action:&nbsp;What you did to resolve the problem? Result:&nbsp;Outcomes that resulted from your actions Example: Action: Reorganized a Situation: cluttered office supply store, Result: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":0,"parent":177,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[14],"class_list":["post-446","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-general"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=446"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2709,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/446\/revisions\/2709"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}