Showing posts with label resume and Curriculum Vitae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resume and Curriculum Vitae. Show all posts

Saturday, May 9, 2015

More Power Words for resumes and C.V.s

Most resume bullet points start with the same words. Frankly, the same tired old words hiring managers have heard over and over—to the point where they’ve lost a lot of their meaning and don’t do much to show off your awesome accomplishments.

So, let’s get a little more creative, shall we? Next time you update your resume, switch up a few of those common words and phrases with strong, compelling action verbs that will catch hiring managers’ eyes.
No matter what duty or accomplishment you’re trying to show off, we’ve got just the verb for you. Check out the list below, and get ready to make your resume way more exciting.

You Led a Project
If you were in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip “led” and instead try:

1. Chaired
2. Controlled
3. Coordinated
4. Executed
5. Headed
6. Operated
7. Orchestrated
8. Organized
9. Oversaw
10. Planned
11. Produced
12. Programmed

You Envisioned and Brought to Life a Project
And if you actually developed, created, or introduced that project into your company? Try:

13. Administered
14. Built
15. Charted
16. Created
17. Designed
18. Developed
19. Devised
20. Founded
21. Engineered
22. Established
23. Formalized
24. Formed
25. Formulated
26. Implemented
27. Incorporated
28. Initiated
29. Instituted
30. Introduced
31. Launched
32. Pioneered
33. Spearheaded

You Saved the Company Time or Money
Hiring managers love candidates who’ve helped a team operate more efficiently or cost-effectively. To show just how much you saved, try:

34. Conserved
35. Consolidated
36. Decreased
37. Deducted
38. Diagnosed
39. Lessened
40. Reconciled
41. Reduced
42. Yielded 

You Increased Efficiency, Sales, Revenue, or Customer Satisfaction
Along similar lines, if you can show that your work boosted the company’s numbers in some way, you’re bound to impress. In these cases, consider:

43. Accelerated
44. Achieved
45. Advanced
46. Amplified
47. Boosted
48. Capitalized
49. Delivered
50. Enhanced
51. Expanded
52. Expedited
53. Furthered
54. Gained
55. Generated
56. Improved
57. Lifted
58. Maximized
59. Outpaced
60. Stimulated
61. Sustained

You Changed or Improved Something
So, you brought your department’s invoicing system out of the Stone Age and onto the interwebs? Talk about the amazing changes you made at your office with these words:

62. Centralized
63. Clarified
64. Converted
65. Customized
66. Influenced
67. Integrated
68. Merged
69. Modified
70. Overhauled
71. Redesigned
72. Refined
73. Refocused
74. Rehabilitated
75. Remodeled
76. Reorganized
77. Replaced
78. Restructured
79. Revamped
80. Revitalized
81. Simplified
82. Standardized
83. Streamlined
84. Strengthened
85. Updated
86. Upgraded
87. Transformed

You Managed a Team
Instead of reciting your management duties, like “Led a team…” or “Managed employees…” show what an inspirational leader you were, with terms like:

88. Aligned
89. Cultivated
90. Directed
91. Enabled
92. Facilitated
93. Fostered
94. Guided
95. Hired
96. Inspired
97. Mentored
98. Mobilized
99. Motivated
100. Recruited
101. Regulated
102. Shaped
103. Supervised
104. Taught
105. Trained
106. Unified
107. United

 You Brought in Partners, Funding, or Resources
Were you “responsible for” a great new partner, sponsor, or source of funding? Try:

108. Acquired
109. Forged
110. Navigated
111. Negotiated
112. Partnered
113. Secured

You Supported Customers
Because manning the phones or answering questions really means you’re advising customers and meeting their needs, use:

114. Advised
115. Advocated
116. Arbitrated
117. Coached
118. Consulted
119. Educated
120. Fielded
121. Informed
122. Resolved

You Were a Research Machine
Did your job include research, analysis, or fact-finding? Mix up your verbiage with these words:

123. Analyzed
124. Assembled
125. Assessed
126. Audited
127. Calculated
128. Discovered
129. Evaluated
130. Examined
131. Explored
132. Forecasted
133. Identified
134. Interpreted
135. Investigated
136. Mapped
137. Measured
138. Qualified
139. Quantified
140. Surveyed
141. Tested
142. Tracked

You Wrote or Communicated
Was writing, speaking, lobbying, or otherwise communicating part of your gig? You can explain just how compelling you were with words like:

143. Authored
144. Briefed
145. Campaigned
146. Co-authored
147. Composed
148. Conveyed
149. Convinced
150. Corresponded
151. Counseled
152. Critiqued
153. Defined
154. Documented
155. Edited
156. Illustrated
157. Lobbied
158. Persuaded
159. Promoted
160. Publicized
161. Reviewed 

You Oversaw or Regulated
Whether you enforced protocol or managed your department’s requests, describe what you really did, better, with these words:

162. Authorized
163. Blocked
164. Delegated
165. Dispatched
166. Enforced
167. Ensured
168. Inspected
169. Itemized
170. Monitored
171. Screened
172. Scrutinized
173. Verified 

You Achieved Something
Did you hit your goals? Win a coveted department award? Don’t forget to include that on your resume, with words like:

174. Attained
175. Awarded
176. Completed
177. Demonstrated
178. Earned
179. Exceeded
180. Outperformed
181. Reached
182. Showcased
183. Succeeded
184. Surpassed
185. Targeted

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Power words for resume and C.V.


Okay, so now it's time to write that key piece of documentation: a resume (rez-uh-may). A CV (curriculum vitae--and yes, "vitae" is Latin) is used for more experienced credentials and achievements.  Here's some hints and key phrases that make a difference when you're ready to get visibility. Remember: job managers use computers to scan your submission for strong significant verbs. 



Action Verb List for Resumes 
and Cover Letters

Use these action verbs to highlight the skills that you've gained and developed through your work history, involvement in activities, leadership positions, and/or volunteer work.

Creative Skills

Acted                                
Began  
Combined           
Composed
Conceived                  
Conceptualized 
Condensed                  
Created
Customized                  
Designed   
Developed                  
Devised
Directed                   
Displayed  
Diversified                  
Drew
Entertained                  
Established  
Fashioned                  
Formulated
Founded                   
Illustrated   
Improvised                 
 Initiated
Innovated                  
Instituted 
Integrated                  
Introduced
Invented                   
Manufactured  
Modeled                   
Modified
Opened                  
Originated  
Performed                 
Photographed
Planned                   
Revised   
Shaped                   
Solved
===================

Communications Skills

Addressed         
Advertised 
Arbitrated 
Arranged                 
Articulated 
Authored  
Clarified                
Collaborated   
Communicated 
Composed         
Condensed 
Conferred
Consulted         
Contacted       
Conveyed  
Convinced               
Corresponded 
Counseled 
Debated          
Defined           
Described 
Developed         
Directed  
Discussed
Drafted          
Edited         
Elicited  
Enlisted                   
Explained 
Expressed 
Formulated         
Furnished        
Greeted  
Incorporated         
Influenced      
Interacted
Interpreted         
Interviewed 
Involved  
Joined                     
Judged         
Justified  
Lectured          
Listened          
Marketed 
Mediated          
Moderated      
Negotiated 
Notified          
Observed         
Outlined
Participated         
Persuaded 
Presented 
Promoted                
Proposed  
Proved  
Publicized         
Published        
Read  
Recalled                 
Reconciled 
Recruited
Referred          
Reinforced 
Related  
Relayed                   
Renewed  
Reported  
Resolved          
Responded      
Served  
Serviced          
Solicited        
Specified
Spoke          
Suggested       
Summarized 
Synthesized            
Translated 
Wrote
=========================
Financial Skills

Administered
Adjusted
Allocated 
Analyzed                
Appraised  
Assessed 
Audited         
Balanced          
Budgeted 
Calculated        
Compared  
Computed
Conserved        
Corrected  
Determined 
Developed              
Estimated  
Figured  
Financed         
Forecasted      
Increased 
Inventoried        
Invoiced   
Listed
Managed         
Marked   
Marketed 
Measured              
Numbered  
Planned  
Prepared         
Priced              
Programmed 
Projected                
Reconciled  
Reduced
Researched      
Retrieved          
Saved
=====================
Management Skills

Accelerated          
Accomplished  
Acquired  
Administered          
Advanced          
Analyzed  
Appointed   
Approved              
Assigned  
Attained         
Attended   
Authorized
Changed           
Chaired           
Commanded  
Considered              
Consolidated   
Contained 
Contracted          
Controlled              
Converted 
Coordinated          
Decoded          
Delegated 
Delivered                  
Developed              
Directed  
Eliminated          
Emphasized          
Employed
Enforced           
Enhanced          
Established 
Executed                
Experimented        
Generated 
Governed                
Handled                  
Headed  
Hired                  
Hosted           
Improved
Incorporated        
Initiated           
Inspected 
Issued                      
Instituted                
Launched 
Managed                  
Merged           
Motivated 
Organized          
Originated              
Overhauled 
Oversaw           
Piloted                  
Presided
Prioritized          
Produced          
Recommended 
Regulated                
Reorganized          
Replaced  
Responsible For  
Restored                
Reviewed 
Scheduled        
Secured           
Selected
Streamlined          
Strengthened          
Supervised 
Terminated
====================
Organizational Skills

Approved 
Arranged  
Catalogued 
Categorized
Charted  
Classified 
Cleaned  
Cleared
Closed  
Coded  
Collected 
Compiled
Corrected 
Corresponded  
Deposited 
Detailed
Dismantled 
Dispensed 
Distributed 
Exchanged
Executed 
Filed  
Finished  
Fitted
Generated 
Implemented  
Incorporated  
Inspected
Logged  
Maintained 
Monitored 
Obtained
Operated  
Ordered  
Packaged 
Packed
Pinpointed 
Placed  
Posted 
Prepared
Processed 
Proficient
Provided  
Purchased
Rearranged 
Received  
Recorded 
Registered
Reserved  
Responded 
Restructured  
Revamped
Reversed  
Reviewed 
Routed 
Scheduled
Screened 
Sent  
Separated 
Set Up
Solidified  
Sorted 
Submitted 
Supplied
Standardized  
Stocked  
Stored 
Straightened
Structured 
Systemized 
Trimmed  
Typed
Updated  
Validated
Verified
===================
Technical Skills

Assembled 
Adapted  
Applies  
Attached
Built  
Calculated 
Computed 
Conserved
Constructed 
Converted 
Debugged 
Designed
Determined 
Developed 
Engineered 
Fabricated
Fixed 
Fortified  
Installed  
Loaded
Maintained 
Operated  
Priced 
Printed
Programmed 
Rebuilt 
Rectified  
Registered
Regulated 
Remodeled 
Repaired  
Replaced
Restored  
Specialized 
Standardized  
Studied
Upgraded 
Utilized
======================
Research Skills

Analyzed
Accumulated
Charted
Collected
Checked
Compared
Conducted
Counted
Critiqued
Detected
Determined
Diagnosed
Discovered
Evaluated
Examined
Experimented
Explored
Extracted
Formulated
Gathered
Graphed
Identified
Indexed
Indicated
Inspected
Interpreted
Interviewed
Invented
Investigated
Located
Measured
Organized
Researched
Searched
Solved
Summarized
Surveyed
Systemized
Tabulated
Tallied
Tested
======================
Teaching skills

Adapted  
Advised 
Clarified  
Coached
Communicated 
Conducted 
Coordinated 
Counseled
Developed 
Enabled  
Encouraged 
Evaluated
Explained 
Facilitated 
Focused  
Guided
Graded 
Improvised 
Individualized  
Informed
Instilled  
Instructed 
Licensed  
Motivated
Persuaded 
Prompted 
Set Goals 
Schooled
Showed  
Simulated 
Stimulated 
Taught
Tested  
Trained  
Transmitted 
Tutored
===========================
Helping Skills

Actively  
Adapted  
Accompanied  
Advocated
Aided  
Allowed  
Answered  
Arranged
Assessed 
Assisted  
Cared For  
Clarified
Coached  
Collaborated 
Contributed  
Cooperated
Counseled 
Demonstrated 
Diagnosed 
Educated
Encouraged 
Ensured  
Expedited  
Facilitated
Familiarized 
Furthered 
Guided   
Helped
Indexed  
Insured  
Intervened  
Learned
Motivated 
Prevented 
Provided   
Referred
Rehabilitated  
Represented 
Resolved  
Simplified
Supported

Volunteered