From the damn good resume guide by yana parker, berkeley. Verbs before blurbs on your creative resume robert half. You know, the stuff that explains what you did at each of your jobs. Instead, make a point of using powerful action verbs and avoid overusing the same verbs such as assisted, oversaw and utilized. It also minimizes the use of linking verbs and sentences that start with i worked on or was responsible for, which results in concise resume bullets. You should use plenty of action verbs in your resume, matched to your skills, and use them in the active form, not the passive form. Action verbs continued managementleadership skills administered analyzed appointed approved assigned attained authorized chaired considered consolidated contracted controlled converted coordinated decided delegated developed directed eliminated emphasized enforced enhanced established executed generated handled headed hired.
Action verbs for resumes listed below are common action verbs to use when writing resumes and examples of how to you may use them in your resume. Resume action verbs achievement administrative communication creative financial technical research analytical leadmanage planorganize helpteach accelerated arranged addressed authored allocated adapted assessed acquired allocated advised. Your resume is the first thing recruiters and human resources see when you apply for a position. Instead of prepositional phrases like responsible for use managed planned. Along similar lines, if you can show that your work boosted the. Increased student participation by 25% over a 6month period accomplished constructed ensured hastened minimized reduced losses achieved contributed excelled heightened modernized rejuvenated added delivered expanded improved obtained renovated. Resume action verbs sample list courtesy of the resume writing academy, below you will find a sample list of action verbs for your resume. Accelerate accentuate accomplish accommodate achieve acquire adapt address. These may also give you ideas on how to discuss your skills in a cover letter.
The best approach is to begin each job description with a power verb. To find additional examples go online and do a search of resume action verbs or ask staff in the placement office for assistance. Check off any words that might describe the experiences or activities you did in a job. Far fewer executives favored online profiles 14 percent and video or infographic resumes 3 percent each as their format of choice. Stronger verbs for accomplishments accelerated achieved attained completed conceived convinced discovered doubled. Resume action verbs helping skills assessed assisted clarified coached counseled demonstrated diagnosed educated expedited facilitated familiarized. Since every function of a job should be a description of something an employee does, it makes sense to lead with a word that describes that action. Which of these two sentences do you think is the more powerful. Schedule an appointment resume, cover letter questions. When you apply for jobs with a professionally written and formatted resume with the correct information and story being told the results will astound you. Power verbs for your resume getting results example. Resume writing adjectives, adverbs, and action words.
Action verbs describe the tasks, skills, achievements, and responsibilities on your resume. Resume action verbs use the present tense of verbs for jobs you are still doing e. List of action verbs for resumes business english englishclub. Hiring managers love candidates whove helped a team operate more efficiently or costeffectively. Action verbs by skill set 68 center for career exploration. Action verbs for resumes consider using these verbs to describe your skills and accomplishments when writing your resume. Using action verbs in your resume not only helps make your resume stronger but also makes it look. Appearance resumes are professional correspondence. Action verbs for resumes and professional profiles management leadership skills administered analyzed appointed approved assigned attained authorized chaired considered consolidated contracted controlled converted coordinated decided delegated developed directed eliminated emphasized enforced enhanced established executed generated handled headed. Keep the tenses consistent using past verbs for past experiences and present verbs for the current ones. Action verbs 4361 you increased efficiency, sales, revenue, or customer satisfaction. Make sure you arrange your resume in such a way as to highlight. List of action verbs for resumes and professional profiles.
Then scan through the list of verbs and make those that describe activities you have done in other situations. Communication solicited addressed specified advertised spoke arbitrated individualized articulated unified authored clarified collaborated communicated organization composed consulted contacted conveyed tutored convinced corresponded debated defined demonstrated described developed. Resumes action verbs for resumes cla career services. Avoid this common mistake by getting using compelling verbs to catch the hiring managers eyes. Try to lead with an action verb past tense except for current position and avoid ing verbs or nouns at the start. They stress results and impact, which are what employers care about. Accelerated accelerated the rate of payback on company loans. Action verbs use them in your resume university of miami. Although it does provide some good words you can use when creating resume statements. Action verbs the most difficult part of resume writing is describing your experiences. Yale office of career strategy 55 whitney avenue, 3rd floor, new haven, ct, 06510 online at.
Action verbs the following is a list of action verbs that should help you in describing your experiences and activities on your resume. Power verbs for your resume t he following lists are divided into categories to facilitate your ability to identify some great, active verbs to make your resume stand out. Start bullet statements with action verbs that describe work duties and accomplishments avoid using the same verb more than once if. Instead, make a point of using powerful action verbs and avoid overusing the same verbs such as. Management skills administered analyzed assigned attained chaired consolidated contracted coordinated delegated developed directed evaluated executed improved increased organized oversaw planned prioritized. These faulty word choices can undermine the strength and effectiveness of your resume.
Examples of action verbs for use in a resume accelerated activated adapted administered analyzed anticipated appraised approved arranged assembled assisted. All of this makes action verbs more persuasive and more convincing than other verbs that do not refer to an action. Action verbs use them in your resume you should use action verbs in your business writing, especially in your resume, because they are easy for the reader to understand, find, and summarize. Continue down the list until you have identified a handful of examples that demonstrate your competency using this skill. Accomplishment statements communicate to the reader that you have achieved results and that you have developed transferrable skills necessary for the internshipjob you are seeking. Boston college career center action verbs adapted, enlarged list inspired by employment development department of palo alto, ca management skills communication skills clerical or detailed skills administered analyzed assigned attained chaired contracted consolidated coordinated delegated developed directed. Begin each of your descriptive lines with a power verb. These can be used in listing your accomplishments and skills on your resume.
When writing a resume, its important to avoid weak and passive verbs, stay away from business jargon or cliches, and watch out for tired words and phrases. Limit to one or two pages printed on 8 12 x 11 bond paper using high quality printer with familiar fonts times, palatine, etc. On your resume, its helpful to decribe your experiences as actions. These powerful positive action verbs make your resume achievements sound even more impressive. Use these action verbs to describe past work, volunteer, academic or personal experiences that will go on your resume. Contact us hours we are operating virtually monday friday 8 a. Resume action verbs document creation resumes you know not to start your power bullets with responsible for or duties included, but do you find yourself repeatedly using the same verbs. It is recommended that departments use action verbs when describing the essential and nonessential duties on a position description. Using action verbs in your resume not only helps make your resume stronger but also makes it. Be concise, use past tense verbs, avoid first person pronouns i, me, my. Make sure you arrange your resume in such a way as to highlight the most. Communication solicited addressed specified advertised spoke arbitrated individualized articulated unified authored clarified. First identify 2 or 3 skill sets most relevant to the position you hope to attain.
You will have more options and attract higher quality jobs and companies. List of resume adjectives, adverbs, and action words. Search a comprehensive list of important resume writing action words, verbs, keywords, adjectives, and adverbs to include on a professional written resume. On the one hand, these are your achievements, so it could make sense to write i grew, i built, i led and so on. Weak, vague or overused verbs can actually diminish the excellent work you did at your last job, so choose action verbs that more accurately reflect what you do. Click the type of skill set to see a list of words to help you describe your skills.
Far fewer executives favored online profiles 14 percent and video or infographic resumes 3. Verbs before blurbs on your creative resume verbs before blurbs on your creative resume. Stronger verbs for accomplishments accelerated achieved attained completed conceived convinced discovered doubled effected eliminated expanded expedited founded improved increased initiated innovated introduced invented. Action verbs communicationpeople skills addressed advertised arbitrated arranged articulated authored clarified collaborated communicated composed condensed conferred consulted contacted conveyed convinced corresponded debated defined developed directed discussed drafted edited elicited enlisted explained expressed. Power verbs for education resumes pomerantz career center. Good resumes highlight achievements that are most relevant when applying for a job. On both sides of this handout are verbs that will help you do that. Jun 27, 2016 nearly eight in 10 78 percent advertising and marketing executives said theyd rather receive a traditional resume in word or pdf format from candidates applying for creative roles. Resume action verbs achievement administrative communication creative financial technical research analytical leadmanage planorganize helpteach accelerated arranged addressed authored allocated adapted assessed acquired allocated advised accomplished channeled arbitrated changed analyzed adjusted compared administered anticipated clarified. Action verbs 3442 you saved the company time or money.
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