RESUME WRITING: POWER WORDS - ACTION VERBS
The reason for writing a resume is to generate results. You want to try and knock the socks off your reader so that he extends an invitation for an interview where you can really showcase your skills.
The thing that will help you to do that is to use power words in your resume. These power words are more of descriptors which go ahead to describe details of what you worked on at your previous job.
If an employer is searching a database of resumes then these power words act like key words and throw up your resume immediately. Power words are the most important words to be used in resumes today. They help the reader to easily understand your resume and make you stand out from amongst the crowd.
Power words are actually the building blocks of a resume. It also depends on the frequency of usage of these power words and the specific words used. Along with power words if you go ahead and use numbers to substantiate what you are saying then it all the more quantifies what you are saying. Thus when the employer reads the resume he is able to draw a visual picture in his mind about all your responsibilities and achievements. This will enable him to also visualize how you would fit into his organization.
If your resume is very generic and lacks power words which add on the right amount of punch and zing then it won’t be easy for the employer reading it to skip over and forget it. More specifics you add on the better it is for you.
Another thing that is equally important is the image of yourself that you portray via the resume. The more power words you use that match the position that you are applying for the higher your chances of being called for an interview. So remember the power words you use must match your current position too if you want to control the image created in the reader’s mind.
Power words help you to grab your reader’s attention within the first ten seconds which is exactly how long it takes for him to decide which basket he wants to add your resume to, the one that gets a call or the other to be tossed away.
Hence you might wonder what are power words. They are strong action verbs which boost your chance of being called for interviews, describe your accomplishments succinctly including current and previous jobs and intrigue hiring managers further.
There are some words that appeal to all companies universally. They are efficiently, teamwork, managed, productive, motivated and so forth.
Every word in the English language has a denotation and connotation. It means that even though the meaning of the words might be the same but the reaction of others to it will differ. Based on the word that you used the reaction could be positive or negative. For example if you say motivated the team the effect of course is bound to be positive. However, if you use words such as led a team it doesn’t create the same positive image as the word motivate would. It could in fact have a boomerang effect where rather than creating a good impression your resume is tossed aside for just that one word.
Here is a compilation of some of the power words that you could use.
Ability, achieved, acquired, assisted, approved, budgeted, built, capable capability capacity competence competent complete completely consistent contributions, consolidated, corresponded, demonstrated developing educated efficient effective enhanced effectiveness enlarging equipped excellent exceptional expanding experienced global increasing knowledgeable major mature maturity nationwide outstanding performance positive potential productive proficient profitable proven qualified record repeatedly resourceful responsible results significant significantly sound specialist substantial substantially successful stable thorough thoroughly versatile vigorous well educated well rounded worldwide.
To conclude, remember that power words should be used, however used judiciously otherwise they will not have the desired impact.
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