Resumes action verbs

When describing what you ve done in the past or your current job responsibilities, try to use action verbs. Action verbs clearly show you as the doer of specific actions. Here are some examples of action verbs you might want to use in your resume. 

Instead of following the same format as a traditional printed resume, use keywords as opposed to action verbs to describe your employment history, skills, and education. For more information about how to create an electronic resume and how to take full advantage of today s computer technology and cyberspace when searching for a job, see Chapter 7 . 

As a job seeker, if you will be applying for jobs at medium- to large-size companies that already use applicant-tracking software, it s important to create a resume that will be compatible with applicanttracking software. Focus on using keywords within your resume that you believe will match keywords the employer has already selected. Instead of using action verbs (as you would for a traditional printed resume), incorporate nouns that describe your skills, experience, and education. 

When you re ready to begin writing the work experience section of your resume, for a traditional printed resume, begin each sentence, bulleted point, or item of information with an action verb. Appendix A offers an extensive list of words and phrases you can incorporate into this section of your resume. 

For each item of your resume, use a different action verb. Avoid being repetitive or redundant. For example, find alternate ways of stating information if you held similar positions with different employers. 

It s important to use action verbs to describe your accomplishments, skills, and so forth, but it s easy to use big words that can make you sound pretentious. Whenever you can use a simple word that has impact as opposed to an obscure one, always keep your resume easy to read. 

After listing each job title and employer in the Employment section of your resume, devise one or two full sentences of text, followed by bulleted points that support that sentence. Using action verbs and short sentences allows you to convey the maximum amount of information in the shortest possible space. As you write, make sure the voice and tense of the text remains consistent. 

A better way to present this information is to use bulleted points, with each point starting with an action verb or power phrase designed to capture the reader s attention. Using the same information in the previous example, here s a better way to present the facts using bulleted points in a standard chronological resume. Never try to incorporate too much information into a paragraph, sentence, or bulleted item. 

The biggest rule to follow when creating a scannable resume is to create the content by using nouns and keywords in the text as opposed to action verbs. When it comes to actually printing your resume, consider the requirements of the computer system being used by the potential employer to which you will be sending your resume. 

The AutoWriter feature allows you to choose from over 100,000 job-specific phrases, keywords, and action verbs designed to add power and impact to your resume as you create it. There s also a large database of sample resumes and tutorials to use when creating a resume for virtually any job title in any industry. 

Resume professionals know the business. Most have been on both sides of the process they have been both hirers and hirees. A professional knows how to present a candidate s skills in the best possible light using keywords, action verbs, and power phrases."... 

How important is using keywords as opposed to action verbs within a resume ... 

Anytime you re going to post your resume online or you know the resume will be scarmed into a database, using keywords is the only way a potential employer is going to find you in the database. But, most people still need to have a paper resume for their interview. In this type of resume, using action verbs is critical in order to make your information read properly. 

Most people these days need to have two versions of their resume—a paper resume with action verbs, and an electronic resume that uses keywords. Many resume writers will charge extra for creating two types of resumes, but for most job seekers, the additional investment will be well worth it, depending on the types of jobs you re applying for. When creating a keyword-based resume, 1 typically try to incorporate at least 50 keywords into the document. 

Don t emphasize keywords if you re creating a traditional printed resume focus on using action verbs and descriptive phrases. This adds more power to your resume. Refrain from using cliches (overused phrases or words), such as "hard working." Use a thesaurus or the list of action verbs/phrases supplied at the end of this book, and find creative and powerful ways to communicate your main points. 

Don t clutter your resume. One mistake too many people make is leaving in too much extraneous information. Keep your resume short and simple. Try to use simple words, and begin sentences with action verbs. 

C YOU BEGIN to draft your traditional printed resume, you make a greater impact if you use action verbs to describe your accomplishments, skills, and responsibilities. Incorporate one action word for each item listed on your resume. As you incorporate these verbs into your resume, choose only the ones that work best with your individual skills and accomplishments, and refrain from using the same action verb two or more times. Even if you ve held the same type of job with several different employers, use different wording to describe each of your employment experiences. 

When creating an electronic resume or scannable resume, instead of using action verbs, you will want to use nouns that demonstrate... 

A Action Verbs and Power Phrases for Your Resume 208 B Defining and Describing Your Job Title 213... 

The keywords you incorporate into your resume should support or be relevant to your job objective. Keep in mind that employers generally scan online resumes for nouns rather than verbs. Whereas traditional resumes tend to use strong action verbs, a scannable resume should include precise, specific nouns. Also, you should avoid using abbreviations and symbols in scannable resumes Type "Doctor" instead of "Dr." and "percent" instead of "%."... 

Make sure your cover letter is grammatically correct and contains no spelling errors. Like your resume, use as many action verbs as possible. Proofread each letter multiple times, and ask someone else to proofread it before sending it out. 

Action Exhibit 2-3. Verbs to Enhance Your Resume... 

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