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If you are trying to figure out a way to build your CV or Resume, we know that it can be an overwhelming task. Especially when this is the only document that can properly reflect your personal attributes as well as your work ethics and experience. To draft a CV that encapsulates every aspect of your professional journey, consider closely the words to include in your CV. The choice of words is the second most important thing after your work experience that will fill your resume. The words to include in your CV are not only important to impress the recruitment panel but also to receive positive feedback from the software that will check your resume. Administrators and One of the popular myths about creating a resume is that work experience outweighs the text of the CV. However, this is not the case. To bring your CV to the top of the pile and above the competition, you need to use words that specify your uniqueness, what you can bring to the table and your potential. Hiring managers often discredit resumes that are generic and have vague job descriptions This article is dedicated to helping you find good resume words in a CV. 10 Words To Include In Your CVKey IndicatorsEvery position you apply to, be it for international scholarships or full-time job roles, each position has a specific criteria or expectations. These are usually mentioned in the job description as key indicators of the position. If you are applying to multiple companies or institutions, make sure that each CV that you submit is tailored to the requirements of the position. For example, you are applying for a managerial position at a retail company that mentions that they are seeking candidates who are able to demonstrate leadership skills and are innovative in their approach. Here, the key indicators are “leadership skills” and “innovative”. When you are filling the application form for the company, these words need to be reflected in your resume as well. This is how the software will initially match your CV to the job position. Numbers and ComparisonsRecruiters love seeing numbers and figures on resumes. It is true that numbers do not lie and this is the general rule of thumb that is often followed while selecting candidates. You might want to show the committee that you are hard working and result oriented. It is difficult to do that without sounding verbose. Often when you are able to clearly show comparisons between targets, it is not just an advantage but a selling point for many candidates.For example a CV that includes the words “Increased revenue by 150%” sounds more compelling than simply saying you are “Able to drive revenue”. Moreover, when you talk in terms of numbers, you will be able to convince the recruiters about your personal attributes. “Orchestrated”Recruiters are often impressed when you are able to show that you were able to manage a team under you or were able to drive a project single handedly. One of the words to include in your CV is definitely the word “orchestrate”. One of the easiest words and therefore the most common word that most candidates use to describe this thought is by using the words “led” or “managed”. This word has also been suggested to be used by many career coaches and industry experts. “Proactive”The people who are proactive are usually the ones who work independently and are ready to take action any moment of the day. One of the best words to include in your CV is the word “proactive”. You must use this word to emphasize the skills you have on your resume. This word will do you good especially if you are looking for alternatives to graduate schemes and want to work before you study. “Planned”, “Produced” or “Programmed”These three are actionable words that are often scrounged in a resume. The words indicate that you are a visionary and know the subject well to strategise elements for optimum results. If you are able to support these words with examples from your experiences, you will be highly considered for the role you are applying to. “Team-Work” or “Team Player”Most companies, be it private or public follow a team structure under a well-defined hierarchy. As a result, the key indicators of such positions require candidates to have previously worked as team players and contributed to the growth of the overall success of the organisation. Often, recruiters will also be interested in knowing how you added value to the team and what made you a unique team member. Ranks and AchievementsIf you have taken a professional development course and have really made the most of your study experience, you will be able to mention your achievements as a student. Words that reflect the idea of “being ahead of the competition” and “all-rounder” often receive extra credits. If you have extracurricular achievements or have made a significant impact in the community, you must mention that in your resume as well. “Spearheaded”This is one of the best words to include in your CV and accurately reflects your involvement in a project or driving organisation’s activities. Often career coaches encourage candidates to be bold in their resumes and not minimise their capabilities or potentials in any way. Using the word spearheaded will instantly drive the focus of the recruiter to see what you were able to spearhead and how your involvement played a role. Thanks for reading this blog on 8 Prescribed Words On Include In Your CV. If you are interested in learning more about student life, the following should be of help to you:
Looking for student accommodation abroad? What do people mean when they say “resume power words?” Does it have something to do with Power Rangers? Why use resume action words anyway? Imagine that resumes are bottles of shampoo. And the poor recruiter goes through hundreds of lather, rinse, repeat every day. You need to stand out to get their attention! And this is where those resume words step in.
This list of resume action words provides:
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here. Create your resume now Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here. One of our users, Nikos, had this to say: [I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff. 1 Resume Action Words to Use Instead of Boring WordsWhy use powerful resume words? Well, pretend you’re hungry. In front of you are 300 American cheese sandwiches on white bread. Ho hum. But then you see a turkey-bacon panini with thin-sliced avocado and a side of homemade curly fries. Beside it sits a frosty mug of ice cold beer. Resume power words make your resume stand out like that. Bear in mind this isn’t a “how to fluff a resume” piece. It’s not a checklist of magic NLP phrases that will hypnotize the recruiter. Use it to improve your writing, highlight strengths on your resume, and to help the employer understand why you should be the chosen one. But you don’t want a phone-book-style list of 310 resume verbs, buzzwords, and adjectives. So—here are 10 individual lists. After that are lists of resume buzzwords, resume adjectives, and how to find the best keywords for your resume. Click to see each action verbs list below and jump to the right section: Resume Action Words ListsWant buzzwords, adjectives, or resume keywords to give your job search a fighting chance? Click any of the resume words lists below, or just scroll down. Resume Buzzwords and Resume Adjectives
Pro Tip: Picking power verbs for resume writing? Change it up. Use each one only once if you can help it. Use powerful words and action verbs on your LinkedIn profile too. Want yours to really sing? See our guide: A LinkedIn Summary & Profile That Gets Jobs 2 How to Use Resume Power WordsEverybody knows how to use resume action words. Right? The answer may surprise you. The best resume words don’t describe you. They describe the things you’ve done. What are Resume Action Words?Resume action words, also called resume power words, are words you should use in your resume to describe your professional skills, tasks, and achievements at work in a short and powerful way. Typically, they are action verbs but adjectives and some buzzwords are also considered good words for resumes. With action words:
Rather than describe your job, resume action verbs paint a vivid picture of your expertise and professional wins. Why Do Good Resume Verbs Make Writing Stronger?Resume action verbs make writing stronger for two reasons. First, they zap the boring phrases hiring managers see hundreds of times daily. Second, they guide you toward job-winning specifics. With action words, you didn’t just handle a responsibility. You slashed costs X% or drove time savings of X hours/week. What Action Words to Use in a ResumeAvoid like the plague words that say, “I’m awesome, great, experienced, an expert, a hard worker.” Those are “toot your own horn” words. Instead, use resume words that say, “I’m about to show you how I’m awesome.” The 310 resume words in this article do just that. Use Exact Numbers with Your Resume Power WordsWith any of the resume words below, add numbers. Calculate the dollars saved, the revenue increased, the time reduced. Then use good resume action verbs to introduce those numbers. Example: Implemented a new inventory system and slashed costs 20%. Pro Tip: What’s even more powerful than great action words for a resume? Great referrals. Reach out to employees at the company and listen to them talk about their job. Need achievements to pair with all those great resume action words? See our guide: Achievements to Put on a Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples) 3 Resume Action Words for “Team Player”Employers hate seeing “team player” on a resume. Yet, they want to hire team players. See the problem? You’ve got to show you’re a team player without saying it. So, in your resume bullet points, display achievements. Show times you worked with others and got great results. You cut costs, raised revenue, or found efficiencies. Give specific dollar amounts, hours per week, and percentages. Lead off with the resume action verbs for collaborate below. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Team Player:
Pro Tip: Use great action verbs for resume writing, but use them sparingly. One active power verb per bullet point sentence is plenty. Want to fit your resume words to the job offer like a pair of yoga pants? See our guide: How to Personalize Your Resume to Match a Job Description (Examples) 4 Resume Power Words for “Leadership”Hiring managers love leaders. They can’t stand candidates who merely say they’re leaders. How many team members were you in charge of? How many hours of training did you give? What projects did you spearhead? There’s your proof. Showcase it in style with the resume power words for leadership below. 20 of the Best Resume Words for Leadership:
Pro Tip: Action verbs for resume use can backfire if you use them wrong. Make sure you fully understand the power words you use. If adding resume words can help your chances, what other great tips are just around the corner? See our guide: 42 Amazing Resume Tips That You Can Use in 30 Minutes [Examples] Trying to stand out with power words for your resume? Make sure they’re the right ones. Avoid resume buzz words. This is a list of the most popular ones: Overused Resume Buzz Words
A CareerBuilder study of 2200 hiring managers found the common resume buzzwords hiring managers hate most. What do they have in common? Most say you’re great, but don’t convey any actual information. Use resume words you can hook achievements to instead.
Pro Tip: What if you land the interview, then they ask you to describe yourself in three words? Use resume action words to show how well you’ll fit the job. Looking for resume buzzwords to use in a student resume? Want help making it 10x more effective? See our guide on the subject: Student Resume Sample & Complete Writing Guide [with 20+ Examples] 6 Resume Words for “Responsible For”“Responsible for” is the sneakers-in-a-dryer of resume words. Instead, say how you improved what you were responsible for. Use these resume words to do it right: 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Responsible For:
Pro Tip: It’s okay to use more common resume action verbs once in a while. Just avoid the most common power words whenever possible. How many words should a resume be? Check our resources: Should a Resume Be One Page? How to Make It a Single Page [+Tips] 7 Good Resume Verbs for “Communication”What hiring manager doesn’t love a good communicator? Here’s a tip: An applicant with good communication skills would never say, “I’m a good communicator.” She’d show it. So—tout achievements your communication caused. Did you negotiate deals 10% more effectively than others? Author the company newsletter? Show it with the powerful resume words below. 20 of the Best Resume Words for Communication:
Pro Tip: Can’t find the right action verbs for resumes to describe your great achievement? Sometimes it’s best to let the accomplishment speak for itself. Are you listing work experience the best way on your resume? Try this link: How to List Work Experience on Your Resume [+20 Examples] 8 Resume Power Words for “Achiever/Achieved”Want to look incompetent? Just put “Achiever” on your resume. Want to look like Tony Stark with MS Office skills? Use the strong resume words below to show exactly what you have achieved. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Achiever:
Pro Tip: Avoid over-flashy resume action verbs like “destroyed,” “smashed,” or “annihilated.” Use them only if you’re applying to the WWE. Poor use of resume action words is a big mistake. The same is true for choosing tenses. See how to fix this: Resume Tense: Past or Present? What Voice? 9 The Best Resume AdjectivesUse those self-descriptive words on a resume:
Let’s not tiptoe. Most people think the right adjectives for resume will impress the employer. They won’t. Have you ever seen It’s a Wonderful Life? There’s a scene where a pipsqueak tells Donna Reed, “Nobody’d say anything to me about it because they all know what kind of guy I am.” That’s exactly how “powerful” resume adjectives make you look. They’re a bluff. A strutting rooster. A little guy beating his chest. Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Your big stick is achievements. Ditch the flowery resume adjectives and cite jaw-dropping accomplishments. Use the resume words below.
Pro Tip: We’re not saying to use zero resume power words as adjectives. One or two in a resume can help paint your picture. But stick to a couple. They’re the wave crest, not the ocean. What else can make your resume stand out aside from strong resume phrases and words? Using the best fonts. For more info see: Best Font for a Resume: What Size & Typeface to Use? [15+ Pro Tips] 10 Resume Words for “Worked On”It’s not enough to tell employers what you worked on. Thomas Andrews worked on designing the Titanic. What exactly did you accomplish? Don’t just say you worked on something. Say how many, how much, how often. Find the success. Give numbers. Show value. To share those numbers, include these powerful resume words for “worked on” below. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Worked On:
Pro Tip: Avoid passive verbs for resumes like “is,” “were,” and “was” when possible. Use active verbs instead. Should you send a PDF or MS Word Doc resume? See our guide: Resume in PDF or Word: What is the Best Resume File Type? When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free. When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better. 11 Resume Verbs for “Improved”Did you make something skyrocket? Showing it on a resume can get you hired. But you can’t keep saying “I improved” over and over. Mix it up with the resume words below. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Improved:
Pro Tip: Using action verbs for resumes to describe accomplishments? Try to match them to what the hiring manager needs. That’s easy to find—it’s in the job ad. Besides resume verbs, what else should you put on your resume? See our guide: What to Put on a Resume to Make it Perfect [Tips & Examples] 12 Resume Power Words for “Researched”Does the job description call for research skills? Steer clear of generic resume phrases like, “Handled research duties and responsibilities.” Focus instead on the effect your research had. Did your analytical skills save money? Time? Earn commendations from management? Use the resume verbs below to say that. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Researched:
Pro Tip Not sure how to present your current position? Explore ideas for professional titles here: 450 Job Titles that Work on a Resume & Job Hunt [Current & Desired!] 13 Synonyms for “Creativity and Problem Solving”Lots of jobs need creativity skills. Saying, “I’m creative” on a resume proves you aren’t. Use resume power words to show what you created. Exactly what did you design? Did your creations win awards and commendations? Did you go faster than your coworkers? Do it cheaper? Get higher customer reviews? Use the resume words below to show that with a little zest. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Creativity and Problem-Solving:
Pro Tip: “Why should we hire you?” Have the right resume verbs ready. Back them up with numbers, and you’ll ace that common interview question with flying colors. Can formatting help as much as action verbs for a resume? See our guide: Resume Format: How to Format a Professional Resume (Examples & Templates) 14 Strong Resume Words for “Managed”You could just say your last job was in management. That alone will show you’ve got experience. But hiring managers love metrics. So, think about what you achieved through managing employees. The good resume words below will help. 20 of the Best Resume Action Words for Managing:
Pro Tip: Action words are a great addition to a CV too. A CV vs a resume may be two different documents, but both benefit from kicking the content up a notch. Need some great resume keywords that look good on any resume? Want resume skills words that boost your interview odds? See our guide: 30+ Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips) 15 “Assist” Synonyms for a ResumeNot only assistant jobs require assisting. Still, the word seems not strong enough to convey competence and trustworthiness. Use the following synonyms instead to show your impact: Top 15+ Resume Synonyms for Assist
You can also use these phrases when writing your cover letter. Find out how to format your cover letter the right way. Check our guide: Cover Letter Format: Templates & 20+ Samples 16 “Utilize” Synonyms for a ResumeThis three-syllable word means the same thing as the word “use”. Both have more powerful substitutes to use in a resume. Take a look at the list below. Best 10+ Resume Synonyms for Utilize
Is this your first time writing a resume? We have a tailor-made guide for you. Check: First Resume with No Work Experience: Samples and Expert Tips Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like: Create my cover letter now See more cover letter templates and start writing. Resume keywords aren’t the same as action words. Action words begin your bullet points. They introduce achievements that convince the hiring manager to hire you. You saved, slashed, raised, or developed something. Resume keywords showcase your specific skills. Need a list of good skills to put on a resume? The best ones are in the job offer. Use the ones the employer is hungry for, and the Applicant Tracking Software will reward you.
What’s the most important resume keyword every application should contain? Find that and other key tips in our guide: Best Resume Keywords to Use: Step-by-Step Guide Key TakeawayHere’s a recap of resume action words and how to use them:
Do you have questions resume action words? Not sure how to use resume power words to get the best effect? Give us a shout in the comments! Let's talk about phrases you love to hate and hate to love! Frequently Asked Questions about Action Verbs and Resume WordsWhat are power words in a resume?Power words are words and phrases that catch the reader’s attention. Power words in a resume are used to make the candidate’s job application stand out from others. Most powerful resume words are verbs. They can be used to describe actions, duties, and tasks from the candidate’s most relevant experience. For example, instead of writing “responsible for running internal projects”, the candidate can use a power word and write “coordinated internal projects” and make a better impression on the recruiter. This way, it’s easier for applicants to showcase the qualities that employers value. What are good verbs for a resume?The best resume verbs are action verbs. They describe activities that involved physical or mental actions and provided a significant result. Good verbs for resumes suggest that the action was successful, which automatically boosts the candidate’s qualifications. They are perfect for describing accomplishments and worth researching when learning how to write a good resume. Here’s a sample action verb list:
What are good action words for a resume?Action words in resumes are synonymous with action verbs. These words or phrases are best for describing achievements, work experience, as well as skills in a functional resume. Using resume action verbs helps to catch the recruiter’s attention and to stand out from other applicants. Some examples of good action words for a resume include: administered, advocated, created, completed, demonstrated, designed, enabled, estimated, facilitated, fixed, implemented, investigated, merged, managed, operated, overhauled, tested, transformed, utilized, updated. You can find different categories of resume action words in this article: What are resume buzzwords?Resume buzzwords are verbs, nouns, and adjectives that can help the candidate to stand out from other applicants. They include action verbs for describing work experience, nouns that describe tasks and responsibilities, and personality adjectives that describe the candidate’s personal qualities and can be used during job interviews to talk about yourself. While using buzzwords is encouraged, the candidates must do it right. Many resume buzzwords, such as “team player” or “passionate” are so overused that they became cliché, and can make a resume look bad. When writing a resume, it’s best to have a look at lists of useful resume buzzwords, as well as use a thesaurus to find synonyms whenever necessary. You can also easily improve your old resume by editing it and adding a few buzzwords here and there. Click on the links below to find more resume words:
Should a resume start with verbs?It’s good practice to start some sentences in a resume with action verbs. While the candidate’s personal profile usually starts with a strong personality adjective, job title, or a strong resume headline, the description of work experience should start with action verbs. For example, instead of writing “I was responsible for designing the app user interface”, they might say: “Designed the app user interface”. It not only saves space. Such descriptions of candidates’ duties make a better impression on the recruiter. |