Your resume is your marketing tool, and the words you choose can significantly impact your chances of getting noticed by potential employers. Action words, also known as power words or keywords, are crucial to include in your resume to demonstrate your skills, achievements, and experiences.
The right words can help you stand out from the competition, while the wrong words can make your resume look generic and unimpressive. Here are some of the most effective action words to help you make your resume more impactful and get noticed by hiring managers.
Accomplished
This word conveys a sense of achievement and success, showing that you have completed specific tasks and met particular goals.
Achieved
Similar to accomplished, this word highlights your ability to reach set targets and attain desired results.
Administered
This word implies that you have taken charge of an operation, showcasing your ability to manage and oversee tasks and processes.
Analyzed
Demonstrating your analytical skills is essential in many industries, and this word can help you highlight your ability to evaluate data, information, and situations.
Assisted
This word shows that you have supported others in helping them achieve their goals.
Built
This word shows that you have contributed to creating something, highlighting your ability to construct, develop, and establish.
Chaired
If you have led or moderated meetings or events, this word can help you demonstrate your leadership and organizational skills.
Collaborated
This word highlights your aptitude to work well with others and participate in a team effort.
Completed
This word conveys a sense of achievement and shows that you have successfully finished tasks and projects.
Conceptualized
This word shows that you have developed new ideas, approaches, or strategies and highlights your creativity and innovation skills.
Controlled
This word showcases your ability to manage and regulate processes and activities.
Coordinated
This word highlights your ability to manage resources, schedules, and activities and demonstrates your organizational skills.
Created
This word highlights your ability to bring new ideas and projects to life and shows your creativity and innovation skills.
Delivered
This word implies that you have fulfilled a promise or obligation and shows your ability to provide results and meet expectations.
Designed
This word shows that you have used your creativity and technical skills to develop something new.
Developed
This word implies growth and improvement and highlights your ability to build and create new projects and initiatives.
Directed
This word shows that you have taken charge and led a team, project, or activity.
Enhanced
This word highlights your ability to improve and add value and shows that you have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of tasks, processes, or systems.
Executed
This word shows that you have carried out tasks and projects successfully and conveys a sense of achievement and completion.
Facilitated
This word highlights your ability to support and enable others and shows that you have helped to make processes and activities more efficient and effective.
These are just a few action words you can use in your resume to style it more impactful and get noticed by hiring managers. When choosing your resume, pick words that accurately reflect your skills, achievements, and experiences.
Ways to Include Action Words in Resume
Here are a few tips on how to effectively incorporate action words into your resume:
Start With a Strong Objective Statement
Your objective statement is a great place to start using action words. Choose words that reflect the skills and experiences you have that are relevant to the role you are applying for.
Focus On Accomplishments
Instead of just listing your job duties, focus on the accomplishments and achievements you made in each position. Use action words to describe how you improved processes, increased productivity, or solved problems.
Use Keywords
Research the job description and industry you are applying to, and look for keywords commonly used in similar job postings. Incorporate these keywords into your resume, but make sure they fit naturally and accurately reflect your experiences.
Be Specific
Use specific numbers, statistics, and examples to support your accomplishments and make your resume stand out. This will help you demonstrate your impact in your previous positions.
Use Active Voice
Make sure your sentences are written in an active voice, emphasizing the actions you took rather than the actions that were taken on you.
Avoid Repetitive Language
Use various action words to describe your experiences and skills, and avoid repeating the exact words. This will make your resume more exciting and engaging to read.
Proofread
Finally, proofread your resume carefully to catch any typos, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing. This will help you present yourself professionally and increase your chances of getting observed by hiring managers.
Action Words That You Should Avoid In Your Resume
While action words can help make your resume more impactful and memorable, it’s essential to avoid specific actions that can detract from your message. Here are some action words to avoid in your resume:
Clichés
Avoid using overused or clichéd words like “hard worker,” “team player,” or “results-driven.” These words are so commonly used that they have lost their meaning and impact.
Buzzwords
Stay away from buzzwords that are in vogue but may not accurately reflect your skills and experiences. Examples include “disruptive,” “innovative,” or “agile.”
Vague or Generic Words
Avoid using vague or generic words like “involved,” “assisted,” or “participated.” These words don’t convey specific achievements or actions and can make your resume unimpressive.
Overuse of Technical Terms
Avoid using technical terms or acronyms that are not widely known or understood. Unless you’re applying to a highly specialized field, it’s better to use plain language that is easy to understand.
Some Other Action Words
Here are some action words that can make your resume stand out:
- Accomplished
- Achieved
- Administered
- Analyzed
- Assisted
- Built
- Chaired
- Collaborated
- Completed
- Conceptualized
- Controlled
- Coordinated
- Created
- Delivered
- Designed
- Developed
- Directed
- Enhanced
- Executed
- Facilitated
- Fostered
- Improved
- Implemented
- Increased
- Influenced
- Innovated
- Installed
- Instructed
- Led
- Managed
- Negotiated
- Operated
- Organized
- Oversaw
- Participated
- Performed
- Planned
- Presented
- Produced
- Progress
- Propelled
- Provided
- Published
- Raised
- Recommended
- Reconciled
- Recruited
- Regulated
- Reinforced
- Represented
Conclusion
Using action words in your resume is crucial in making a solid impression on potential employers. To maximize the impact of your resume, it is essential to use potent, specific, and relevant action words that accurately describe your skills, experiences, and achievements. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid overusing buzzwords and generic terms and to focus on using action words tailored to the specific job you are applying for. By subsequent these dos and don’ts, you can make your resume stand out and increase your chances of pier an interview and, ultimately, the job.
