The modern job market is as competitive as it has ever been. Each time you submit a resume, you can count on having to compete against dozens or hundreds of applicants. Using the right resume words can give you a competitive edge in the job market. Let’s take a closer look at strong resume words employers are bound to pay attention to.
Resume Keywords
Hiring managers and recruiters are no longer just relying on walk-in applicants or referrals; they also use Google and other platforms to find the best candidate.
And for you, this means adding relevant keywords to your resume is more crucial than ever. We are talking about nouns, phrases, and terms specific to your job description, profession, or industry.
You can think of resume keywords as terms that answer questions in the job posting.
So, how do you find these resume words? You can find them on industry-specific websites, publications, and even online discussion forums related to your career.
To understand how resume keywords work, let’s look at the following resume snippets:
Example#1
"I hope to join a digital marketing agency where my search engine optimization skills will be useful."Example#2
"My SEO work at XYZ, which can be verified by Google Analytics reports, included keyword research and structured data."The first snippet does not have much that a hiring manager will pay attention to. The second snippet, on the other hand, uses strong resume keywords.
Resume Power Adjectives
Using resume power adjectives creates a more compelling narrative to showcase your achievements. They describe a sense of confidence and accomplishment, which recruiters and hiring managers want to see. Plus, using descriptive language can make a good resume stand out even more.
Tip: Power adjectives are supposed to make an impression without sounding overly superlative. You can use them throughout the resume, but they have a greater impact on summaries and cover letters.
Resume Power Verbs
You should also use action verbs to describe and showcase your achievements and job experience in a concise and compelling manner. Here are some relevant resume action words that you can use to highlight your different skills:
Research Skills
If your profession involves extensive research, consider adding the following resume power verbs:
- Analyzed
- Assessed
- Conducted
- Detected
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Investigated
- Researched
- Studied
- Surveyed
Remember to include specific research-related keywords and quantify the scope and impact of research projects you have completed. Let’s say you previously worked in a customer service center where you had to review call performance metrics. In this case, you could write: “Evaluated reports and metrics to assess call quality.”
Creative Skills
Industries like marketing and design require creative skills. To show what you’ve accomplished related to creativity, use these resume action verbs list:
- Conceptualized
- Created
- Composed
- Designed
- Developed
- Generated
- Illustrated
- Innovated
- Modeled
- Revitalized
- Transformed
- Visualized
Technical Skills
For IT professionals, using words like “developed” and “implemented” can definitely give more attention to your accomplishments. Here are more words to use to highlight your technical skills:
- Automated
- Coded
- Configured
- Debugged
- Developed
- Engineered
- Implemented
- Programmed
- Supported
- Tested
- Upgraded
- Validated
Tip: The short list above is mainly related to information technology and computer science. You will want to research the relevant field to find more terms for your resume.
Communication Skills
Right off the bat, a well-written resume denotes good communication skills, but you can always get more descriptive with the right action verbs.
- Articulated
- Collaborated
- Conveyed
- Corresponded
- Facilitated
- Recommended
- Influenced
- Mediated
- Persuaded
- Presented
- Promoted
- Synthesized
- Translated
- Wrote
Management and Leadership Skills
If your work experience revolves around team management and business operations, you will want to call attention to leadership skills. The following verbs and action words are allusive to business and personnel management as well as leadership:
- Delegated
- Coordinated
- Directed
- Empowered
- Enabled
- Facilitated
- Guided
- Oversaw
- Inspected
- Influenced
- Mentored
- Supervised
- Streamlined
- Negotiated
- Structured
- Trained
- Unified
Tip: Remember to Include relevant management certifications and training. You should also mention team-building skills by providing successful collaboration or delegation examples.
More Resume Tips
You should never underestimate the power or potential of a well-formatted resume because it is the key to unlocking a turning point in your career. With this in mind, let’s review some resume-writing tips you can start using now:
Avoid Passive Voice
Passive voice is something you will never hear at a car dealership, where persuasion is the name of the game. It often creates a writing tone that feels underwhelming instead of engaging. This explains why advertising, marketing, and sales experts avoid using passive voice.
Active voice emphasizes your skills, education, training, and experience by making them sound dynamic. Unlike passive voice, an active tone of writing can create a sense of immediacy.
Tip: A resume with too much passive voice will create distance between you and the hiring manager.
Showcase Accomplishments
Now that you have the right words and keywords to call attention to your resume, showcasing your accomplishments is next. Try to locate evidence of your achievements, including email messages, press releases, or a portfolio. If proof is not readily available, you can always provide metrics to describe the impact of your work.
Tip: Numerous achievements are easier to read as resume bullet points.
Think about what you have achieved and how it may be related to the job you are applying for. For example, being named valedictorian or racking up an impressive GPA are accomplishments worth mentioning.
Avoid Resume Buzzwords
Job markets are hardly static or monolithic; they are dynamic and subject to cultural trends and peculiarities. And these have caused certain buzzwords to emerge. We are talking about buzzwords that have become tired and cliched to the point of sounding insincere. Needless to say, do not use the following resume buzzwords:
- Detail-oriented
- Dynamic
- Excellent
- Enthusiastic
- Go-getter
- Hard worker
- Innovative
- Motivated
- Passionate
- Proactive
- Reliable
- Results-driven
- Self-starter
- Strategic thinker
Tip: Instead of using the buzzwords above, concentrate on using descriptive language that accurately reflects your skills and experience.
Final Thoughts
The best resumes include strong resume words to boost your credibility and ultimately push you closer to landing your dream job. Remember that using resume power words is just one key to the equation. Always proofread, use a resume headline, and follow our mentioned resume writing tips.
