Power Words For Resumes
Words can be very powerful. And since your resume is—by necessity—limited to a page or two, it is important that the words you use have impact. Resumes consist of incomplete sentences and bullet points; you can’t afford to use weak or passive verbs.
I compiled this list from many sources, including polls taken with HR representatives and recruiters whose job it is to screen resumes. The words below were the ones most often mentioned, or found, on other lists. I have marked in bold the ones I, and others, felt were some of the strongest words.
List of recommended power words:
|
absorbed |
accelerated |
accessed |
|
accomplished |
accrued |
achieved |
|
acquired |
acted |
activated |
|
adapted |
addressed |
adjusted |
|
administered |
advanced |
advised |
|
advocated |
affirmed |
aided |
|
alerted |
aligned |
allocated |
|
analyzed |
announced |
applied |
|
appraised |
approved |
arbitrated |
|
arranged |
assembled |
assessed |
|
assigned |
attained |
balanced |
|
bargained |
began |
bolstered |
|
boosted |
briefed |
budgeted |
| built |
calculated |
chaired |
| changed |
checked |
chose |
|
closed |
coached |
collaborated |
|
combined |
communicated |
compared |
|
compiled |
completed |
complied |
|
composed |
computed |
conceptualized |
|
concluded |
condensed |
conducted |
|
conferred |
configured |
connected |
|
conserved |
consolidated |
constructed |
|
consulted |
contributed |
controlled |
|
converted |
conveyed |
convinced |
|
coordinated |
created |
cultivated |
| cut |
declined |
defined |
|
delivered |
demonstrated |
designed |
|
developed |
devised |
directed |
|
discovered |
distributed |
drafted |
| eliminated |
encouraged |
engineered |
|
enhanced |
ensured |
established |
|
estimated |
evaluated |
examined |
|
exceeded |
executed |
expanded |
|
expedited |
financed |
finished |
|
fixed |
focused |
formulated |
|
funded |
furnished |
gained |
| generated |
guided |
hired |
|
hosted |
implemented |
improved |
|
improvised |
increased |
influenced |
|
initiated |
innovated |
inspired |
|
installed |
instituted |
integrated |
|
introduced |
invented |
joined |
|
justified |
launched |
led |
|
lessened |
maintained |
managed |
|
marketed |
mediated |
mentored |
|
merged |
modified |
negotiated |
|
obtained |
opened |
operated |
|
organized |
persuaded |
planned |
|
prepared |
presented |
prevented |
|
prioritized |
processed |
produced |
|
programmed |
projected |
provided |
|
purchased |
qualified |
raised |
|
reached |
recommended |
reconciled |
|
recovered |
recruited |
reduced |
|
refined |
refocused |
regulated |
|
repaired |
replaced |
reported |
|
researched |
resolved |
restored |
|
restructured |
revamped |
reviewed |
|
revised |
revitalized |
ran |
| saved |
scheduled |
screened |
|
secured |
selected |
sold |
|
solved |
sorted |
specified |
|
sponsored |
started |
streamlined |
| strengthened |
succeeded |
suggested |
|
summarized |
supervised |
supported |
|
sustained |
targeted |
tracked |
|
trained |
transformed |
translated |
|
troubleshot |
uncovered |
unified |
|
upgraded |
validated |
verified |
|
volunteered |
wrote |
yielded |
Bottom Line
No matter what words you use on your resume, remember to think about them and what kind of message you’re sending.
You might also enjoy another article I wrote on the power that words have.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it, and feel free to download the list.
Jim (Giacomo) Giammatteo is a headhunter who writes resumes and cover letters. He is also the author of the No Mistakes Careers series, and gritty crime dramas about murder, mystery, and family.
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by 
This is a great list. Thank you for compiling and posting it!
Twitter: JimGiammatteo
says:
Thanks, T.K. Glad you found it useful.
Jim Giammatateo recently posted..Body Language, A Candidate’s Perspective