Top 10 Resume Tip #6 – Use Power Verbs!

Which is it? ho-hum boring or grab your attention right away, what do you want your resume to do for the reader?

If you decided on the “grab your attention right away” option, then using power verbs to propel the reader to read on is the way to go.

Examples of Power Verbs

The power verb is the action verb that catches your attention and isn’t boring and over-used.

We all read resumes and other documents that use “develop,” “worked,” or even “create” as the base of every sentence.

Try some new power verbs for writing your resume:

Brainstormed
Captured
Accelerated
Spearheaded
Advocated
Eliminated
Amplified
Commanded
Empowered
Pinpointed
Championed
Dispatched
Outlined
Netted
Harnessed
Illustrated
Streamlined
Rejuvenated
Simplified

We can easily fall into a rut, using the same verbs over and over again until they don’t have any meaning but if we want our resumes and other documents to get read, we need to change it up now and then by adding power verbs.

Jacob Share from JobMob created this list that I pull up often for inspiration: 500+ Positive Action Verbs to actually use on your resume.

How to use power verbs in your executive resume

Job winning examples of content from clients who won executive-level roles:

Pioneered use of Six Sigma methodologies for conducting historic analysis of commodity positions. Designed regression model of the market, allowing Risk Management to take commodity positions at the most opportune time, saving $25M annually in 2019.
Championed implementation of Pricing Architecture, representing major shift in go-to-market strategy, significantly improving profitability in all major product categories.

How to use power verbs in your technology resume

Job winning examples of content from clients who won technology roles:

Deployed virtualized environments, storage solutions, and managed platform to improve business continuity and reduce errors via standardized management.
Conceived and executed highly-rated training, communication and competency platform for rapid onboarding of 9K+ associates.
Spearheaded and led end-to-end leadership in vendor RFP due diligence, negotiations, and selection for the Finance Analytics Transformation program.
Accelerated physician adoption of the process by bringing a physician from the vendor group who communicated with staff physicians directly and created buy-in.

What are you doing to make your documents stand out? Do you have a favorite verb source? A thesaurus is another great option to come up with alternative words. I use this one.

See more examples of resumes with power verbs here.

If your resume is stuck in a rut and you need someone who can help you create a dynamic, job winning resume and coach you to success, read more here.