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Power Words to Use in Your Resume

Action Verbs, Power Words, and Buzzwords for Resumes

What Power Words Accomplish

Types of power words, how to use power words.

• Power Words for Resumes

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It's important to use power words in  your resume  and  cover letters  when applying for jobs. Using these words helps demonstrate your strengths and highlights why you are right for the job. Power words also jazz up your job descriptions  and make them seem alive, as opposed to flat. 

Let's begin by looking at the types of power words, why they are important, and how to effectively use them.

Power words are used for several reasons. First, many hiring managers quickly skim through resumes and cover letters due to the high volume they receive. These power words jump off the page, quickly showing the hiring manager you have the skills and qualifications to get the job done.

Also, most resume language is repetitive and boring. If your language is the same as everyone else’s, it will be hard for you to stand out.

Thoughtful, appropriate word choice will set you apart from the competition.

Finally, power words (especially  keywords ) are useful when a company uses an  Applicant Tracking System  (ATS). These tracking systems help screen applications so that employers only need to focus on the top candidates. One way an ATS works is to eliminate resumes that are missing certain keywords.

By including these words, you increase your chances of  making it through the ATS  and having your application read.

Action verbs: One type of power word is an  action verb . This kind of verb shows your ability to succeed. These words demonstrate the skills you have used in previous jobs to achieve success.

Examples of action verbs include "accomplished," "designed," "initiated," and "supervised."

Company values: To demonstrate that you are a good fit for the company, use key terms that the company uses to describe itself. You might find this language on the company’s “About Us” web page, or in the  job listing . For example, if the company identifies itself as “innovative,” one power word you might incorporate into your resume is “innovate” or “innovative.” 

Popular skill words: There are  certain skills and qualities  that almost every employer is looking for in a job candidate. For example, employers always want an employee who is responsible, passionate, and a strong leader. Try to use this kind of language to demonstrate you have these  essential skills .

Keywords: Keywords  are words from the job listing that relate to particular skills or other requirements for the job. By embedding them in your resume or cover letter, you will demonstrate, at a glance, that you fit the requirements of the position. Keywords might be “analyzed,” “quantified,” “planned,” “programmed,” “designed,” “taught,” or “trained.”

Industry buzzwords and jargon: Each industry has certain keywords that are important. Knowing and accurately using those words demonstrates you have the necessary  hard skills .

Resume buzzwords: You can decode the buzzwords that employers use in job postings , and use them to highlight your relevant skills in your resume.

Sprinkle the appropriate buzzwords into your resume and cover letter to demonstrate that you are a part of the industry. Some common buzzwords are experienced," "expert," "skilled," "facilitated," "launched," and "demonstrated."

You can include power words throughout your resume, including in your  job descriptions ,  resume summary statement , and your cover letter. 

Remember to vary the words that you use—repeating the same word (even power words) leads to a dull reading experience and will turn off the hiring manager. Instead, use a variety of terms that best describe your accomplishments to show employers the scope of your achievements.

Finally, it's very important that you only use terms you are familiar with.

Power Words for Resumes and Cover Letters

• Collaborate
• Communicate
• Conceptualize
• Consolidate
• Demonstrate
• Detail Oriented
• Development
• Enthusiastic
• Investigate
• Participate
• Professional
• Responsibility
• Restructure
• Results-Oriented
• Standardize
• Team Player

Related: Best Resume Writing Services

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Are you looking for impactful resume action words and power verbs?

Correctly using relevant action words and power verbs can put you light years ahead in your job search.

If you write your experiences in the resume like the following, you need to read this guide:

• 'I am an excellent team player...'
• 'I was responsible for managing...'

Instead of these generic words, you must use resume power verbs to make your resume all the more compelling.

Resume power verbs are words that help grab the reader's attention by clearly communicating your skills and experience. It also improves the wattage of your bullet points and improves readability.

Our 2023 Guide to Resume Words, focusing on Action Verbs Examples, will provide a detailed roadmap to shift your resume from 'oh well' to 'wow.'

You will get clarity on the following FAQs related to resume action words and power verbs:

• What are power verbs or resume action words?
• Why action verbs are important for a resume?
• How to use action verbs on a resume?
• What are some resume power adjectives?
• 250+ example of power verbs in resume

What are Power Verbs or Resume Action Words?

Power verbs are action-based verbs with strong meaning in the English language compared to other verbs. If you use action words in a sentence, you become strong and confident.

In contrast, most resume bullet points start with the same words:

• "Responsible"
• "Managed"
• "Held," etc.

These words are used so much that it has lost their meaning for the recruiters. So, to grab the recruiter's attention, it's important to use resume power verbs in the bullet points.

Also Read: How many bullet points should you add to your resume in 2023?

Why are Action Verbs Important for a Resume?

Action verbs are important because they help you communicate your strengths and experiences to the recruiter in a strong voice.

Let's see two examples:

Which one do you think is the most effective?

Both the bullet points mean the same thing, but the first one is more impactful to the recruiters,

Given below are two examples of how to use action words on a resume:

Also Read: How to create a compelling work experience section in your resume?

How to Use Action Verbs on a Resume?

A good resume is much more than a list of jobs with corresponding dates – it's a marketing document to show off your strengths and get you the job.

One of the most important elements of your resume is the action verbs (words that describe actions) you use. Action verbs make up your experience description; each should be relevant, concise, and targeted to a specific job.

1. Which Power Words Should You Use?

When using power verbs in your resume, it is important to choose measurable and relevant words for the job. This way, you can pair the power verb with a tangible achievement, for example, enhanced marketing ROI by 35%.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Read the job description carefully, and identify the key responsibilities for the job
• Determine which skills of yours match the job description
• Look at power verbs to highlight these achievements in the resume

Also Read: What are some good resume synonyms for the word "teach"?

2. How Often Should You Use Power Words?

If you overdo the action verbs, then they will lose their value. The hiring manager might also think that you're trying too hard.

A general rule of thumb is to not use the same power verb in one "Work Experience" section twice.

3. Avoid Generic Resume Words

Generic action verbs are common on resumes. They don't make much of an impact. Instead, choose resume words representing a quantifiable achievement that is powerful, and dynamic, and show the employer how much of an impact you had on your previous company.

Also Read: How to say "innovative" in different ways on your professional documents?

4. Use Fresh Resume Action Verbs

Resumes are boring. You're not going to hook an employer with your vanilla resume and piles of text. That's why it's important to include the right words in your resume to make yourself stand out from the pack.

36 Fresh Resume Action Verbs Example

5. Avoid Passive Voice in Resume

We often unconsciously use the passive voice in resume writing, which can be difficult to detect. One simple way to tell the difference is to look at your verbs in the active voice. For example: If the verb in your sentence comprises two words ("was developed") or contains "to be" verbs such as "is," "are," and "were" (e.g., "were developed"), then you know the passive voice is at work.

By changing the passive voices to active voices, you will improve the readability of your resume.

Also Read: What skills should you include in your resume in 2023?

Kickass Resume Action Verbs to Replace Commonly Used Words

Strong resume words for 'planning' or 'strategic planning.'.

Additionally, check out this great resource for more action verbs around 'Strategic Planning'

Also Read: 10+ Strategic synonyms that will elevate your reusme

Good Resume Words for 'Managing.'

Also Read: 10+ Synthesize synonyms

Strong Resume Words for 'Organizing.'

Also Read: Synonyms for the word "build" that you can use in resumes and cover letters

Good Resume Words for 'Supervising' or 'Leadership.'

Also Read: 10 unique ways to say "teamwork" on a resume

Strong Resume Words for 'Executing' or 'Worked on' or 'Handled.'

Also Read: "Contribute" synonyms

Good Resume Words for 'Communication.'

Also Read: 10+ Synonyms for "motivate"

Strong Resume Words for 'Helping.'

Good resume words for 'creativity' or 'problem solving.', strong resume words for 'responsible for' or 'getting results', good resume words for 'team player'.

Also Read: Which keywords should you use in your resume in 2023?

Resume Buzzwords: 2023 List of Resume Verbs to Include and Avoid

Also Read: How to write a stellar resume in 2023?

What are Some Resume Power Adjectives?

Power adjectives are a more sophisticated way of listing your achievements and skills when compared with power verbs because, unlike power verbs, you can use power adjectives beyond describing Professional Experience.

This section will show you how to use power adjectives effectively in different resume sections.

Use Power Adjectives in Resume Summary

A resume summary is the first paragraph the recruiter sees in your resume. It’s used to grab the recruiter’s attention to read the whole resume.

And power adjectives can help you do that if you effectively add them to the resume summary.

• Certified Cybersecurity professional with 4+ years of extensive experience adept at providing meticulous leadership and network infrastructure support by ensuring all systems and databases are up-to-date.
• Certified Cybersecurity professional with 4+ years of experience adept at providing network infrastructure support by ensuring all systems and databases are up-to-date.

Power Adjective in Professional Experience Section

The professional experience section is the heart of the resume. And using power adjectives in a resume can help you hold the recruiter’s attention.

Also Read: What are some great examples of resume summaries for various job profiles?

Best Power Adjective for Resume

Given below are some power verbs which are categorized based on different soft skills:

Power Adjective for Creativity

Power adjective for productivity, power adjective for dedication, power adjective for hard work, power adjective for organization skills.

Also Read: How to use resume buzzwords the right way?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top 20 resume power words.

What are Some Resume Buzz Words 2023 to Leave Off Your Resume?

You need to ensure that you’re not using popular Resume Buzz Words 2023 on your resume.

The resume already has limited space. So choose your words carefully to maximize the impact on recruiters.

Here are some Buzz Words 2023 to Leave Off Your Resume:

• Hard-working
• Responsible
• Team Player
• Result-driven
• Specialized
• Problem-solving

Why Do We Need to Add Power Verbs in a Resume?

When applying for a job, a candidate needs to appear confident and competent, so using power verbs helps you communicate your message more powerfully, confidently, and convincingly.

How to choose power verbs? Choose a power verb that describes your work most accurately. The aim is to convey what you’ve done in your previous jobs that led to measurable results.

Also Read: What are some of the best jobs for retired people?

Key Takeaways

To recap everything that we discussed till now:

• Action verbs for resume are different from resume keywords. The latter pertains to professional job skills which the recruiter is looking for. The former helps to realign your resume from responsibility-based to achievement-based.
• Simply stuffing your resume with action verbs will do you no good. It's always better to validate everything you say with quantifiable instances and achievements.
• If everyone's special, no one's special. Resume buzzwords come and go with each passing season, and it's critical to be aware of the trend. Our section on the 2023 Guide to Resume Keywords will give you an idea of which ones to use and which ones to avoid.
• Use our extensive compendium of action verbs for resume grouped by resume skills to revamp your resume!

Go to Hiration's ChatGPT-powered career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at support{@}hiration{dot}com.

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400+ Action Verbs for Your Resume (Examples + How-to Guide)

Our customers have been hired at: * Foot Note

It’s no secret that verbs express action. For example, “They drove to the store,” or “The dog jumped over the fence.” But have you tried using action verbs on your resume?

When used on a resume, action words become power words because they make a huge impact. They bring your work experiences to life and make your skills shine, so you rise above the competition, compelling hiring managers to want to know you. 

In this guide, we will:

• Explain what action verbs for a resume are. 
• Provide more than 400 action words for you to use in your resume.
• Give you tips for using action verbs on your resume (and CV, cover letter, letter of intent, elevator pitch and interview!).
• Offer action verb examples for top jobs and industries.
• Show you how to use action words effectively.

What is an action verb?

Resume action verbs are powerful action words that help to make a resume more engaging and emphasize your abilities for potential employers. 

Use action verbs to illuminate your skills, professional accomplishments and work experiences in a dynamic and impactful way. Some action words are more powerful than others, so be wise about which verbs you use to describe your accomplishments. 

For example, “Built a new customer database to help marketing and sales teams create targeted campaigns” is fine, but “ Developed and deployed a robust customer database system that effectively captured and organized customer information, enabling targeted marketing campaigns and a 95% improvement in customer relationship management” is better because it expounds on what the job seeker did and highlights the impact of their work.

Looking for remote data entry jobs or transcription jobs ? Our sister company, FlexJobs, updates listings daily with verified remote jobs. Find full-time and part-time jobs with FlexJobs.

Action Verb Examples 

You are sure to find all the action words you need for your job application on this page. Here, we have curated more than 400 power words to use on every section of your resume, cover letter and CV and organized them by type, job title and industry.

Action verbs to describe accomplishments  

When used to showcase your work achievements on your resume, verbs like “achieved,” “implemented,” “managed,” “collaborated,” “developed,” “led,” “resolved,” “created” and “improved” help you to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers.

Below you will find 50 action words to describe a variety of accomplishments .

10 Strong resume action verbs to describe sales achievements

Have you surpassed a sales goal? Saved money for a company? Wow employers with these resume verbs. 

• Outperformed
• Capitalized

10 Good resume words to showcase getting a promotion

Good job! You’ve made it to the next level. Highlight your accomplishment with these action words. 

10 Verbs to use in a resume to display awards

If you made employee of the month or best manager ever, don’t hide it! This resume verbs list will help you stand out. 

• Recognized 
• Acknowledged

  10 Action verb examples to list inventions or innovations

Did your innovative idea make a difference? Use this list of resume action verbs to illuminate your vision.

• Inaugurated

  10 Words to use in a resume to explain process improvements

Use these action verbs to convey how you have increased efficiency for an organization.

• Revitalized

Combine resume action words with numbers to really pack a punch when describing your work performance.

Resume words for skills 

Don’t limit resume verbs to work accomplishments! Use these powerful words throughout your resume to describe your core qualifications and areas of expertise for the best effect. 

30 Power words to showcase leadership skills

Show you’re in charge with these powerful resume words that express leadership .

• Orchestrate

30 Action words to emphasize analytical thinking

Not sure how to present your impeccable analytical abilities? These power verb examples can help!

• Investigate
• Troubleshoot

  30 Action words for a resume to display interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are highly valued in most industries. Show employers how you put yours to use with the following resume action verbs.

• Communicate
• Collaborate

30 Resume verbs to convey creativity

Express your creative side with these power verbs and let your unique ideas, projects, or products shine.

• Conceptualize

30 Good resume verbs to highlight technical aptitude

Try some of these verbs for resumes to highlight your software and hardware expertise .

• Authenticate
• Extrapolate

Make a resume with My Perfect Resume

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Action words for top jobs

We compiled our top 270 resume words for a variety of job titles so you can find the best power words for your resume. 

45 Action verbs for teachers

When you’re in charge of a classroom, you can tell potential employers that you teach, but so will every other teacher. Try some of these active verbs instead:

• Coordinate 
• Demonstrate

 45 Resume power words for registered nurses 

As a registered nurse , you give a lot to your patients. This list of action verbs for a resume will help you articulate exactly what you do.

• Rehabilitate

 45 Action words to use in a resume for accountants

Being in charge of finances is a big task. Adding some of these verbs for resumes will give your accountant job descriptions an edge. 

• Standardize

45 Action verbs for technical project managers

As a technical project manager , you make sure things get done. Describe how you manage tasks with these action verb examples.

• Consolidate

45 Resume action words for software engineers

You develop, create and improve valuable software applications. This resume verbs list will help you bring your software engineering accomplishments to life. 

• Systematize

45 Resume action verbs for waitresses

You do a lot more than serve customers. Add these strong action verbs to your waitress resume and impress hiring managers with the full range of your skill set.

Did you know:

Resume keywords are just as important as resume action words because they help you customize your resume for the job and get you on the applicant tracking system (ATS) radar. But what are resume keywords and how can they help you?

Action verbs for top industries

No matter what industry you’re in, we’ve got you covered with 50 action verbs examples to emphasize your contributions.

10 Good resume action words for the administrative industry

Give impact to your daily administrative tasks with these action words.

10 Resume verbs list for the culinary industry

Workers in the culinary industry wear a lot of hats. Express your talents with these good action words for your resume.

10 Resume action words list for the transportation industry

Not sure how to describe your job history? This resume action words list for the transportation industry can get you moving in the right direction. 

10 Power verbs for resumes in the customer service industry

As a job seeker in the customer service industry , you have a diverse range of skills. Present them powerfully with these strong resume action verbs. 

10 Resume action words list for the medical industry

If you work in the medical industry , you give your all to others. Emphasize your abilities with these action verbs to make your resume compelling. 

Want more ideas for using action verbs in your resume? We have 800+ professional resume examples for most job titles and industries.

Tips for using action words (with examples)

Verbs for resumes can be applied to every step of the job application process, including interviews . Choose a variety of action verbs for your resume and use a resume template to customize your resume in our Resume Builder .

How to use verbs for resumes

Resume verbs can be used in almost every resume section to describe responsibilities, accomplishments and skills. Use a variety of power verbs for a resume and make them the first word of each bullet point.

In a professional summary or objective statement

Using strong action verbs in a resume summary or objective statement makes a big impact because they are the first things hiring managers see after the contact information section. Use two to three action words in this section to compel hiring managers to want to read through your resume. 

Example: Human resources associate with four years of experience skilled in onboarding and training. Career highlights include instituting a new-employee training program for a 400+ employee startup, reducing recruitment lead time by 25% and increasing employee satisfaction by 40%.

In a resume work history section

Since your resume work history section should spotlight accomplishments and not responsibilities, the best verbs for resume employment sections are those that convey achievements. Start each job accomplishment with an action verb.

• Exceeded monthly customer leads target every month for two quarters.
• Increased organic search traffic by 50% within three months post-launch.
• Established reward system for students, resulting in marked improvement in test scores.  

In a resume skills section  

Most often, the skills section of a resume consists of a mix of hard and soft skills to underscore a job applicant’s ability to perform the job. Use strong action words to explain how you used your skills to make your resume stand out.

Example: To explain how you used leadership skills, you could write something like ” Spearheaded an integrated marketing campaign that boosted sales by 15% in the first quarter. ”

In an education section

You might use action words on a resume education section to display awards, honors, a high GPA, or a title. 

• Attained a 4.0 GPA three years in a row.
• Earned the Magna Cum Laude distinction.
• Honored with Academic Excellence Award, 2018.

Our professional resume templates are formatted to make it easy to add resume power phrases throughout your resume. Take it a step further and let our Resume Builder do the work for you.

How to use resume action words in a curriculum vitae (CV)

Like a resume, a CV outlines your relevant qualifications for the job, but it’s more in-depth.  incorporate an array of resume verbs throughout your CV and use our CV Maker with a template to create a CV that wows employers. 

It’s acceptable to add personal interests to a CV as long as they pertain to the target job. To make a great impression, frame your personal interests around volunteer work and use active verbs to make your qualifications shine.

Congressional campaign volunteer

• Spearheaded canvassing efforts and gained support from 300 local residents.
• Conceived and crafted advertising materials that elevated the campaign’s marketing efforts.
• Screened and trained new volunteers on scriptwriting and canvassing techniques.
• Mentored student volunteers.

 How to use action verbs in a cover letter

Pairing a resume with a strong cover letter is a must if you want to rise above the competition, and there’s no better way to make your letter compelling than with active words. The trick is to disperse them throughout while not repeating the exact words from your resume. Mix job- and industry-specific action words with strong action verbs that emphasize the result of your work.

If you’re in a creative field like graphic design , use power words to highlight how you used your creative skills to help a company reach a goal. For example, “I hatched a new web design for a fortune 500 company that increased web traffic by 20% one month after launch.”

If you’re an engineer, you might use action verbs to describe how you used your technical skills to solve a problem. For example, “While at Company X, I engineered and implemented backend tools that enhanced automation by 45%, which increased overall productivity by 30%.”

Our Cover Letter Builder makes it easy to customize your cover letter using resume action words. Simply choose a cover letter template , answer a few questions and we’ll take it from there!

How to use action verbs on a letter of intent

Write a letter of intent to express your desire to work for a company with no active job openings. Add a variety of action verbs to make your qualifications shine.

Example: As an executive assistant at Ocean Tides Nursing Facility, I greeted new patients, family members, staff and vendors daily in person and on the phone. In addition, I liaised with the Board via email in lieu of the President and addressed patron inquiries directly. I enjoyed arranging outings for our patients and I advocated for facility upgrades on their behalf. I was recognized as “Administrator of the Year” in 2022 for my support to our patients and their families.

Pair good action words for a resume and job application letter with great references . Reach out to former managers and colleagues and create a list in a separate document just in case.

How to use resume action words in an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a short, written or verbal speech that introduces you and explains what you offer, with the intent to connect with a person from a company you’re interested in. Optimize your elevator pitch with strong resume action verbs that show hiring managers that you can do the job better than anyone else. 

Example: As a seasoned ER nurse , I am passionate about providing the highest-quality patient care. In my current position, I oversee intake in a fast-paced emergency ward, where I evaluate injuries, assess patient needs and develop a care plan in collaboration with doctors and surgeons. I make decisions quickly, administer medications, log reports and track patient progress.

How to use power words for interviews

Project confidence and competence, and intrigue hiring managers by using resume verbs in a job interview. 

If you’re a teacher and an employer asks, What’s Your Proudest Accomplishment ? You might reply, “The achievement I am most proud of is that I i mproved my class’s test scores  by 20% in one semester.”

If you’re a car driver interviewing for a job with a transportation services company and the hiring manager says, “Explain How you Would Be an Asset to This Organization,” you might say something like “In addition to my impeccable driving record and history of building relationships with customers, I’m innovative. For example, in my last job, I devised a package tracking system that saved the company $3,000 per month and grew their customer base by 20%.”

Be ready to answer tricky behavioral interview questions by practicing the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method and gathering a list of resume action verbs.

Resume action verbs key takeaways

• Power verbs in a resume, CV, cover letter and interview engage potential employers because they illuminate your strengths. 
• Some verbs for a resume are stronger than others. Choose wisely! 
• Use a variety of resume verbs in your job application.
• Use numbers with action words for the greatest effect. 
• Active verbs should be used throughout your resume for maximum impact.
• When used correctly, resume action words can help you stand out from other job candidates.

Action verbs for resumes: FAQ

Why are action verbs important.

Word choice is critical when applying for a job. Active verbs tell hiring managers “I did this! I can do it for you too!” Passive phrases, such as “Responsible for” and “Tasked with” tell employers what your job duties were. Resume verbs grab attention and make a strong impression because they:

• Demonstrate action and initiative.
• Communicate a sense of accomplishment and impact.
• Showcase relevant skills and experiences.
• Portray confidence and professionalism.

How do I choose strong action verbs for a resume, CV or cover letter?

When choosing verbs for resumes, CVs and cover letters, highlight the “must-haves” from the job description and take note of the “nice-to-haves” that fit you. As you read through the job requirements, think of the times you have used the skills, performed the work and achieved a goal with those qualifications and write it down. 

Then read through the categories in our list of 400+ action words, and pick strong action verbs that fit the job title, industry and each section of your resume. Choose wisely — your resume action words should be able to tell your story clearly. 

How do I update my resume with action words?

To write a resume  To update your resume with action verbs, first, pick the power verbs for your resume that match your job, industry and skill set; then use them in each resume section, making each one the first word in a bullet list. Add numbers to intrigue hiring managers, like so:

“Implemented a new workflow that increased efficiency by 35%.” 

Should I put resume action words in a cover letter?

Yes! Action words will make your job application stand out. Ensure you aren’t reusing the exact words from your resume, but instead, use them to compliment the parts of your resume you want to highlight. Having a variety of strong action verbs for a resume and a cover letter will show hiring managers that you are the person they’ve been looking for!

What are good action verbs for job seekers with no experience? 

For job applicants with no experience , it’s important to highlight transferable skills and life or academic experiences that can be valuable in the workplace.

Here are some action verbs that can showcase your potential and enthusiasm effectively and examples of how to use them:

• Adapted: “Demonstrated the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new tasks and environments.”
• Assisted: “Provided support and assistance to team members or supervisors in various tasks or projects.”
• Collaborated: “Worked effectively with others to achieve common goals or complete group projects.”
• Demonstrated: “Showed a particular skill or quality through examples or evidence.”
• Initiated: “Took the initiative to start or propose ideas, projects, or improvements.”
• Learned: “Actively acquired new knowledge or skills through self-study or training.”
• Organized: “ Demonstrated strong organizational skills in managing tasks, schedules, or events.”
• Researched: “Conducted research to gather information or gain insights on specific topics or projects.”
• Volunteered: “Engaged in volunteer work or community service to contribute to a cause or organization.”

How we reviewed this article

Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process .

• Delgado, Samantha. Career Contessa. Article. 275 Action Verbs to Make Your Resume Pop
• Goldstein, Don. City Univrsity of New York, The Office of Career Planning & Professional Development. Action Verbs for Your Resume
• Harvard University Extension School. Resumes and Cover Letters, an Extension School Resource

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400+ Action Verbs to use for a Job Application in 2024

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Kellie Hanna, CPRW

Career advice expert.

Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 20+ years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

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‡ Results derived from a study responded by 1000 participants of which 287 created a resume online.

*The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with MyPerfectResume.

150+ Action Verbs, Synonyms and Adjectives for Your Resume

by Hailey Brophy | Career Advice Expert

Last Updated: January 31, 2024

Table of contents

What are resume action words?

How to use resume action verbs to your advantage, resume words to showcase skills and accomplishments, 15 great resume synonyms, add interesting resume adjectives.

To get your resume through an applicant tracking system (ATS) and into the hands of a recruiter, it must contain not only the right keywords but also compelling resume action words. Here, learn more about resume action verbs and how they can boost your resume. We will cover the following topics:

• 150 resume action words to showcase skills and accomplishments
• Overused buzzwords on a resume (and better words to use)
• Frequently asked questions about action verbs.

Related Guides & Tips

• Build the Perfect Resume: Templates, Formats and Writing Tips
• How to List Degrees on a Resume
• How to Write a Resume
• Resume Headline
• Volunteer Work on Resume
• What Your Resume Should Look Like in 2024

Resume action words describe the tasks you perform on the job. Also called resume power words, these words also describe the skills you use to get the job done.

It’s critical that you learn how to write a resume that utilizes compelling language to articulate your impact and get a recruiter’s attention. For a hiring manager who is reading dozens of resumes for a single job opening, reading resumes that use tired phrases like “responsible for” or “in charge of” gets dull. Instead, learn how to write a work experience section that uses eye-catching action words to stand out from the crowd and convince a potential employer to invite you for an interview. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the job listing and look for keywords that the employer uses to describe their ideal candidate. These keywords should inspire your word choice for your resume.

Choose from our premade resume templates and download your perfect resume today.

Choosing the right resume action words can make even the most mundane work tasks sound fresh and exciting. Pair them with data and numbers to show recruiters the impact of work. Here’s how:

Why do good resume action words strengthen your resume?

Using strong language through resume action words will make your application stand out from the competition. Busy recruiters can sometimes read hundreds of resumes in a single day, so ditch boring, overused resume words when writing your professional summary , skills section and work experience. Avoiding generic terms can help persuade a recruiter to take a closer look at your credentials and increase your chances of landing a job interview. Choosing the right action words for your resume is an excellent way to ensure you outshine the competition.

How data and numbers increase the power of strong resume action verbs.

Resume action words describe the tasks you perform and the skills you use daily. To make them shine, you’ll also want to show the impact your work has had on the company. This is where data and numbers can boost the impact of already strong resume action words.

Consider which of these statements paints a more vivid picture:

• “Responsible for answering phone calls and greeting customers.”
• “Succeeded in answering up to 50 incoming calls daily while greeting dozens of in-store customers and directing their inquiries to the appropriate salesperson.”

If you chose the second statement, you’d be correct. The second bullet point not only states the day-to-day responsibilities of the applicant — taking calls and greeting customers — but also gives employers a sense of the traffic volume the job seeker handles daily. The combination of strong action verbs and numerical figures paints a vivid picture of the applicant’s abilities and experience, clearly showing that this applicant has a strong ability to multitask effectively.

Choosing the right words to describe your skills and experience can be a bit overwhelming to some job seekers, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we have provided a list of resume action words you can use to explain why you’re the right person for the role. A strong action verb is active rather than passive, showcasing the applicant’s initiative and impact. For more inspiration, or if you don’t find what you need on this resume action word list, look at our resume templates and resume examples to see how to do it properly.

Action verbs to explain work responsibilities:

• 1. Acted As
• 2. Executed
• 3. Negotiated
• 4. Accomplished
• 5. Completed
• 8. Navigated
• 9. Undertook
• 10. Operated
• 11. Created
• 12. Produced
• 13. Completed
• 14. Delivered
• 15. Managed

Words to showcase your interpersonal or soft skills:

• 1. Insightful
• 3. Attentive
• 4. Compassionate
• 6. Professional
• 7. Diligent
• 8. Dedicated
• 9. Self-starter
• 10. Knowledgeable
• 11. Curious
• 12. Persuasive
• 13. Reliable
• 14. Competent
• 15. Motivated

Action verbs that describe your communication skills:

• 1. Conveyed
• 2. Moderated
• 4. Authored
• 5. Informed
• 6. Presented
• 7. Persuaded
• 8. Explained
• 9. Illuminated
• 10. Outlined
• 11. Announced
• 12. Disseminated
• 13. Disclosed
• 14. Broadcasted
• 15. Circulated

Action verbs to highlight your technical skills:

• 1. Mastered
• 2. Accelerated
• 3. Fabricated
• 4. Developed
• 6. Assembled
• 8. Restored
• 9. Recovered
• 10. Standardized
• 11. Launched
• 12. Maintained
• 13. Calculated
• 14. Fine-tuned
• 15. Finalized

Action words that demonstrate your creativity and vision:

• 1. Conceived
• 5. Designed
• 6. Overhauled
• 7. Initiated
• 8. Spearheaded
• 10. Established
• 11. Invented
• 12. Envisioned
• 13. Reenvisioned
• 14. Piloted
• 15. Created

Action verbs that underscore management and leadership skills:

• 2. Assigned
• 3. Delegated
• 5. Mentored
• 8. Facilitated
• 10. Designated
• 11. Selected
• 12. Orchestrated
• 13. Planned
• 14. Coordinated
• 15. Directed

Action verbs for experience with finance and sales:

• 1. Negotiated
• 2. Increased
• 4. Accelerated
• 6. Conserved
• 9. Delivered
• 10. Yielded
• 11. Maximized
• 12. Improved
• 13. Generated
• 15. Delivered

Action verbs for when you improved something:

• 1. Reimagined
• 2. Clarified
• 3. Modernized
• 4. Restructured
• 5. Overhauled
• 6. Customized
• 8. Digitized
• 9. Integrated
• 11. Modified
• 12. Redesigned
• 13. Reorganized
• 14. Streamlined
• 15. Optimized

Action words for research and analysis skills:

• 1. Surveyed
• 3. Examined
• 5. Interpreted
• 6. Analyzed
• 7. Forecasted
• 8. Calculated
• 9. Assessed
• 10. Audited
• 11. Measured
• 12. Projected
• 14. Identified
• 15. Evaluated

Action verbs to describe collaboration:

• 1. Teamed up
• 2. Gathered
• 3. Participated
• 4. Volunteered
• 7. Interacted
• 8. Recruited
• 9. Assembled
• 10. Consulted
• 11. Cooperated with
• 12. Associated with
• 13. Allied with
• 14. Partnered with
• 15. Worked with

When building your resume, it is tempting to repeat certain words and phrases. After all, sometimes it feels impossible to avoid overusing common resume words like “managed,” “assisted,” “helped” and “led.”

To help you keep your resume readable and engaging, we’ve compiled a list of synonyms for “collaborate,” and other easy-to-overuse resume phrases. Even some of the strongest action verbs for resumes can wind up feeling robotic if they are used too much. So, to keep busy recruiters reading your resume content, concentrate on using engaging language to describe your skills and experience.

Avoid overused resume verbs and consider these resume synonyms instead:

When you describe yourself as a worker, what are the words that you use? Does the skills section of your resume say things like “talented,” “efficient,” or “ambitious?” These are all adjectives and they play a major role in how you use a resume to characterize yourself and your skills . Including soft skills in the skills section of your resume is important, but not all resume soft skills are created equally.

The adjectives listed above are overused resume words. Part of what makes an adjective overused is how frequently job seekers add them to their resume. It’s also very easy to recycle the same few resume adjectives over and over again throughout your resume. You may not notice as you’re writing, but the result is a repetitive reading experience that doesn’t sell your qualifications as effectively as it could.

The best resume is one that communicates your candidacy in a way that is clear, concise and professional. Check out our list of impactful resume adjectives to use alongside your resume action words and verbs!

Resume adjectives for efficient workers:

• 1. Methodical
• 3. Organized
• 4. Productive
• 5. Industrious
• 6. Studious
• 7. Detailed
• 8. Meticulous

Resume adjectives for creative workers:

• 1. Imaginative
• 2. Visionary
• 3. Artistic
• 4. Pioneering
• 5. Original
• 6. Innovative
• 7. Enthusiastic
• 9. Inventive

Resume adjectives for leadership:

• 1. Decisive
• 2. Accountable
• 3. Diligent
• 4. Diplomatic
• 5. Thorough
• 6. Attentive
• 7. Assertive
• 8. Confident
• 9. Adaptable

Resume adjectives for educators:

• 1. Motivated
• 3. Uplifting
• 4. Innovative
• 5. Imaginative
• 6. Communicative
• 7. Resilient
• 8. Stimulating
• 9. Respectful

What are some strong action words?

Strong action words are any verbs that help paint a picture for a potential employer. Steer clear of overused resume buzzwords like, “responsible for” and be creative. Choose from our list of resume action words above, or use an online thesaurus to breathe life into the language of your resume. For auto-generated text suggestions for strong action words, use a professional resume builder .

What are 3 roles of an action verb in a resume?

Action words have three main functions on a resume:

• They introduce interesting language that will compel a hiring manager to continue reading your resume.
• They show the impact your work has had for a past employer.
• They can help energize and elevate even the most common or mundane job responsibilities.

What are the top 5 tips for a resume?

When learning how to write a resume , follow these five tips:

• Include only the most relevant information for the role to which you are applying. Since resumes should be at most two pages, brevity and relevance are critical.
• Be sure to include a mix of both hard and soft skills. Technical skills are important but employers also look for candidates with skills like communication and collaboration since these competencies are difficult to teach.
• Use straightforward headers on your resume. It’s wise to stick to the basic sections, such as professional summary, work experience, skills and education to make it easy for recruiters to find what they are looking for.
• Use an easy-to-read resume template . Both applicant tracking systems and recruiters need to be able to easily scan your resume to determine whether you have the required skills and experience. A great template can help.
• Study resume examples for the job title you seek. To write a good resume, seeing examples of professionally written resumes will show you exactly what a strong resume should look like.

Was this information helpful? Let us know!

Hailey Brophy

Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.

Read more articles by Hailey Brophy

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100+ Power Words to Include in Your Résumé

Imagine that you're a hiring manager sifting through stacks of incoming résumés—all using the same (or nearly the same) language. Beyond the sheer boredom of having to read them, the repetitive phrasing comes across as a résumé that has been built with a template and without any distinguishing characteristics that would make an individual stand out. With this being the norm, when one particular résumé stands out as different, it's a big impact. So, the question then becomes: How can I make my résumé stand out from the rest?

Oprah Winfrey's advice on résumé building is the perfect answer to this question: The challenge of life, I have found, is to build a résumé that doesn't simply tell a story about what you want to be, but it's a story about who you want to be.

Keep that advice in mind as we go over 100+ power words to include in your résumé to set yours apart from the rest.

Company values

A company's primary goal in hiring is to find a capable, talented individual that can reflect the company's values in his or her work. The most obvious way to let them know you're that individual is to take awhile to look over the company's mission statement and vision—both of which are most often found on a company's website. Let's look at an example and pull some power words from it that could be included in your résumé:

Christine H. is looking for a job with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and goes to their website to find the company values and mission statement . In doing so, she finds the following information:

Mission To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Vision Provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle. Boys & Girls Club of America

Now, to pull some power words from these statements, Christine might choose:

• reach their full potential
• responsible
• plan for the future
• good character
• citizenship
• healthy lifestyle

From this list of power words, pulled straight from the target employer's website, Christine can now craft her objective statement, summary, and even past job details with these words included. For example, if she has teaching experience, instead of writing something like this as a detail on her job description:

Helped students with social skills and peer interaction

She could rather write:

Discussed and emphasized citizenship roles and caring for their peers

Instead of using a typical objective statement such as:

Recent graduate seeking a job with an employer that is making a difference in the world.

She could write a summary statement that has far more impact, using the power words pulled from the company's mission statement:

Caring and forward-thinking teacher seeking a job that allows me to enable young people to become the best version of themselves and practice a healthy, responsible lifestyle.

The result of changing her summary statement to reflect some of the power words noted in the company's mission statement is an automatic connection between the teacher she wants to be (remember Oprah's advice) and the teacher they are seeking.

Same idea, better words

While these example sentences communicate the same idea, by choosing power words from the company's mission statement, she has immediately set herself apart from the rest of the applicants and shown that she has a unique ability to meet the vision that Boys & Girls Clubs of America has for its work. In doing so, she's showing that she's an ideal candidate for the position.

The same thing can be done with the job description itself. Look over the language used in the job description and pull out some of the key power words. Use these words in your summary and former job details (if they fit) and allow them to be the focus on your résumé. Obviously, you need to make sure you can back up your statements with experience. If there is a power word you have noted that you can't tie directly with your past course work or experience, it's best to leave it out and find one that will easily correlate to your employment or educational history.

Atypical action verbs

Beyond using language from the company's mission statement and job description as power words in your résumé, unique action verbs will stand out more than the more commonly used ones such as "worked," "oversaw," "managed," "performed" or "did". If your job description bullet points contain these overused words, go through the list of atypical action verbs below to see if another might fit and offer a more powerful word choice.

Here are some atypical résumé action verbs to consider in place of repeating the tired, overused ones that are used in everyone else's résumé:

• Ascertained
• Brainstormed
• Centralized
• Commissioned
• Conceptualized
• Consolidated
• Constructed
• Deliberated
• Facilitated
• Illustrated
• Implemented
• Interpreted
• Investigated
• Orchestrated
• Rehabilitated
• Rejuvenated
• Scrutinized
• Spearheaded
• Streamlined
• Strengthened
• Synthesized
• Transformed
• Transmitted

Let's look at the difference these words can make on a typical résumé. Before using power words, Christine's job experience bullet points read like this:

• Performed duties such as grading and lesson planning
• Contacted parents relating to their child's progress
• Taught students soft skills for the workplace
• Worked with fellow teachers on curriculum development goals

After replacing the typical verbs with atypical action verbs, her job experience bullet points now read like this:

• Created lesson plans and evaluated grades to determine student progress
• Facilitated open communication with parents as stakeholders in their child's educational progress
• Empowered students with soft skills that would enrich their career search
• Collaborated with peers to integrate curriculum goals into teaching practice

Immediately, you'll notice how the tasks using power words and atypical action verbs seem more important, with more personal involvement on Christine's part. While both examples show the same tasks, the second one will stand out to a potential employer who is seeking someone who can empower, collaborate and create. These words have much more impact than "performed," "contacted," "taught," and "worked."

Popular skills

The modern workplace often looks vastly different than workplaces just 20 years ago. While some skills have remained in demand—such as communication skills, organization skills, etc.—others have grown in demand only recently. For example, 10 years ago, employers didn't care whether you have social media literacy, unless you were working specifically in that field. Now, it's a factor many employers consider in their new hires, especially since the effect of social media has intensified in the past decade.

This article on career-building website Monster.com lists the top seven skills employers are currently looking for, in general, in new-hires:

• Problem solving
• Data analytics
• Social media literacy
• Good business sense
• Willingness to learn

These skills are power words in their own way, and including them on your résumé will help boost your chances of being hired and distinguish you from the pack. Obviously, employers from different sectors will list other skills that are needed to fulfill the job role. However, having the core basic skills and including them on your résumé is a power play that will get you noticed, regardless of the sector to which you're applying.

Final thoughts

It's important to understand that you can use every power word possible on your résumé, but if you submit it with grammar, syntax, or spelling mistakes, that power is lost. One risk you might run into in using atypical action verbs is spelling them incorrectly, so whatever words you use, make sure you've checked and then rechecked again to ensure accuracy.

Also, be careful to avoid throwing in power words without knowing their meaning. This could result in using a word out of context, which will make it seem like you don't know what you're doing, and are simply using "big" words for the sake of using them. This will come across to your potential employer as dishonest and unprofessional, so whatever words you use—understand their connotation and definition fully before doing so.

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Use Resume Keywords to Land the Job [880+ Keywords]

The use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) by companies is on the rise.

ATS is a software that scans every application that comes in for a job.

Based on the job requirements and profile, it decides whether a recruiter should see a resume or not.

And the odds are not in your favor:

ATS rejects, on average, around 75% of job applications.

Even if you get past this obstacle, the recruiter will only give your resume a glimpse. 

It takes him/her around 6 seconds to decide your entire future. 

So how can you get yourself noticed? 

Resume keywords.

Both ATS as well as the hiring manager scan for relevant keywords that fit what they are looking for. 

If you know how to properly use resume keywords, you’ll have a leg up on ATS (and the competition).

• What Are Resume Keywords?

How to Pick the Right Resume Keywords [Step-by-Step]

• 880+ Keywords Divided by Industry 

What are Resume Keywords? 

Resume keywords are words or phrases that describe specific job requirements. 

They are the abilities, skills, expertise, and values that the recruiter is looking for in a candidate. 

Hint: Abilities, skills, and values you should possess. 

We know what you’re thinking: 

How important can a bunch of words really be?

Well, as we’ve already hammered down, your resume will often be screened by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) . 

This system has inbuilt software that filters the different applications that come in. 

The recruiter writes a list of keywords in the ATS system. These are the job requirements.

The ATS then scans your applications for those specific keywords that the recruiter plugged in.

If you don’t have the right amount of them, your resume gets thrown in the software void and never reaches the recruiter. 

So, what kind of resume keywords should you include?

Well, they vary from job to job.

We’ll get into more details in the next section, but here’s an example so you get the idea:

Let’s say you are an architect applying for a senior position in a large firm. 

This is your resume summary :

“A detail-oriented and qualified senior architect who excels in developing construction drawings, creating 3D models, and conducting architectural research and analysis.” 

The system reads these keywords in your resume summary:

• Detail-oriented
• Senior Architect
• Construction Drawings

The system registers which of these keywords match the ones set as a requirement by the recruiter.

CHECK: senior architect

CHECK: construction drawings

CHECK: 3D models

NOT CHECK: computer-aided design (CAD) 

NOT CHECK: 10 years of experience

Now, you might have experience with CAD and also have more than ten years of experience. 

But because the ATS didn’t read it, it did not count it, and you might be rejected at this very first stage.

This example perfectly demonstrates the importance of keywords with ATS.

But as we’ve already mentioned, that’s not it. Resume keywords also help impress the recruiter. 

Well, imagine you’re looking for a new laptop online and the seller’s website doesn’t provide the critical details you need in the description, like what the resolution, RAM, processor, or graphics are. 

You’ll scan the page looking for these keywords. If you don’t find them, you’ll just move on to a different website. 

This is the same process that recruiters go through in pursuit of the best person for the job. 

Even with all those resumes failing ATS, hiring managers don’t have time to read all passing resumes line by line.

They usually evaluate resumes only by scanning for a predetermined list of keywords. 

Think of them as an ATS but in human form:

One that gets tired and bored by looking at the same thing over and over.

You want to stand out from the other pool of applicants and get noticed.

You can do that by picking the right resume keywords .

Keep in mind, though, that resume keywords won’t do much unless you’re using an ATS-friendly resume template. After all, if the ATS CAN’T even read your resume, it won’t be able to scan for the keywords!

Novorésumé's resume templates are built with ATS in mind. Just pick one, and you won’t have to worry about formatting!

So how do you pick the keywords the ATS and the recruiter are looking for?

First, scan the job ad for keywords. 

If your resume keywords match the ones given in the job ad, you have a higher chance of getting an interview. 

There are two main categories of keywords the recruiters or managers are looking for: (1) job-related skills and (2) action verbs.  

Job-related keywords describe your primary skills (both hard and soft) and your core qualifications for this particular job. 

e.g: Computer Science, Social Media, Photoshop, Critical-thinking, etc. 

Action verbs , on the other hand, demonstrate action: they show what you have accomplished and how you have succeeded in your previous experience.  

e.g: managed, developed, planned, maximized, etc. 

So, in your resume scan, you should be looking for both job-related keywords and action verbs.

Once you’ve pinpointed all relevant keywords from the job description, it’s time to put them down in your own resume.

But which section do they go under, exactly?

Generally: 

• Job-related keywords go under your “Skills”
• Action verbs will help you with your job descriptions in the “Work Experience” section . 
• Education requirements will be reflected in your “Education” section , 
• Job title descriptions will go on your resume summary.

Are they looking for someone with Photoshop skills?

“Photoshop” is a job-related keyword and you happen to be a pro at it!

So you would put it down under your “Skills” section.

Easy, right?

We’ll demonstrate how exactly you can pinpoint relevant keywords and use them in your resume with the example below.

Before we get to that, though, two words of caution:

Don’t overdo it.

And don’t lie .

Do not use keywords just for the sake of having them in your resume. 

They need to be used in the right context and reflect your actual skills/achievements. 

An ATS can’t spot redundancy or a lie, but the recruiter surely can. 

So stay honest , relevant , and accurate with your use of resume keywords.

Not sure whether the keywords in your resume are relevant? Here’s how you can be sure: 

Pick two to five job advertisements that are similar to the one you are applying for and identify frequently used keywords. Make a list, and include them in your resume (as long as they match your qualifications, of course). 

How to Pick the Right Resume Keywords: A Practical Example

So how do all the steps we described look like in practice?

Let’s take a real-life job posting.

Below is a Software Developer job ad.

Step 1: Highlight all the relevant keywords.

We are looking for a software developer with 5+ years of experience to create and execute functional, practical programs. Throughout the job, you will have to collaborate with other programmers and software developers. Your main objective will be to develop powerful, high-quality, user-focused programs and systems. 

Job Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree (BSc/BA) in computer engineering , computer science or similar degree.
• Must understand in-depth the implications of software engineering.
• Previous, proven experience on a number of projects for software development.
• Experience with software designing in a test-driven environment.  
• Deep knowledge of the frameworks /systems( AngularJS, Git ) and coding language (e.g: C++, Javascript ). 
• The willingness to work in a constantly changing world. Ability to adapt to new technologies and software languages. 
• Creativity is a bonus.
• Great communication and teamwork skills . 
• Attentive to detail .

Job Responsibilities: 

• Work with programmers to build algorithms and flowcharts . 
• Produce clean, usable, datatype-based software.  
• Incorporate software components and programs from third parties. 
• Validate and implement programs and systems. 
• Fix, debug and improve existing software. 
• Collect and analyze feedback from the client. 
• Suggest and enact improvements.  
• Create technical paperwork for reference and reporting purposes.

Step 2. As you’re highlighting, divide the relevant keywords into job-related and action verbs. 

This will make it super easy for you to write the resume. 

Step 3: Now, we’ll make another division. 

This is based on the resume sections which each keyword should fall under.

RESUME SUMMARY: 

• Software Developer 
• Software designing
• 5+ years of experience 
• User-focused 

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• High-quality 
• Incorporate
• Test-driven environment
• Datatype-based software
• Technical paperwork
• Communication skills 
• Attentive to detail 
• AngularJS, Git
• Coding language
• Bachelor's degree (BSc/BA)
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science

Step 4: What’s left is to reflect upon strengths and choose the best keywords for you.

Keep in mind not all keywords should be included in the resume: only the qualifications and achievements which are relevant to your experience. 

Once you’ve decided all the resume keywords relevant to you, use them in your resume.

Step 5: Finally, let’s put everything together. 

Take a look at Melissa’s Software Developer ATS tailored resume .

Melissa went through all the described steps in this example and integrated all relevant keywords into her resume. 

Melissa just upped her shot at getting that interview .

Now it’s your turn! 

In the next section, we’ll show you the most relevant resume keywords for your profession.

880+ Resume Keywords Divided by Industry 

Although resume keywords are tailored to the job description, there are some valuable skills recruiters are always keeping an eye on.

Below, you will find a tailored list of top keywords for every profession and industry. 

Discover the industry-specific keywords that HR managers, recruiters and the ATS look!

53+ Education and Training Resume Keywords [A-Z]

119+ information technology resume keywords [a-z], 45+ law enforcement resume keywords [a-z].

• 59+ Tourism and Hospitality Resume Keywords [A-Z]

115+ Marketing and Business Administration Resume Keywords [A-Z]

• 143+ Finance and Accounting Resume Keywords [A-Z]

57+ Human Resources Resume Keywords [A-Z]

32+ architecture and construction resume keywords [a-z], 54+ health care resume keywords [a-z], 109+ manufacturing resume keywords [a-z], 91+ social work resume keywords [a-z].

• Administration
• Co-directed
• Cognitive Skills
• Collaboration
• Community Building
• Computer-based Training
• Discipline,
• Field Instruction
• Fundraising
• Holistic Learning
• Individualized Education
• Instruction
• Integration
• Interactive
• Interpersonal
• Job Placement
• Multi-class
• Parent Communications
• Parent-teacher Meeting
• Peer Counseling
• Program Development
• Public Relations
• Recruitment
• Relationship Building
• Setting Boundaries
• Verbal Communication
• Writing Lesson Plans
• Writing Reports
• Written Communication
• Access platform
• Ad creative/impression/inventory/rotation analysis/configuration/deployment/design
• Application Technology
• Architecture
• Artificial Intelligence
• Banner advertisement
• Business Analysis
• Business Continuity
• Business support systems (BSS)
• Business Transformation
• C++ Programming
• Capital Budgets
• Certificate authority
• Change Management
• Channel behavior / conflicts/marketing/outcomes/profitability/promotion/satisfaction
• Cloud Computing
• Co-branding
• Competitive intelligence
• Compliance and Security
• Component development
• Customization and Configuration
• Data Centre Operations
• Data Controller
• Data Gathering
• Data Localization
• Data mining/warehousing
• Database Administration
• Database Design
• Database Development
• Database Integration
• Database Management
• Delivery Systems
• Design Patterns
• Digital Marketing (pull/push)
• Digital Media
• Disaster Recovery
• Distributed Systems
• Distribution channels
• Electronic data interchange (EDI)
• Electronic marketing
• End-User Support
• Enterprise Systems
• Fault Analysis
• Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Global HITS
• Graphic design
• Information Security
• Information Technology
• Infrastructure Development
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
• Java Technology
• Knowledge management
• Machine Learning
• Management Information System (MIS)
• Multiplatform Integration
• Needs Assessment
• Network Administration
• Network Engineering
• Network solutions
• Open Source Technology
• Operations support systems (OSS)
• Privacy Policy
• Process Reengineering
• Product Launch
• Product Lifecycle Development
• Product Testing
• Professional Service
• Program Management
• Programming / Coding
• Project Management
• Quality Assurance / Code Testing
• Research & Development
• Resource Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Scalability and Product Extensions
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Service-Oriented Architecture
• Software Configuration
• Software Development
• Software Engineering
• Software Installation / Upgrade
• Software-as-as-Service
• Solutions Delivery
• Structured Query Language (SQL)
• System Integration
• Systems Administration
• Systems Configuration
• Systems Deployment
• Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Technical Documentation
• Technical Support
• Technology Stack
• User Interface Design
• Vendor Management
• Visual Basic
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• Vortals (Vertical Industry Portals)
• Web Administration
• Web-Based Technology
• Workflow Management
• Yield Management
• Acquisition
• Adjudication
• Administrative law
• Community engagement
• Copyright law
• Crime analysis
• Crime prevention
• Crisis management
• Depositions
• Due diligence
• Intellectual property
• Interrogation
• Joint venture
• Judicial affairs
• Juridical doctor
• Landmark decision
• Legal advocacy
• Legal research
• Legislative review
• Limited partnership
• Negotiation
• Police surveillance
• Probate law
• Unfair compensation
• Uniform patrol
• Will preparation
• Witness protection

59 + Tourism and Hospitality Resume Keywords [A-Z]

• Adherence To Policies And Procedures
• Attention To Detail
• Back Office Operations
• Banquet Operations
• Central Reservation System (CRS)
• Client Needs Assessment
• Club Management
• Competitive Analysis
• Customer Service
• Event Coordination
• Facility Management
• Flexibility
• Food And Beverage
• Food Sanitation
• Front Desk Operations
• Guest Relations
• Guest Retention
• Guest Services
• Health & Safety
• Hospitality Management
• Housekeeping
• Human Resources
• Inventory Planning
• Kitchen Operations
• Maintenance
• Meeting Planning
• Menu Planning
• Multi-Unit Operations
• Multitasking
• New Product Development
• Portion Control
• Procurement
• Promote Services
• Property Development
• Property Management
• Quality Assurance
• Recall Customer Programs
• Regulatory Compliance
• Reservations
• Resolving Complaints
• Resort Management
• Revenue Projections
• Service Management
• Training & Development
• Transportation
• Travel and Tourism
• Account Management
• Acquisitions
• Administrative Support
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Advertising
• Analyzing Data
• API (Application Programming Interface)
• BI (Business Intelligence)
• Brand Associations
• Brand Awareness
• Brand Salience
• Budget Management
• Build Relationships
• Business Development
• Business Intelligence
• Business Plans
• Business Process
• Business Strategy
• Business Systems
• Case Management
• Client Relationships
• Client Services
• CMS (Content Management System)
• Commissioning
• Complex Projects
• Continuous Improvement
• Contract Management
• Cooperation
• Correspondence
• CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods)
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
• Cross-Functional Team
• Customer Experience
• Daily Operations
• Data Analysis
• Data Collection/Entry
• Data Management
• Data Quality
• Digital Marketing
• Employee Engagement
• ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
• ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)
• HRIS (Human Resources Information System)
• IBM (International Business Machines)
• Information Systems
• Internal Communications
• Inventory Management
• KPI (Key Performance Indicators)
• Management Consulting
• Market Research
• Operating System
• Operational Excellence
• Performance Management
• Portfolio Management
• Process Development
• Process Improvement
• Product Management
• Product Marketing
• Product Quality
• Project Delivery
• Quality Assurance/Control/Management
• R (Programming Language)
• Relationship Building/Management
• Sales Management
• SAP (System Application Products)
• SDL (Software Development Lifecycle)
• Service Blueprint
• Spreadsheets
• Stakeholder Management
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Standardization
• Statistical Analysis
• Status Report
• Strategic Direction
• Strategic Planning
• Strong Analytical Skills
• STP Analysis (Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning)
• Supply Chain Management
• SWOT Analysis
• Value Proposition

143+ Finance and Accounting Resume Keywords

• (FASB) Financial Accounting Standards Board
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Adjusting/closing entries
• Analysis/analyzing
• Annual Budget
• Annual Reports
• Asset Management
• Audit/auditing/audit controls
• Automatic Data Processing (ADP)
• Balance sheet
• Benefits administration
• Budget/budgeting/budget control
• Business plan
• CAD (Cash Against Documents)
• Capital budget
• Cashflow Statement (CFS)
• Cash management
• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
• Chart of accounts
• Client/client base
• Collections
• Commercial lending
• Consumer lending
• Contract management
• Corporate governance
• Corporate treasury
• Cost accounting
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Cost-Effective
• Cost of goods sold (COGS)
• Cost reduction and avoidance
• Credit management
• Debt management
• Debt refinancing
• Debt service
• Debt to worth
• Depreciation/accelerated depreciation
• Disbursements
• Discount cash flow
• Dividend(s)
• EBIT/EBITDA
• Efficiencies
• Equity underwriting
• Expenditures
• Expense analysis
• Feasibility
• Financial Analysis
• Financial Management
• Financial Modeling
• Financial Planning
• Financial Reporting
• Financial Statements
• Fixed assets
• Forecast/forecasting
• Foreign exchange
• General accounting
• General Ledger
• High stress
• Income Statement
• Inflow/outflow
• Initial Public Offering (IPO)
• Interest rate(s)
• Internal controls
• International Financial Reporting Standards
• Inventory control
• Inventory management
• Investment analysis/management
• Investor relations
• Job (order) costing
• Journal/journaling
• Letter of credit
• Liabilities/liability
• Loan administration
• Management reporting
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Mutual fund(s)
• Net present value (NPV)
• Operating reports
• Payroll administration
• Portfolio Analysis
• Process improvement
• Profit and loss analysis
• Profit and loss statement (P&L)
• Projections
• Public speaking
• Purchase accounting
• Quarterly/year-end reporting
• Real estate
• Reconciliations
• Regulations
• Relationship management
• Reporting and analysis
• Revenue Growth
• Reverse takeover
• Risk Management
• ROE/ROI/ROA
• Sarbanes Oxley
• Shareholders
• Statistical models
• Strategic Thinking
• Tax accounting
• Taxation Compliance
• Transaction
• Trend analysis
• Underwriting
• Variance analysis
• Venture capital
• American Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Benefits Administration
• Career Pathing
• Claims Administration
• College Recruitment
• Compensation
• Competency-Based Performance
• Corporate Culture Change
• Cross-Cultural Communications
• Diversity Management
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Employee Communications
• Employee Empowerment
• Employee Involvement Teams
• Employee Relations
• Employee Retention
• Employee Surveys
• Expatriate Employment
• Grievance Proceedings
• Human Resources (HR)
• Human Resources Generalist Affairs
• Human Resources Partnerships
• Incentive Planning
• International Employment
• Job Task Analysis
• Labor Arbitration
• Labor Contract Negotiations
• Labor Relations
• Leadership Assessment
• Leadership Development
• Management, Training & Development
• Manpower Planning
• Merit Promotion
• Multimedia Training
• Multinational Workforce
• Organizational Design
• Organizational Development
• Organizational Needs Assessment
• Participative Management
• Performance Appraisal
• Performance Incentives
• Performance Reengineering
• Position Classification
• Professional Recruitment
• Regulatory Affairs
• Safety Training
• Self-Directed Work Teams
• Succession Planning
• Train-the-Trainer
• Union Negotiations
• Union Relations
• Wage & Salary Administration
• Workforce Reengineering
• Abstraction
• Architectural Codes
• Architectural Rendering
• Building Codes
• Building Construction
• Building Systems
• Computer Processing
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Conceptualization
• Construction Administration
• Construction Documents
• Creative Thinking
• Design Concepts
• Design Development
• Design to Delivery
• Fire Safety
• Imagination
• Industrial Design
• Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
• Managing Expectations
• Model Making
• Residential Construction
• Retail Construction
• Sustainable Design
• Technical Vision
• User interface design
• Visual design
• Zoning Codes
• Average response time
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Cardiac Cathlab
• Case history reports
• Caseload management
• Central Line Placements
• Composite Health Care System
• Electrophoresis
• Emergency treatment
• Fistula Revascularizations
• Flow sheets
• Government requirements
• Hospital procedure
• Immunizations
• Instructions
• Instrument trays
• Medical assistance
• Nursing practitioners
• Nursing staff
• Occupational therapy
• Paternity tests
• Patient care procedures
• Patient comfort
• Physician prescriptions
• Plastic surgery
• Prescription drug
• Presentations
• Quality of care
• Satisfaction surveys
• Skin grafts
• Special Procedures Unit
• Surgical equipment
• Swan-Ganz Catheter
• Traumatized patients
• Water safety
• Accident Prevention
• Audit Control Procedures
• Automated Manufacturing
• Capacity Planning
• Capital Budget
• Capital Machinery Acquisition
• Capital Project
• Cell Manufacturing
• CNC / PLC Machining
• Computer Integrated
• Concurrent Engineering
• Cost Avoidance
• Cost Reductions
• Cross-Functional Teams
• Cycle Time Reduction
• Distribution Management
• Efficiency Improvement
• Environmental Health & Safety
• Equipment Management
• Ergonomically Efficient
• Facilities Consolidation
• Forecasting / Budgeting
• Inventory Control
• ISO 9000 Compliance
• Just-In-Time (JIT)
• Labor Efficiency
• Lean / Agile Manufacturing
• Logistics Management
• Machine Downtime
• Manufacturing (CIM)
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Manufacturing Integration
• Manufacturing Technology
• Master Schedule
• Materials Management
• Materials Planning
• Materials Replenishment
• Multi-Site Operations
• Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S)
• On-Time Delivery
• Operating Budget
• Operations Management
• Operations Reengineering
• Operations Start-Up
• Optimization
• Order Fulfillment
• Order Processing
• Outsourcing
• Performance Improvement
• Physical Inventory
• Pilot Manufacturing
• Plant Management
• Plant Operations
• Preventative Maintenance
• Process Automation
• Process Redesign/Reengineering
• Product Development & Engineering
• Product Rationalization
• Product Testing / Validation
• Production Forecasting
• Production Lead Time
• Production Management
• Production Methodologies
• Production Output
• Production Plans/Schedules
• Production Scheduling
• Productivity Improvement
• Profit & Loss (P&L) Management
• Project Budget
• Prototype Design
• Purchasing / Procurement
• Purchasing Management
• Quality Circles
• Safety Documentation
• Safety Management
• Shipping & Receiving Operation
• Spares & Repairs Management
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• System (MRP)
• Technology Integration
• Time & Motion Studies
• Total Quality Management (TQM)
• Traffic Management
• Turnaround Management
• Value-Added Processes
• Warehouse Management
• Work in Progress (WIP)
• Workflow Optimization
• Workforce Management
• World Class Manufacturing (WCM)
• Yield Improvement
• Action Plan
• Consultation
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorder Inventory
• End of Life
• Grant (Writing)
• Harm Reduction
• Individualized
• Interdisciplinary
• Intervention
• Mental Health
• NEO Personality Inventory
• Psychiatric
• Rehabilitation
• Schizophrenia
• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
• Supervision
• Wechsler Memory Scale

But wait...

There’s more!

Check out our full list of action words and power adjectives for your resume, complete with 340+ action verbs for all professions .

Key Takeaways

Here are some things to keep in mind after reading this article:

• Resume keywords are crucial in a resume. They help you get past ATS and noticed by the recruiter.
• Remember how to make the best use of resume keywords: Scan the job listing for the main responsibilities and requirements the recruiter is looking for. Divide them into job-related responsibilities and action words. Then use them in your own resume in the appropriate sections.
• Don’t overuse resume keywords or lie about your abilities. The recruiter will spot a fraud from miles away.
• Your resume keywords will mainly depend on the specific position you are applying for. However, there are certain in-demand industry keywords the recruiters are keeping an eye on. Revisit our comprehensive list of industry-specific keywords whenever you need some inspiration.

Suggested Reading:

• How to Make a Resume | Beginner's Guide
• 150+ Must-Have Skills for Any Resume [With Tips + Tricks]
• How to Pick the Best Resume Format [+Examples]

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• Resume Templates
• Resume Examples
• Free Resume Builder
• How to Write a Resume
• Resume Format
• Resume Packs
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• Cover Letter Examples
• Free Cover Letter Generator
• How To Write a Cover Letter
• CV Templates
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• Resume Help
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• Career Advice

Powerful Words to Use in Your Resume

Words can be both powerful and compelling. But knowing which words to use and how to use them within your resume and cover letter is a handy skill that must never be underestimated.

Using the right words in their proper context can help to demonstrate your skills and strengths as a potential job candidate and future employee. But what kind of lingo you should choose to make your application truly shine? 

Below are 7 groups of resume power words (with examples) that you should consider using when writing your resume .

Find The Best Keywords For Your Resume First

When you send in your resume and cover letter to apply for a position, the employer or HR staff will often be faced with a high number of applications to sift through. This can be quite a laborious task for anyone, let alone a professional, so to make the selection process quicker, your resume will be quickly scanned over. Many large companies use electronic scanning equipment ( ATS equipment) to quickly process many hundreds of resumes that regularly come flooding in. Smaller companies may do this by hand using staff, but both real humans and electronic resume scanners will be looking for the same thing – keywords !

Your first task in a successful job application is to get past the initial scanning and selection process. You do this by including relevant keywords that directly relate to the position you are applying for. You can easily find these powerful keywords and action verbs within the job description itself and any accompanying extra information that is given out when requesting more information from the employer about the role on offer.

Source: Cognizant Careers

Weaving skills and phrases used by the employer to describe the idea candidate into your cover letter and resume will greatly increase the chances of your application getting past the initial scanning stage.

How to Identify Keywords and Choose Keywords for Your Resume

Optimizing your resume around certain keywords to beat the scanning software is relatively simple. You just need to follow several quick rules:

Choose specific keywords. Most ATS software is designed to capture only exact match keywords. For instance, if it was programmed to pull applications with the word “e-commerce”, it will pass on resumes that include “eCommerce” or “Ecommerce”. Hence, you should tailor the texts of your resume to 100% match the job description text. Meaning you should copy abbreviations, numbers, plurals etc. as the employer writes them. For instance, mind if they write “three years of experience” or “3+ years of experience”. Yes, tweaking your wording for each application can be somewhat daunting, but dispatching a generic resume will not get you close to landing a job either.

Focus on hard skills. The goal of the ATS is to line up candidates with the closest-matching skill sets primarily. So you’ll want to place your hard skills in the limelight, and perhaps speak more to your soft skills in the cover letter. Your best bet is to list up your technical skills, tools/software that is used in your industry, credentials, certifications and full position titles.

For instance, here are some ideas from a customer service resume example our consultant has prepared:

• Tools/Software: Blazedesk, C-Desk, Customer Support Hardware, LiveChat, Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Outlook, Zendesk, JIRA.
• Certifications: CCSP ® Certified, CSIA Certified Customer Service Manager, Advanced, HDI Desktop Support Manager.
• Position titles: Telecom Support Center Team Lead, LiveChat Customer Service Agent.

Once your resume has successfully passed the first stage, your application will then go on to be looked at more closely. This is where employers or HR staff will actually take the time to read your resume and then either put you into the YES pile for short-listing for interview or put into the NO pile for rejection.

This is the stage where using more powerful and compelling words comes into play.

Why Use Power Words At All?

You may be asking why you would need to use more powerful words to catch the eye of the employer when you have already gotten past the scanning process. Surely you can let your personality shine through from your resume now it is being read by a human?

Firstly, at this stage employers will still be screening lots of applicants, so now you have to use some powerful words that jump off your page and quickly show the reader that you have the skills and the right qualifications for the job.

Using action words is an easy way to draw a recruiter’s attention. For example, “ Responsible for developing and executing a social media strategy ” does not give the same impression as “Managed all social media accounts.

Mary Ford Career Coach Californial, United States

Secondly, because reading through dozens of resumes can often become boring and repetitive, especially if the same language is used throughout each and every one of them, you need to make your application stand out from the crowd.

What Sort Of Powerful Words Should I Use?

Different words can convey different feelings and impressions. But you don’t need to have “copywriter” in your title, to master the art of picking the right lingo from the dictionary to describe why you are the best candidate for the job.

In fact, effective writing is often more science than art. Therefore, if you remember several proven formulas, you can craft a stellar job application on command in under an hour. And then scale it into 5X more personalized copies for each employer.

Your rule number one is this – use plenty of action verbs in your resume. They help describe the skills you possess, the tasks you’ve performed in the workplace and the great things you have accomplished.

For convenience, you’ll find a big list of resume action verbs below, based around certain subjects.

Leadership Action Verbs for Your Resume

• conceptualized
• coordinated
• facilitated
• interviewed

Decision-makers love to see leaders and self-confident candidates. But you don’t have to explicitly add “leader” to your profile (that’s something HRs don’t really like). It’s more of a “show, don’t tell” writing technique you should be using. Let your job duties, achievements and work experiences show off your leadership potential.

Use powerful words to describe yourself and your responsibilities, such as ‘Innovative’ as this would demonstrate your ability to generate new approaches to problems. Another example is ‘Adaptable’ as this would indicate that you are not rigid and are able to cope effectively with complexity and change.

Melony Botha HR Consultant London, United Kingdom

Use the leadership power words to describe your day-to-day duties, and don’t forget to quantify those with relevant numbers whenever possible. Example:

“ Administered $45,000 in monthly digital advertising budgets. Coordinated the work of 4 junior managers, supervised timely campaigns execution and monitored key KPIs.”

Problem Solving Action Verbs for Your Resume

• strengthened
• supplemented
• transformed

So you know how to handle things and resolve issues before they lead to a full-blown crisis. Great, now show that to the potential decision-makers by describing exactly what kind of things you’ve managed to remedy at your past positions. For instance, if you were a receptionist, you could add the following power statement to your resume:

“ Reconciled the company’s contact books, upgraded and digitized all the records. Developed a remodeled client booking process to the Senior Account Manager that was accepted and implemented, reducing time-per-booking by 3 minutes for the customers”.

Communication Action Verbs for Your Resume

• corresponded
• interpreted

Position yourself as an eloquent communicator before you are even given a chance to speak with the HR team by using the power words from the listed above.

Organizations incredibly value good communicators. To highlight the achievements your great communication skills caused and give a primer of what it would be like to interact with you in person. Several quick examples:

• Management: Negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with a key supplier. 
• Healthcare: Co-authored an improved treatment protocol for the clinic that resulted in 13% fewer readmissions. 
• Education: Personally corresponded with 5 parents of problematic students and clarified how they should approach homework help.

Analytical Power Words for Your Resume

• investigated
• prioritized
• recommended

If the job posting call for someone with strong analytical and research skills, be sure to use the proposed power words when crafting your resume.

But instead of just describing the type of analytical problems you’ve solved and the research you did, outline the effect your actions had. For example:

“ Concluded a 3-month study of the company’s sales process efficiency and formulated a detailed roadmap for improvements. As a result, the company’s average time-to-reply to a new lead reduced from 3.5 hours to 35 minutes.” 

Mirroring Language

Just about every company has its own internal language. Look out for favorite phrases and keywords that describe company values, company ethos and how they see themselves and describe themselves to others. Try not to look as if you are a mimic and you are simply borrowing their words for your resume. Instead, focus on one or two main keywords that you pick up and use these powerful words to weave naturally into your own text.

Take time to study the company’s website and the job description before you prepare your resume and cover letter. Be sure to include words that reflect the company culture. Also, choose power words that reflect the skills and assets you bring to the organization that will set you apart from the competition.

Brenda S. Meyer Certified Senior HR Consultant Arizona, United States

Transferable Skill Words

No matter what business sector you wish to work in, there will always be a degree of transferable skills that you can take with you from job to job. These skills are an important part of any role and employers are reassured when they spot them in a resume. All employers want an employee that is responsible, dedicated, can take the initiative and lead others, so always try to fit these powerful words into your resume.

Industry Specific Words

Using industry related words not only demonstrates that you have the desired hard skills and understanding needed to be able to do the job, but using key buzzwords and language shows that you also keep up to date with the latest innovations. It can show your employer that you are keen to learn new things and implement them in the workplace to achieve better results.

Always make sure that you completely understand any industry related jargon that you use on your resume. You may get questioned on this at the interview, and if you don’t really know what you are talking about, it will show that you are not qualified for the position.

This post has been originally published on Oct 23, 2017 and has been extensively revised and updated on July 8, 2019.

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Fantastic article that helped me develop a resume for a career switch. Thanks!

Thank you for your kind words and feedback Zeth, I’m glad it helped!

brilliant work & choicest of words! I already feel much confident in drafting my resume for propelling my career in a streamlined way.

We’re super glad to hear that Namrata, this is the exact purpose of this article! Thank you for your kind feedback ; )

This article was very helpful! I really appreciate the work and effort done by everyone involved in writing it.

Thanks for the feedback Rami, glad it helped!

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• Resume Help

Best Resume Keywords for 2024 [for Use to Pass the ATS]

Our customers have been hired by:

Recruiters often don’t read resumes word for word. They just scan your resume for keywords.

And Applicant Tracking Systems do the same. The right resume keywords in a document give a higher chance of having a relevant applicant for the job. If you want to beat the system, you need to improve your resume keyword game. So, how do you know if you’ve got the right resume keywords for your industry?Read on and learn what resume keywords are and how to use them to get the job you’re after.

This keywords for resumes guide will show you:

• Action verbs and resume keywords to use. Plus, what resume buzzwords to avoid.
• How to include keywords in resumes, cover letters, and emails for greatest impact.
• What are the good keywords for resume skills, education, and experience sections.
• The best way to determine what keywords to add to your resume to land the interview.

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 examples here .

Worried your resume will never make it to the hiring manager? Yes, resume keywords will help. But it's just part of the equation. You need the right formatting as well. Learn how to beat the ATS bots here:  ATS Resume Templates that Pass the Test

Also we have covered it if you are looking for some specific resume samples! See:

• Account Manager Resume
• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Business Analyst Resume
• Catering Resume
• Computer Science Resume
• Customer Service Resume
• Data Analyst Resume
• Data Entry Resume
• Data Science Resume
• Digital Marketing Resume
• Financial Analyst Resume
• Manager Resume
• Marketing Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Programmer Resume
• Project Manager Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Software Engineer Resume
• Best Resume Templates

Resume Keywords: What’s the Big Deal?

There are ~250 applicants for typical corporate job openings. That’s too much for a human to handle, so recruiters rely on Applicant Tracking Software (ATS), which we'll explain in more detail in a moment.

Screening software such as this gets the job done in a second by scanning for resume keywords. Did you pass the ATS resume-scanning test?

Don’t get excited just yet. Hiring managers take roughly 7 seconds scanning each surviving resume, according to our HR statistics report.

Guess how they get the job done so fast. Exactly. They look for resume keywords, too. But thy don't only do that by themselves. Sometimes recruiters use resume keywords scanners.

What is a resume keyword scanner?

A resume keyword scanners are programs used to search for specific keywords in resumes. They later sort resumes by the results. After that, they match documents that have the best keywords and therefore seem most relevant for the job opening.

But the questions is: how many resume keywords should you include in a resume?

The general rule is 25-30 . Don’t spam the bots and their human overlords.

2. Identify What Resume Keywords Are Important to the Employer

There was this girl I liked back in high school.

I knew this girl enjoyed volleyball and loathed US Gov. But, everyone else knew that, too.

Bringing these points up would have been just as lame as commenting on the weather.

So, how to impress?

It’s like the perfect OKCupid profile!

Googling gives good descriptive words for resumes ( blue-highlighted ), but we’d miss employer-specific ones ( yellow-highlighted ).

Most important resume keywords come from job listings.

Just one important note: Resume keywords aren’t magic words you have to use no matter what. Don’t lie ! You’ll crash and burn in a blaze of unemployment glory, quickly.

Where should you add these resume keywords?

In the following sections, we’ll look at how to strategically place resume keywords in all the important places: in the resume summary, objective statement, experience section, education, skills, and even in the cover letter and email.

One Resume Keyword You Must Always Use—

What’s the best resume keyword? The company name .

And the right job title . But you know that already!

Add it in the heading statement (cover letter, too, but we’ll talk about that shortly), which is the resume summary or resume objective:

The right example is personalized and includes one of your most important searchable keywords. The wrong example’s made for mass-delivery . Use it and prepare for mass-rejection.

Pro Tip : Use a job description keyword finder for resumes such as Jobscan which’ll give your resume a free ATS scan. They often provide resume wording examples, too.

Got the company’s name? Great! That’s one of the best keywords for resume scanners and resume keywords generators. Complete the resume objective: 20+ Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips) or resume summary: How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See

Don’t Forget Your Education when Choosing Resume Keywords

See this example? You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, but they’ll also look for computer science-related resume phrases.

Not finished yet?

• Completed ¾ Bachelor ’s requirements.
• Majoring in Computer Science.
• Expected graduation 2021.

See? We’ve got the “bachelor’s degree” resume keywords employers look for in there!

Want more advice on keywords to use in a resume education section? See this guide: How to Put Your Education on Resume [Tips & Examples]

3. Identifying What Resume Keywords Are Important to the Industry

You’ve identified some ideal resume keywords from the job listing - good work!

However, those can’t be all the resume keywords that you use. It would be like me telling that girl I liked that I enjoy every single thing that she likes - suspicious and borderline-stalkery, no?

Now it’s time to build up the rest of our character by doing some industry research.

Where do we begin? An areas-of-expertise resume keywords search through Google works wonders:

Applying for an airline’s cabin crew? Google keywords for a flight attendant resume .

Need keywords for skills on an IT resume ? Google those, too.

However! Use the resulting list of skill keywords as guide, not gospel.

Take this excerpt of business manager resume keywords, for example: you could have 10 years of related manufacturing experience , but you probably do not .  Don’t copy-paste!

Where do you put these resume keywords? If you have hands-on experience, mention them in the work experience section. You can also do the same when talking about your education, if applicable.

Here’s an example of how that could look on the final resume, with keywords in the resume’s experience section and education section:

See that? We inserted hospitality and customer service resume keywords throughout the relevant sections.

If you’ve no quantifiable way to show skills and experience keywords, include a skills section that gives a general idea of your knowledge (and also some resume keywords!):

Pull from both the soft & hard skills lists. Hard skills are specific abilities & know-how (Photoshop). Soft skills are self-developed, life-learned attributes (adaptability). (By the way, if you want other definitions like this, check out our helpful HR glossary of terms .)

Again, no lying! This will see you out the door, lickety-split. Now you’ve got a general list of skills and qualities to grab the manager’s attention, and a specific list of personal skills from the job listing to keep it.

Pro Tip : If there are resume keywords you believe more important than others, increase its “keyword density” by using more.

Like this resume keywords guide? We’ve a list of good skills to put on a resume: 30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)

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, our easy resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. Where To Put Keywords On Your Resume

So, we’ve gone through resume keywords from A to Z, from all the sections on your resume through to your cover letter and email.

Now, I’d like to briefly reiterate how to use these keywords for resumes and where to put them:

Keywords for the Resume Heading Statement (Summary or Objective)

Add the company’s name to make it personalized:

... Seeking a position with Acme Incorporated which utilizes...

Identify some resume keywords from the job listing to strengthen your case:

Personable customer service representative with 2+ years expertise in fast-paced call center environment

Keywords for the   Resume Experience Section

Use keywords from the job description to show that you are familiar with the tools they would want you to use

Keywords for the Resume Education Section

• State your major (and minor) instead of just saying “B.A.”
• Check the job listing again; they may want you to list related coursework - and yes, these are resume keywords they might look for:

Keywords for the Resume Skills Section

Add skills for those that you have no way of quantifying. List relevant skills to show them how broad your skill set is for their industry:

Now, time to learn why resume keywords really  matter.

5. Resume Scanner Keywords & the ATS

Recruiters are getting more and more applications these days, and that number will only continue to increase. How can they keep up with the flood of job applicants?

By outsourcing some of the work to the robots. That’s right - robots.

In this case, robots mean the ATS , or the Applicant Tracking System, which is software that hiring managers can use to help them sift through resumes and identify those with particular resume keywords.

Here's how the ATS works:

• Manager scans resumes into computer.
• Manager gives ATS keywords to look for.
• ATS reads resumes, looking for keywords.
• ATS sorts and grades resumes based on keywords.
• According to score, hiring manager will/won’t call applicant for interview.

While they’re getting better, they remain outdated and buggy. Most don’t yet compensate for spelling variations.

For example, MA in Investigative Journalism could be M.A. or Master of Arts. So search LinkedIn to find the most common spellings.

For example, AvidCareerist performed a study:

• About 6K users use C.P.A. , but a whopping 862K members use CPA .
• About 1.1M go with M.B.A. , but 3M members use MBA .

You need to make your resume scannable to help them out: Mirror the wording of the job ad. Use key phrases verbatim, but don’t just copy and paste everything from the ad.

Pro Tip : Increase chances further by adding more than one variation of a given resume keyword: I have a Master of Business Administration (MBA)...

6. Don’t Forget to Use Keywords On Your Email & Cover Letter

To whom it may concern...

Though formal and valid, it also feels cold and impersonal, like how commoners might’ve addressed the gentry in the Dark Ages.

You don't want that. You want to make the recruiter feel nice and comfortable. How do you that?

Easy. Use the best resume keyword - their name . It’s a personal touch, likely granting you more than the typical six seconds scanning your resume. It shows you took time researching them and that you’re not just spamming your resume everywhere.

Another super-important  keyword for resumes:

Did you catch that? Does the job description require something specific in the subject line? Don’t forget the position title is a critical resume keyword!

Pro Tip : Drop their name in the beginning: “I’m super interested in working at [COMPANY-NAME] because...” See? Feels much more personalized.

Cover letter keywords are important. Need more advice on crafting cover letters? Check out our 35+ successful cover letter tips  or learn what to include on a cover letter .

7. Dangerous Instances of Resume Keywords You Need To Avoid

There are also some dangerous keywords.  Whether it paints a negative picture or is just TMI, here are keywords you need to avoid:

Results-oriented professional with unparalleled passion, dedication, and drive seeking to utilize industry-proven track record and go-getting attitude to land a lucrative career...

What does that even mean? A few of those power keywords and resume buzzwords here and there sound great. But if you stuff it to the gills with every industry and corporate buzzword out there, you’ll end up hurting your chances instead.

Avoid calling yourself the best of this or exceptional at that. Let your experience and qualifications speak for themselves. No one likes braggers.

At a previous job working with cell phones, we made up words for our own benefit. The Nexus phone, for example, we pluralized as Nexi (like cactus to cacti ). Nexus is easily understood. Nexi wouldn’t be recognized by the ATS or hiring manager.

Too-Impressive Past Positions

LinkedIn gives 4 words to avoid: Founder , Entrepreneur , CEO , & Owner . These signal overall management, raising flags—

Would she fit well here when she’s been the boss previously?  Include these only if you must (e.g., parallel position).

Pro Tip : Look through your resume & see if “boring” words are overused. Replace these for more of a kick.

There are more than important resume keywords to avoid when preparing your application: 6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Examples)

8. Resume Wording: Use Active Voice

We want your resume actively considered, and active voice is important towards this goal.

Passive Voice vs Active Voice

See the difference? The first is concise and to-the-point; the second seems evasive and less-clear.

Active voice is preferred on resumes. We use them to actively describe your main tasks and achievements.

Want more on choosing action verbs, resume keywords, and a resume action word list? Take a gander: 80+ Examples of Resume Action Words for Every Profession

<h2 9. 750+ Resume Keywords: A List of Words to Use for Any Industry

Here are more than 750 resume keywords grouped into industry and trade categories. Click to navigate to your profession.

1.  Accounting & Finance Resume Keywords

2.  Creative & Cultural Resume Keywords

3.  Education & Learning Resume Keywords

4.  Engineering & Scientific Resume Keywords

5.  Food Service & Hospitality Resume Keywords

6.  Healthcare & Human Services Resume Keywords

7.  Human Resources Resume Keywords

8.  Information Technology Resume Keywords

9.  Law Enforcement Resume Keywords

10.  Legal Resume Keywords

11.  Logistics & Purchasing Resume Keywords

12.  Maintenance & Repair Resume Keywords

13.  Management Resume Keywords

14. Manufacturing Industrial & Warehousing Resume Keywords

15. NGO & Non-Profit Resume Keywords

16. Office & Administrative Resume Keywords

17. Public Relations Resume Keywords

18. Real Estate & Construction Resume Keywords

19. Retail & Customer Service Resume Keywords

20.  Sales & Marketing Resume Keywords

21. Travel & Transportation Resume Keywords

Accounting & Finance Resume Keywords

accounts payable, accounts receivable, assets, audit, bid/ask, bonds, branch operations, calculation, capital, collections, commercial banking, consumer, corporate tax, cost accounting, cost/benefit analysis, credit analysis, debt financing, deposit, E-Trade, Excel,FILO, financial analysis, financial planning, foreign exchange, global banking, international financing, investment, investor relations, job costing, letters of credit, leveraged buyout, loan, loss, numbers, operating budgets, portfolio, profits, recovery, return on equity, return on investment, revenue, risk management, securities, shareholder, spreadsheet, stock, trade, treasury, trust, turnaround

Creative & Cultural Resume Keywords

Adobe, art, awareness, Behance, bibliography, collection, color, commission, conference, creative, CSS, design, gallery, grant, ideation, Illustrator, InDesign, lecture, packaging, Photoshop, Pinterest, portfolio, presentation, preservation, print, residency, Sketch, typography, visual, web design, workshop

Education & Learning Resume Keywords

administration, advisor, classroom, coach, counsel, course, curriculum, education, discipline, field instruction, grant, holistic learning, inclusive, individualized education, instruction, integration, job placement, literacy, mentor, peer counseling, program development, recruitment, scholastic, student services, study, teaching, technology, training, tutoring

Engineering & Scientific Resume Keywords

3D modeling, analysis, business process, capital project, charge order, computer-aided engineering, cross-functional team, development cycle, efficiency, documentation, engineering, environmental testing, experimental design, facilities engineering, field performance, guidelines, hydraulics, industrial engineering, justification, land survey, manufacturability, methods, process development, product design, product innovation, project costing, project planning, prototype, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, quality assurance, R&D, re-engineering, regulatory compliance, research and development, scale-up, scheduling, technical specification writing, tender documentation, turnkey, work methods

Food Service & Hospitality Resume Keywords

amenities, attention to detail, bartending, back of house, bussing, back-of-house, beverage, calculation, cash handling, catering, club management, communication, concierge, cooking, customer, detail-oriented, enthusiastic, fast-paced, flexible, front of house, food, food expediting, food knowledge, food preparation, food safety, friendly, front-of-house, guest, health, hospitality, inventory, menu, multitasking, occupancy, ordering, personable, people skills, point of sale, portion control, positive, preparation, register, reservation, safety, scheduling, team player, upbeat, vendor sourcing, waiting

Healthcare & Human Services Resume Keywords

acute care, administrator, advocate, ambulance, assisted living, behavior management, case management, casework, chronic care, clinic, continuity of care, counseling, electronic claims, emergency, fee billing, grant administration, inpatient, managed care, multi-hospital, outpatient, patient, peer review, physician, preventative medicine, provider, psychiatry, psychology, public health, rehabilitation, social services, substance abuse, testing, third party, treatment, vocational placement, wellness

Human Resources Resume Keywords

administration, affirmative action, applicants, assessments, benefits, candidates, career pathing, change management, claims, compensation, competency, disabilities, electronic applicant screening, employee empowerment, employee relations, equal opportunity, grievance proceedings, hiring, incentives, labor arbitration, labor contract, merit, negotiations, organizational needs, performance incentives, position classification, professional recruitment, salary, sourcing, staffing, succession planning, team building, union relations, wage, workforce

Information Technology Resume Keywords

AI, applications, architecture, artificial intelligence, benchmarking, capacity, cellular, communications, data, data recovery, database, desktop, disaster recovery, documents, end user, engineering, firewall, hardware, IaaS, information systems, imaging, implementation, java, javascript, LAN, local area network, machine learning, multi-user interface, network administration, NoSQL, operating system, project, real time, remote access, SaaS, security, server, SQL, startup, systems acquisition, systems configuration, WAN, wireless

Law Enforcement Resume Keywords

analysis, antiterrorism, appeal, armed security, arrest record, asset protection, corporate security, covert operations, crime, crime prevention, crisis communications, crisis management, detection, drugs, electronic surveillance, emergency preparedness, fraud, identity theft, interrogation, narcotics, safety training, surveillance, task force, theft, traffic enforcement, uniform patrol, victim

Legal Resume Keywords

acquisition, adjudication, administrative law, affidavit, antitrust, briefs, case law, clerk, copyright law, depositions, discovery, due diligence, intellectual property, joint venture, judicial affairs, juris doctor, landmark decision, legal advocacy, legal research, legislative review, licensing, limited partnership, litigation, mediation, memorandum, motion, negotiation, paralegal, patent law, probate law, settlement, trial law, unfair compensation, will preparation, witness protection

Logistics & Purchasing Resume Keywords

acquisition, asset management, bid, capital acquisition, commodities, competitive bidding, customs compliance, deadstock, demand planning, fixed-price contracts, fleet management, forecasting, international trade, inventory control, inventory planning, just-in-time, materials, offshore purchasing, outsourcing, procurement, purchasing, replenishment, requisitions, sourcing, subcontractor, supplier, supply chain, transportation, truck loading/unloading, vendor, warehouse

Maintenance & Repair Resume Keywords

carpentry, commercial electrician, electrical systems, excavation, finishing, HVAC, hydraulics, journeyman, maintenance, masonry, mechanics, painting, plumbing, repair, roofing, scheduling, superintendent, surveying, tools, troubleshooting, welding, wiring

Management Resume Keywords

assessment, assets, benchmark, budget, business development, change management, communication, company culture, consensus building, corporate, cost reduction, crisis, efficiency, entrepreneur, evaluation, executive, financial management, goal, growth, improvement, leadership, long-term planning, margin, market development, operations, performance, performance standards, planning, policy development, process improvement, productivity, profit & loss, recruitment, regulatory reporting, relationships, retention, revenue, startup, strategy, tactical planning, team building, turnaround, vendor, workflow, workforce

Manufacturing Industrial & Warehousing Resume Keywords

cargo, carrier, container, contract, dispatch operations, distribution, distribution management, driver leasing, equipment, export, fleet management, freight, forklift, health and safety, import, improvement, inbound/outbound, just-in-time, load analysis, logistics, manufacturing, materials, multi-site, occupational hazard, operations, order fulfillment, order processing, performance, port operations, receiving, regulatory compliance, route management, route planning and analysis, safety management, schedule, shipping, storage, terminal operation, traffic, transportation services, warehouse management, warehouse operations, workflow optimization, yield improvement

NGO & Non-Profit Resume Keywords

board, budget, campaign, community outreach, corporate giving, donations, endowment, foundation, funds, grant, grassroots, humanitarian, member services, non-governmental, not-for-profit, organizational leadership, organizational vision, policy development, press release, public relations, research foundation, retention, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment

Office & Administrative Resume Keywords

administrative processes, back-office operations, budget administration, business administration, clerical support, client communications, confidentiality, contract administration, customer communications, document management, efficiency improvement, executive support, front office operations, liaison affairs, meeting planning, office management, policy, procedure, productivity and performance, project management, records management, regulatory reporting, resource management, staff development, time management, vendor communications, workflow planning and prioritization

Public Relations Resume Keywords

advertising, brand management, broadcast media, communications, community, corporate identity, corporate creative services, crisis communications, direct mail campaign, electronic advertising, event management, Facebook, fundraising, journalism, logistics, market research, media relations, outreach, presentation, press releases, print media, promotions, public affairs, public speaking, publications, sales incentives, social media, special events, sponsorship, strategic positioning, trade shows, Twitter, verbal communication, website copy, written communication, verbal communication

Real Estate & Construction Resume Keywords

appraisal, building, code compliance, commercial development, competitive bidding, contract administration, contract award, demographics, environmental compliance, estimating, fair market value pricing, financing, foreman, infrastructure, land, leasing, mapping, preventative maintenance, project concept, project development, property management, real estate appraisal, real estate investment trust, renovation, residential, return on investment, site development, turnkey

Retail & Customer Service Resume Keywords

account management, account representative, assessment, awareness, benchmarks, buyers, call center, communications, contracts, credit, customer, customer needs, customer retention, customer satisfaction, customer support, delivery, distribution, fulfillment, help desk, inventory control, knowledgebase, loss prevention, loyalty, orders, procedure standardization, processing, promotions, quality, records, sales, service, sourcing, surveys, telemarketing, vendors

Sales & Marketing Resume Keywords

account, account management, action plan, advertising, agency management, analytics, angle, audience, B2B, B2C, behavior, brand management, campaign, competitive analysis, creative design, customer loyalty, customer needs, customer retention, design, direct mail, direct response, direct sales, distributor, incentive planning, margin, market launch, market positioning, market share, new market, product launch, profit growth, promotions, revenue stream, sales forecasting, social media, solutions selling, supply chain, sustainability, sweepstakes, target market, technology, telemarketing, territory, trade marketing, trade show/trade show booth design, transportation, trend analysis, vendor, visuals, wholesale

Travel & Transportation Resume Keywords

airfare, airline, business travel, cargo, carrier, container, contract, dedicated logistics operations, dispatch operations, distribution management, driver leasing, equipment control, export, fleet management, freight, GPS, hazmat, import, inbound, load analysis, logistics, port operations, regulatory compliance, route management, route planning, safety, terminal operations, ticketing, traffic planning, transportation services, travel, travel budgeting, travel planning

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:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

So, we understand why keywords are important on resumes and cover letters, but keep these points in mind when using resume keywords:

• Job-Tailor. Obtain perfect resume keywords as you match resume to job description. Use resume keywords finders and job posting keyword analyzers to help.
• Company-Tailor. Name-dropping the company within the heading is great for the ATS and manager.
• Manager-Tailor. Address managers by name in cover letters to personalize them.
• Tailoring is shortening. Avoid jargon, specific titles, and other poor resume keywords.

You’re now ready to send resumes and cover letters that’ll be the key to unlocking desirable opportunities and scoring a word with the employer. Now, go check out our interview tips and STAR method article to prepare for your big meeting.

What did you think? Questions on resume keyword scanning software or how to insert perfect resume keywords? Got more advice on keywords for resumes? Let us know in the comments below!

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How to Make a Resume: 2024 Resume Writing Guide

Learn how to identify important resume keywords, format your resume, and write each section in this comprehensive guide.

Your resume is a document that encompasses your entire professional journey, showing where you currently are in your career, how you got there, and where you hope to go next. Since it’s meant to be a concise brief—often condensed to just one page—that can feel like a lot of storytelling for a small space.

To make a resume that fully demonstrates your experiences and goals, it’s important to be strategic with the language, format, and sections you include. In general, there are three broad steps to making your resume:

Identifying keywords and important skills

Choosing a format

Writing each section

In this resume guide, we’ll offer tips and resources to ease you through the process.

Free resume templates

If you’re starting with a blank page, use these free customizable templates for a chronological resume or functional resume to make your resume in a Google Doc. Simply log into your Google account and select the ‘Make a copy’ prompt.

How to write a resume

The key to making an effective resume is keeping your audience in mind. First, consider who the people (and technologies) are that will be reading your resume.

When you’re applying for jobs online, often your first audience member will be an applicant tracking system (ATS) , which is a screening program that uses an algorithm to “read” incoming resumes and sort qualified candidates. After the ATS deems you qualified for a role, a human recruiter—your second audience member—will review your application materials and decide whether to invite you to interview.

Now that we’ve established your likely audience, let’s take a closer look at how to determine the information the ATS and human recruiters may be looking for and how they will best receive that information.

1. Identify keywords and important skills.

You can find a lot of information about a role directly from the job description. Within the listed responsibilities and qualifications, you can get a strong sense of the language and experience that a successful candidate will have on their resume.

As you read a job description, highlight the action words, keywords, and specific workplace and technical skills mentioned. It’s likely that the ATS is programmed to look for the same or similar language as that which appears in the job description, so this analysis can help shape the way you approach writing your resume.

Here are some resources that may help as you research your desired job:

Choosing action words and keywords  

84 Powerful Action Words to Enhance Your Resume

Resume Keywords: How to Find the Right Words to Beat the ATS

Identifying key job skills

What Are Job Skills and Why Do They Matter?

What Skills Should I Include on my Resume?

Transferable Skills: How to Use Them to Land Your Next Job

What Are Technical Skills?

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference?

7 High-Income Skills Worth Learning

Industry-specific job skills

13 Key Marketing Skills to Boost Your Resume

15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts

7 In-Demand Data Analyst Skills to Get Hired

7 In-Demand IT Skills to Boost Your Resume

9 Essential Skills for UX Designers

11 Key Project Management Skills

2. Select a resume format.

When it comes to formatting, there are three common types of resumes—chronological, functional, and combination—along with several more specialized options. With your audience in mind, choose the format that best demonstrates how your experience aligns with your desired role’s job description.

If you’re applying for jobs online, ATS software is generally programmed to interpret chronological resumes. The software may still identify important keywords in alternative formats, but potentially less accurately.

If you’re unsure of the resume format you should choose, a chronological resume with standard 1-inch margins, black text, and a common font like Times New Roman or Arial is typically a safe choice.

For more on resume formats, check out these additional articles:

Types of resumes

Types of Resumes: Choosing the Right Format for Your Needs

Chronological Resume Guide: Template and Tips

Functional Resume Guide: Template and Tips

What Is a CV?

CV vs. Resume: What’s the Difference?

3. Write your resume sections.

Guided by your keyword list and format, you’re ready to start filling out your resume sections. You’ll typically want to include sections for your header, work experience, education, and skills, but there are optional sections you can add to amplify the story you want to tell.

Take a look through the below resources for more specific information about shaping each section:

Resume sections

How to Use Resume Sections to Shape Your Professional Story

How to Write a Resume Objective [+ Templates]

How to Write a Resume Summary [+ Examples]

How to Show Promotions on Your Resume: Guide + Examples

How to List Education on a Resume

When Should You Include Your GPA on Your Resume?

How to List Certifications on Your Resume: Guide + Examples

How to Feature and Format Key Skills on Your Resume

Resume checklist

At this point, you are almost ready to submit your resume. Before you do, let’s do one final check. Ask yourself:

Did I write my resume with my audience in mind?

Did I strategically select action words and keywords?

Have I clearly demonstrated my relevant skills and experience?

Are my margins set to 1-inch on all sides?

Is my font easy to read?

Did I include all of the key resume sections?

Did I edit for proper spelling and grammar?

If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, save your resume as a PDF file with a title that includes your name and “resume.” Check that the file saved correctly, then prepare to submit your resume!

For any lingering questions, check out these additional tips and specific resume guides:

Additional tips and resources

How to Get Your First Job: A Guide

Job Search Guide: Resources for Your Next Career Move

16 Resume Tips to Help You Apply with Confidence

10 Ways to Enhance Your Resume

How to Add Your Resume to LinkedIn

Specific resume guides

How to Make a Resume for Your First Job (+ Template)

How to Write a Resume with No Experience: 5 Tips

How to Write a Standout Resume When You’re a Stay-at-Home Parent

7 Real UX Designer Resumes and a Template

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How many pages should a resume be ‎.

Most people aim to fit their resume on one page. However, it’s becoming increasingly common for people with 10 to 15 years of experience to extend their resume to two pages. For professionals with more than 15 years of experience, a three-page resume may be acceptable.

Learn more: How Many Pages Should a Resume Be? Guide + Tips ‎

How far back should your resume go? ‎

Typically, the amount of time you include on your resume depends on your relevant job experience. You should include the experience you have that is relevant to the role you’re applying for. However, if you have 10 or more years of work experience, you may be able to shed some of those earlier experiences from your resume so that you can better highlight your advanced skill set.

Learn more: How Far Back Should Your Resume Go? ‎

Should you list references on a resume? ‎

It’s generally not recommended to list your references directly on your resume . Instead, use that space to highlight what makes you a great candidate. As you progress through the hiring process, the hiring manager or recruiter will request your references when they’re ready to contact them.

Learn more: How to List Resume References: Guide and Sample ‎

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30 action words for resumés

To stand out in your job hunt, you need a resumé that highlights all your most impressive achievements. Action words for resumés can help you do this, by conveying your skills and experience in a concise and compelling way.

Action words are verbs that convey movement, power and impact. They can help portray you as someone who’s motivated and gets things done; a person who achieves results and takes on challenges. Here’s how different action verbs on your resumé can help you get a hiring manager’s attention.

What are action verbs?

How to use action words in your resumé, examples of action verbs you can use to make your resumé stand out.

Generally speaking, action words are verbs – words for things you do. In the context of your resumé, action words are ‘power’ verbs that convey energy and impact. They can help you frame your skills and achievements in a strong and convincing way.

For example, the action verb ‘strategised’ expresses an ability to proactively turn observations into clever solutions. In contrast, passive phrasing like ‘was responsible for’ makes it seem like you weren’t really actively engaged in your duties. 

Using resumé action verbs can help you engage and impress hiring managers . Strong verbs can accurately sum up why you’re a good fit for the role. They can also make your resumé more concise and dynamic.

For example, you could use the action verb ‘implemented’ to show your ability to put plans into action. This demonstrates your proactive approach to problem solving. Action verbs transform general resumés into interesting stories, which are more likely to compell hiring managers to shortlist your application.

To use action words to their greatest potential, you have to know how to use them. These two steps will help you add resumé ‘power’ words effectively. 

1. Consider where to incorporate action verbs in your resumé

To create a compelling resumé, use action verbs throughout different sections where you’re highlighting your achievements and competencies. When discussing your work experience, you can use action verbs at the start of bullet points that outline your duties and accomplishments in more descriptive and accurate detail. 

For example, a bullet point might read, Streamlined production processes to increase daily output by 10%. The action verb is ‘streamlined’. It highlights your ability to identify inefficiencies and make improvements that benefit your employer. 

Another area of your resumé where you can integrate action verbs is the skills section . Using action verbs rather than just listing the skills can make you seem more competent. For example, instead of listing ‘management’ as a skill, you might describe your management capabilities  by writing Managed a team of six  or Led company-wide collaboration . These resumé action verbs convey specific qualities and experiences. They can make your resumé more engaging to read, compared to a list of skills.

2. Choose the right action words for your resumé

Use action words that match the specific industry or job role relevant to your application, to make your resumé more impactful. This not only shows that you know the field, but also makes a stronger impression on hiring managers.

For example, say you’re applying for a technical job. Words such as ‘programmed’, ‘debugged’, and ‘optimised’ show off your technical skills. And if you’re applying for a sales job, words such as ‘negotiated’, ‘sold’, and ‘increased’ highlight your ability to make revenue for your employer. By carefully picking the right action words for your resumé, you can highlight your skills and get employers’ attention.

It can be challenging to choose the right action words. You may not know which ones are best for the industry and job you’re applying for. One way to check for relevance is to carefully review the job description and job duties of the vacant role. You can identify the key action verbs the employer uses and include those words in your resumé. You can also research common action words within your chosen industry for an idea on which to use.

There are countless verbs you can use in a resumé to make your achievements and experience more concise and dynamic. Here’s a list of resumé action verbs to consider, along with examples of how to use them.

5 action words to demonstrate work ethic

These action words can help you showcase your reliability, efficiency, and dedication in your job responsibilities.

• Enacted Definition: implemented or executed a plan, idea, or strategy with diligence and precision. Example: Enacted strategies to increase follower engagement.
• Established  Definition: Founded or set up a system, practice, or standard with consistency and thoroughness. Example: Established procedures that streamlined production.
• Exceeded  Definition: Surpassed or went beyond expectations, standards, or goals consistently. Example: Exceeded OKRs consistently for three years.  
• Achieved  Definition: Successfully brought about Example: Achieved ‘Employee of the Month’ five times in three years.
• Motivated  Definition: gave someone a reason for doing something. Example: Motivated teammates daily to reach floor sales targets. 

5 action words to demonstrate impact

Use these words to emphasise your ability to drive results and make a difference in the workplace.

• Accelerated Definition: Sped up the progress or development of a process or task. Example: Accelerated the rollout of new marketing strategies.
• Amplified Definition: Increased the intensity, strength, or effectiveness of something. Example:  Amplified brand awareness through targeted social media campaigns.
• Increased Definition: Made greater in size or amount Example:  Increased employee morale through Friday lunch program.
• Transformed Definition: Made a considerable change in the form, appearance, or character of something. Example:  Transformed outdated workflows into streamlined processes.
• Revitalised Definition: Restored energy, vitality, or enthusiasm to something that had become tired or inactive. Example: Revitalised underperforming campaigns by updating content.

5 action words to show creativity

Show hiring managers you can be innovative and creative with these power verbs.

• Created Definition: Brought something into existence. Example: Created a new system for reporting machine malfunctions. 
• Conceptualised Definition: Formed an idea or plan for an object or process that doesn’t exist yet. Example:  Conceptualised new product designs.
• Innovated Definition: Introduced new methods, ideas, or products to bring about unique change. Example:  Innovated a cost-effective solution to disposing of paper waste. 
• Devised Definition: planned or invented through careful thought Example: Devised ways to repurpose unused templates.
• Designed Definition: Planned and created the structure or form of something, often with a specific purpose or intention. Example: Designed an accessible mental health program for onsite workers.

5 action words for technical positions

You can use the following action verbs to demonstrate your technical expertise and proficiency.

• Programmed Definition: Wrote code or instructions for a computer program to perform specific tasks or functions. Example: Programmed original software applications using Python and Java.
• Developed Definition: Created, designed, or improved something, such as software, systems, or products. Example: Developed a mobile app from concept to deployment.
• Automated Definition: Implemented processes or systems that operate automatically or without human interaction. Example: Automated tasks across the company using scripts.
• Engineered Definition: Designed, built, or optimised complex systems or structures. Example:  Engineered scalable solutions to support growing infrastructure needs.
• Debugged Definition: Identified and fixed errors, glitches, or bugs in software systems. Example: Debugged new apps during the pre-launch phase

5 action words for sales positions

These action words can help sell your skills to hiring managers by persuading them that you know how to close a sale. 

• Persuaded Definition: Convinced or influenced someone to do or believe something through reasoning or debate. Example: Persuaded key stakeholders to switch to a new POS system.
• Negotiated Definition: Discussed terms or conditions to reach an agreement or settlement. Example: Negotiated contracts with vendors to reduce overheads.
• Closed Definition: Brought a transaction or deal to a successful end. Example: Closed multiple high-value sales with international buyers.
• Engaged Definition: Occupy or attracts someone’s attention. Example: Engaged ultra high net worth individuals in private auctions.
• Influenced Definition: Affected the decisions, actions, or opinions of others. Example: Influenced the CEO to introduce a new incentives program.

5 action words for finance positions

Consider some of the following action words when highlighting your finance skills and your ability to analyse and strategise.

• Audited Definition: Examined, verified, and evaluated financial records or processes to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. Example: Audited departmental budgets to identify areas for cuts.
• Investigated Definition: Conducted a thorough check of statistical discrepancies or potential fraud. Example: Investigated discrepancies in daily accounts.
• Reconciled Definition: Make one account consistent with another.  Example:  Reconciled company accounts to bank statements.
• Lowered Definition: Reduced costs, expenses, or liabilities to improve financial performance or efficiency. Example:  Lowered expenses by renegotiating vendor contracts.
• Minimised Definition: Decreased or mitigated risks, losses, or costs, typically to protect financial assets. Example: Minimised credit risk by introducing stricter company policies.

Action words play an important part in turning your resumé into an appealing and accurate picture of your abilities and potential. As you refine your resumé , remember to incorporate action words thoughtfully and creatively. Make sure they frame your skills and experiences in the strongest and most relevant way. 

What are good action words for a resumé?

Any action verbs that convey a more concise and dynamic description of your physical or mental actions and achievements can be beneficial to include on your resumé. It’s important to ensure the words you use relate to the industry and job you’re applying for. 

What are power words in a resumé?

‘Power’ words are essentially action verbs that convey confidence, competence, and achievements. Power words usually demonstrate your skills and achievements in a more favourable light than weak or passive language.

How do you use action verbs in a CV?

One of the most effective ways to apply resumé action words is to include them in the job description of your experience section, as outlined above. Another is to use them when describing your skills. 

How many action words should I use in a resumé?

There’s no specific limit to action verbs on your resumé, but you should avoid using the same action word too many times. For example, when discussing your work experience, try to use unique action verbs for every bullet point. 

Can overusing action words have a negative impact?

Yes. Overusing powerful resumé words can lessen their impact on the hiring manager. They can also have a negative impact if you use them incorrectly or if they sound awkward. 

How do action words differ for entry-level vs executive resumés?

Action words for entry-level resumés may focus more on demonstrating potential and willingness to learn. In contrast, action words for executive resumés often emphasise leadership, strategic thinking, and results-driven achievements.

How often should I update the action words in my resumé?

Consider reviewing and potentially changing action verbs on your resumé every six to 12 months. It’s not strictly necessary, but keeping your resumé fresh and updated is always good practice.

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• Highlighting Writing Skills...

Highlighting Writing Skills on Your Resume

11 min read · Updated on April 22, 2024

Do you know how to prove your writing skills in a resume?

In today's competitive labor market, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate yourself from other job candidates. To successfully compete, you need to make sure that your resume delivers a powerfully compelling message that makes a positive first impression on hiring managers. One way to enhance your resume narrative is to include your relevant writing skills.

In this post, we will explain the following: 

Why writing skills are important in so many different industries

We'll examine the different types of writing abilities that employers may be looking for

We will also help you learn how to match your skills to your desired job role

We'll show you how to use achievements to highlight writing skills in your resume

We'll provide some examples showing you how to include writing skills in a resume and offer some tips you can use to enhance your writing ability

What are writing skills, and why are they important?

Many job seekers assume that they only need to include writing skills in a resume if they're seeking a job that involves a lot of writing. Obviously, the ability to communicate through the written word is an essential skill for people who create marketing presentations, reports, legal briefs, and similar documents. At the same time, though, those same skills are invaluable assets in many other fields as well.

That's because writing skills enable you to communicate ideas in a convincing way. People who possess these skills are often proficient in a wide array of communication styles, including everything from persuasive writing to the use of descriptive, technical, or creative writing. Effective writers also tend to excel in the use of good writing structure, grammar, punctuation, and messaging tone.

Employers who see writing skills on a resume will recognize you as someone whose communication skills can provide real value to any team. That's true whether you're seeking a job as a copywriter or pursuing a role in marketing, accounting, or management. 

The bottom line is clear: even if you're not seeking a job that regularly requires great writing skills, highlighting them in your resume can help set you apart from rival job seekers.

Types of writing skills for a resume

At this point, you might be wondering just how detailed you should be when describing your writing skills in your resume. The reality is that there are a host of distinct writing skills that can benefit you in various job roles. Let's take a moment and review some of the most common writing skills that employers might want to see:

Fundamental writing skills like grammar, punctuation, etc.

Business writing

Creative writing

Content writing

Technical writing

Email composition

Report writing

Grant writing

Collaborative writing

Media content creation

Social media writing

Presentation writing

Brand management

How to identify the right writing skills for the job

Before you just start listing different writing skills on your resume, it's important to ensure that you're aligning those skills with the employer's needs. The easiest way to do that is to use your research skills to examine the job posting and any role description you can find. 

Which specific writing skills are listed as required qualifications? 

What terms are used to describe those abilities? 

Create a list of all those skill requirements and focus on including them in your resume's skill section.

It can also be helpful to search the Internet for similar job resumes to see which skills are typically listed as core competencies. That can provide useful insight into what employers want to see from candidates in your field.

It's also vital to make sure you're using the same terms the employer used in their job posting since those terms may be keywords needed to satisfy applicant tracking systems, or ATS. 

You'll want to include those keywords throughout your resume to ensure the ATS software finds them during the automated screening process. That can improve your resume's chances of being seen by a hiring manager.

Use achievements to demonstrate your writing skills on a resume

As you create your list of writing skills, always focus on skills that you can demonstrate by referencing specific experiences and accomplishments. Employers understand that anyone can claim to possess certain skills. However, only truly skilled individuals will be able to back up those claims with real-life achievements. By citing those skills in the summary and work experience sections of your resume, you can more effectively demonstrate how your writing skills create real value for employers.

The following tips can help you create powerful achievement statements that demonstrate your writing skills in your resume.

Select writing skills that have achieved real results

Make sure that you include achievements that show how the writing skills in your resume were used to produce real results for employers. Your focus should be on using achievements to prove your skills. For example, if you've used those abilities to create client presentations that helped close deals, create an accomplishment statement that highlights that achievement.

Quantify the value your skills have provided

It is also vital that you quantify your achievements by including real numbers that reflect the value your skills can bring to any organization. Those numbers can demonstrate the amount of revenue that your writing skills helped to generate, increases in online engagement, time savings, cost reductions, or any other measurable achievement that contributed to your employers' profitability, productivity, and operational efficiency.

Create achievement statements

If you really want to make sure that employers understand the value of your writing skills, you can highlight those abilities throughout your resume. Obviously, you'll want to include some of the most prominent writing skills within your core competencies section, and in the bullet point achievements that you include in your professional experience section. For maximum impact, you can also include an achievement statement in your summary that emphasizes those skills.

Below, we'll show you how to highlight your writing skills in each of those key sections.Writing skills in your core competencies section

As you might imagine, your core competencies, or skills section, can be a great place to highlight these writing abilities. You can include some of your core writing skills in this section, along with other key technical abilities and relevant soft skills. Remember to use bullet points for your list and use two or three columns to format the section. 

Some of the key soft skills that complement writing expertise include:

Communication

Search engine optimization

Adaptability

Research techniques

Time management

Social media management

The ability to connect with audiences

Try to include a mix of these hard and soft skills. That will help employers understand that you not only have the technical abilities to perform the job but also possess the interpersonal skills you'll need to work effectively with others.

Related post : Soft Skills Explained - and the Top 7 for Your Resume

Writing skills in your resume summary

Your resume summary is another fantastic place to highlight writing skills in your resume. Obviously, it's one of the first things many employers read, and serves as your introduction to the reader. If writing skills are an important part of your resume narrative, you need to include some mention of them in this vital summary paragraph. 

The best way to do that is to add an achievement statement that demonstrates those talents. For example:

Dynamic Marketing Manager with 9 years of experience in strategic campaign development, team building, and project implementation. Skilled content creator with proficiency in online branding, search engine optimization strategies, and increased website traffic and sales engagement. Created multi-tiered email and social media content that reached 20,000 new customers monthly, increasing customer engagement by 22% and leading to a 17% boost in sales.

In that sample summary statement, the last sentence highlights the candidate's writing skills, providing hard numbers that quantify how their content provided real benefits to the employer. If you can create solid achievement statements that demonstrate this type of value, your accomplishments will help to convince employers that you have the skills you claim to possess.

Related post : Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

Writing skills in your work experience section

It will come as no surprise that the best place to highlight and prove writing skills on your resume is in your work experience section. Here, you will want to use bullet-point achievement statements that quantify your results. For each job title you've included in this section, add between four and six of these bullet-point accomplishments using real numbers that demonstrate your value proposition.

Related post : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

How to list writing skills on a resume: examples

Below are some examples of the types of achievements you can include in these bullet point statements.

• Wrote ABC Corp. Sales Training Manual, revising onboarding and training techniques to reduce onboarding time by 17%; improved new salesperson sales results by 22% in their first six months on the job.
• Created presentation content for Alpha Bank proposed merger, helping overcome M&A negotiation barriers and facilitating $100 million acquisition.
• Crafted more than 500 blog posts, website landing pages, and email campaigns in two years, credited with 130% increase in customer online traffic and 12% increase in sales revenue.

You get the point. The key is to focus on your writing contributions, describing the challenge you faced, what you did to overcome that obstacle, and defining the results. 

If you find yourself struggling to condense those narratives into brief achievement statements, check out a related post: How to Create an Effective STAR Method Resume (With Examples) .

Tips to improve your writing skills

You may find it interesting to know that even professional writers actively work to further develop their writing skills. The reality is that everyone can benefit from continuing to develop their written communication skills, and that includes those who only use these skills on an occasional basis. 

So, how can you develop your writing skills to ensure that you have the abilities needed to make a great impression on employers? Below are some tips to guide you in that question.

1.     Return to the basics

Spend some time reacquainting yourself with writing fundamentals like grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can find free resources online or take a class at a local community college if you need additional help.

2.     Read more

Believe it or not, regular reading is one of the biggest secrets to effective writing. Immerse yourself in the written word and pay attention to how other writers communicate to their audiences.

3.     Learn to use outlines

Another secret to effective writing is to learn how to create outlines. Before you begin to write any complex document, always start with an outline that provides a clear structure for your narrative.

4.     Practice writing

This cannot be emphasized enough: if you want to be a better writer, you have no choice but to write. Write something every day to ensure that your skills are constantly being used. Practice won't make you perfect, but it will make you better.

5.     Get used to creating drafts

Never assume that the first words you write will be your finished product. Instead, take your ideas and get them out of your head and into your document to create a first draft. Once that's done, you can go back and revise that content as much as needed to create the right message.

6.     Always do your homework

Don't underestimate the power of research. By doing your homework before you start writing, you can ensure that you write with conviction and authority. Readers are drawn to authentic content.

7.     Don't be afraid to delete unnecessary content

Never be afraid to delete words, sentences, or entire paragraphs that contribute little to your narrative. The best writers are always willing to abandon content that isn't achieving their goals.

Enhance your job search by including writing skills in your resume

When you want to highlight your writing skills on a resume, it's not enough to just say that you possess those abilities. Instead, you need to demonstrate those skills by providing real examples of measurable achievements. If you can do that, you'll have an easier time proving those writing skills to employers – which can help differentiate you from rival job seekers and improve your odds of landing an interview and job offer!

Want to make sure that the writing skills in your resume effectively convey your writing talent? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today!

Recommended reading:

Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them

11 Key Things to Put on Your Resume

17 Resume Tips to Get Seen and Hired Faster

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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70+ Powerful Resume Words For Experience

The best resume words for experience.

Professional experience is the most important section of your resume. Based on it, a hiring manager evaluates your performance in the past and whether the company will benefit from hiring you.

When describing your experience, it is important to use specific examples, be concise and use effective language. Many job-seekers use cliches like responsible for and experienced in, and words like these can spoil the first impression your resume makes. On the flip side, using strong resume action verbs conveys your initiative and in-depth understanding of the company's processes.

In this post, we will share strong resume words that you can use to instantly strengthen your resume, make it more convincing and attract more attention from recruiters.

According to one survey, 68% of job-seekers with professionally written resume got hired in 90 days. A professional resume can effectively position you as the right candidate for a specific job description. At ResumePerk, you can get your resume written in just 24 hours, and your dedicated writer will work on your document until you are satisfied! Contact us on chat to get your personalized discount offer.

Attention-grabbing resume power words to use

When it comes to writing a powerful resume, every word matters. So, it is important to eliminate repetitive words, weak language like responsible for, and passive language. Resume buzzwords and weak words communicate a lack of confidence and enthusiasm.

Action verbs mean all words that assume physical or mental actions. To strengthen your application, replace weak language with proactive, powerful words that show your initiative, and leadership, and highlight your active contribution. Using strong synonyms when listing experience livens up your resume language, moreover, it communicates your understanding of the company's processes and the industry.

Here is a list of resume power words that you can use for any career level and industry:

Action words for leadership

Did your job duties include managing the project, organizing the work of a group of people, replacing your boss while he was away, or orchestrating the company sales processes? Then, replace words like led and managed with these resume power words alternatives:

• Administered
• Coordinated
• Facilitated
• Implemented
• Orchestrated
• Spearheaded
• Streamlined

Power words for a team player

If the job posting requires strong teamwork skills, take advantage of these resume action verbs to prove your ability to cooperate effectively with others:

• Co-authored
• Collaborated
• Participated
• Teamed (up)
• Volunteered

Resume action verbs for creativity

Designers, software engineers, illustrators, copywriters and other professionals who create new things or come up with inventive solutions can use these words in their resumes and cover letters:

• Conceptualized
• Illustrated
• Photographed

Power word list to describe achievements

To impress hiring managers, you need to include professional achievements next to job duties. Here are the power words that you can use in a resume summary or in a work history section to emphasize the significance of what you've accomplished:

• Accomplished

Action verbs for technical expertise

Are you an engineer, programmer, technical support representative, or other technical professional? The best tech resume examples use these power words to describe technical skills:

• Constructed

Research and analysis resume action words

If your job involves extensive research, analysis, calculations, and problem-solving, use these action words to convey relevant skills:

• Investigated

These action verbs convey initiative and active contribution, so using them at the beginning of your bullet points will catch the attention of a recruiter. In addition to hard skills and expertise, they communicate the candidate's personal qualities - the ability to take initiative, business acumen, and strong written communication skills .

How to use action words effectively?

Now that you have plenty of power verbs for your resume, make sure that you are using them effectively and appropriately:

Avoid resume buzzwords

Buzzwords are overused resume words that irritate hiring managers. They do not say anything specific and sound like vague statements. The examples of buzzwords are: responsible for, experienced in, go-getter, leadership skills, and similar ones.

Moreover, it is difficult to accurately describe your experience using vague language. If your resume still has buzzwords, consider replacing them with action verbs suggested above. Here's an example:

• Bad: Responsible for accounts payable and financial reporting. 
• Good: Achieved 100% accuracy of reported financial results of the company in six months. 

Vary resume action words for better readability

Quite often, recruiters receive resumes where each bullet starts with managed or responsible for. Needless to say, the reader gets tired of repetitive language very fast. Plus, they can interpret your inability to use appropriate synonyms as a lack of written communication skills. 

The solution? Alternate the resume power words and don't use any of them twice when describing one job. Above, we have suggested 70+ action verbs, so you can pick ones that best reflect your contribution. Active, powerful language not only describes you as a result-driven, proactive professional, but also helps create an engaging document. 

Be specific

Using power words surely adds value to your resume. Yet, strong language alone is not sufficient to wow the hiring manager and land an interview. You need to impress them with measurable, specific contributions you've made in your previous roles. 

Add context and details to your duties and achievements. Don't just write "Managed a team of 5 employees". Instead, say "Coordinated work of 5 software engineers on the development of mobile app solution". Employers love specifics, as your past performance helps them evaluate your potential and ensure that you'll be a good fit for the role. 

Show your resume to an expert

If you have written a resume on your own, consider showing it to a professional resume writer or HR manager. An expert who works with resumes daily can critically evaluate your document and tell if it's strong enough to land an interview. 

At ResumePerk, we help all job-seekers by providing a FREE resume review service. Send us your resume, and the writer will respond you with a detailed evaluation. We will check the use of power words, achievements, structure, length and writing style, providing you with comprehensive feedback. Don't worry - all your personal data is confidential with us. 

Professional tips for describing your experience

After you've chosen the best resume action verbs, it's time to polish your Experience section in general. Here's how to describe your work history so that it draws attention: 

Include the essentials 

For each job, include the job title, company's name, and dates of employment. This is the must-have information, so check that you have included everything and spelled the titles correctly. Hiring managers also recommend adding a one-line caption describing the company's industry, number of employees, and key customers/vendors. This will help access your experience more accurately. 

Use chronological or combination resume format

Unless you are changing careers, opt for reverse chronological or combination format. List jobs starting with the most recent one and include a detailed list of responsibilities. Employers prefer these formats, as they showcase your career progression. 

Use bullets instead of paragraphs 

Using paragraphs on a resume is outdated, moreover, paragraphs look bulky. On the flip side, bulleted lists are easy to read and look through. Format your professional experience in bullets, starting each one with power words. Make sure each bullet is no longer than 1-2 lines. Thus, the reader will easily grasp the key points from your experience. 

Keep it relevant 

When listing your achievements and projects, focus on those that are most relevant to your target position. Read the job listing carefully to understand what the employer is looking for, and adapt the job descriptions according to their expectations. You can omit irrelevant duties or obvious facts. If you used industry-specific software or tools, be sure to indicate this either in your job description or a dedicated Skills section. 

Add relevant keywords to pass applicant tracking software. You can find these keywords in the job posting and the company's website. 

Put accomplishments into the spotlight 

Experts recommend that you include at least one achievement per role. Avoid generic statements like " increased efficiency " or " brought new customers ". Here's a good example of a resume accomplishment: 

• Introduced a new workflow process that included reassigning tasks and process automation, resulting in a 35% increase in productivity. 

Specific achievements with figures will help you stand out from candidates with similar qualifications. Figures and percentages add credibility to your statements. Plus, based on the achievements, employers can predict your future performance and see you as a desirable person for the team. 

Not sure what to list as an achievement? Think about how your efforts positively impacted the company, team, or projects. Specify how many people you managed or trained, how many hours saved for the team, how many clients brought in, or how you helped grow the revenue. 

If you received a promotion, got a prestigious industry award or recognition from top management, be sure to include that on your resume as well. 

Do not stretch the truth 

To land more interviews, some candidates add non-existent jobs to their work history or exaggerate their accomplishments. While this strategy can bring results in the short run, remember that employers perform background checks. So, they will quickly find out that you never worked for that company or did not triple the revenue in the first year. 

Resume lies can lead to negative consequences, you can even get fired even if you got a job offer, so it's best to be honest. 

Proofread before sending

59% of hiring managers can reject your application if a resume has typos and grammar mistakes. Proofread your Experience section accurately to exclude any errors. Use an online spell checker to streamline the process, or ask a trusted friend or colleague to review your resume for issues. Make sure punctuation is consistent and the document is neatly structured to make a good visual impression. 

Feeling stuck? Get expert help 

Using power words can give your resume a quality boost, emphasizing your contribution to previous employers and positioning you as a proactive candidate. 

If you're not sure what action verbs to choose or need help describing your experience persuasively, we're here to assist. Work one-on-one with our resume writer who can prepare a strong resume, a customized cover letter, and other documents to help you land more interviews.

Our experienced writers can create a powerful resume suitable for each position. However, you may also request a specific resume depending on the job you are applying for, thus it will be tailored individually for your profession:

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10 Best Resume Builders to Create A Great Resume – 2024 Guide

A re you exhausted from investing endless hours into creating an impeccable CV? This article introduces the top resume builders that will revolutionize your job application approach. Bid farewell to monotonous formatting and greet a remarkable resume that distinguishes itself from the rivalry. Prepare yourself to secure your dream job with self-assurance effortlessly!

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• Intuitive resume builder: An intuitive interface that simplifies the resume creation process, offering modern templates for a professional look.
• Customization choices: Users can personalize their resumes by selecting from various font styles, colors, layouts, and sections to align with their unique style.
• Comprehensive content suggestions: Access to a collection of expertly curated bullet points, action verbs, and industry-specific phrases to craft impactful resume content.
• Real-time previews and editing: Real-time previewing and editing capabilities ensure a visually appealing and error-free final resume.
• Integration with professional networking platforms: Integration with LinkedIn allows users to maintain consistency between their online presence and resume.
• Tailored resumes for different job applications: The duplication feature facilitates the creation of multiple resume versions, each customized for specific job applications or industries.
• Resume analytics and tracking: Users can monitor the views and downloads of their resumes, gaining valuable insights to optimize their job search strategies.
• Professional Resume : $169
• Resume With Cover Letter : $199
• All-Included : $199

>> Use Super Star Resume to Secure Your Dream Job

ZipJob - Best Resume Builder for Guarantees

Star Rating: 4.7/5

ZipJob is widely regarded as an excellent option for resume creation, especially for those who value guarantees. Their impressive 60-day assurance ensures that individuals searching for employment will experience a surge in interview invitations within this period.

If this desired outcome cannot materialize, ZipJob proactively offers a complimentary review and revision of your resume. This guarantee highlights their commitment to client contentment and showcases their unwavering belief in the superior quality of their resume writing services.

• The starting package is cost-effective
• Complimentary ATS check included
• 60-day interview assurance with higher-tier packages
• The design and layout made it challenging to read the resume
• The summary section was overly lengthy and filled with clichés
• The formatting of the education and training sections was subpar
• Expert resume writers: ZipJob provides access to a team of expert resume writers with the skills and knowledge to review, evaluate, and optimize your resume for compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers.
• ATS optimization: Meaning they ensure your resume is structured and formatted to navigate and succeed in ATS filters effectively. Employers commonly use these filters to assess and rank resumes during the initial screening process.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder online offered by ZipJob assists you in identifying and integrating pertinent keywords and industry-specific terminology. This practice heightens the visibility of your resume, making it more likely to capture the attention of hiring managers.
• Job-specific content suggestions: ZipJob provides valuable advice regarding the most relevant and influential content to include in your resume for different job titles and industries. This guidance is invaluable in customizing your resume for specific roles.
• Cover letter writing assistance: ZipJob supports the creation of impactful cover letters that complement your resume, strengthening your overall job application.
• Unlimited revisions: One noteworthy feature of ZipJob is the option for unlimited revisions and updates to your resume. This ensures that your resume not only meets but continues to meet your specific requirements and mirrors your professional growth.
• Collaboration with resume writers: the platform facilitates direct collaboration with the resume writers, enabling you to share additional information, discuss specific requirements, and seek clarifications at any stage of the resume creation process.
• Launch Package: $139 (or $48/mo)
• Fast Track Package: $189 (or $65/mo)
• Premium Package: $299 (or $27/mo)

>> Use ZipJob to Secure Your Dream Job

Resumeble - Best Resume Builder With Custom Bundles

Star Rating: 4.3/5

Resumeble is a highly efficient and user-friendly resume builder that empowers individuals to create professional and compelling resumes. With Resumeble, crafting a standout resume becomes a streamlined process thanks to its intuitive interface and extensive range of customizable templates.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone looking to change careers, Resumeble caters to all needs and skill sets. It offers helpful suggestions and expert advice to ensure your resume showcases your unique qualifications and achievements in the best possible light.

• A 60-day interview guarantee is included
• Budget-friendly package deals are available
• It’s more established than some other websites
• Keyword optimization: This feature helps optimize your resume by suggesting relevant keywords aligned with your target industry or job, enhancing your visibility to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiters.
• Content import: Resumeble allows you to import your existing resume or LinkedIn profile, saving you the time and effort of manual data entry.
• Real-time editing: You have the convenience of editing and modifying your resume in real time, providing the flexibility to experiment with various formats, sections, and content.
• ATS compatibility: Resumeble ensures your resume is ATS-compatible, essential for better visibility and a higher chance of being shortlisted by employers using Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Download options: The platform offers various download formats, including PDF, Word, and plain text, ensuring compatibility with diverse application processes.
• Cover letter builder: Resumeble features an integrated cover letter builder, streamlining the creation of professional and personalized cover letters that complement your resume.
• Career Pro Package : $159.00
• Professional Package : $299.00
• Premium Package : $399.00

>> Use Resumeble to Secure Your Dream Job

Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best Resume Builder for Range of Career Service

Star Rating: 4/5

Let’s Eat, Grandma is an inventive and progressive tool for creating impressive resumes. The platform streamlines the resume-building process, making it easier for job seekers to craft exceptional resumes. With Let’s Eat, Grandma, individuals can create unique resumes that catch the eye of employers and set them apart from the competition.

This user-friendly platform offers a range of customizable templates that allow users to tailor their resumes to showcase their specific skills and experiences. Let’s Eat, Grandma also provides expert advice and recommendations to help ensure that your qualifications and achievements are effectively highlighted in your resume.

• Complimentary resume evaluation
• Choices available for individuals from entry-level to executive-level positions
• Extensive collaboration opportunities
• Not specialized in academic CVs or federal resumes
• Relatively higher pricing compared to some other services
• Potential for a longer turnaround time compared to competing services
• Expert choice: You can save your resume in multiple formats (PDF, Word, plain text) or easily share it with potential employers via email or a link, simplifying the distribution of your resume.
• Error highlighting: The builder can identify potential errors, inconsistencies, or missing information within your resume and provide suggestions or alerts for improvement.
• Section prompts: Pre-written prompts for various resume sections (e.g., work experience, education, skills) can help you structure your resume effectively and ensure you include essential details in each area.
• Customizable sections: You can add, remove, or rearrange sections to tailor your resume to emphasize your strengths and relevant experiences.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder can recommend industry-specific keywords based on the job description, enhancing your resume’s chances of passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and grabbing the attention of hiring managers.
• Starter Package : Priced at $439, but there is an anti-inflation sale price of $389.
• Accelerated Package : $549.
• The premium Package : $689, but the anti-inflation sale price is $614.
• Executive Concierge Service : $1,899 or as low as $119/month.

>> Use Let’s Eat, Grandma to Secure Your Dream Job

ResumeSpice - Best Resume Builder for Job Seekers of Any Level

Star Rating: 3.8/5

ResumeSpice , a renowned online resume builder, streamlines crafting professional resumes. This platform provides job seekers with a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of templates, enabling them to create impressive resumes that align with their career objectives.

With ResumeSpice’s seamless experience, users are guided through each resume section effortlessly while receiving valuable tips throughout the process. From personal details and work history to skills and accomplishments, this platform ensures that all crucial aspects of a resume are comprehensively addressed.

• Additional assistance
• Timely service
• ATS optimization
• Guaranteed interviews
• Restricted revisions
• Insufficient customization options
• Restricted refund policy
• User-friendly interface: ResumeSpice boasts an intuitive and user-friendly platform, simplifying the resume creation process and offering a seamless experience to users.
• Extensive template library: The platform offers a vast selection of professionally designed templates tailored to various industries and job positions. Users can explore different styles and layouts to find the perfect match for their needs.
• Import and export options: ResumeSpice enables users to import their existing resumes in formats like PDF or Word for easy editing and updates. Users can conveniently export their finalized resumes in multiple formats, facilitating sharing with employers or uploading to job portals.
• Mobile-friendly design: ResumeSpice is optimized for mobile devices, allowing users to create and modify their resumes using smartphones or tablets.
• Cloud storage: The platform provides secure cloud storage for users’ resumes, ensuring accessibility and updates from any device with an internet connection.
• Resume tracking: ResumeSpice includes tools for tracking the performance of submitted resumes, such as monitoring views, downloads, and application outcomes. These features empower users to evaluate their progress and make data-driven enhancements to their job search strategies.
• Entry Level Resume : $479
• Professional Resume : $589
• Executive Resume : $699

>> Use ResumeSpice to Secure Your Dream Job

TopResume - Best Resume Builder for Customer Service

Star Rating: 3.6/5

TopResume is an outstanding resume builder explicitly tailored for customer service professionals. It offers a seamless and user-friendly experience, enabling users to create exceptional resumes effortlessly. The platform goes beyond just providing a basic resume template, offering valuable suggestions and tips to optimize the content.

This ensures that each resume created on TopResume is unique and attention-grabbing in the highly competitive job market.

Besides its user-friendly interface, TopResume provides expert review services. These services allow skilled professionals to provide personalized feedback on resumes, helping enhance their overall quality further. By leveraging this feedback and incorporating attention to detail, customer service professionals can create compelling resumes that effectively capture the attention of potential employers.

• Streamlined registration process
• Well-designed and formatted one-page resume
• The summary and Job Scope sections were overly extended
• The training section needed to have prominence
• Skill-based sections: The resume builder features dedicated sections highlighting essential customer service skills, including communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship building.
• Expert review services: TopResume provides expert review services where experienced professionals offer personalized feedback and recommendations to enhance the overall quality of your resume.
• ATS compatibility: The platform ensures that the resumes created are compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which employers commonly use for scanning and filtering resumes.
• Download and sharing options: Users can download their resumes in various formats, such as PDF or Word, and easily share them with potential employers or upload them to job portals.
• Industry-Specific Tips: TopResume offers industry-specific tips and guidance to assist users in tailoring their resumes to the customer service field, helping them stand out among competitors.
• Cover letter builder: Besides resume building, TopResume provides a builder that empowers users to craft professional and compelling cover letters customized for customer service roles.
• Mobile accessibility: The platform is mobile-friendly, allowing users to create, edit, and update their resumes while on the go, using their smartphones or tablets.
• Entry level : Up to 200$.
• Professional level : Up to 200$-400$.
• Executive level : Up to $350-$700.

>> Use TopResume to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Writing Services - Best Resume Builder for Affordability

Star Rating: 3.3/5

While Resumewritingservices.org may be a different size than its competitors, it stands out due to its team of talented and experienced resume writers. The website is user-friendly and provides exceptional service. However, this service’s true strength lies in its writers’ expertise.

Resumewritingservices.org sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive consultation process and goes beyond expectations by providing unlimited calls with its resume writers. This personalized approach distinguishes them from other companies and guarantees each client receives individual attention and support.

• Experienced resume writers of the highest caliber
• Unlimited phone consultations and revisions
• More expensive than rival services
• A limited range of products
• Skilled and experienced resume writers: Resumewritingservices.org takes pride in its team of highly trained and professional resume writers who possess a deep understanding of crafting effective resumes.
• Personalized service: Resumewritingservices.org offers a personal touch by providing unlimited calls with their resume writers. This unique feature allows clients to engage in direct communication and close collaboration with the writers throughout the resume creation process.
• Competitive job market expertise: The writers at Resumewritingservices.org have knowledge of current job market trends. This ensures that the resumes they create are optimized to excel in today’s fiercely competitive job market.
• Quality Assurance: The service maintains a rigorous quality assurance process to guarantee that the resumes delivered to clients meet the highest standards and align with their expectations.
• Timely delivery: Resumewritingservices.org is committed to delivering resumes within the agreed-upon timeframe, ensuring clients receive their documents promptly.
• Client satisfaction guarantee: Resumewritingservices.org offers a client satisfaction guarantee, assuring clients are fully content with the final resume. The service is ready to provide revisions if necessary.
• Affordable pricing: Resumewritingservices.org provides pricing options that are competitive and transparent, making professional resume writing accessible to a wide range of job seekers.

Resumewritingservices.org employs a pricing system that is clear and easy to understand for their resume-building services. The initial package begins at $270 , including a comprehensive consultation with a skilled resume writer and developing an individualized resume.

They offer extra options that enable customers to personalize their packages based on their unique preferences. This adaptable pricing strategy guarantees that clients can choose the services that align with their requirements and financial constraints.

>> Use Resume Writing Services to Secure Your Dream Job

Craft Resumes - Best Resume Builder for Quick-Turnaround

Star Rating: 3/5

Craft Resumes stand out as a well-established writing and editing service known for its ability to deliver effective outcomes. Our dedication to providing a 24-hour turnaround guarantees you’ll receive the initial version of your resume promptly.

Navigating our user-friendly website is effortless, making it easy to use our services. At Craft Resumes, we specialize in crafting customized resumes to match your skills, qualifications, and aspirations for your career.

• Speedy completion
• Customized CVs
• Intuitive site
• Insufficient details
• Absence of assurances
• Quick turnaround: Craft Resumes commits to delivering the initial draft of your resume within 24 hours, ensuring a speedy and efficient service.
• Expert Writers: Craft Resumes prides itself on its team of experienced writers who possess expertise across various industries and stay up-to-date with current hiring trends. They’re dedicated to making your resume stand out and catch the attention of potential employers.
• Unlimited revisions: We provide unlimited revisions to guarantee your complete satisfaction. If you have specific changes or additions in mind, our team will collaborate with you closely to implement the modifications.
• Confidentiality and Privacy: At Craft Resumes, we prioritize the confidentiality and privacy of your personal information. You can trust that your data will be handled securely and with the utmost discretion.
• Tailored resumes: We specialize in tailoring resumes to align with your career objectives, industry, and job requirements. Each resume is personalized to accentuate your unique strengths and qualifications.
• Resume Writing : $229.00
• Basic : $279.99
• Optimal : $339.99
• All-In-One : $499.99

>> Use Craft Resumes to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Companion - Best Value Resume Builder

Star Rating: 2.8/5

Resume Companion is a virtual platform and service that specializes in aiding individuals in creating resumes that are professional and impactful. It offers an array of resources and tools to assist job seekers in crafting interesting resumes that effectively showcase their skills, experiences, and qualifications.

A prominent feature of Resume Companion is its user-friendly resume builder. This tool allows users to select from various professionally designed templates and personalize them based on their specific requirements.

Users can effortlessly incorporate their personal information, employment history, educational background, skill set, and other pertinent details to produce a customized resume tailored to their needs.

• Intuitive user interface
• High-quality templates
• Efficiency-boosting functions
• Cost-effective choice
• Restricted editing features without subscription
• Absence of extensive customization options
• Limited availability of extra services
• Cover letter builder: Resume Companion goes beyond resumes and provides users with a tool for crafting customized cover letters tailored to specific job applications. This feature guides users through the process, helping them effectively present their qualifications and make a compelling case to prospective employers.
• ATS optimization: In today’s job market, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Resume Companion helps users ensure their resumes are ATS-friendly. The platform offers valuable tips and insights on incorporating relevant keywords, formatting the document correctly, and increasing the likelihood of passing through the ATS screening process.
• Educational resources: Resume Companion extends its services by offering an informative blog and educational materials that cover various aspects of resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, and career development guidance. These resources provide users with valuable insights and advice to help them create impressive resumes and enhance their job search efforts.
• Download and sharing options: Upon completing their resumes, users can conveniently download their documents in multiple formats, including PDF and Word. Resume Companion also makes it easy for users to share their resumes online or print them offline.
• Customer support: Resume Companion values user satisfaction and offers customer support to assist with users’ questions or concerns while utilizing the platform. Users can access support through email or the platform’s contact form.

Resume Companion provides a cost-effective solution for individuals seeking an all-inclusive service. It’s vital to remember subscription renewal is required to access future editing services. In summary, Resume Companion offers a wallet-friendly option for those who desire a user-friendly resume-building experience without needing advanced writing abilities.

>> Use Resume Companion to Secure Your Dream Job

Our Ranking Methodology for Best Resume Writing Services

To comprehensively and objectively rank the top resume writing services, it is essential to have a thorough methodology. The first step in this process was conducting extensive research and analysis. This involved gathering a comprehensive list of reputable resume-writing services from multiple sources such as online searches, customer reviews, industry directories, and personal recommendations.

• Feature analysis: Evaluate the functionalities provided by each resume builder, considering elements like template variety and quality, customization flexibility, user-friendly editing and formatting options, import/export capabilities, spell check and grammar tools, and integration with job search platforms and professional networks.
• Template collection: Examine the assortment and quality of templates. Look for a wide range that suits various industries, job levels, and design preferences, considering these templates’ aesthetics, readability, and contemporary design.
• Editing and customization: Scrutinize the adaptability and user-friendliness of the editing and customization tools each resume builder provides. Assess the capacity to add or modify sections, reorganize content, and tailor resumes to specific job requirements.
• User interface and experience: Analyze the user interface and the overall user experience each resume builder offers. Evaluate the ease of navigation, instruction clarity, guidance or prompts, and the platform’s responsiveness.
• Integration with job search platforms: Determine whether resume builders offer seamless integration with popular job search platforms and professional networks like LinkedIn or ATS systems. Consider how well the resumes can be transferred and their compatibility with these platforms.
• Additional resources: Evaluate if the resume builders provide extra resources such as sample resumes, tools for creating cover letters, interview tips, or career advice. Consider the breadth and practicality of these supplementary resources.
• Mobile-friendliness: Gauge the mobile-friendliness and responsiveness of the resume builders, recognizing the growing trend of mobile job searching and application processes.
• Customer support: Reflect on the accessibility and quality of customer support services, encompassing options like live chat, email support, or knowledge bases. Assess the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team.
• Pricing and value for money: Appraise the pricing plans presented by the resume builders in terms of the value they offer based on features, usability, and overall service quality.
• Industry reputation: Consider the standing and trustworthiness of the resume builders, considering factors such as awards, recognition, partnerships, and user feedback from reputable sources.

Buyer’s Guide: Why Use a Resume Builder?

Crafting a well-crafted CV comes naturally to particular job seekers. However, even the most seasoned experts may need help in resume writing. If you find yourself in need of help with creating a compelling resume, here are several ways in which the best online resume builder can be beneficial:

Resume builders provide users with pre-designed templates and helpful tips, streamlining the process of writing a resume and alleviating stress.

Offers Writing Tips

Promoting oneself requires considerable effort. Only some people possess writing skills, even if they enjoy self-promotion. To showcase one’s experience and knowledge effectively, a resume builder can help select the most appropriate words and phrases.

Improves Design

In every field, there are unique standards for an impressive resume. If you need to gain knowledge in design or the tools, resume builders can provide free templates to enhance your resume’s visual appeal and quality.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Recruiters often use ATS systems to scan resumes. A good resume builder will help with formatting to ensure that your resume is easy for these systems to read.

What’s the Best Resume Builder?

The ideal resume builder for each individual may differ according to their specific requirements. If you prefer a tool that offers step-by-step guidance in creating your resume, we suggest using a builder that provides helpful tips and recommendations. If you prefer a resume builder that auto-generates a summary, we recommend using a tool that extracts information from your LinkedIn profile.

For those who enjoy having creative control over their resumes, we suggest using a platform with features. By selecting the resume builder that aligns with your needs and suits your industry and personal style, you’ll significantly increase your chances of capturing the attention of hiring managers.

Resume Builder vs. Resume Writing Service: What Matters for You

When it comes to crafting a resume, there are three options available. You can opt to create it independently, use a resume builder tool, or enlist the services of a professional resume writer. Your best choice will depend on your writing abilities, available time, and financial resources.

Do-It-Yourself

You have the choice to construct a resume entirely by yourself. The benefit of this option is that it costs nothing but requires a significant amount of effort. Along with composing all the information, you must possess graphic design skills.

This approach works well if you have these abilities, but with them, your options for creating a resume are unlimited. To overcome this limitation, you can use a resume builder or enlist the help of a resume writing service.

Resume Builder

A tool for creating resumes allows you to input your details into a template, resulting in an original appearance and layout with no design work. The top resume building tools also offer suggestions on enhancing your resume and tailoring it to match the specific job you are applying for.

While you are still responsible for writing the content, once it is written, you can quickly transfer that information into any other template with just a few simple clicks. Some of these services are free and many like to promote themselves as such, but most require a small payment to download your finished resume.

Professional Resume Writing Service

Professional resume writing services are expensive, but they offer the convenience of handling all the work for you. An experienced writer will gather relevant information about your background and transform it into a unique and engaging resume.

The process typically takes a few days, and the level of originality in the outcome largely relies on your choice of company and writer. However, we will not delve into these services further in this guide.

Are Resume Builders Worth It?

Definitely, without a doubt. An effective resume creator will guarantee that your CV is formatted correctly to navigate Applicant Tracking Systems and ultimately reach the hands of recruiters.

Is It Unprofessional to Use a Microsoft Word Resume Template?

Relying on a template will not set you apart, and there is a high likelihood that your application will be dismissed because your resume is identical to those of other job seekers.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right resume builder is crucial in today’s competitive job market. Creating a professional and impactful resume that stands out from the crowd can significantly impact your job search. With the right tool, you can save time, improve your chances of landing an interview, and ultimately secure your dream job.

When selecting a resume builder, consider your specific needs and priorities. Look for features like customizable templates, industry-specific examples, and the ability to export your resume in different formats. Consider user reviews and ratings to ensure you choose a reputable and reliable platform.

Remember, an exceptional tool for crafting resumes should give you the power to present your skills, experience, and accomplishments effectively. It should simplify and expedite creating a resume without hassle. Investing in a reliable resume builder is investing in your professional future.

Therefore, explore the different options available for resume builders. Test out their free trials or demos and choose the best fit for your objectives. Our top recommendation is Super Star Resume . This meticulously designed resume can open doors to exciting career prospects and be a dependable companion on your journey toward success.

Ahad Waseem is a business, blockchain, and cybersecurity writer who often takes on art, politics, and economics too. As a linguistic engineer who writes to solve problems, he’s written for various tech and business publications. When he’s not writing, he’s probably on horseback, caring for his houseplants, or training Bonsai trees. He can be reached at [email protected] . McClatchy’s newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links.

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