Interview Hack 3: Action Verbs

How do you use your resume to tell a compelling story about you and your accomplishments?

There’s nothing wrong with listing your definitive actions and quantifiable results on your resume — this is standard advice. The problem is, however, that you may not be telling an employer what they really need to know.

Details are important, but what’s your story? By telling a story in your resume, employers will be able to see what you can do for them based on what you’ve been able to do in the past.

When building a resume, it’s best to use strong, active verbs to describe your skills and experiences. Try it as you prepare for your next career move.

Here are some tips:

1. Start each bullet point with a verb.
2. Use action verbs that accurately describe the work you did.
3. Use strong verbs like “managed”, “led”, “created”, “achieved”, “improved”.
4. Use present tense for current job and past tense for previous jobs.
5. Avoid overusing the same verb, try to vary your word choice.

Examples:

• Managed a team of 5 employees to achieve project goals on time and under budget.
• Led the implementation of a new software system, resulting in a 30% increase in efficiency.
• Created and executed successful marketing campaigns that increased brand awareness by 20%.