
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
With the resume power words from our list, you’ll turn your resume into a captivating narrative of success. Find the words you need, see examples, and adapt them for your purposes.
Resume power words are action-packed verbs you can use throughout your resume and cover letter. They let you present your skills in meaningful contexts and help you demonstrate the real-life impact of your achievements.
And this article is more than just a list of top 50 resume power words. Each item on the list is illustrated with an example that shows you how to use the word in context.
Plus, you’ll find a bunch of expert hints and actionable tips to help you write a job-winning resume.
In this guide you’ll find:
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Interested in enhancing your resume further? Check out these guides:
Let's start with the list of resume power words for dedicated situations:
Managing a Team or Leading a Project
Organizing Money or Other Resources
The way businesses treat their customers and clients has far-reaching implications. That’s why finding top-class customer representatives with impecable marketing skills is so vital.
Thanks to the resume power words below, your customer service experience will turn into a captivating story of success:
Expert Hint: Studies show that recruiters are likely to reject resumes that display signs of the so-called keyword stuffing. So, while it’s crucial for your resume to have the right resume keywords, you can’t simply put them on a list. They must appear in meaningful contexts, for example in your resume work experience section.
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Your achievements matter. So much so that they can become a make or break factor when trying to land an interview.
Use the power words below to reflect your achievements’ true impact:
Expert Hint: One way of attracting the recruiter’s attention is to pepper your resume with your achievements rather than responsibilities. How to tell them apart? Learn this formula by heart: Achievements = Responsibilities + Numbers. If you need more help, we have a dedicated guide on how to pick the best achievements for your resume.
Change can have many faces.
You can use the power words below in your resume to specify what kind of change you managed to bring about:
Expert Hint: Don’t pick resume power words at random. Studies show that over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. Therefore, the wording of your resume should be informed by the job offer itself. If you don’t know how to do it, read our guide on how to tailor your resume to a job offer.
Managing teams effectively requires you to do quite a number of things.
The resume power word list below will help you be more specific about what you can do and proving your leadership skills:
Expert Hint: Resume power words can’t only appear in one section of your resume. In fact, you should distribute them throughout the entire document. The very first section in which they should start appearing is the resume profile section that tops your document.
Communication skills, both oral and written, are crucial to your workplace success.
Use the resume power words below to pinpoint what kind of communication you excel at:
Expert Hint: Writing a resume is much easier if you have a good example you can base your own resume upon. Explore our library of over 50 resume examples for various professions and write yours in no time.
There’s quite a number of words to say you created something. For example, built, designed, developed, devised, or engineered. They’re all good words and you can use them in a resume.
But—
The resume power words below will let you introduce a bit of variety when describing your creative thinking skills:
Expert Hint: Recent studies show that up to 38% of the applicants send their resumes directly to the hiring managers. If you happen to be one of such applicants, throw in a couple of resume power words into your resume email as well.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, employees who are able to improve the way a company functions are in high demand.
Thanks to the resume power words below you’ll show the recruiter exactly what kind of improvement you’re able to offer:
Expert Hint: Your resume isn’t the only good place for using power words. Don’t forget to use them in your cover letter as well. In fact, studies reveal that about 50% of job seekers send a cover letter along with their resume. So learning how to write a cover letter for a job is hugely beneficial.
According to research, problem-solving skills are in high demand among employers. Remember: finding the best solution always starts with a thorough understanding of the problem in question.
The resume power words below will help you demonstrate your proficiency in researching various issues as well as reaching conclusions:
Expert Hint: Putting your skills on display is just as important as highlighting your achievements on a resume. However, it’s not enough to simply list your top skills to impress the recruiter. What you need to do is pick the best skills for your resume and show them in meaningful professional contexts that demonstrate your real-life impact.
Every company values employees who know how to obtain the resources necessary to foster growth.
Use the resume power words below to show off your ability to get just what the company needs. And then some more:
Here’s the thing:
The lists of resume power words could go on indefinitely but it’s not the point because in resume writing quality comes before quantity.
That being said—
Here’s a couple of extra resume power words you may want to consider putting on your resume:
And one more thing—
Use this proven formula to make the most of the resume power words on your document:
Expert Hint: If you don’t know how to use a resume power word in context and the dictionary definition doesn’t help you much, you may want to use a language corpus. Simply type in the word you want to check in the search box, and click on the context tab. What you’ll find there are real-life usage examples from a variety of sources, including written and spoken American English.
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Do you have any questions about using resume power words? Maybe there are some other powerful resume words you’d like to share? We’re always happy to hear from you. Give us a shout out in the comments below!
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
Resume words that add horsepower to any resume. This resume action words list is so well organized you can find the best resume verbs for your resume in your sleep.
Your administrative skills are preventing the workplace from being in a constant state of panic. But what are they, how are they so effective, and how to put them on a resume?