119 Best Power Words To Use In Resume

Delegate, Tactful, Counsel…

Which powerful words to use in the resume?

Your resume is your opportunity to crack the first step of your interview process. So you should be more creative while crafting your profile. Choosing strong, descriptive, compelling action verbs can light up your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

You have to clear your first obstacle that is getting through Application Tracking System (ATS). CNBC reported that over 75% of resumes are never get seen by the human eye. When the correct keywords are used in your resume, then only you can pass the ATS screening test. For this purpose, you have to optimize your profile with action verbs.

To make a powerful profile you can check my complete guide on resume.

In this article, you will learn about the best keywords for your profile with our huge list and their importance.

Strong Action Words to Use in Resume

The resume power words describe the things which you have done. For example your professional skills, achievements, tasks, and qualifications. You can use any of the action words or adjectives in your CV.

When describing a project management role:

1. Prioritize
2. Propose
3. Reorganize
4. Formulate
5. Formalize
6. Inspect
7. Initiate
8. Track
9. Test
10. Delegate
11. Execute
12. Map
13. Organize
14. Forecast
15. Advocated
16. Defined
17. Fielded
18. Mediated
19. Proactive
20. Tactful
21. Eloquent
22. Cordial
23. Calm
24. Clear and Positive
25. Pleasant

When you lead a team:

1. Counsel
2. Critique
3. Cultivate
4. Instructed
5. Delegate
6. Develop
7. Taught
8. Authorize
9. Enforce
10. Evaluate
11. Direct
12. Foster
13. Unite
14. Determined
15. Rousing
16. Bold
17. Productive
18. Competent
19. Disciplined

When describing a creative role:

1. Unprecedented
2. Groundbreaking
3. Conceptualize
4. Convey
5. Vivid
6. Collaborate
7. Demonstrate
8. Sophisticated
9. Elegant
10. Ingenious
11. Energize
12. Illustrate
13. Interact
14. Cutting-edge
15. Imaginative
16. Inventive
17. Robust
18. Forward-thinking
19. Novel
20. Imaginative
21. Progressive
22. Unique
23. World-class
24. Ingenious
25. Elegant

When describing new innovative solutions:

1. Devise
2. Evolve
3. Determined
4. Spearheaded
5. Formulate
6. Initiated
7. Launched
8. Pioneer
9. Institute
10. Found
11. Conceptualized
12. Originated

When describing attained results:

1. Maximize
2. Achieved
3. Initiated
4. Coordinated
5. Attain
6. Earn
7. Exceed
8. Surpass
9. Outperform
10. Boost
11. Generate
12. Expand
13. Strengthened
14. Orchestrated
15. Reach
16. Advance

When describing a technical or engineer role:

1. Deploy
2. Devise
3. Discover
4. Engineer
5. Implement
6. Program
7. Architect
8. Automate
9. Built
10. Code
11. Test
12. Transform
13. Troubleshoot
14. Upgrade
15. Efficient
16. Cutting-edge
17. Innovative
18. Visionary
19. Meticulous
20. Groundbreaking
21. Proficient
22. Complex

Importance of Keywords in CV

A resume is said to be well written when it successfully grabs the attention of the recruiters’. You should know which power statement to include in your profile. If the best phrases are used in your profile it will differentiate you from another candidate.

A recruiter who has limited time to check your CV straight away ignores such a profile that has overused buzzwords. So to make your profile more memorable it is a must to use the best adjectives.

How to Use Action Verbs?

You can use creative words in your profile according to the position you are applying for. Before using good phrases in your profile you must take out time and check the job description.

After scanning the job requirements check which of your achievements and abilities matches with the job applied. Now, you can look for the best active words which you can use in your profile to describe your accomplishments.

There are specific words for the position you are applying for but here are a few general tips.

1. Be precise and specific

You do not want to appear unclear in front of the recruiter. Recruiters see lots of profiles with cliché words like hard worker, honest, etc. You must ignore the use of all such words.

For better understanding you can check my article on the words you should never use in your profile.

2. Use metrics or numbers

You should use numbers with action words like “increased sales by 20%” to showcase your achievement. Instead of just using subjective words which are not much pleasing to the recruiter.

3. Focus on the job

You should always be true to yourself and your job. You must focus on what you have attained in the working time period and thus mention your skills, experiences, and accomplishment that align with the job applied.

4. Include power words

You can use important keywords from the job description along with the best words in your profile for maximum success.

5. Check the word’s meaning

You should check the meaning of such a word with which you are unfamiliar. Try to use only those words that convey your message clearly.

Benefits of Using Professional Adjectives

What will distinguish your CV from others are the pensive and thoughtful verbs used at appropriate places in your biodata. Some of the benefits of using them are:

1. Make an everlasting impression

A CV that has some good and positive words sets a unique tone for your profile. It will make a place in the mind of the reader. Hence by using eye-catching phrases your profile is more likely to stick to the reader’s mind.

2. Keeping readers engaged

The main aim of using action-oriented words in your CV is to make the reader engaged till the end. A good and impactful CV with proper English and no grammatical error will keep the reader’s interest till the end.

3. Always highlight the main points

When the key verbs are highlighted, your CV lights up instantly. Therefore highlighting important points are useful.

4. Communication skills

A well-crafted CV will show your additional skills i.e., communication skills. If you use an engaging tone throughout your CV this will convey to the hiring manager that you will highlight the organization’s success in a similar manner.

Conclusion

Resume phrases are the most powerful and action-driven words. It must be used wisely and correctly. One single word can make or break it.

You must carefully examine the job description and include all those keywords in your profile that will highlight your skills and achievements. Let your biodata speaks for you before you get to interact directly with the hiring team.

Remember to avoid certain phrases that are either no longer in use or are baseless or meaningless words.

Over to You

Do you think including some good words in your CV will change the look and feel of your profile? Please share your thoughts.

I would love to hear from you.