Why Your Resume Needs Accurate Action Verbs

Why Your Resume Needs Accurate Action Verbs This post is sponsored by  onlineresumebuliders.com, the resume building software available on  your phone, tablet or desktop.   There are many rules to resume writing; an important one being  the need for action words or action verbs. Dont worry if you dont really know what they are, weve got you covered. Action words  are verbs that describe a mental or physical action, and are usually written in the past tense. They are the words that  should be used to start bullet points in your resume, for example: Evaluated training manual for errors. Demonstrated 95% efficiency with SalesForce lead funnel protocols. Facilitated corporate meetings across multiple states. Evaluated, demonstrated and facilitated are all action verbs. They are the first word of the  experience or achievement, and they are considered a “must” on every resume. With a few exceptions, action verbs are the  ideal way to make sure that your resume is ready to get noticed by hiring managers, for the right reasons! Why are they so important, and what are the benefits of using them? Read on. Action words Have more impact Action verbs start each sentence off with a bang! The alternative is  writing your achievements out in complete sentences, with I worked on and I did. This is extremely  repetitive and boring for the hiring manager to read. Writing long sentences full of dull descriptions of the work youve done  does nothing to capture attention or interest.  Strong action words, however, are a  far more  persuasive language tool  that allows you to be  concise and impactful. Make for easy  skim-reading Most employers spend only a few seconds on each resume, before discarding it if they dont find  what they want. Action verbs  provide instant information, and are often the first words that hiring managers see after your  name. Doing your research and using industry-specific action verbs will make it easy for hiring managers to see what they want on your resume and prompt them to spend more time reading through your skills. Help people to picture you in the role Action verbs represent an action. When the verb is specific to  the job to which you are applying, it helps the hiring manager visualize you doing the work. For  example, if you are applying to a job as an assembler, and you use assembled, manufactured and “compiled” as  your  action verbs, the hiring manager is going to naturally  visualize you doing the job. Other examples: Achieved,  completed,  expanded,  exceeded,  improved,  pioneered,  spearheaded,  transformed,  integrated, modeled, modified,  performed, planned, revised, revitalized, shaped, solved Render  your resume unique One caveat is that action verbs should be carefully chosen for both  accuracy and impact. Ideally, choose the most powerful and soecific  action word you can find, and be sure you have used  the word correctly. When you choose great action verbs which accurately showcase your abilities and achievements, you automatically set yourself apart from  applicants who use generic  verbs that send readers to sleep. This will give you the competitive advantage you need when  hiring managers review applications. Give your  resume a  greater flow Finally, action verbs make it easier for you to flow from one  point to the next, without having to use the word “also” or “in addition” regularly. The goal of every resume should be to  make sure that each and every bullet point you place is read, understood and leads nicely onto the next one! Action verbs have a certain power to them that other words do not, and the more time you take determining  which  one  are best for your resume, the more likely you are to have an application that creates an excellent impression on employers. Make sure you take the time to select strong action verbs, and  then wait for the phone to ring with your interview request! About the author:  Micah Abraham is a writer at Online Resume Builders. If you are looking for a new resume, start building yours today at  Onlineresumebuilders.com   it takes as little as 5 minutes.   Image: Shutterstock