Submitting a resume is the first step to scoring the job you desire. It’s often difficult to make your resume stand out among the sea of CVs from candidates vying for the same position. One way to get your resume noticed is changing up the way you present the information in it. That’s where action verbs come in.
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We’ve all been told countless times to include real examples of past work experiences in your resume that demonstrates the types of skills you wish to convey to prospective employers. Saying you have “effective leadership skills” is one thing; talking about a time when you used your leadership skills to achieve something on a professional level is another.
But what’s the best way to paint a compelling picture of your experiences to your prospective employer? Global director of people and culture for recruitment firm Hays Talent Solutions, Susie Timlin, believes using strong action verbs is one way to achieve this:
“Remember that you are trying to sell yourself. Using phrases like ‘was involved in’ and ‘assisted’ implies that you were more of a bystander than an instigator — recruiters pick up on these things. Use strong action verbs and take credit where credit is due.”
However, she warned against taking credit for something you had no involvement with and bad mouthing former colleagues or employees. These are things that are most frequently cited as reasons for candidate rejection.
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