How to use strong action verbs on your resume

How to use strong action verbs on your resume

To effectively use resume power verbs, focus first on filling out your experience section with specific, quantified examples of your accomplishments. Then, use a compelling verb to enhance your bullet points.
Here’s a sample bullet point where the candidate improperly used resume action verbs:
Don't
“Went to all weekly company meetings to share department news.”
This example starts with a weak verb. “Went” doesn’t convey any positive information. This verb just indicates you did what was expected of you.
Hiring managers will be impressed if you show your proactiveness and back it up with quantifiable evidence.
Here’s the same example enhanced with resume action words:
Do
“Spearheaded weekly company meetings by communicating departmental growth and productivity.”
The applicant opens with a much more targeted action verb. Unlike “went to,” “spearheaded” is decisive and suggests the candidate has leadership abilities, organizational skills, and a knack for planning.
The applicant also includes the strong verb “communicating,” which is among the most common resume keywords recognized by corporate applicant tracking systems (ATS). By using action verbs, your resume is more likely to bypass the ATS and land in the hiring manager’s inbox.
Finally, the candidate ends their bullet point by stating explicitly what they communicated: “departmental growth and productivity.”