46 Must-Know Resume Phrases That Earn Interviews

Kat Boogaard

3 key takeaways

  • Resume phrases highlight your skills, knowledge, and experience on your resume.
  • There are three different types of resume phrases: action phrases, power phrases, and descriptive phrases.
  • Teal’s AI Resume Builder can help you put these phrases to work and create your most impressive resume.

An impressive resume isn’t just about what you say— how you say it matters too. You can have a strong work history, relevant responsibilities, impressive accomplishments, and undeniable expertise under your belt. But none of those matter if you can’t summarize them in a way that captures the attention of potential employers.

That’s why it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the best resume phrases and action words. While your resume content will be as unique as you are, these reliable phrases can give you some new ideas, help you write about your qualifications and abilities, and impress recruiters.

Ready to beat the blank page and put some sentences down on paper? This detailed guide (and long list of resume power phrases) will get you started.

Want to make a free resume with the best phrases that grab attention? Use Teal's free AI Resume Builder to write action-oriented statements showcasing your achievements and aligning with job descriptions.

Understanding resume writing phrases: What they are and why they matter

Resume phrases are specific words or combinations of words used to highlight your skills, abilities, knowledge, and achievements on your resume.

Understanding the job market can help you choose the right phrases that align with industry expectations and employer needs.

It’s tempting to think the language you use on your resume doesn’t carry much weight, but choosing the right phrases and verbs can make or break your resume in the eyes of a potential employer. For example, take a look at this comparison:

  • Handled customer questions and complaints
  • Resolved customer inquiries and complaints with a 95% satisfaction rate, resulting in a 20% increase in customer retention

It’s not hard to see that the second option is far more impressive. And though there are other creative strategies and resume best practices at play in that example (such as quantifying accomplishments), the resume writing itself also makes a world of difference. The second bullet includes several powerful phrases and action words:

  • Resulting in an increase
  • Satisfaction rate

What are the different types of resume phrases?

There’s no shortage of ways you can categorize these phrases, but this guide covers three common types of resume phrases:

  • Action phrases: Describe specific actions you took
  • “Implemented a new inventory system…”
  • Power phrases: Describe results you achieved or an impact you made
  • “Reduced costs by…”
  • Descriptive phrases: Describe your role and responsibilities
  • “Managed a team of 10 customer service representatives”

There’s a lot of overlap between those categories—especially between action phrases and descriptive phrases. The main difference is that action phrases highlight what you actually did while descriptive phrases focus on your responsibilities.

Especially if you opt for using the STAR method on your resume , many of your bullet points will incorporate all three types of phrases at once.

Good resume phrase example

“Led a cross-functional team of 10 to develop and launch a new customer relationship management (CRM) system, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction and a 20% boost in sales within six months.”
  • Action words or phrases: Led, develop, launch
  • Power phrase: Resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction and a 20% boost in sales
  • Descriptive phrases: Cross-functional team of 10, new customer relationship management (CRM) system, within six months

That example illustrates the importance of the right phrases for your resume, but choosing them involves more than opening up a thesaurus while you’re writing. The best resume phrases are:

  • Concise: Your document shouldn’t be stuffed with resume buzzwords and cliches . Get to the point and cut out fluff or unnecessary words.
  • Specific: It’s tempting to over exaggerate your responsibilities, but big words aren’t always better. Phrases should clearly describe your role and achievements and increase understanding.
  • Action-oriented: Particularly in your work experience section, each of your bullet points should start with a strong resume action verb to demonstrate how you achieved results.
  • Relevant: Your resume isn’t intended to be a rundown of all of your tasks and positions throughout your career stages. Relevance is key. The job description will provide helpful clues and valuable insights to guide your resume writing.
  • Quantified: Resume phrases are intended to kick start your writing process and not be copied and pasted exactly as they are. Customize them to your experience and supplement them with metrics and real-world examples to add extra impact. 

Where should you use resume phrases?

Wondering where to use these short snippets on your document? Most resume phrases are incorporated in two different sections of your resume:

  • Your resume summary (sometimes called your resume personal statement )
  • Your work experience section

These phrases can also be effectively used in your LinkedIn profile.

In your summary, these phrases can call attention to your overall career highlights, relevant skills, and the success you’ve achieved. In your job history bullet points, they’ll better describe your contributions and achievements in previous roles.

46 resume phrases you need to know

Now that you have the lay of the land, it’s time to look at some resume power words and phrases you can lean on during your resume writing process to effectively convey the skills, value, and solutions you can bring to a job. 

The best resume phrases start with action verbs—words that describe an action while emphasizing your contributions and achievements. Need help coming up with some? Check out this comprehensive guide to resume action verbs before you get started.

Action phrases for resumes

Use resume action verbs and phrases to describe the specific actions you took and contributions you made in a previous position.

  • Assisted clients
  • Created reports
  • Designed and executed
  • Developed a process
  • Developed content
  • Drafted documents
  • Facilitated meetings
  • Generated ideas
  • Identified opportunities
  • Implemented a new system
  • Monitored progress
  • Organized events
  • Prepared resources
  • Resolved issues
  • Spearheaded an initiative
  • Streamlined operations
  • Trained staff

Power phrases for resumes

Use strong power words and phrases in your resume to describe the impact you made and the results you achieved (including specific metrics).

  • Achieved top performance
  • Boosted customer satisfaction
  • Drove significant growth
  • Elevated team performance
  • Enhanced product quality
  • Exceeded targets
  • Expanded service offerings
  • Improved accuracy
  • Improved efficiency
  • Improved retention rates
  • Increased market share
  • Increased revenue
  • Maximized resources
  • Minimized downtime
  • Optimized processes
  • Reduced costs
  • Reduced turnaround time
  • Strengthened client relationships

Descriptive phrases for resumes

Use these to describe what you were responsible for in a previous position.

  • Collaborated cross-functionally
  • Conducted research
  • Coordinated efforts
  • Coordinated team activities
  • Ensured compliance
  • Handled customer inquiries
  • Maintained relationships
  • Managed projects
  • Oversaw operations
  • Provided support

Resume phrase examples by job

The phrases above are flexible enough to be used in a variety of career paths. But it’s helpful to get a little more specific and look at phrases that apply to a certain job. Here are five different types of roles and examples of key phrases to use for each. 

1. Project manager resume phrases

  • Achieved organizational goals
  • Determined cost-saving initiatives
  • Developed project plans
  • Ensured smooth project execution
  • Identified and mitigated project risks
  • Implemented streamlined processes
  • Led cross-functional teams
  • Monitored project budget and timeline
  • Reduced project costs
  • Successfully managed multiple projects

2. Administrative assistant resume phrases

  • Assisted in preparation of reports
  • Coordinated office operations
  • Handled correspondence and communications
  • Managed schedules and appointments
  • Maintained confidential files and records
  • Prepared and organized meetings
  • Provided administrative support
  • Responded to client inquiries and requests

3. Data scientist resume phrases

  • Analyzed datasets
  • Automated data collection processes
  • Cleaned and processed data
  • Communicated data findings
  • Created data visualizations
  • Developed predictive models
  • Extracted insights and trends
  • Identified opportunities for improvement
  • Implemented algorithms

4. Sales representative resume phrases

  • Attended industry events
  • Cultivated relationships
  • Developed and implemented sales strategies
  • Exceeded monthly targets
  • Managed a pipeline
  • Negotiated contracts and sales
  • Prospected and generated leads
  • Provided tailored solutions

5. Marketing professional resume phrases

  • Analyzed market trends
  • Conducted market research
  • Created compelling content
  • Drove brand awareness
  • Executed marketing strategies
  • Increased customer acquisition
  • Monitored campaign performance
  • Planned and executed events
  • Reduced customer acquisition cost

Ready to write your own? Check out this guide to resume bullet points to make your snippets short and strong.

5 Essential tips for crafting effective resume phrases

The above phrases will get your creative juices flowing as you start writing your resume. But as you continue getting your skills and accomplishments down on paper, here are a few best practices to keep in mind when using common phrases.

1. Refer to the job description

Think your next best step is to pick out a few of the above phrases that sound the best to you? Not quite. Your goal is to use phrases that are the most relevant to the role you’re applying for to demonstrate how your qualifications and expertise match the position’s requirements. Understanding the job market can help you select the most relevant phrases.

Return to the job description and stay focused on finding key skills and words. Then, select words and phrases that are the best fit. For example, if the job posting mentions leadership several times, then you’ll choose phrases that use words like “led,” “managed,” “supervised,” “owned,” and “spearheaded.”

Struggling to figure out which words get a lot of importance in the job posting? Attach a job description in Teal’s AI Resume Builder to see your match score and determine how well your resume aligns with the language and skills from the job description.

Teal's Match Score gives a grade based on how well your resume matching a job description.

2. Quantify your achievements

If you only rely on common phrases, your resume likely won’t stand out from the crowd—after all, everybody will describe themselves as a “go getter” or a “team player” on paper.

Employers want to see proof not only of the work you’ve done, but why it mattered. Adding metrics to your accomplishments and bullet points shows recruiters the results you’ve achieved in your past jobs.

This is another area where Teal can help with its resume bullet point generator . In your resume, click “add an achievement” and then the “write with AI” button. Teal will automatically come up with three options for metric-driven bullet points you can customize and use on your resume.

Teal's AI Achievement Generator suggests multiple versions of resume achievements to choose from.

3. Use time-based statements

Reducing costs? That’s impressive. But reducing costs in only three months? That’s sure to get a hiring manager’s attention.

That’s why it’s helpful to use time-based statements that describe a certain period of time (for example, “in five weeks or within six months”). These also count as descriptive phrases on your resume.

In Teal’s AI Resume Builder, use the Analysis Score to see a detailed breakdown of issues on your resume—including where you’re missing time-based statements.

Teal's Analysis Score assigns a grade based on resume structure, measurable results, and keyword usage.

4. Check your verb tense

Most of the best phrases start with strong verbs, but don’t get so caught up in the language that you forget about using the right verb tense. On your resume, use:

  • Present verb tense (e.g. “manage”) for jobs you currently work
  • Past verb tense (e.g. “managed”) for jobs you worked previously

It’s a small change that can make your resume clearer and more polished.

5. Rely on tools to help you

Even with the best phrases to guide you, developing your resume can still feel daunting. Fortunately, you don’t have to start from scratch.

Use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to get over your fear of a blank page and create your strongest resume yet. It can help you:

  • Automatically generate metric-rich achievements and contributions
  • Compare your resume to the job description and identify keywords
  • Provide suggestions to make strategic improvements to your content

Additionally, these tools can also help improve your LinkedIn profile, which complements your resume.

Something as simple as a prompt or an example bullet point can spark your creativity and ease the burden of writing your own resume. With Teal in your corner, you’ll feel more confident throughout the writing process so you can craft a resume that does your experience justice and makes a positive impression on an employer.

Ready to put these phrases and best practices to work on your own resume? Get started with Teal for free today .

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good lines for a resume.

Good lines for a resume effectively highlight your skills, achievements, and contributions. Examples include "Implemented a new inventory system, reducing operational costs by 15%" and "Led a cross-functional team to launch a new product, resulting in a 20% increase in sales."

What are key phrases in a resume?

Key phrases in a resume are specific words or combinations of words that highlight your skills, abilities, knowledge, and achievements. They fall into three categories:  strong verbs and phrases (e.g., "Implemented a new system"), power phrases (e.g., "Increased revenue by 20%"), and descriptive phrases (e.g., "Managed a team of 10").

What are some good words to use in a resume?

Good resume words are strong verbs that demonstrate your contributions and achievements. Action verbs include "Led," "Developed," "Implemented," "Achieved," "Optimized," and "Streamlined." These words help to clearly and concisely communicate your impact in previous roles.

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Resume Writing Tips

33 stand-out phrases to freshen up your resume, upgrade your resume and hook hiring managers at first glance with these proven and punchy phrases.

If I asked you to list 10 words that describe your personal brand to include on your resume could you do it? You might think it’s an easy task, but the numbers say it’s pretty difficult.

Would you be surprised to hear that while 92% of people *think* they’re self-aware, in reality only 15% of people actually are self-aware? 

What does this have to do with your resume and job search, I hear you asking? 

Well . . . a lot actually. 

In this article, I’m going to discuss:

– the importance of self-awareness and its role in writing your resume

– where to uncover accurate phrases that best reflect your accomplishments

– how to incorporate these memorable phrases into your resume

– swipeable phrases that you can use for inspiration for your own resume

The Importance of Self-Awareness

Tasha Eurich, author of the book Insight reveals, “Self-awareness is critical for career success. People who are more self-aware tend to perform better at work , get more promotions and lead more effectively .” 

When you’re aware of your talents, skills, unique differentiators, and strengths, you have a word bank to draw from when writing your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. 

Self-awareness is the process of getting to know yourself from the inside out and outside in - Travis Bradberry Emotional Intelligence 2.0

If you lack awareness of your strengths and differentiators it becomes virtually impossible to create a resume that will stand out from similarly qualified candidates. 

Before you can articulate what makes you a great hire, you have to understand what makes you a great hire–which requires self-awareness.

The link between EQ and earnings is so direct that every point increase in EQ adds $1300 to an annual salary. -Travis Bradberry, Emotional Intelligence 2.0

If you have not read Emotional Intelligence 2.0 or taken the EQ quiz, I encourage you to do so. My favorite aspect of the quiz is that it provides you with a list of actionable steps you can take to heighten your EQ. They’re simple and doable like “greet people by name” but they help you strengthen your EQ in the areas you need it most. 

Just so you know, I don’t earn commission from recommending the book or quiz. I just think it’s really that good. 

Consider it taking your first step towards greater self-awareness. Your future salary is going to thank you.

Where to Uncover Hidden Gems That Convey Your Accomplishments

The foundation of the resume writing process in our work with clients is uncovering what makes them unique.

That’s why we always start the resume writing process with an in-depth client interview. We’re able to dig deep into our client’s career history and painstakingly search for:

  • Repeated successes
  • Recurring themes
  • Unique differentiators
  • Examples and stories of value added
  • Numerical data to back up and give credibility to accomplishments

If you’re working on your resume, these six areas are where you’ll find your secret sauce.

Your key differentiators–the content employers crave most in resumes–is just waiting to be discovered. 

To help you root out your personal brand, look for areas of consistency and themes that recur no matter where you go.

Remember those little black chalkboard easels we had as kids? In second grade, I would gather my younger cousins around mine, write C-A-T on it, and teach them to read. 

The desire to teach has stayed with me throughout my entire life. 

My favorite articles to write are “how to’s.” Much to my husband’s chagrin, I obsessively collect and share information. You don’t want to see my bookshelves.

My top two Clifton Strengths are Input and Learner. I’m a big ol’ information-collecting nerd. 

Educating is one of my greatest strengths, and even though I am not a school teacher I still use my experience and knowledge to educate every single day. 

Now it’s your turn . . .

Where are there recurring themes in your life?

Are you an achiever?

Diplomatic?

Take charge?

A go-getter?

A powerful negotiator?

Ask yourself:

  • What am I known for?
  • What do my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family members come to me for?
  • What am I most proud of in my career?
  • What brings me immeasurable fulfillment?

Try to create a list of at least ten strengths, talents, or skills.

Next search for examples of these strengths in action.

What challenge were you facing when this strength was utilized?

How did you use the strength to take action?

What happened as a result of your efforts?

Before you know it you have the key ingredients to powerful resume bullets that reflect your value.

How to Incorporate Noteworthy Phrases into Your Resume

I see the same phrases repeated on hundreds of resumes. (I’m looking at you “responsible for” and “duties included”!)

The problem with these worn-out words is that they carry no weight or power. 

They’re weak and vague.

One surefire way to pack more punch in your resume is to switch out the tired, overused phrases with strong action verbs that tell your story.

Strong action verbs are perfect to energize your resume bullets so they “WOW” employers.

Extra credit: they’re also great for leading into results-based statements.

An example of an accomplishment bullet using action verbs and stand-out phrases could sound like:

  • Turned around $750M budget deficit into a $300K surplus within 1 year by creating infrastructure, optimizing expenses, and cultivating strategic partnerships with 21 hospitals and medical device manufacturers. 

When we work with clients we use a C.A.R. formula to help us create memorable bullets. 

C – Challenge

A – Action

R – Result

I also often recommend this formula to my LinkedIn connections when they ask for resume writing advice:

(Action verb)(noun)(quantifiable metric or result)(action you took to achieve result)

An example of this formula filled out as a resume bullet would sound something like this:

  • Boosted revenue 64.5% by designing and implementing strategies to cut costs, improve efficiencies, and optimize production of 325 styles and 6.2M SKUs. 

Try the formula out in your resume as you work to write about your accomplishments.

33 Swipeable Phrases to Inspire You

I spoke with a senior-level job seeker last week who confided to me how hard it was to assess her own work. 

She hesitantly shared, “I struggle to convey my value.”

I get it. Boy, do I get it. 

Most of us struggle to explain our value. We know we’re talented and competent, but conveying that on a resume suddenly induces all kinds of writer’s block and analysis paralysis. 

If you want to reflect what you’ve accomplished and point out your value to employers, try using a few of these proven resume phrases:

influencial phrases

The key is not to throw all of them into your resume. You want to use these sparingly so that they’ll have maximum impact. 

Read through the list and choose 2-3 that reflect you most accurately. 

Include one in your career summary and another in your “notable accomplishments” section in the top third of your resume.

These 33 phrases are high-impact and sure to grab attention–but only if you choose ones that accurately reflect YOU and your personal brand.

Employers will be looking for evidence that you possess these qualities as they read through the remainder of your resume.

That’s where the formula comes in that I shared with you earlier in the article. Use that formula to create bullets that prove you possess these qualities and characteristics. 

If you need more inspiration for resume power words, I wrote this article with 178 words and phrases that you can incorporate into your resume.

You might also like this “how-to” for using action verbs or this one on resume keywords .

Phew… we’ve covered a lot in a short time. 

We discussed the importance of self-awareness and its effect on your career (and earnings!). That was certainly a wake-up call.

I showed you where to uncover phrases that best reflect your accomplishments and how to incorporate these memorable words into your resume, and gave you a list of the top swipeable phrases we use with our own clients so you can use them for inspiration in your resume.

Want to binge-read more resume articles? 

Check out this guide we use as an internal reference tool for career summaries when we write our client’s resumes. 

Let’s be real for a second . . . with errands to run, meals to cook, the kids’ practices, work, and the 100 other plates you’re spinning, trying to DIY may be too much. 

Whether you’re over trying to write your own resume or discouraged with the lack of responses from your applications, we’re here to help. 

We equip strong, smart women like you with knockout career marketing materials so you can get in front of hiring managers, communicate your value, and land the position you deserve. 

Ready to punch job search frustration in the face?

Let’s do this.

Book a Call

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Hi, I’m Jessica. I started this company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

What started as a side hustle (before that was even a word!) helping friends of friends with their resumes has now grown into a company that serves hundreds of happy clients a year. But the personal touch? I’ve kept that.

You might have seen me featured as a resume expert in publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune. And in 2020, I was honored to be named as a LinkedIn Top Voice of the year!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to help you find your next perfect-fit position!

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Resume Keywords: 80+ Verbs and Power Words to Use

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

The most powerful words you can put on your resume are verbs. While other job seekers are saying, “Responsible for…” you want to be saying, “Led,” “Managed,” “Grew,” etc.

In this article, we’ll look at more than 80 positive, impressive-sounding verbs and action words to use on your resume or LinkedIn.

Let’s get started…

Positive Verbs & Action Words to Use in a Resume

To start, here are some impressive, action-oriented words you can use in your resume to avoid the over-used phrase, “Responsible for…”

Always try to lead off your bullets with a verb when possible. You can also use verbs in your resume summary , bullets  and work history .

Here’s the full list of verbs to help you write a better resume:

Words for Leading People, Projects, and Tasks

  • Orchestrated
  • Coordinated
  • Facilitated

Words for Boosting Sales/Revenue

Words for improving a process.

  • Accelerated
  • Re-engineered
  • Reorganized
  • Transformed
  • Re-calibrated
  • Restructured
  • Strengthened
  • Streamlined
  • Transitioned

Words for Creating a New Process or Initiative

  • Implemented
  • Established
  • Spearheaded

Words for Research, Analysis, and Business Decision-Making

Words for saving money or resources for the company, words to show achievements, awards, and successes.

  • Recognized for
  • Succeeded in
  • Outperformed

What Are Good Keywords for a Resume?

Next, you’ll need to put some keywords for the specific jobs you’re applying for.

But what are good keywords to include?

The best keywords to put on your resume are words directly from the job posting. This is what the employer wants to see most (and likely what they’re looking for first – whether they’re using a software-based applicant tracking system or having a recruiter or HR person review each resume manually).

So if the job posting talks about wanting someone who has led projects in the past, make sure you’re saying “leadership” in your list of skills, and put a bullet that says “Successfully led…” in your recent work if possible.

This is known as tailoring your resume .

Try to use the same phrasing that the company uses in the job description at least once (e.g. led vs. leading vs. lead).

This isn’t always possible, and you should always write your resume for a real person first and foremost… since that’s who will be making the final decision. But try to mirror the job description when possible.

Don’t use generic buzzwords and adjectives like “hard-working”

The words listed on the job description are the best keywords and key phrases to put on your resume. Avoid buzzwords like, “hard-working” or “excellent interpersonal skills.” Employers don’t care much about this on a resume and prefer to evaluate it in an interview.

Those generic lists of resume keywords that you’ll find online are not helping. I worked for five years as a recruiter and never once decided to interview someone or recommend them for a job because of a generic phrase like that.

Employers are much more concerned about hard skills and job-related experience on a resume. They want proof you can step into the job and succeed… which is what the resume/CV word list above will help you show!

For skill-based keywords with an abbreviation, try to include the long and short version of the keyword at least once on your resume. For example, if you do business-to-business sales, you’d want to say “B2B Sales” once, and you’d want to write it out in the longer form at least once, too.

That’s just one more tip to help you beat applicant tracking systems.

Write What You Accomplished, Not What You Were Responsible For

When writing your resume and choosing what keywords and verbs to use, keep in mind that your goal should be to highlight what you accomplished… not just what you were responsible for.

Hiring managers aren’t going to be very impressed by a long list of what you were assigned to do. That’s essentially what you’re sharing if you start a bullet with “Responsible for.”

Also, try to include specific data and results when possible, especially in your bullets.

I’ll share a few examples below… by taking some of the words I recommended above and completing the sentence.

The verbs from the list above will be in bold to help you spot them below. Note that you shouldn’t write them in bold on your actual resume most likely.

Examples of How to Write Accomplishment-Driven Resume Bullets

Completed an average of 19 projects per month, bringing in $2.4MM in revenue for the company in 2019″

Audited 4 internal processes and systems related to order management, identifying an opportunity to save 1.2% on payment processing costs.

Overhauled the training program for new sales associates, resulting in 2 fewer weeks of training necessary and a 7% increase in first-month revenue generated by new sales associates in Q1 2020.

Oversaw and mentored 10 new team members per quarter, instructing them on the day-to-day work, company policies, and best practices

Conclusion: The Best Keywords and Verbs to Use in a Resume

You now have a list of powerful, effective words for writing your resume, which you should use to lead off bullet points and other sentences. This will show employers how you performed and what you accomplished in past work.

Try to avoid saying, “Responsible for,” and use the verbs from the word list above instead!

You also know how to find the best keywords for your resume – by using the job description. This is the best way to ensure that you’re not forgetting any essential skills that the employer wants.

Finally, you know NOT to put generic buzzwords like “hard working” or “fast learner”.

If you skipped to the bottom and aren’t sure about any of this, I recommend going back through the article.

Once you implement everything above, you’re going to have a much better resume that gets you more job interviews.

Biron Clark

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), are resume writers worth it, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, chronological resume: the best format (and how to write it), the 3 best colors for a resume, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, how long should a resume be, walk me through your resume: answer examples.

40+ Resume Tips to Help You Land a Job in 2024

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When you haven’t updated your resume in a while, it can be hard to know where to start. What experiences and accomplishments are relevant for the jobs you’ve got your eye on? What new resume rules and trends should you be following? And seriously, one page or two ?

Well, search no more: We’ve compiled all the resume tips you need into one place. Read on for advice and tricks that’ll help you craft a winning resume—and land your next job.

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Basic resume tips

Let's start with the basic do's and don'ts when putting your resume together. Listing your skills is not the only thing that matters—choosing the right format and sections is equally crucial. Here are some tips for writing a resume from scratch:

1. Don’t try to cram every skill and work experience onto your resume

Think of your resume not as a comprehensive list of your career history, but as a marketing document selling you as the perfect person for the role you’re applying to. For each resume you send out, you’ll want to highlight only the accomplishments and skills that are most relevant to the job at hand (even if that means you don’t include all of your experience ).

This is called tailoring your resume and it helps anyone who reads it see exactly why you’re a match for a specific position.

2. But keep a resume outline with a full list of your qualifications

Since you’ll be swapping different information in and out depending on the job you’re applying to, save a resume outline —or maybe our resume worksheet —on your computer with old positions, bullet points tailored for different applications, and special projects that only sometimes make sense to include. Think of this as your brag file. Then, when you’re crafting each resume, it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting relevant information together.

3. Ditch the objective statement

The only time an objective section makes sense is when you’re making a huge career change and need to explain from the get-go why your experience doesn’t match up with the position you’re applying to. In every other case, resume objectives just make you look old-fashioned or out of touch.

Read More: 3 Reasons You Should Ditch That Resume Objective—and 3 Things You Can Do Instead

4. Put the best, most relevant information first

In journalism speak, “above the fold” refers to what you see on the front half of a folded newspaper (or, in the digital age, before you scroll down on a website)—basically it’s your first impression of a document. In resume speak, it means you should make sure your most relevant qualifications are visible on the top third of your resume.

This top section is what the hiring manager is going to see first—and what will serve as a hook for someone to keep on reading. If your most recent position isn’t the most relevant piece of your candidacy, consider leading with a skills section (such as in a combination resume format ) or writing a resume summary .

5. Choose the right resume format for you

There are lots of different ways to organize the information on your resume—like the functional resume or combination resume. But the good old reverse chronological —where your most recent experience is listed first—is usually your best bet. Unless it’s absolutely necessary in your situation, skip the functional or skills-based resume—hiring managers might wonder what you’re hiding.

6. Keep it concise

The two-page resume is a hotly debated topic, but the bottom line is this—you want the information here to be as short as possible, and keeping it to one page forces you to prioritize what really matters. If you truly have enough relevant and important experience, training, and credentials to showcase on more than one page of your resume, then go for two. But if you can tell the same story in less space? Do it.

Read More: 6 Pro Tips for Cutting Your Resume Down to One Page

7. Include relevant links

Can’t figure out how to tell your whole story on one page, or want to be able to include some visual examples of your work? Instead of trying to have your resume cover everything, cover the most important details on that document. Then, include a link to your personal website , your online portfolio , examples of your work, or a relevant, professional social media profile , where you can dive more into what makes you the ideal candidate.

Just avoid hyperlinking over words that are key to understanding your resume, since it can throw off the tools employers use to store and parse resumes.

8. Be aware of the ATS

You may have heard that employers are using computers to “read” your resume and decide who to hire and reject. That’s not exactly true. But most employers do use software called an applicant tracking system—or ATS—to parse resumes and organize them so that recruiters and hiring managers can search for the most relevant applications.

You should assume your resume will pass through an ATS at some point during your job search, so understanding how it works will help make your hunt more efficient. (All of the tips for resume writing in this list keep ATSs in mind as well!)

Read More: Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands

Resume formatting tips

Your resume's format matters as much as the content it holds. Aim for a simple and minimalist layout, without overwhelming columns, colors, or graphic elements. Here are some key resume formatting tips to help you stand out:

9. Keep your resume format simple

We’ll talk about getting creative in order to stand out in a minute. But the most basic principle of good resume formatting and design? Keep it simple. Make your resume easy on hiring managers’ eyes by using a reasonably sized default font like Helvetica or Arial and leaving a healthy amount of white space on the page. Your main focus here should be on readability for the hiring manager (and that pesky ATS).

Read more: The Best Resume Font and Size (No More Agonizing!)

10. Stand out with ATS-friendly design elements

Really want your resume to stand out from the sea of Times New Roman? Yes, creative resumes —like infographics, videos, or presentations can set you apart, but you have to make sure they actually get read. If you’re uploading your resume to a job application site or online portal, use ATS-friendly formatting elements like:

  • Bold and italic text
  • Underlining (in headings or over hyperlinks)
  • Different text alignments
  • Columns that can be read straight across

11. Avoid design elements that can’t be “read” by computers

On the flip side, it’s best to avoid design elements that ATSs are known to have trouble with such as:

  • Logos and icons
  • Images and photos
  • Graphics, graphs, or other visuals
  • Headers and footers
  • Less common fonts
  • Columns that can only be read from top to bottom

12. Make your contact info prominent

You don’t need to include your address on your resume anymore (really!), but you do need to make sure to include a phone number and professional-sounding email address (but not one affiliated with another job!) as well as other places the hiring manager can find you on the web, like your LinkedIn profile, plus your pronouns if you’d like to.

Read More: Here's Exactly What Should Be Included in Your Resume's Header

13. Design your resume for skimmability

You’ve probably heard before that hiring managers don’t spend a lot of time on each individual resume. So help them get as much information as possible in as little time as possible, by making your resume easy to skim .

Work experience resume tips

Recruiters nowadays want to know more than a simple description of your responsibilities. They're looking for the results and impacts of your work, as well as the connection between your experience and the position you're applying for now.

That said, let's take a look at some resume writing tips for describing your work experience:

14. Keep your work experience recent and relevant

As a rule, you should only show the most recent 10-15 years of your career and only include the experiences that are relevant to the positions you’re applying to. Remember to allocate real estate on your resume according to importance. If there’s a choice between including one more college internship or going into more detail about your current role, always choose the latter (unless the internship was more relevant to the role you’re applying for).

15. Don’t forget your transferable skills and experiences

Don’t panic if you don’t have any professional experience that fits the bill. Focus your resume on your relevant and transferable skills along with any related side or academic projects , and then make sure to pair it with a strong cover letter telling the narrative of why you’re ideal for the job.

Read more: What to Put on Your Resume When You Have No Relevant Work Experience

16. Write strong, achievement-focused bullet points

The bullet points under each job entry are arguably the most important part of your resume. They tell whoever’s reading it what skills you have, how you’ve used them, and how you’ve helped your employers in the past.

So start with a strong action verb , include relevant skills from the job description , and frame your bullets around your achievements—don’t just list your job duties . Tell them how your work benefitted your boss or company so they know what they stand to gain by hiring you.

Here’s a simple formula to follow:

  • Compelling verb + job duty + key skills used = tangible result

So you might say: “ Developed an upgrade to the employee database, ensuring the smooth flow of critical operations, which led to a 35% increase in efficiency. ”

17. Curate your bullet points and experiences

No matter how long you’ve been in a job, or how much you’ve accomplished there, you shouldn’t have more than eight bullet points under it—and that’s only for your most recent and relevant job. Jobs further back should generally be limited to four to six bullets.

Read More: How Many Bullet Points Should Each Job on Your Resume Have?

18. Use as many numbers as you can

Use facts, figures, and numbers whenever possible in your bullet points. How many people were impacted by your work? By what percentage did you exceed your goals? Quantifying your accomplishments allows the hiring manager to picture the level of work or responsibility you needed to achieve them.

19. Don’t neglect non-traditional work

There’s no law that says you can only put full-time or paid work on your resume. So, if you’ve volunteered , worked part-time or as a temporary or contract worker , freelanced, or interned? Absolutely list these things as their own “jobs” within your career chronology—as long as they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. The same goes for career breaks . Yes, really.

Read More: 4 Things You Didn't Know You Could Put on Your Resume

20. Use important keywords from the job description

Scan the job description, see what words are used most often, and make sure you’ve included them in your bullet points. For example, does the job description list “CRM” or “Salesforce”? Make sure your resume matches. Not only is this a self-check that you’re targeting your resume to the job, but it’ll also make it easier to search for your resume in an ATS.

Read More: How to Pick Resume Keywords That'll Get Your Job Application Past the ATS

Resume tips for including your education

Most hiring managers will want to know your education level, even if it's not necessarily relevant to the position you're going for. This section is especially important for those changing careers or applying for entry-level jobs—as your education can be an indicator of the skills you have.

Here's some resume tips and tricks for this section:

21. Put experience first, education later

Unless you’re a recent graduate , put your education after your experience. Chances are, your last couple of jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job than where you went to college.

22. Also keep it in reverse chronological order

Generally, you should list your educational background with the most recent or advanced degree first, working in reverse chronological order. But if older coursework is more specific to the job, list that first to grab the reviewer’s attention.

23. Remove the dates from your education section once you’re a few years into your career

Unless you’re early in your career, don’t list your graduation dates. The reviewer cares more about whether or not you have the degree than when you earned it. And you don’t want to inadvertently open yourself up to age discrimination , which is an unfortunate reality in some job markets.

24. Highlight honors and achievements, not GPA

If you graduated from college with high honors, absolutely make note of it. Showcase that summa cum laude status, the fact that you were in the honors college at your university, a relevant project you completed, or an award you won. You don’t need to list your GPA —employers don’t care as much about GPA as they do what skills you gained in school.

Read More: How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume

25. Include continuing or online education

Feel free to include continuing education, professional development coursework, or online courses in your education section, especially if your resume feels a little light on relevant experience.

Best resume tips for showing off your skills

You shouldn't wait until you get an interview to showcase your skills—your resume can and should have a specific section for them. You can also leverage other sections of the document to incorporate what's relevant for the position.

Here are our tips for making a resume that effectively highlights your skills:

26. Don’t forget your skills section

Be sure to add a section that lists all the relevant skills you have for a position—especially those mentioned in the job description. Include technical skills like software and project management tools or specific knowledge of how to perform relevant tasks. Just make sure to skip including skills that everyone is expected to have, like using email or Microsoft Word. Doing so will make you seem less technologically savvy.

27. But don’t only put your skills in your skills section

Your skills section is an easy way for anyone reading your resume to confirm that you have required qualifications, but that shouldn’t be the only place that your important skills appear. Any skill that’s vital to you being hired should also be in your bullet points—where you can show how you’ve used it in the past.

28. Divvy up your skills for readability

If you have lots of skills that would help you with a job but aren’t necessarily in the same category—say, foreign language, software, and leadership skills—try breaking up your skills sections. Below your “Skills” section, add a subsection titled “Language Skills” or “Software Skills,” for example. Again, we’re going for skimmability here!

29. Show—don’t tell—your soft skills

Describing soft skills on a resume often starts to sound like a list of meaningless buzzwords. But being a “strong leader” or an “effective communicator” are important characteristics you want to get across. Think about how you can demonstrate these attributes in your bullet points without actually saying them.

Read more: The Non-Boring Way to Show Off Your Soft Skills in Your Job Search

Other resume section tips

Resume sections are not fixed like stone-written texts; they can change according to the job position you're applying for or the requirements listed by the company. Here are some examples of sections you can add—and more tips on writing a resume that stand out:

30. Include relevant certifications and licenses

If you have a certification or license that proves you can do some aspect of the job you’re applying for, include it on your resume. This is especially important if that certification or license is legally required to do the job—for example, in nursing, teaching, or driving jobs.

31. Show some (relevant) personality

Feel free to include an “Interests” section on your resume, but only add those that are relevant to the job. Are you a guitar player with your eye on a music company? Definitely include it. But if you’re considering including your scrapbooking hobby for a software developer job at a healthcare company? Best to leave it out.

32. Beware of interests and activities that could be controversial

Maybe you help raise money for your church on the reg. Or perhaps you’re dedicated to canvassing during political campaigns. Yes, these experiences show a good amount of work ethic or possibly other relevant skills—but they could also open you up to be discriminated against by someone who disagrees with the cause. So weigh your decision to include them carefully.

33. Add awards and achievements—when they’re relevant

Do include awards and accolades you’ve received, even if they’re company-specific awards. Just state what you earned them for, e.g., “Earned Golden Salesperson Award for having the company’s top sales record four quarters in a row.” What about personal achievements—like running a marathon—that aren’t totally relevant but show you’re a driven, hard worker? Consider the best way to include them (and if you should).

Resume tips for navigating employment gaps and other sticky situations

If you're an experienced professional, you might have some tricky information to explain. Job hopping, career gap, and short term jobs are examples of things that can make an applicant feel insecure when drafting resumes.

Is that your situation? Check on these good resume tips to explain sticky situations without jeopardizing your chances to get an interview:

34. Cut the short-term jobs

If you stayed at a (non-temporary) job for only a matter of months, consider eliminating it from your resume to avoid looking like a job hopper. Leaving a particularly short-lived job or two off your resume shouldn’t hurt, as long as you’re honest about your experience if asked in an interview. But if the short-term job is super relevant to this job, consider including it anyway.

35. If you have shorter gaps, be strategic about how you list dates

If you have gaps of a few months in your work history, don’t list the usual start and end dates with months and years for each position. Use years only (2018–2020), or just the number of years or months you worked at each position. Just keep it consistent throughout your resume and don’t lie if asked about gaps during an interview.

Read more: How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease

36. Explain serial job hopping

If you’ve job-hopped frequently, you can include a succinct reason for leaving next to each position like “company closed,” “layoff due to downsizing,” or “relocated to a new city.” By addressing the gaps, you’ll proactively illustrate the reason for your frequent job movement and make it less of an issue.

37. Explain a long break in jobs

Re-entering the workforce after a long hiatus? This is the perfect opportunity for a summary statement at the top, outlining your best skills and accomplishments. Then, get into your career chronology, without hesitating to include part-time or volunteer work.

38. Be intentional about career gaps

While career gaps are becoming increasingly common, you should still frame them in a way that’s relevant to a future employer, by talking about skills you gained or any professional endeavors you took on. If you didn’t focus on professional development, that’s fine too! But not every employer will appreciate it if you get too cutesy about that section of your resume.

For example, if you took time out of the workforce to raise kids, you might not want to creatively describe this parenting experience on your resume, à la “adeptly managed the growing pile of laundry.” Instead state what you did plainly and include any professional skills you may have grown or activities you may have done.

Read More: Stay-at-Home Parent? How to Kill it on Your Comeback Resume

Tips on resume finishing touches

Writing a good resume alone isn't the only thing that matters. How you save and send it can also determine whether the recruiter will even take a look at it. To wrap things up, here are our resume formatting tips and other suggestions to boost your chances of getting noticed:

39. Ditch “References available upon request”

If a hiring manager is interested in you, they’ll ask you for references—and will assume that you have them. There’s no need to address the obvious (and doing so might even make you look a little out of touch!).

40. Proofread, proofread, proofread

It should go without saying, but fully edit your resume and make sure it’s free and clear of typos. And don’t rely on spell check and grammar check alone—step away for a few hours, then read your resume closely again, and ask family or friends to take a look at it for you.

41. Save it as a PDF or Word document

Unless a job posting specifically requests that you do otherwise, your resume should always be submitted as either a PDF or Word document (.docx not .doc). These are the formats that can be most easily opened and most easily parsed by an ATS.

The choice between the two is up to you (again, unless the company you’re applying to requests one format over the other). If you’re emailing your resume, however, PDFs are a bit more likely to maintain your formatting across different computers and programs.

42. Name your file clearly

Ready to save your resume and send it off? Save it as “Jane Smith Resume” instead of “Resume.” The hiring manager is going to have plenty of “Resumes” on their computer, so make it super easy for them to find what they’re looking for. You can even go a bit further and put the position title in your file name (e.g., “Jane Smith Marketing Analyst Resume).

Read More: The (Simple) Guidelines You Should Follow When Naming Your Resume and Cover Letter Files

43. Keep your resume outline fresh

Carve out some time every quarter or so to pull up your resume outline and make some updates. Have you taken on new responsibilities? Learned new skills? Add them. When your resume is updated on a regular basis, you’re always ready to pounce when opportunity presents itself. And even if you’re not job searching, there are plenty of good reasons to keep this document in tip-top shape.

help wording a resume

340+ Resume Action Verbs & Power Words [For 2024]

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Language matters in a resume.

Imagine this:

You’re a busy HR manager, and you read hundreds, even thousands, of resumes every day.

And every single one of them sounds the same.

“Responsible for”

“Critical Thinker”

“Team Player”

You’re bound to see these words on just about every single resume.

And guess what? They’re boring.

That’s where power words come in. They make your responsibilities and achievements really pop!

So, do you want your resume to really stand out? Use some of these 340+ action words:

  • Why Power Words Matter

How to use Resume Action Words [+Examples & Tips]

340+ resume action verbs and power words [w/ examples].

  • Resume Power Adjectives
  • Resume Buzzwords to Avoid

Why Power Words Matter 

Power words help show off your top achievements in the best way possible.

Don’t believe us? Let’s compare an example with and without power words.

  • Spearheaded company X’s content marketing operations.
  • Responsible for content marketing at company X.

See the difference?

Both of these examples say exactly the same thing .

The main difference is that the second wording makes you seem a LOT more competent.

Something to keep in mind - power words, action words, action verbs, and so on are synonyms. So, don’t be surprised to see that we use them interchangeably in this article!

Other than allowing you to stand out, action words can also be used to say one thing in different ways. We’ve seen way too many resumes that have “Responsible for” all over the place!

So, instead of:

  • Responsible for managing company X’s Instagram account.
  • Responsible for connecting with influencers in the niche.

You could say:

  • Managed company X’s Instagram account.
  • Connected with popular influencers in the niche.

In this article, we have conveniently grouped 340+ action words to help you upgrade your resume descriptions:

  • Resume Power Words for Team Work and Communication
  • Resume Action Words Management and Leadership Achievements
  • Resume Power Words to Showcase your Creativity

Resume Power Words for Problem Solving Accomplishments

Resume action verbs for research, analysis, and planning.

  • Resume Power Verbs for “Support”
  • Resume Power Words to Use Instead of “Improved”
  • Resume Power Words to Use Instead of “Responsible For”

Resume Action Words to Use Instead of “Worked On”

  • Resume Action Verbs that Mean “Use”

job search masterclass novoresume

Action words can really spice up your resume if done right.

Now, we’re going to explain all the do's and don’t of using power verbs...

Which power words should you use? 

The type of power words you use will depend on the position you are applying for. 

Do a detailed scan of the job posting and single out the key responsibilities and requirements. 

Determine which of your abilities and experiences apply to those job requirements. 

Then, look for power words in our list that describe those achievements. 

Pretty straightforward, right?

Although the power words will be specific to the position you are applying for, there are some general rules to follow: 

  • Choose resume power words that can be measured . This way you can follow the power word with a tangible achievement, for example: “ enhanced customer base by 35%.”
  • Don’t use subjective words . “I’m amazing at” , “I’m incredible at” aren’t as pleasing to hear as you might think. These statements make you appear self-involved, which recruiters find appalling. Don’t tell them you’re amazing, show them with a measurable power word!

How often should you use power words? 

Sadly, just like with anything good in life, action words will lose their value if you overdo it. Instead of power words, they’ll just look like sprinkled mambo-jumbo that doesn’t mean anything.

Also, your resume is swamped with power words, your hiring manager might get turned off and think you’re trying too hard. 

A good rule to follow is to not add more than one or two action verbs in a sentence.  

Use them appropriately and moderately. 

Resume Power Words for Teamwork and Communication

If your job was to give guidance or communicate information to a team, you:

  • 2. Advocated
  • 3. Clarified
  • 4. Corresponded
  • 6. Gathered
  • 8. Informed
  • 9. Interpreted
  • 10. Persuaded
  • 11. Publicized
  • Gathered external data for the project-planning personnel and advised on the implementation of capital projects. 

When you were part of a team:

  • 13. Enabled
  • 14. Encouraged
  • 15. Facilitated
  • 16. Fostered
  • 17. Inspired
  • 18. Supported
  • 19. Collaborated
  • Made a $6M merger through collaboration with an international team.

When you supervised a team: 

  • 21. Evaluated
  • 22. Instructed
  • 23. Mentored
  • 24. Motivated
  • 25. Regulated
  • Mentored 5 startup founders in the last 2 years. 

Resume Action Words for Management and Leadership Achievements

When you reach a goal:

  • 27. Achieved
  • 28. Attained
  • 29. Strengthened
  • 30. Initiated
  • 31. Coordinated
  • 32. Developed
  • 33. Managed
  • 34. Orchestrated
  • Coordinated data integrity within the company’s applicant tracking system. 
  • Strengthened the sales and service culture through coaching and guidance. 

When you gave a different approach to solving a problem:

  • 35. Implemented
  • 36. Recommended
  • 37. Overhauled
  • 38. Improved
  • 39. Streamlined 
  • 40. Prioritized
  • Improved and tuned networking equipment and overall computer network. 

When you worked with other people:

  • 41. Motivated
  • 42. Supervised
  • 43. Delegated
  • 44. Chaired
  • Supervised and motivated a team of 5+ sales associates. 

Resume Action Words to Showcase your Creativity 

When you helped the company innovate or launch something new:

  • 45. Conceptualized
  • 46. Designed
  • 47. Devised
  • 48. Determined
  • 49. Drafted
  • 50. Formulated
  • 51. Introduced
  • 52. Initiated
  • 53. Launched
  • 54. Originated
  • 55. Spearheaded
  • Designed a new feature on a mobile equation solving app. 

When you worked on an established idea:

  • 56. Adapted
  • 57. Applied
  • 59. Condensed
  • 60. Customized
  • 61. Fashioned
  • 62. Integrated
  • 63. Modified
  • 64. Patched
  • 65. Piloted
  • 67. Revitalized
  • Built the company sales processes ground-up.

When you introduced a finished project:

  • 68. Displayed
  • 69. Modeled
  • 70. Launched
  • 71. Performed
  • 72. Pioneered
  • Launched an e-commerce website to take the company business online. 

When you worked with data, statistics or numbers: 

  • 73. Audited
  • 74. Budgeted 
  • 75. Calculated
  • 76. Converted
  • 77. Crafted
  • 78. Documented
  • 79. Estimated
  • 80. Inventoried
  • 81. Programmed 
  • 82. Projected 
  • 83. Recorded
  • 84. Verified
  • Calculated monthly and quarterly investment forecasts.

When you corrected mistakes and errors:

  • 85. Debugged
  • 86. Diagnosed
  • 87. Established
  • 89. Rectified
  • 90. Lessened
  • 91. Reconciled
  • 92. Remodeled
  • 93. Rebuilt
  • 94. Upgraded
  • 95. Corrected
  • Debugged internal operating system issues, reducing company cost by 15%

When you kept company processes flowing seamlessly: 

  • 96. Conserved
  • 97. Maintained
  • 98. Operated
  • 99. Regulated
  • 100. Refined
  • 101. Simplified
  • 102. Standardized
  • Maintained design production under an extremely tight budget. 

When you prepared or helped prepare an event:

  • 103. Assembled
  • 104. Conducted
  • 105. Organized
  • Organized meetings and handled all correspondence for the Scranton branch.

When you analyzed a new idea:

  • 106. Experimented
  • 107. Detected
  • 108. Discovered
  • 109. Measured
  • 110. Mapped
  • 111. Probed
  • 112. Searched
  • 113. Surveyed
  • 114. Studied
  • Surveyed and documented weekly performance reports on a new marketing strategy.

When you analyzed existing practices and ideas:

  • 115. Analyzed
  • 116. Assessed
  • 117. Clarified
  • 118. Checked
  • 119. Examined
  • 120. Explored
  • 121.Evaluated
  • 122. Investigated
  • 123. Quantified
  • 124. Reviewed
  • 125. Tested
  • 126. Tracked
  • 127. Convert
  • Converted data into actionable insight, boosting revenue by 5%

When you contributed to solving a problem:

  • 128. Critiqued
  • 129. Diagnosed
  • 130. Identified
  • 131. Invented
  • 132. Proved
  • 133. Solved
  • Provided an extraordinary customer service experience, solved customer issues and upsold other products or services. 

Resume Power Verbs to Use For “Support”

When you were supportive of others through words: 

  • 134. Advised
  • 135. Answered
  • 136. Clarified
  • 137. Motivated
  • 138. Collaborated
  • 139. Fielded
  • 140. Guided
  • 141. Intervened
  • 142. Referred
  • 143. Resolved
  • Motivated co-workers by rewarding positive behavior, encouraging optimism and stimulating teamwork.

When you were supportive of others through actions: 

  • 145. Assisted
  • 146. Contributed
  • 147. Provided
  • 148. Volunteered
  • Volunteered in 3 non-profit social organizations.

When you taught others:

  • 149. Coached
  • 150. Counseled
  • 151. Demonstrated
  • 152. Educated
  • 153. Informed 
  • Consulted 5 startups that became successful scaleups in Europe and together received investments of over €28 million.

Resume Power Words to Use as a Replacement for “Improved”

Did you leave the company you worked for better than when you came in? 

That’s cool, but if you say you “improved” something four times in a row, it loses its impact.

Use the list below to mix it up:

  • 154. Amplify
  • 155. Boosted 
  • 156. Converted
  • 157. Customized
  • 158. Elaborated
  • 160. Integrated
  • 161. Lifted
  • 162. Merged
  • 163. Overhauled
  • 164. Raised
  • 165. Redesigned
  • 166. Refined
  • 167. Remodeled
  • 168. Reorganized
  • 169. Restructured
  • 170. Revamped
  • 172. Slashed
  • 173. Streamlined
  • 174. Strengthened
  • 175. Updated
  • 176. Upgraded 
  • Boosted the AdWords click-through rates (CTR) from 25% to 37% without additional costs, which increased monthly sales by $5,000. 

Resume Power Words to Use Instead of “Responsible for”

Using “responsible for” in a resume gets old fast. Instead, use these alternative verbs that *pop*:

  • 177. Accomplished
  • 178. Acquired
  • 179. Achieved
  • 180. Acted As
  • 181. Completed
  • 182. Created
  • 183. Executed
  • 184. Finished
  • 185. Forged
  • 187. Navigated
  • 188. Negotiated
  • 189. Operated
  • 190. Partnered
  • 191. Performed
  • 192. Prepared
  • 193. Produced
  • 194. Secured
  • 195. Succeeded In
  • 196. Undertook
  • Navigated three simultaneous projects between 3 departments within the budget limit. 

Most of your job descriptions will be describing things you contributed to. This makes it tough to be original and show value.

In this case, you should try to be as specific as possible by giving details about your accomplishments. 

Here’s a list to help you replace the overused “worked on” and show value:

  • 197. Arranged
  • 198. Compiled
  • 199. Composed
  • 200. Constructed
  • 201. Created
  • 202. Developed
  • 203. Engaged In
  • 204. Fashioned
  • 205. Forged
  • 206. Formulated
  • 208. Made Progress On
  • 209. Operated
  • 210. Organized
  • 211. Perfected
  • 212. Prepared
  • 213. Pursued
  • 214. Put Together
  • 215. Set-Up
  • 216. Undertook
  • Created over 25 professional logos for companies in multiple industries, from small startups to large corporations.

Resume Action Verbs that Mean “Use” 

Instead of “utilize” or “use” replace them with these power words:

  • 219. Deploy
  • 220. Employ
  • 222. Handle
  • 223. Mobilize
  • 224. Operate
  • 225. Promote
  • 226. Profit by
  • 227. Put to Use
  • 228. Restore
  • 229. Revive
  • 230. Resort to
  • 231. Specialize in
  • Handled full sales cycle for the company’s three biggest clients.

Resume Power Adjectives [w/ Examples]

Power adjectives have the same function as power verbs, but instead, they are…you guessed it: adjectives .

Unlike power verbs, you can use power adjectives beyond describing Professional Experience.

In this section, we'll cover how to use power adjectives in your resume summary, professional experience, and skills.

Then, we’re going to give you a complete list of the best power adjectives you can use in your resume.

Using Buzz Adjectives in the Resume Summary Section

The resume summary section is a short pitch to your prospective employer. You use it to summarize your most relevant experience, skills, and achievements.

When done right, adding some power adjectives can help your resume summary stand out.

Take a look at these examples:

  • Caregiver with 5+ years of extensive experience. Recognized for providing heartfelt emotional support to clients. 
  • Loving caregiver who has been working in an elderly home for 5 years. The perfect choice for delivering emotional support to clients.

The first example focuses on the candidate’s personal qualities, rather than her skills. Whereas the second example is professional and leaves a much more powerful impact. 

Want to know how to write the perfect summary for your resume?

Check out our complete guide, filled with professional examples and practical tips!

Using Power Adjectives in the Professional Experience Section

When you are describing your professional experience, power adjectives should be used sparingly. 

You already have plenty of action verbs in there, so don’t double down on the power words by adding an adjective. It’s either one or the other. 

Take a look at this example on how they can be strategically placed in a job description:

  • Developed harmonious relationships with 70% of the patients, resulting in higher overall patient happiness.
  • Developed relationships with 70% of the patients, resulting in overall patient happiness.

Using Power Adjectives in the Skills section

Don’t use power adjectives as a skill on their own. Don’t list “Intelligent” or “Professional” as a skill. Those are subjective personal traits.

Instead, use power adjectives only when they affirm your competency in another skill.

For example:

French and German vs Fluent in French and German 

Management skills vs Strong Management Skills 

The Best Power Adjectives [Divided by Category] 

Power adjectives for analytical thinking.

Are you constantly doing work that calls for putting your thinking hat on? 

This list is perfect for describing the detailed, calculating tasks you complete on a daily basis. 

They’re usually valuable for industries that require complicated critical thinking: IT , finance , telecommunications, engineering . 

  • 232. Astute
  • 233. Insightful
  • 234. Methodical
  • 235. Practical
  • 236. Calculating
  • 237. Intelligent
  • 238. Meticulous
  • 239. Shrewd
  • 240. Complex
  • 241. Investigative
  • 242. Objective
  • 243. Strategic
  • 244. Discerning
  • 245. Logical
  • 246. Perceptive
  • 247. Thoughtful

Power Adjectives for Creativity 

Use the adjective list below to describe creative work: 

  • 248. Cutting-edge 
  • 249. Imaginative 
  • 250. Novel 
  • 251. Sophisticated 
  • 252. Elegant 
  • 253. Ingenious 
  • 254. Progressive
  • 255. Unique 
  • 256. First-class 
  • 257. Innovative 
  • 258. Revolutionary 
  • 259. Unprecedented 
  • 260. Groundbreaking 
  • 261. Inventive 
  • 262. Robust 
  • 263. World-class

Power Adjectives for Productivity

  • 264. Accomplished 
  • 265. Economical 
  • 266. Instrumental
  • 267. Skilled 
  • 268. Adept 
  • 269. Expert 
  • 270. Productive 
  • 271. Skillful 
  • 272. Advanced 
  • 273. Fluent 
  • 274. Proficient 
  • 275. Strong 
  • 276. Competent 
  • 277. Ideal 
  • 278. Profitable 
  • 279. Superior 
  • 280. Constructive 
  • 281. Industrious 
  • 282. Significant 
  • 283. Qualified 
  • 284. Cost-effective 
  • 285. Influential 
  • 286. Smooth 
  • 287. Quality

Power Adjectives for Dedication

Recruiters love seeing genuine interest from a candidate. The words below are great for showing your dedication and high-spirits:

  • 288. Committed
  • 289. Devoted 
  • 290. Genuine
  • 291. Sincere 
  • 292. Dedicated 
  • 293. Earnest 
  • 295. Spirited 
  • 296. Determined 
  • 297. Energetic 
  • 298. Passionate 
  • 299. Wholehearted

Power Adjectives to Describe Hard Work

Are you a diligent and driven person? Are you prepared to pull up tiring all-nighters to complete important projects? 

Here are some adjectives that compliment your hard work: 

  • 300. Alert 
  • 301. Driven 
  • 302. Motivated 
  • 303. Thorough 
  • 304. Attentive
  • 305. Enterprising 
  • 306. Persistent 
  • 307. Tireless 
  • 308. Concerted 
  • 309. Focused 
  • 310. Studious 
  • 311. Vigorous

Power Adjectives to Describe You as Organized and Systematic

  • 312. Businesslike
  • 313. Detail-oriented
  • 314. Smooth
  • 315. Systematic 
  • 316. Controlled 
  • 317. Orderly 
  • 318. Step-by-step 
  • 319. Timely 
  • 320. Detailed 
  • 321. Precise 
  • 322. Structured

Power Adjectives for Communication and Teamwork 

Being friendly, understanding and sociable are key qualities for anyone working in a team setting or with customers and clients on a daily basis. 

Use these words to help describe your skills:

  • 323. Amiable
  • 324. Cheerful 
  • 325. Cooperative 
  • 326. Personable 
  • 327. Amicable 
  • 328. Clear 
  • 329. Cordial 
  • 330. Pleasant 
  • 331. Articulate 
  • 332. Coherent 
  • 333. Courteous 
  • 334. Positive 
  • 336. Cohesive 
  • 337. Diplomatic 
  • 338. Respectful 
  • 339. Charming 
  • 340. Conscientious 
  • 341. Harmonious 
  • 342. Team-minded

Resume Buzzwords to Avoid 

Buzzwords are the opposite of power verbs.

They’re boring, overused, and hated by managers world-wide .

Here are some of the most popular buzzwords you should avoid:

  • Hard worker
  • Strategic thinker
  • Outside the box
  • Responsible for
  • Specialized in
  • Results-driven
  • Team Player
  • Detail Oriented
  • In charge of 

Key Takeaways

Here’s everything we learned in this article:

  • You can use power words to spice up your resume and add variety to your language. They are mostly verbs but can also be adjectives.
  • To decide which power words to use, do a detailed scan of the job listing and identify the key responsibilities the employer is looking for. Your power words will be emphasizing how you have shown these traits. Be careful not to use more than one power word per sentence.
  • Try using power verbs more often than power adjectives. It’s all about action!

Looking for more ways to improve your resume?

Suggested readings:

  • How to Pick the Best Resume Format [+ Examples]
  • How to List Education On a Resume [13+ real-life examples]
  • What’s the Best Resume Font, Size, and Format [for 2024]

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Resume Power Words: 120 Words That Will Get You Hired

  • December 13, 2022
  • In Resumes & Cover Letters

Resumepowerwords

Resume power words are strong action verbs and descriptive adjectives that can enhance your resume and make it more impactful and compelling to potential employers. These words help to demonstrate your skills, accomplishments, and experiences in a dynamic and engaging way. Using resume power words can help you stand out from other candidates and create a positive impression.

Table of Contents:

  •   What are resume power words?
  •   Strategies for using powerful words in your resume
  •   What types of power words are best for your resume?
  •   How to choose job-related power words?
  •   List of resume power words

What are resume power words?

Resume power words are action verbs or descriptive phrases that are used in resumes to highlight achievements, skills, and experiences. These words are chosen to make a strong impact on the reader and convey a sense of accomplishment and capability. Resume power words help to grab the attention of hiring managers and recruiters, making the resume more engaging and memorable. They can be used to describe various aspects of a candidate’s professional background, such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, organization, and more.

Strategies for using powerful words in your resume

To effectively use powerful words in your resume, consider the following strategies:

  • Tailor your words to the job description: Analyze the job posting and identify the key skills and qualifications required. Use powerful words that align with those specific requirements to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
  • Start bullet points with action verbs: Begin each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong action verb. This not only grabs the reader’s attention but also conveys a sense of accomplishment and proactivity. For example, instead of saying “Assisted with project management,” use “Coordinated and executed project management tasks.”
  • Quantify your achievements: Whenever possible, provide specific details and quantify your accomplishments. This adds credibility and demonstrates the impact of your work. For instance, instead of saying “Contributed to sales growth,” say “Achieved a 30% increase in sales within six months.”
  • Use industry-specific buzzwords: Incorporate relevant industry-specific buzzwords and terminology to showcase your familiarity with the field. This helps to establish your expertise and understanding of the industry.
  • Highlight transferable skills: If you are transitioning to a new industry or role, emphasize transferable skills that are applicable to the position. Use powerful words to showcase how your skills can be effectively utilized in the new context.
  • Be concise and impactful: Use powerful words to convey your achievements and responsibilities concisely. Avoid using generic or overused words and focus on specific, impactful language that sets you apart from other candidates.

What types of power words are best for your resume?

When it comes to choosing power words for your resume, it’s important to select words that effectively highlight your skills, achievements, and qualifications. Here are some types of power words that are commonly used in resumes:

  • Action verbs:  Action verbs are dynamic words that convey a sense of action and accomplishment. They help to demonstrate your proactive approach and showcase your achievements. Examples of action verbs include “achieved,” “implemented,” “led,” “managed,” “developed,” and “resolved.”
  • Results-Oriented Words : These words emphasize the outcomes and results of your actions. They showcase your ability to deliver tangible results and make an impact. Examples include “increased,” “improved,” “generated,” “optimized,” “maximized,” and “accelerated.”
  • Leadership Words : Leadership words highlight your ability to lead and manage teams, projects, or initiatives. They demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to take charge. Examples include “mentored,” “guided,” “supervised,” “orchestrated,” “influenced,” and “delegated.”
  • Communication Words : These words showcase your strong communication skills, both written and verbal. They highlight your ability to effectively convey information, collaborate, and build relationships. Examples include “presented,” “negotiated,” “persuaded,” “collaborated,” “facilitated,” and “corresponded.”
  • Problem-Solving Words : These words demonstrate your ability to identify and solve problems. They showcase your critical thinking and analytical skills. Examples include “analyzed,” “diagnosed,” “resolved,” “innovated,” “troubleshooted,” and “optimized.”

How to choose job-related power words? 

When putting your resume together, focus on relevant experience first. Also, only include power words that relate to the position you are applying to. For example, including your experience with gardening will hardly help you land a sales position.

To identify relevant power words, read through the job description a few times. Focus on the requirements and company values and pay attention to how they are worded. Then, use similar language to describe your experience or skills. For example, the job description may include: “Develop and track performance and compile reports.” On your resume, you should then tweak that and relate it to your specific skills. You may describe your experience as “Monitored and compiled staff performance and sales reports.” By including job-specific power words, you will prove your field knowledge and make your resume stand out.

List of resume power words

Power words for administrative

Best power words for leadership

  • Consolidate
  • Orchestrate
  • Recommended

Power words for teamwork

  • Acknowledge
  • Collaborate
  • Demonstrate
  • Participate

30 Power words for customer service

  • Accommodate
  • Communicate
  • Comfortable

Using power words can improve the first impression your resume makes. Choose from the list above to make your resume come alive and become more attractive. Remember to replace most repetitive or generic words with strong action verbs. This can make the difference between getting lost in a pile of other applicants and getting invited for an interview.

Resumepowerwords List

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200 Resumé Words That Make Your Resumé Stand Out

4 Min Read | May 17, 2024

Ken Coleman

Just 7.4 seconds: That’s how much time you have to grab a recruiter’s attention when they read your resumé for the first time. 1 That’s it! So, if you’re looking for a new job, I have a helpful hint: To grab a hiring manager’s attention, make your resumé stand out using powerful resumé words. Hear me out on this—the chances of landing your dream job get a whole lot higher when you communicate your work experience with descriptive and confident resumé words because they help you stand out from the competition.

Resumé power words are strong, actionable and confident verbs and adjectives that describe your abilities and accomplishments. And they can make you stand out in a pool of other job seekers (without any changes to your actual work experience).

Words to Use in a Resumé

Words matter! And with the right word choice, you can give your resumé a big boost of style and confidence. Here are the top 200 resumé power words that will communicate your skills, abilities and talents and help you stand out to a hiring manager.

Resumé Power Words for Leadership

  •  Enforced
  •  Executed
  •  Facilitated
  •  Fostered
  •  Founded
  •  Guided
  •  Headed
  •  Instructed
  •  Mentored
  •  Moderated
  •  Motivated
  •  Orchestrated
  •  Overhauled
  •  Presided
  •  Spearheaded
  •  Steered
  •  Supervised
  •  Trained

Resumé Power Words for Collaborate

  •  Aligned
  •  Associated
  •  Combined
  •  Contributed
  •  Cooperated
  •  Joined
  •  Integrated
  •  Linked
  •  Merged
  •  Pooled
  •  Synchronized
  •  United

Resumé Power Words for Responsible For

  •  Achieved
  •  Accomplished
  •  Assembled
  •  Concluded
  •  Coordinated
  •  Devised
  •  Effected
  •  Fulfilled
  •  Gathered
  •  Handled
  •  Produced
  •  Prompted
  •  Solved

Resumé Power Words for Communication

  •  Advertised
  •  Authored
  •  Broadcast
  •  Circulated
  •  Distributed
  •  Championed
  •  Clarified
  •  Consulted
  •  Conveyed
  •  Defined
  •  Diagramed
  •  Documented
  •  Drafted
  •  Endorsed
  •  Illustrated
  •  Influenced
  •  Informed
  •  Liaison
  •  Negotiated
  •  Networked
  •  Notated
  •  Persuaded
  •  Presented
  •  Promoted
  •  Publicized
  •  Published
  •  Recommended
  •  Recorded
  •  Storyboarded
  •  Translated

Resumé Power Words for Achieved

  •  Administered
  •  Arranged
  •  Attained
  •  Captured
  •  Completed
  •  Converted
  •  Delivered
  •  Earned
  •  Enacted
  •  Established
  •  Lifted
  •  Performed
  •  Predicted
  •  Procured
  •  Proved
  •  Secured
  •  Strategized
  •  Trailblazed
  •  Yielded

Resumé Power Words for Worked On

  •  Applied
  •  Attended
  •  Dedicated
  •  Endeavored
  •  Forecasted
  •  Formulated
  •  Implemented
  •  Masterminded
  •  Operated
  •  Pursued
  •  Processed
  •  Rendered
  •  Strove
  •  Troubleshot
  •  Undertook
  •  Visualized
  •  Volunteered

Resumé Power Words for Improved

  •  Accelerated
  •  Advanced
  •  Boosted
  •  Discerned
  •  Enhanced
  •  Expanded
  •  Familiarized
  •  Increased
  •  Maximized
  •  Outpaced
  •  Perfected
  •  Redesigned
  •  Refined
  •  Reformed
  •  Renovated
  •  Resolved
  •  Restructured
  •  Revamped
  •  Revitalized
  •  Simplified
  •  Skyrocketed
  •  Streamlined
  •  Strengthened
  •  Transformed
  •  Upgraded

Resumé Power Words for Researched

  • Investigated

Resumé Power Words for Created

  • Constructed
  • Established
  • Kick-started

Resumé Power Words for Managed

  •  Controlled
  •  Designated
  •  Directed
  •  Employed
  •  Governed
  •  Mastered
  •  Organized
  •  Oversaw
  •  Planned
  •  Programmed
  •  Ruled

What Words NOT to Use in a Resumé

When you’re updating your resumé (or creating a brand-new one), it’s best to stay away from general office buzzwords and confusing phrases. These are words that you might hear people say all the time, but nobody really knows what they mean. Here are a few examples of words to avoid using on your resumé:

  • Hard worker
  • Moving parts
  • Move the needle
  • Team player
  • Think outside the box

Instead, you’ll want to focus on using specific power words that show (not tell) your skills, experiences and successes on the job.

Here’s an example: Let’s say one of your job responsibilities is to provide customer service over the phone. Look at the difference between an average answer and one using resumé power words:

  • Answered customer questions on the phone in a timely manner
  • Established trust with customers over the phone by researching and implementing advanced listening skills and reducing call wait times

Do you see the difference? The job responsibility is the same , but the impact of using resumé power words makes this job seeker stand out from the competition.

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About the author

Ken Coleman

Ken Coleman is the author of the national bestselling book From Paycheck to Purpose and the #1 national bestseller The Proximity Principle. He hosts The Ken Coleman Show, a caller-driven show that helps listeners find the work they’re wired to do. Ken also co-hosts The Ramsey Show, the second-largest talk radio show in America, and makes regular appearances on Fox News and Fox Business. Through his speaking, broadcasting and syndicated columns, Ken gives people expert advice, providing strategic steps to get clear on their unique purpose and grow professionally. Learn More.

5 Ways to Make a Resumé With No Experience

No matter how much or how little work experience you have, I know you’ve got plenty of qualifications to share on a resume. Here are five ways to create a new resumé with no experience.

Ken Coleman

How to Write a Resumé in 6 Steps

If you want to set yourself up for success in your job hunt, making a good resumé is the first step. Here are six things to keep in mind when you’re learning how to write a resumé.

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  • Finding a Job

30 Words to Include and Avoid in a Resume

help wording a resume

  • 15 Words to Include on Your Resume
  • 15 Words to Avoid on Your Resume

Tips on Word Choice in Resumes

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Your resume is your first opportunity to make a good first impression, and you don't have much time to make that impression. According to  U.S. News & World Report , it takes less than 20 seconds for a hiring manager to make a decision about you based on your resume. Hiring managers need to scan your resume and find the information they need in record time so they can move on to the next resume. What that means for you is that nearly every word you include on your resume can either help get you noticed or knock you out of contention.

Know which words to include in your resume, and which to avoid, to impress the hiring manager quickly.

Top 15 Words to Include on Your Resume

Here are the best words to include on your resume according to employers who responded to a  CareerBuilder survey :

Include action verbs throughout your resume, particularly in the work experience section of your resume. Employers want to know what you can offer the company, and action verbs show exactly what you have accomplished at previous companies. “Achieved” is a terrific action verb that shows that you have succeeded at a previous task. This makes employers feel confident that you can achieve similar things at their companies.

Improved is another useful action verb to put in your resume. This word shows that you made some sort of positive difference at a previous company. If possible, explain how you made the improvement. For example, you might say “Improved efficiency of administrative office by streamlining physical and digital file systems.” This will show not only that you achieved something, but it will also show the skills you used to achieve it.

Trained/Mentored

Words like “trained” and “mentored” are action verbs that show you have experience managing others . These words are particularly useful if you are applying for a job that involves managing, leading, teaching, or advising others. If possible, state the number of people you trained or mentored. For example, you might say, “Trained staff of 15 baristas to operate new cappuccino machine.” This will demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor a group of people.

Like “trained” and “mentored,” “managed” is an action word that shows your ability to lead others. This is a particularly important word to include in a resume for a management position. Again, try to include the number of people you managed, particularly if it is a large number.

This action word shows that you can do more than just follow instructions—you can actually construct something and contribute to a company. Whether you developed a new filing system or invented a software app, use the word “created” to show your independence, initiative, and originality.

Employers want to hire candidates who can recognize and help solve problems . Use this action verb if you are applying for a managerial job, or any job that requires supervising others. This word will show that you are able to spot a problem and step in to solve it.

Volunteered

This action word demonstrates your willingness to step up and help with a project or task, even if you are not asked to do so. Use this word to show your initiative and your teamwork.

Employers want job candidates who are capable of encouraging and persuading others for the good of the company. An action word like “influenced” demonstrates what you have achieved while also highlighting your leadership skills.

Increased/Decreased

An employer wants specific evidence of how you will add value to the company. One way to do this is to quantify your successes . Include numbers to demonstrate how you have helped previous companies save money, generate donations, or achieve success in other quantifiable ways. Using action words like “increased” or “decreased” will more clearly show exactly how you helped achieved success. For example, you might say, “Developed new budget that decreased office expenses by 10%” or “Increased number of donors by 15% through new fundraising initiative.”

Employers typically want to know that job candidates are creative , innovative people who will bring new solutions to the table. In your resume, include examples of times you develop a particular idea, either on your own or as part of a team, and explain how that idea helped the company achieve success. If you are applying for a job as a manager, you might mention how you listened to your employees’ ideas, and helped them develop those ideas into something that benefits the company. This will show your delegation skills as well.

This action verb demonstrates that you're able to successfully complete a project. Whether you launched an app that you developed, a website you helped design, or an advertising campaign that you worked on with a team, the word “launch” will show that you are able to produce something successfully.

Revenue/Profit

Again, employers will want to know how you have added value to previous companies you worked for. One way to do this is to demonstrate how you made money for a company. Include any examples of times that you helped increase profits or revenue. Using numerical values as well as the words “revenue” or “profit” will show the hiring manager, at a glance, that you have a record of achieving financial success.

Under Budget

While companies want to know you will help them make money, they also want to know you'll help them save money. Mention any time that you helped a company spend less. For example, you might say, “Organized annual fundraiser, and remained under budget by $500.”

Like “achieved,” the action verb “won” shows a hiring manager that you have been successful in previous jobs. If you ever won an award at work or received some other recognition for your efforts, consider using this verb.

Top 15 Words to Avoid on Your Resume

While there are words you should include in your resume, there are also words to avoid. Here are the worst words to include on your resume, according to CareerBuilder:

Best of Breed

“Best of breed” sounds more like an American Kennel Club dog show winner than a candidate for employment. Avoid cliché and awkward phrases like this in your resume. Once a phrase becomes too common, it does not mean anything to a hiring manager.

This is another empty, cliché term. If you are using this word to say you take initiative, delete this word and replace it with a specific example of a time you stepped up and took charge of a project. Examples are much more powerful than empty words.

Think Outside of the Box

This is a phrase that hiring managers have heard time and time again. Replace this phrase with a specific example of a time you demonstrated creative thinking. You can also replace “think outside of the box” with an action verb like “created,” “conceptualized,” or “developed.”

Synergy might sound like a trendy term, but hiring managers often find it vague. Use more specific action verbs to specify what you are trying to say you accomplished. Did you “interact” or “cooperate” or “collaborate” with a variety of departments? Use one of these action verbs to clarify what you mean.

Go-to Person

This is another overused and vague phrase. Rather than using this word to describe yourself, think about what you really mean. Were you the person who delegated everyone’s responsibilities at your previous job? Were you the person people went to when they needed help mediating a conflict? Provide specific examples of how you demonstrated leadership, rather than using this term.

Thought Leadership

This phrase is very broad and unclear. If you are trying to say that you helped come up with a number of ideas for an organization, use an action verb like “influenced,” “created,” or “developed” instead.

Again, it is a terrific idea to show how you added value in your previous jobs . However, rather than use the phrase “value add,” show specifically how you added value. Include numbers whenever possible to quantify your success. Use words like “increased/decreased,” “revenue/profits,” or “under budget” to specify how you added value.

Results-Driven

Employers assume everyone wants to achieve good results at work. Replace this empty phrase with evidence of how you successfully achieved results at work. For example, if you work for an online marketing company, you might mention how you measure click-through rates to measure the success of each marketing project. 

Team Player

Almost everyone says they are a team player, but it is hard to prove this. Instead of using this commonplace description, give examples of times that you collaborated with others, using action verbs like “cooperated,” “collaborated,” “mentored,” and more.

Bottom Line

Again, employers want you to quantify the ways you achieved success in your previous jobs. Rather than using an unclear phrase like “bottom line,” use numbers to show how you specifically helped the company. Whether your company’s bottom line is number of sales, budget, or some other figure, be specific.

Hard Worker

Rather than say you are a hard worker, prove it. Use specific action words and examples to demonstrate how you have worked hard in the past. Only by using examples will employers be able to believe your statements.

Strategic Thinker

This is a very vague description that does not give the employer an idea of what you would bring to the company. Describing yourself as a “thinker” portrays you as passive—instead, explain how your great thinking helped solve a problem at work. For example, you might say, “Developed and implemented inter-office memo strategy to improve communication.”

This adjective describes your personality rather than your work ethic or skills. There is no way to prove your outgoing personality on a resume—anyone can put the word “dynamic” on their resume. Stick to information that you can prove using examples from past work experiences. In your interview , the employer will be able to see your energetic personality.

Self-Motivated

Like the word “dynamic,” anyone can say they are “self-motivated” in their resume. However, using the word doesn’t prove anything. Instead of saying you are self-motivated, you can prove it throughout your resume. In your work summary, mention a project or achievement that you developed yourself or that you volunteered to do. If you joined any professional association, list them on your resume. These are the things that will prove your motivation .

Detail-Oriented

One of the worst (and most common) mistakes you can make on a resume is to say you are detail-oriented and then have a spelling error in your resume . Get rid of the overly used term “detail-oriented,” and instead produce a polished and well-organized resume. This will show your attention to detail If your past work has required you to be detail-oriented, explain that in your description of your work experiences. For example, you might say, “awarded Store Clerk of the Month three times for cash-handling accuracy."

Be specific. You do not want to appear vague in your resume. Hiring managers are tired of hearing clichéd words like “team player” and “hard worker.” Avoid these phrases at all cost. Include words and phrases that explain specifically what you accomplished in your previous jobs.

Use action words. Hiring managers also like to see  action words  in resumes because they demonstrate that you took a leadership role that produced results.

Include power words. Along with action words, other power words include popular skills , words specific to your industry, and keywords from both the job listing and the company website . Use these (without using them too often) to make your resume stand out as the hiring manager skims through it.

Use values. Also, when possible, use numbers to demonstrate how your efforts benefited your employers. For example, instead of simply saying you “added value to Best Practices PR by saving money,” you should say that you “administered a public relations budget of $500,000 and, by developing and implementing an innovative and efficient cost-saving marketing program, saved Best Practices PR over $10,000 a year for a period of three years." 

Focus on the job. By focusing on the skills, results, and accomplishments most aligned to the job you're applying for, you'll have a much better chance of getting called in for an interview. Again, using keywords from the job listing will help align your resume with the job. This, coupled with word choice, will get you closer to your next job. 

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How To Write a Resume for Your First Job

help wording a resume

Imagine yourself stumbling across your dream job listing. You’re reading through the responsibilities and job tasks and you find yourself getting more and more excited as the list goes on. Then, it’s time to apply. But you have no real-world job experience. You’re just a student! How will you ever write a resume for your first job when you haven’t had one yet?

Knowing how to write a resume for your first job does not come naturally. In fact, it feels like a daunting task. If you have little applicable experience yet, or you’re just entering the workforce, how can you prove you’re the right fit for the position? 

Resumes are an excellent way to tout your knowledge, training and (if applicable) skills in the field. You can create an attractive resume highlighting your candidacy without any direct experience or prior work history.

We’ll show you how to write a resume for your first job so you can kick off your work experience with preparedness and confidence.

  • Do you need a resume?
  • What should you put on a resume?

Crafting a resume with no experience

Finalizing your first job resume, quick guide: write your first resume in 6 steps, do you need a resume for your first job.

While a resume may not be required to apply for your first job, it is highly recommended that you do so, and it will undoubtedly set you apart from the other applicants. A resume reflects your professionalism and commitment to the job application process. It showcases your knowledge, skills, training and prior experience in an easy-to-digest and relatively standard format, making it easy for potential employers to decipher between candidates to choose the best person for the job.

Even for entry-level positions, when many applicants don’t have a prior work history, sharing a resume will give you a competitive edge when written persuasively.

The role of a resume in job applications

A resume plays an important role when applying for jobs. It serves as an introduction to potential employers and those in the company who will decide whether or not to move forward with your application. It also provides a summary of what you bring to the table for those who will be interviewing you during the application process.

The resume is essential for showcasing your skills. A well-crafted and persuasive resume can highlight your achievements and knowledge, even if you have limited work experience in the field you’re applying to. Because your resume is the first contact point between you and a potential employer, it’s crucial to understand how to write a resume for your first job – and how to write it well.

What should you put on a resume for your first job?

There are a few things every resume must include – and those are some of the most essential details.

Contact information

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most important part of your resume – sharing your contact information. Start by listing your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Without your contact information, potential employers will have a hard time contacting you, which can prevent you from getting an interview.

Why share a link to your LinkedIn profile ? LinkedIn is now an essential part of the job search market. It serves as a shareable resume in addition to showcasing your network. Employers can see if you have any professionals in common from work or personal life, which may help build your credibility as a candidate.

Be sure to act professionally on LinkedIn. Share relevant news and insights to highlight your interest and knowledge of an industry, but be wary of getting too personal or engaging in inappropriate dialogue. Behave on LinkedIn as you would in an office setting with colleagues.

Educational background and achievements

Start by listing your educational information, such as schools attended, graduation dates and relevant academic achievements or awards. Include your major and minor, field of study and GPA. If you were enrolled in courses, projects or study abroad programs relevant to the job, include details to show your knowledge and interests.

Skills section

While you likely have some combination of hard and soft skills, a skills section will showcase the hard skills you’ve learned to prepare you for the job. Soft skills are best to be included in the bullet points to describe your accomplishments in your experience section.

  • Hard skills include specific technical skills you’ve learned along the way. For example, computer proficiency, language skills, lab skills or specific training or certifications.
  • Soft skills , or human skills, include job aspects that apply to many (if not all) job roles. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If you’re particularly adept in any of these, showcase them and be prepared to share real examples of these skills in action.

Extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Employers look for candidates who go the extra mile to be involved in extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your commitment to becoming a well-rounded human being. Highlight clubs, sports or volunteer activities that you were involved in, especially emphasizing leadership roles or particular responsibilities you had in these activities. This extracurricular activity showcases your ability to multi-task, prioritize time and develop skills and interests.

Example Resume & Writing Guide

See a real-life example of a strong resume, including tips for gathering your own persuasive experience and skills using our Resume Writing Guide !

As a young adult or new graduate, you may wonder how to write a resume for your first job with no real-world experience. Don’t fear – there have been many in your shoes before you!

What does a resume look like for a first job?

Your resume should be straightforward with a clean and concise design. It should be easy to read with a simple flow highlighting information from most important to nice-to-have details. Do not go overboard with design details, fonts or graphics. 

Furman recommends that you use Microsoft Word to build your resume as it can be easier to make changes to a Word document than it is to change a template. However, you can use free resume builder tools online to build your resume in standard formats.

  • Myperfectresume.com
  • Resumenerd.com

Using strong action words and job-specific keywords in your resume for your first job will significantly impact you. Describe experiences and achievements using strong action verbs, such as:

  • Collaborated
  • Volunteered

What to put on a resume with no experience?

You can learn how to write a resume for your first job that impresses potential employers, even without relevant work experience, by emphasizing relevant coursework. Doing this demonstrates skills learned in a classroom or group project setting. Highlight personal or academic projects showcasing your abilities, such as experiences where you took the lead as a group or team leader.

Before submitting your first job resume, review and edit the document for mistakes or improvements.

Proofreading and editing

Attention to detail is critical to potential employers. Check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Mistakes on your resume may eliminate you as a candidate, especially if grammatical adeptness or attention to detail is essential to the job.

Similarly, ensure a consistent design throughout your resume. Stick to one format, using one legible font and minimal design details. A professional resume appearance can set you apart from other applicants’ resumes that may appear messy or disorganized.

Seeking feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from friends, mentors or even career services at schools or community centers. A peer review from your fellow students, teachers or mentors can provide invaluable input on skills you may be forgetting, plus the extra set of eyes can help detect errors and typos.

Career services at your school or library also serve as an excellent third-party validation and review resource. Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement offers in-depth career preparation services for students, such as resume and cover letter assistance , career fairs and networking , personalized advice from advisors and interview prep – just to name a few.

Webinar: Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch

Watch the free Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch webinar for an in-depth look at creating your resume and preparing a pitch to potential employers straight from a Furman career advisor.

Now, do you feel ready and excited to write a resume for your first job? We hope you jotted down notes specific to your experience as you read through the post, but in case you didn’t, writing your resume can be simplified to these simple steps.

  • Start with your contact information , including full name, phone number and email address. Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
  • List your education experience , including relevant projects, courses and extracurricular activities.
  • List both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the job.
  • Explain your roles and responsibilities in your projects and extracurricular activities, especially those where you acted in a leadership capacity, using strong action verbs.
  • Proofread and gather feedback.

If this is your first time writing a resume for your first job, approach the process with confidence and positivity. Your attitude will shine through the resume, so stay positive!

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

How To Study Abroad: A Full Guide for Students

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How to Show Your Customer Service Skills on a Resume

Jacob Meade

Brainstorm First

Profile or summary section, key skills section, professional experience section, the bottom line.

You can make customer service a substantial part of your resume by spelling out the various ways you have helped clients. The following guide will show you how to flesh out your resume for an application to a client-facing job.

Before you start working on your resume directly, take ten minutes or so to jot down whatever comes to mind first about your background in customer service. Is there a particular job in your work history that stands out about your level of service? Or a recent training program that gave you a new edge in managing client calls efficiently? Or, more generally, do you subscribe to a particular service approach or philosophy that you feel helps you succeed?

Your first thoughts and answers to these questions often indicate how you can best develop customer service as a key theme on your resume.

Now that you’ve brainstormed some initial ideas refer to the following lists and tips for elaborating on your service skills in each resume section.

Use one or more of these adjectives to describe yourself and the services you provide customers:

  • Client-Focused
  • Customer-Focused
  • High-Quality
  • Knowledgeable
  • Service-Oriented
  • Solution-Oriented
  • Top-Caliber
  • Client-focused Sales Associate with 5+ years of experience.
  • Diligent in understanding client concerns and generating prompt product solutions.
  • Recognized for providing efficient , high-quality service to key customers.

Sidenote: Avoid using redundant adjectives with any part of your profile’s professional title. For instance, if your title is Customer Service Representative, you don’t need to describe yourself as “customer-focused” or “service-oriented.” Your profile will have more variety and color if you instead opt for one of the other options above.

Include one or more of these terms as they apply to your background and goals:

  • Active Listening Methods
  • Brand Loyalty
  • Client Communications
  • Client Satisfaction & Retention
  • Complex Problem-Solving
  • Conflict & Complaint Resolution
  • Consultative Sales Strategies
  • Customer Experience
  • Customer Needs Assessment
  • Customer Service & Relations
  • Internal & External Customer Support
  • Stakeholder Relations Management

This part of your resume provides you the most opportunity to get specific about your customer service skills and experience. Start by reviewing the following list of service-related actions. Note whichever activities overlap best with your background and/or the details you brainstormed earlier.

  • Addressed and answered customer concerns
  • Built lucrative, long-term client relationships
  • Communicated with customers about new product options
  • Consulted and advised clients on service solutions
  • Cultivated positive customer relationships
  • Deepened relationships with key clients
  • Delivered high-quality services to customers
  • Directed customers to their desired products
  • Engaged with clients to determine their service needs
  • Explained new product features to customers
  • Facilitated rollout of new service solutions
  • Interacted with customers daily
  • Listened to clients’ concerns and recommended solutions
  • Promoted appropriate products based on close review of each client’s needs
  • Provided detailed answers to customer inquiries
  • Relayed frequent client requests to sales, marketing, and product development teams
  • Resolved recurring issues with service delivery
  • Responded to client emails and voicemails
  • Supported customers with special product requests
  • Worked with clients to find win-win service agreements

Now that you’ve noted your past client activities, take up this essential question: What was the result of these activities? In other words, how did your client-facing work positively impact your team, company, or customers?

Your answers will lead you to more specific, powerful bullet points that help establish customer service as a common thread on your resume.

  • Built positive relationships with 25 new clients, growing annual revenue by $400K
  • Facilitated rollout of new service solutions that increased client retention by 22%
  • Delivered high-quality services to customers, helping store rank #1 on quarterly satisfaction survey
  • Deepened relationships with key clients, resulting in 12 new long-term service contracts

Always seek to quantify your bullet points in terms of a specific number, percentage, or dollar amount. The only exception is if the quantified figure is somehow not inclusive to the customer service role you’re now pursuing. For instance, say you’ve worked for large corporations and are now applying to a small company or startup. In this case, omitting large revenue sums or other data that may pigeonhole you makes sense. Instead, focus on the transferable customer-facing skills you gained.

Keep in mind that you can show service skills even for a role that wasn’t directly client-facing. For example, if you’ve worked in HR or IT, you can emphasize that you supported your colleagues (or “internal customers”) with various employment or technical concerns.

Whenever you apply to a client-facing job, get specific on your resume about how you’ve supported past customers. Give detailed examples of times you generated high value through your advanced service skills. In doing so, you’ll make sure your resume positions you effectively for the next chapter in your career.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

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Jacob Meade

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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How to use ChatGPT to help write your resume in 9 easy steps

AI your way into an interview

ChatGPT

Crafting the perfect résumé can be a daunting task. You stare at the blank page, wondering how to best showcase your skills and experiences. That's where ChatGPT comes in. Open AI's large language model has been making waves in various industries, and resume writing is no exception.

But how exactly do you approach use ChatGPT for this purpose? It's not as simple as asking it to write your entire résumé. We'll explore the nuances of leveraging ChatGPT to proofread your résumé, refine your language, and format your experience in the best possible way. We'll also discuss potential pitfalls to avoid — after all, your résumé should still sound like you, not a robot.

ChatGPT won't do all the work for you, but it might just help you see your experience in a new light. So, let's get into how this AI tool can help you put your best foot forward on paper.

1. Understand ChatGPT's role

Apple and ChatGPT apps

ChatGPT is a tool to assist you, not replace your input. It's crucial to understand that the AI will help generate ideas and refine language, but the content should ultimately come from your own experiences and skills. 

2. Prepare your information

Resume created by Resumaker

If you have an existing résumé, review it and note areas for improvement. If you're starting fresh or you're a student, list your experiences, skills, and achievements. Include part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, and academic projects.

3. Log into ChatGPT

Screenshot of ChatGPT log in screen with 'log in' highlighted.

Go to the ChatGPT website. If you're new to ChatGPT click Sign up and follow the on-screen instructions . If you're a returning user, click Log in. 

4. Begin your prompt

ChatGPT attach your resume

First, click the paper clip in the prompt box and click Upload from computer. Once you've attached your resume, type a simple prompt like 'I need help improving my résumé.' 

For those writing a résumé for the first time, provide ChatGPT with your experience in the prompt box. For example, 'I'm creating my first résumé as a graduate student. Here is my experience...' 

5. Enhance your professional summary

ChatGPT professional summary prompt

Ask ChatGPT to help craft a concise professional summary. For example: 'How can I improve this existing summary for my Editor role?', or 'Can you help me write a 2-3 sentence professional summary for a marketing graduate?' Then hit enter.  

ChatGPT will provide you with the first section of your résumé. The great thing about breaking it down into chunks is that you can easily refine and personalize each section.

After receiving the AI-generated summary, review it carefully. Does it accurately reflect your experience and career goals? If not, you can ask ChatGPT to revise it. 

6. Develop your work experience section

ChatGPT work experience section prompt

Next, work through your job history, or for beginners, your relevant experiences. For the next prompt you could ask ChatGPT: 'Structure my work experience section to maximize readability and impact.' 

Alternatively, you could say 'How can I describe my internship/coursework to show my potential as an...' 

ChatGPT will provide you with a detailed and concise bullet-pointed list of your experience , perfect for a résumé. 

7. Tailor to job descriptions

ChatGPT job descriptions prompts

If you have a specific job in mind, ask ChatGPT to help tailor your résumé. For example, you could ask ' Here's the job description for a Senior Editor position. How can I adjust my resume to better align my experience with these requirements? 

8. Highlight your skills

ChatGPT resume skills

Request ChatGPT's assistance in listing and describing your skills. For experienced professionals, you might ask, 'What skills should I emphasize when moving from an Editor to a Senior Editor role?' This prompt will help you identify and articulate the skills that set you apart.

For those just starting their careers, try a prompt like, 'What skills should I highlight as a recent graduate applying for an entry-level Editor position?' 

9. Put it all together

ChatGPT resume

Now it's time to bring everything together . You could use a prompt like: 'Can you take all the information we've generated for my Editor résumé and compile it into a cohesive document?' This will give you a complete draft to work from. Once ChatGPT provides this compilation, review it carefully for flow and consistency. 

You might then ask, 'Can you suggest ways to improve the overall flow and consistency of this résumé?' This step helps ensure that your résumé reads smoothly from start to finish, with a consistent tone and style throughout. 

10. Bonus tip

ChatGPT resume last revisions

Ask ChatGPT to proofread your résumé and suggest improvements. If you're an experienced professional, you might use a prompt like this: 'Can you review my updated résumé and suggest any improvements to make my transition from Editor to Senior Editor more compelling?' 

For those just starting their careers, you could ask: 'Can you review my résumé and suggest improvements for an entry-level position?' This will help you identify areas where you can strengthen your résumé to appeal to employers looking for fresh talent.

After receiving ChatGPT's suggestions, carefully review each one. Make sure these improvements align with your experiences and the job requirements. Remember, its important to maintain your unique voice and ensure all information is accurate. Once happy with it, you can format it using a template in google/word docs, or a resume maker. Happy job hunting! 

To maximize ChatGPT's resume-writing potential, explore these 5 tips for getting smarter prompts in ChatGPT . While powerful, it's worth checking out the best ChatGPT alternatives for comparison. Plus, ChatGPT advanced voice is out, and these 9 examples demonstrate why you should be excited. 

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Kaycee is an Editor at Tom’s Guide and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her journey into the tech world began as Cazoo's Knowledge Content Specialist, igniting her enthusiasm for technology. When she’s not exploring the latest gadgets and innovations, Kaycee can be found immersed in her favorite video games, or penning her second poetry collection. 

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Breaking news, 10 expert-recommended online resume writing services to use in 2024.

A resume

In the mix of college assignments and perhaps your 9-to-5, piecing together an attractive resume for employers can be a difficult feat.

Not only is this one-pager the bread and butter of what will lead to a first-round interview (fingers crossed!), but it’s an excellent portrayal of your skillset, employment history and unique skills that help a company’s HR department gauge if you’re the right fit.

Let’s cut to the chase — more specifically, let’s answer the question, “ How can I make my application stand out? ” One of the most influential steps is, without a doubt, rendering your resume to tip-top shape. And fortunately, there are some of the best online resume services like TopResume and Resumble out there to help.

Best Overall: TopResume

Best budget: resume companion, best optimization for applicant tracking systems: resumeble.

  • Best Customizable : Brand Resumes
  • Best with Career Consulting: Top Stack Resumes
  • Best for Quick Hiring : ZipJob
  • Best One-on-One Collaboration : Upwork
  • Best for Cover Letters : ResumeSpice
  • Best Budget : Craft Resumes

Whether you’re a senior in college applying for your first full-time job or you’ve been in the biz for years and are looking to segue into a different role, we rounded up the top online resume writing services you can use to help get your application in tip-top shape. Plus, we’ve enlisted Shannon Conklin, director of career and leadership development at The College of New Jersey to help!

Hop to her picks below or check out our FAQ for more details on things to look for when picking the right resume builder for you.

TopResume

  • Packages with unlimited resume revisions
  • Free resume review
  • 60-day interview guarantee
  • Several customers who wrote reviews on Trustpilot mention having poor communication with their resume writers

TopResume is a beloved favorite — and for a good reason. It has four different packages depending on your career goals, some of which include unlimited revisions, a LinkedIn makeover, a cover letter and two interview prep sessions.

“TopResume continues to be a solid option,” Conklin shared. “It has strong descriptions, where the website and interface are easy to navigate to understand its process, its three packages, as well as testimonials.”

She also loves TopResume’s FAQ section, coupled with the various packages, that make its process clear and timeline. “There is also plenty of mention about AI and ATS technology,” she added. “If you need a resume quickly, one that accounts for technology, and a budget of only about $150, it looks like this service would be one to strongly consider.”

With TopResume, you’ll also get a 60-day interview guarantee. If you don’t get twice as many interviews, the platform will rewrite your resume for free. It’s pretty top tier, to say the least, and is a minimal investment for those hoping to find free resume-writing services.

Resume Companion

  • Self-directed service
  • Template-based
  • Must renew a subscription to edit resume in the future

“Resume Companion is a clean website with a clear message — build a resume quickly!” Conklin highlighted. “It offers templates, examples and advice on how to craft a resume, as well as a cover letter, as a self-directed service within about 15-minutes.”

What’s more, the service also makes it clear it offers a variety of templates based on industries and functions. “This can really help if you are trying to transition to a new field or your resume needs to be updated to reflect the latest in your industry,” she added.

With Resume Companion, you’ll be able to build your resume step by step, from selecting a professional template to answering a few simple questions to have your experience and skills added directly to your digital file. Namely, if you’re not much of a writer, you’ll appreciate its pre-written work experience bullet points to craft your resume in minutes and then apply away.

Not to mention, it’s only $8 a month, so if you want a one-and-done service, this one’s your best bet. Keep in mind that you will have to renew your subscription to edit in the future, but it’s a great budget-friendly option to pursue if you don’t want to be completely in the dark.

Resumeble

  • 4-day turnover on resume drafts
  • Three free revisions with standard resume package
  • Only the premium resume package includes a job guarantee

Resumeble is not only has a fun name, but it includes a resume and cover letter in its baseline package. If you’d like to upgrade, you can receive a LinkedIn write-up, a second resume version, thank you and follow-up notes and cold emails to recruiters.

“Have you applied to dozens of jobs, only to never get through?” Conklin questioned. “If this resonates because your resume is not optimized for ATS platforms, Resumeble might be the choice for you. Mention of ‘ATS,’ as well as their outcomes and ROI, are weaved throughout its site.”

Conklin told The Post that she’s seen many clients apply to dozens and dozens of companies, only to be vetted out due to ATS. “When that happens, I often advise networking to complement a revised, ATS-optimized resume.” she tipped off. “This brings me to one other noteworthy element to their various packages, they support your full professional profile; resume to LinkedIn to recruiter communication support.”

For those who want to spend less than $200 for online resume writing services, this all-in-one option is fairly priced, making it one of the best affordable resume writing services. If you’re only looking to refresh your LinkedIn, you’ll just pay a one-time $99 fee. For just your resume, it’s a one-time purchase of $129 for the service.

Best Customizable: BrandResumes

BrandResumes

  • Has a self pace job search course
  • Helpful step by step resume building guide
  • Some customers who reviewed the service on Trustpilot report time delays in receiving their resume

BrandResumes made the cut as one of our top choices for online resume services for a few reasons: it’s one of the platforms best for ATS keyword optimization and formatting for interviews, LinkedIn branding and a customizable interface. If you buy the deluxe package, you’ll have your resume distributed across the 60 top job boards (including industry-specific ones), so you’ll spend less time applying.

“Learning the fundamentals of resume writing is a skill that will carry you throughout your career, and BrandResumes offers courses and resources to accomplish just that,” Conklin highlighted. “Once you understand how to format a strong bullet point, or the style you find reflects your story and values, you can start crafting various resumes to appeal to different audiences and fields.”

BrandResumes also offers resources to launch your own resume writing business — a tool that can be valuable for career experts seeking professional resume writing services. “If you’re seeking to dig into how to revamp your resume, or you find yourself (like many in HR or career services) consistently asked to help a friend or family member with their materials, this service will align with your goals,” she added.

Best with Career Consulting: TopStack Resume

TopStack Resume

  • Pay only after you’re satisfied with the resume
  • According to TopStack Resume’s site, resume complete takes up to 2 weeks

TopStack Resume is a force to be reckoned with in the career development sphere. Notably, it’s one of the only services that provides career consulting. So, in addition to resume and cover letter formatting, you have the option to partake in one-on-one sessions with a career advisor.

“Five steps is all you need to follow for your resume review by TopStack,” Conklin put it simply. “The simplicity of this service and the range of offerings (from a resume for $139 to career consulting for its Premium Package ) can be valuable for any job seeker or career explorer.”

Moreover, if you find yourself in need of more career support, maybe you’re changing fields or returning to work after time off, this is a strong contender. “Be mindful of your budget and timeline, so you take full advantage of a career consultant; a solid service should focus on the process, as much as a strong career outcome,” she added.

Plus, TopStack Resume is unique in that it has a team of well-qualified writers to ensure your one-pager is the best it can be. At a fair price point, you can always upgrade to add on more benefits in the future.

Best for Quick Hiring: ZipJob

ZipJob

  • Fairly priced for the quality and swiftness of deliverables
  • Optimizes for ATS so you’ll have better odds of visibility before your resume lands in human hands
  • May be more difficult to ask for revisions if need be, due to the service’s robust turnaround time and automation

While no resume writing service can guarantee you landing your dream job, ZipJob has a unique offering in one of its packages that makes it a standout from the rest.

Ideal for candidates who are rapidly seeking their next role in a flash, ZipJob combines expert resume writers with the exact same tech employers to optimize your one-pager. The kicker? Its most popular plan, Fast Track, includes a professionally written resume, ATS optimization and direct writer messaging — but that’s not all.

Impressively, the Fast Track package for $189 also includes a cover letter and a 60-day interview guarantee. That’s how confident ZipJob is that you’ll get hired, and get hired quickly.

For $299, its Premium package includes a LinkedIn profile update to help maximize your chances and expedited delivery for super speed. If you want swiftness but don’t wish to compromise the quality of your application, you won’t have to worry with ZipJob.

Best One-on-One Collaboration: Upwork

Upwork

  • Several projects to choose from with unique writing strengths you may desire
  • Typically budget-friendly
  • Some options will have your resume written in only one business day
  • Price points vary and quality of work varies depending on which project provider you select, so take caution and read reviews before working with a given person

Individual-driven platforms like Upwork allow you to shop around for a resume writing service that matches your specific needs and budget. Similar to platforms like Skillshare where talented, qualified creators host a course offering or a service, Upwork allows you to select from a variety of different projects where you’ll have one-on-one attention. Consider it akin to being matched with an online counselor.

Generally budget-friendly, most of Upwork’s providers only take one business day to deliver. The majority of providers also have thousands of positive, near-five-star reviews, so it’s surely a service to consider.

The one downside to Upwork is that quality of work may differ slightly, though that’s a given with its platform structure. This differs from some other services like TopResume where the company at large has its own writing structure, so it’s just something to take note of. However, for its affordability and speed, it’s a great dip into the pool of resume writing and related services, without spending more on a professional-grade platform.

Best for Cover Letters: ResumeSpice

ResumeSpice

  • The baseline package offers a lot more than competitors, including phone consult, optimized draft and two edits
  • Cover and thank-you letters are added to packages at an additional charge

ResumeSpice is ready to add that much-needed spice to your resume. It doesn’t just provide three different package options, but it specifically tells you which one would work best for you. For example, if you have no more than two years in the workforce, you should select its baseline package ($449). This package includes a phone consultation, an eye-catching resume format, keyword optimization, a personalized draft, two rounds of revisions based on your feedback and finalized versions in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

“Solid service is evident across ResumeSpice, and its focus on Executive Resume stands out from others,” Conklin pinpointed. “If you find yourself wanting to get to that next level in your career, you really do need to consider an executive coach with an eye towards that goal for your materials.”

You might, for example, realize you have decades of experience and are unsure where to start to consolidate — Conklin offered. “This is one of the most frequent concerns when making this transition, and a third party like ResumeSpice can be an invaluable resource and sounding board,” she added. “Finally, its site is clear in terms of turnaround, which shows they value your time and manage expectations — a positive sign on what you can expect service-wise.”

ResumeSpice offers other à la carte services, too, including cover letter help, LinkedIn profile revamping, interview preparation and career coaching.

Best Budget: Craft Resumes

Craft Resumes

  • Unlimited revisions
  • 5 day delivery
  • Some reviewers mention time delays

Craft Resumes has an engaging, user-friendly interface that makes resume-building a fun, less stressful process. With ATS keyword optimization and a dedicated writer on your resume, rest assured that it will be in a healthy state to pass along to recruiters and job posters.

“Craft Resumes cleary focus on the ‘craft’ and design of writing resumes, where a distinguishing factor that caught my eye is their unlimited evaluation ‘at any reason’ for four days,” Conklin said, recommending the service. “This is valuable for job or graduate school seekers and career explorers, as you’ll likely have questions once you find an opportunity of interest.”

Similar to other services here, there is a one-on-one aspect that can be quite valuable, especially if you have the time. “There are also a variety of services and prices, not just resume writing,” she noted. “This is helpful for you budget, and evolving needs. Often times once you get a resume underway you start to realize that you’ll want other materials to be updated and aligned with your personal brand.”

For its most popular package, The Basic, you’ll have access to a single writer and unlimited revisions (which is a score compared to some other services on this list), strong and optimized words, unique formatting and a cover letter to increase your chances of landing an interview. However, Craft Resumes has other great packages worth exploring.

Best Resume Writing: Let’s Eat, Grandma Resume Service

Let's Eat, Grandma Resume Service

  • Consultation included with every package
  • Executive Concierge Service that includes 10 days of unlimited revisions
  • Quality writers and customer service, based off reviews
  • No academic CVs or federal resumes

Humorous name aside, resume service Let’s Eat, Grandma has a laser focus on punctuation (as you can tell because nobody intends to write that they’d like to eat their grandmother on a professional document) — as well as resume formatting. What’s great about this platform, specifically, is its vast packages, ranging from drafting your resume to offering cover letters and networking services to help boost your career trajectory.

“Let’s Eat, Grandma hones in immediately on its ‘custom-tailored’ approach,” Conklin said. “While every resume review should be tailored to account for your story (as mentioned above), it’s clear this is a value of this service. Client outcomes are also front and center, where a mix of employers and schools are listed; this is notable if continuing education is a goal of yours.”

With four packages available, and FAQs on the homepage highlighting its range (i.e. academic, federal government and more), Conklin appreciates how it’s clear that this service is distinguishing itself from others, especially given the range of specialty materials they can help you create. 

What’s more, you’ll be assisted by a team of highly skilled writers who create targeted documents to help boost your chances of getting an interview. They’ll also speak to your unique strengths — and, therefore, amplify them on your resume — to tie your entire professional portfolio of experience together. They also have a package tailored for executives, making the platform a solid option for those needing executive resume writing services.

Which resume service is best?

The golden question, right? This depends mostly on your career goals. A range of services are available, and many are now even offered through LinkedIn. 

“When considering a resume service, it is important to consider the extent of guidance you are seeking,” Conklin, who has 15 years of experience in higher education — told The Post.

“Are you overhauling your resume? Are you transitioning industries and need to consider a different format or approach? What are your financial resources to pay for one, or should you explore services offered from your alma mater or current institution if you are a current or graduate of higher education?,” she questioned.

You’ll also want to consider the resume services’ reputation, Conklin suggested: Are there reviews or endorsements of a service, especially if you are paying for one? What is the background, and is the resume service aligned with your industry of interest? 

Is it worth paying for a resume service?

“It depends on the service and one’s circumstances as to whether it is ‘worth’ paying for the service,” Conklin said. “There are very reputable services out there, especially for more experienced career seekers. If you’re transitioning to a new field, or you are seeking to move to a senior or executive level, it could definitely be worth the cost.”

As a preliminary step, Conklin advised to really make sure you are an informed consumer when considering a resume service, and if you should pay or if you have a network or connections you can leverage for advice first. 

How much does it cost to have someone write your resume?

“When an individual pays for a resume service, there may be a flat rate, or it is calculated on an hourly rate and requires at least two sessions,” Conklin explained. “For example, it could cost $150 for a single session.”

However, there are resume services that can significantly exceed that rate and are part of a package that might include a quick return and other support, from LinkedIn to interview coaching, that is over $600, she highlights.

What to include on your resume, according to an expert

“Your story is the focus of your resume, and it is critical to be honest and reflect on how you want to tell that, ultimately,” Conklin noted. “The order also depends on the stage of your career (early, mid, senior, executive) and the industry you are seeking.”

In academia, for example, you’ll see a curriculum vitae (CV) that is pages long to reflect one’s research, publications, and roles held. In financial services, you would have a one-page resume until you have significant work experience. Or, in the creative fields, you may have a one-page resume and then an online portfolio or website that exhibits your work to complement your resume, she explains.

“No matter the field you are pursuing, you always want to make sure you list your experiences in reverse chronological order, you include your education/training, think of the keywords and skills (and make sure those are prominently displayed and included), and also think of what is most relevant,” she listed. “The most relevant should be at the top.”

It is also key to consider Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), automated review systems that scan resumes as part of an organization’s vetting process. “The format could align or cause issues with an ATS system,” Conklin added. “This is why it’s important to do your research, leverage any connections you have to gain insights into a field and their preferred format and get advice on keywords, skills and experiences to include.”

“If you do your homework, you should find clues to answer the questions above and guide your resume writing approach,” Conklin shared.

How we chose resume services

At Post Wanted, here’s what we keep in mind when researching and hand-selecting resume services:

  • Customization : The best online resume services offer tailored resumes with personalized resume writing, in contrast to generic templates you can find for free.
  • Consultation : Some services offer a one-on-one consultation with your writer so they can scope out your specific attributes, career highlights and other aspects to your curriculum vitae you want to spotlight.
  • Comprehensive Packages : In addition to resumes, some services offer cover letters, LinkedIn profile optimization and career coaching. To some, this is worth the investment, though it may come with a higher price tag.
  • ATS Optimization : A great benefit to online resume services is the focus on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), as human recruiters typically use this software use these screening systems before it lands in their hands.
  • Turnaround Time : For some, there’s no time to be wasted when it comes to hunting for a new job. Looking at flexibility and speed is important; some services offer rush options for individuals who need a complete and optimized resume quickly.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance . We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products , and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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  • How to Make a Resume

Creating a standout resume might seem daunting, but it’s your key to landing that dream job. Your resume is more than just a list of jobs; it’s your personal marketing tool that highlights your skills, experiences, and achievements in a way that attracts potential employers. Nowadays it’s everyone’s concern how to make a resume that is ATS friendly and reflects your skills and knowledge.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to build a resume that gets noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. We’ll cover resume templates , effective resume formats , and tips for writing powerful resume bullet points. Building your resume is crucial for different job applications, how to highlight your professional experience and the best ways to list your education and certifications.

How-to-Make-a-Great-Resume-in-2022-Complete-Guide-For-Beginners

Table of Content

What is a Resume

Why a resume is important.

Before, moving on to how to write a resume even if you’re a fresher and have no experience, let us understand what is resume and why it is important.

A resume is a concise document that summarizes your skills , experiences , and achievements to showcase your qualifications for a job. Understanding resume writing how to is essential for creating a compelling resume that stands out. When learning how a resume is written, it’s important to focus on formatting, clarity, and relevance. Effective resume writing involves choosing the right structure, highlighting your most significant accomplishments , and tailoring the content to the job you’re applying for. By mastering how to write a resume, you can create a powerful tool that captures the attention of potential employers and helps you advance in your career.

If you want paychecks, you’ve to sell yourself first and a resume is that one tool or document that lists out your features and USPs that will help you to sell yourself in the job market. Within one or two pages, a resume convinces recruiters if they want to call you for a job interview or not. (That much power your resume holds)

So, if you want to bag your first interview or want to interview at your dream company or for a dream job role , it’s very important for you to write a strong and power-packed resume with correct keywords and relevant skills that will persuade recruiters to hit “I want to interview you” button. 

How to Make a Resume (Full Guide)

Choose your desired resume format.

  • Reverse chronological resume format
  • Functional or Skilled Focused resume format
  • Hybrid Format
  • Dos and Don’ts of Resume Layout 
  • What resume format is best for ATS

Most people have two options when it comes to getting an interview call – A++ top-tier level resume or an “I know someone here” referral. No matter which group you belong to, it’s important to up your resume game and understands the strategies that are used to land an interview from your dream company within a week, if not days. Before you dive into the resume-building process, you have to decide on the right resume format that will take you up the ladder. If you’ve already decided to write your resume on a text editor like MS Word, it’s highly recommended you should keep your HANDS OFF from them. 

Formatting your resume on a basic text editor will not waste your time but also your effort. We recommend that you should use a resume builder tool like GeeksforGeeks Online Resume Builde r – Free. Our resume builder is fast, simple, and free to use. Moving onto resume formats that you can use to format your resume. 

There are three types of resume formats: reverse chronological, functional or skills-based, and hybrid. You should choose the format that suits the type of job you are applying for and your level of experience.

Types of Resume Formats

1) Reverse chronological Resume Format – This highlights your career advancement and emphasizes the relevant job experience. It’s an absolute fan favorite of recruiters. However, it doesn’t show your skills much so if you’re someone with highly relevant job experience, you can opt for this resume format.

How-to-make-a-resume-

Reverse chronological Resume Format

2) Functional/skills-based Resume Format – Are you a fresher with no job experience? Opt for a functional or skill-based resume format if you have skills to brag about but no relevant work experience. 

How-to-make-a-resume--2

Functional/skills-based Resume Format

3) Hybrid Resume Format – Now, this resume format is preferred by most recruiters and loved by job seekers with diverse skillsets and job experience. It combines the best elements of both reverse chronological and functional resume format and provides space for the right keyword. 

If you’re wondering which resume format is best for ATS, go for the reverse chronological resume format. When it comes to resume layout, you need to mind these tips while formatting your resumes:

  • Page Count: Keep your resume to one page. Max 2 if you’ve 7+ of experience and it’s relevant to your job role. Recruiters get 1000+ resumes every day and it gets tough to go through resumes with more than 2 pages. 
  • Heading Tag: If you’re choosing an H1 tag or an H2 tag to write your headlines in your resume, then ensure that all headlines have the same tag.
  • White space: Keep enough white space in your resume. Negative space is needed to make your resume look professional.
  • PDF or Word: Download your resume as a PDF document as it can be read by most ATS. If the job description mentions that you need to send the doc file as a .doc, then send your resume like that as old ATS can’t read PDF files.

 Add your contact information

The most important and overlooked section of your resume is the contact information section which is right under your name. Even if you write everything correctly but haven’t provided your contact details, HRs can’t reach out to you even if they want to contact you. Ensure that everything on your contact information is up to date and triple-check the details if needed. 

Things that you should include are: 

  • First Name / Last Name – Mention the name that is provided on your social security card or if you’re in India, it should match the name that’s provided on your PAN card or Aadhaar card.
  • Phone Number – Only provide the phone number that is reachable.
  • Email Address – Don’t provide an unprotected email address. Your email address should be like this: “[email protected]”. Avoid providing email addresses like [email protected], [email protected]
  • Location – Your residential address should be the same as the one where you stay or relocated.
  • Social Media URLs – If you’re a software developer, mention your Github profile. If you’re a designer, then Behance profile and if you’re a writer, provide your personal blog that showcases your abilities. Don’t forget to include your LinkedIn account as most recruiters go through LinkedIn to see your online presence. 

Write a Resume Headline that Can Stand You Out From the Crowd

A resume headline is a short, one-line statement that conveys who you are as a candidate. It is important to write a headline that grabs the recruiter’s attention and encourages them to read your qualifications in more depth. Your resume headline is often the first thing recruiters read so impress them within seconds by writing a short and concise headline. Keep it relevant to your job skills and make sure that you put the right keywords that are relevant to the job posting .

Some resume headlines examples for you to check out:

  • Goal-Oriented Senior Accountant with 6+ Years of Accounting Experience in XYZ Company.
  • Successful Manager of Dozens of Online Marketing Campaigns
  • Award-Winning Video Editor Skilled in Web Design and Video Editing
  • Detail-Oriented History Student with Curatorial Experience

Include a professional summary

The first impression is your last impression. This phrase stands true to date. An effective resume introduction can make or break you no matter what type of job you’re applying for. Your summary or objective can give the opportunity to impress the recruiter so carefully write your resume summary/objective. Don’t know where to write a resume summary or objective? We got you covered.

A resume summary is a 2-3 sentence summary of your working experience. Unless you’re a recent college grad or changing careers, you should use a resume summary in almost any scenario.

On the other hand, a resume objective implies the goal of your resume. It conveys why you want to work in that particular field and the motivation behind it. When writing a resume summary, include an objective of 2-3 lines. If you’re changing your career or have no significant work experience, make sure to write a resume objective.

Add your work experience

  • If you’re a fresher, keep the education section at the top, and if you’re an experienced person or did work in FAANG companies or big coming, then put work experience at the top.
  • If you’re a backend intern, make sure you’re writing the designation as a software engineering intern. 
  • Make sure you’re covering up your tasks in 2-3 points.

Now we’re down to the most important part of the resume – work experience . If an add sells a product with just a few words, your resume does the same with you by selling you on the basis of your past work experience and achievements. Learning to write this section is a bit tough but once you master writing the perfect work experience section, 80% work is done here and after this you will know how to write and resume. So, let’s see how to list your work experience: Your work experience should be written in reverse chronological order as ATS can scan reverse chronological resume format easily.

It should be something like this:

Job title | Company Name | Date of employment 

Accomplishments & Achievements

  • Job title: Keep it on top of your resume so that recruiters can easily see what position you’re applying for.
  • Company name: Mention the company you are working in or working for.
  • Date of employment: Mention the timeframe of your employment in all the companies you worked for. Ensure that format is like this – dd/mm/yyyy. It is important to mention as ATS parses it only then.
  • Accomplishments and achievements: This is where you mention your core achievements that will in turn bag you – your dream job. List your achievements or responsibilities according to your job role.
  • If you’re a fresher, keep the education section at the top and if you’re an intern or worked in FAANG companies or big companies, then make sure to put the work experience section at the top.
  • If you’re a backend intern, instead of writing your job title as “Backend Intern”, write it as a “Software Engineering Intern”. You should always write the job title mentioned in the job description.
  • Don’t write 10-15 points covering your job responsibilities. Recruiters don’t have the time to go through all of the responsibilities. Keep it to 2-3 points max.
  • Mention achievements in terms of how exactly you helped the company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on. Numbers play a big role when it comes to convincing your future employers what exactly you achieved.

Mention your Soft and Hard Skills

Now that you mastered writing your work experience section, it’s time to dive into your skills section. There’re 2 types of skills:

  • Soft Skills: These are your personal skills like social skills, communication skills, personal traits, career attributes, leadership, critical thinking, and management.
  • Hard/Technical Skills: Hard Skills are measurable skills that you can measure like how proficient you’re in that particular skill. The use of technical skills frequently requires specialized tools and the technologies needed to use them.

A good resume should cover both. However, it’s highly advisable that you should mention those skills in which you’re fluent and not just at a beginner level. To know more about how to list your key technical skills, read our article 7 Key Technical Skills to List on Your Resume in 2022 .

Once you list your hard skills with your experience level, double-check your skills section and remove any skill you feel you’re not confident in and don’t LIE even if your life depends on it. Lying about skills can get you in serious trouble later on and can get you blacklisted too.

Include your education

The next section is all about your educational background, achievements, and projects. We’ll keep it short and concise for you. List your educational background in this way:

  • Program Name. E.g.: “MBA in Marketing”
  • University Name. E.g.: “Mumbai University”
  • Years Attended. E.g.: “06/2019-05/2021”
  • (Optional) CGPA. E.g.: “CGPA: 8”
  • (Optional) Academic achievements. If you have written any interesting papers or excelled in any courses, do describe them.

Let’s move on to some tips that will help you perfect your educational background, achievement, and project section:

  • Only keep the last 2 educational qualifications or examinations you’ve given.
  • Only add those projects which are relevant to your job opening – projects which have more number of features.
  • Projects to list- API-based projects, Portfolio-based projects, and Full-stack projects.
  • Add as many numbers as you can while listing achievements – add your highest ranking in CP or the highest number of problems you solved on GeeksforGeeks or XYZ. 
  • Don’t add intra-college achievements as it put forth a negative impression on recruiters.
  • Don’t add “President of the xxx club” if you’re applying for tech roles. 

Mention Other Sections (Optional)

All the sections we’ve covered are must-haves but there are a few more sections that are optional and don’t hold much significance. These are like booster sections that can give you an extra wow effect.

The following sections can be added to your resume:

  • Languages – If you’re multilingual and can be handy with different languages, do mention that in your resume. However, avoid mentioning language that you’re not proficient in as it can get you in trouble later on if you’re not able to help your colleagues when they require your help with the said language.
  • Hobbies and Interests – Have extra space in your resume? Add up your hobbies and interests. It shows how you’re as an individual.
  • Volunteering Experiences – Some studies show that volunteering has a greater impact on hiring. It shows that you’re an empathetic person by nature and can be loyal to the company. 
  • Courses, Certifications, and Awards – Do you have any certifications or awards that can show you off and is relevant to the job position you applied for? Note them down in the resume as it shows your expertise in the said field.

Customize Your Resume According to the Job Posting

We’re almost at the end of the article. It’s time to format your resume in such a way that ATS can scan your resume smoothly. To understand the term ATS better , you should know ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System . It is software used to manage the entire application process for employers. This system compiles, scans, and ranks all of the applications.

According to a survey done, 98% of Fortune companies are using ATS to scan their resumes. ATS segments resume into various sections: Work Experience , Education, Skills , etc. Next, it looks for precise keywords and qualifications to see if you fit the job description. So it’s important to tailor your resume as per the job description and for how to resume writing. Resumes that don’t comply with the basic requirements are automatically discarded. A job candidate’s resume is ranked based on its relevance (the best resume appears at the top of the recruiter’s pipeline).

Proofread Your Resume With Correct Formatting

Now that you’re done with your resume writing task, it’s time to do the most important task – Proofread your resume. Here’s the checklist we’ve for you:

  • Resume fonts – Stick to Ubuntu, Roboto, Overpass, or traditional fonts like Helvetica, Garamond, or Georgia. Your font should be 10-11 and don’t ever go with Comic Sans (only if you want to look like a joker)
  • Check tenses – Describe the current work you are doing in the present tense, and use the past tense to describe jobs from the past.
  • Resume action words – Use resume action words like “Chaired”, “Controlled”, “Executed”
Also Read: Free Online Resume Builder By GeeksforGeeks – Create Your Resume Now! 10 steps to write an Effective Resume Resume Building – Resources and Tips

In conclusion, learning how to write a resume resume is a crucial step in advancing your career and landing your desired job. Start by selecting a clean and professional format , then focus on highlighting your key skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Tailor each section to the job you’re applying for, ensuring that your qualifications align with the employer’s needs. Building your resume is very beneficial for you so remember to use clear and concise language, and proofread your resume to eliminate any errors. By following these steps, you can create a resume that effectively showcases your strengths and sets you apart from other candidates, increasing your chances of success in the job market.

How to Build a Resume – FAQs

How can i write resume.

You can write your resume by following the methods given above or you can also use any resume templates that will help you a lot.

How to Resume Writing?

Resume writing can be done by some of the points given below: Choose the Right Format Start with a Strong Header Craft a Compelling Summary or Objective Detail Your Work Experience

How can I write a simple resume?

To write a simple resume, use a clean format with clear headings. Include your contact information, a brief summary, your work experience, education, and relevant skills. Keep it concise and focused on your most important qualifications.

How to write a resume for a job?

To write a resume for a job, tailor it to the specific position by highlighting relevant experience and skills. Start with your contact details, followed by a strong summary, detailed work history, education, and a skills section. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements where possible.

What are the 7 basic steps to writing a resume?

Here are the basic steps: Choose the Right Format Start with a Strong Header Write a Compelling Summary Detail Your Work Experience Highlight Your Skills Include Your Education Proofread and Edit

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Top 12 Resume Writing Services to Boost Your Career in 2024

Discover the top 12 resume writers of 2024 enhance your career with expert-crafted resumes that stand out. find the best writer to elevate your job search..

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12 Best Resume Writing Services 

Superstar resume - best resume writing service overall, zipjob - best for streamlines resume writing process, resumeble - best for achieving career success with customized resumes, klaxos - best for enhancing your resume's impact, resume writing - best for customized resumes & cover letters, resume folks - best for budget-friendly resume services, your resume partners - best for comprehensive and personalized resume services, five star resume - best for personalized service, careerclout - best for executive and professional resumes, rising star resumes - best for job seekers, your next jump - best for comprehensive career services, myer resumes - best for professional and technical resumes.

  (credit: PR)

Best Resume Writing Services – FAQs

What are resume writing services, why should i use a resume-writing service, how much do resume writing services cost, how do i choose the best resume-writing service.

  • Reputation : Look for reviews and testimonials from past clients
  • Experience : Check if the writers have experience in your industry or profession
  • Services Offered : Ensure the service offers what you need, such as cover letters or LinkedIn profile updates
  • Turnaround Time : Confirm how long it will take to receive your resume
  • Guarantees : Some services offer guarantees, such as multiple revisions or a satisfaction guarantee

Can a Resume Writing Service Help With My LinkedIn Profile?

What information do i need to provide to a resume writing service.

  • Current Resume : If you have one, provide your current resume for reference
  • Job History : Detailed information about your past jobs, including responsibilities and achievements
  • Education : Information about your educational background
  • Target Job : The type of job you are seeking, including any specific job postings you are interested in
  • Additional Skills : Any certifications, languages, or skills that are relevant to your desired position

How Long Does It Take to Get a Resume From a Writing Service?

Will using a resume writing service guarantee me a job, are there resume-writing services that specialize in certain industries, can i request revisions if i’m not satisfied with my resume.

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  14. Resume Power Words: 120 Words That Will Get You Hired

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  30. Top 12 Resume Writing Services to Boost Your Career in 2024

    Discover the top 12 resume writers of 2024! Enhance your career with expert-crafted resumes that stand out. Find the best writer to elevate your job search.