Most recruiters look over resumes at speed, in less than 10 seconds, and applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and phrases. One way to make your resume stand out for all the right reasons is to include power words. Power words will distinguish your resume from the rest of the pile. They are used intentionally and in a way that is specific to the role you have applied for. By comparison, outdated jargon and buzzwords have the opposite effect, revealing a lack of up-to-date understanding of the role and industry. Find out more about the use of buzzwords in your resume by reading Buzzwords: The Good and The Bad. Generally, power words can be split into:
Skills: These might be general skills that employers value in all employees or, more specifically, the skills needed for the job you are applying for. An easy way to discover these skills, and their exact wording, is to scour the job advert and/or description. Action verbs: Action verbs demonstrate how you have succeeded in your current and past roles and point to your likelihood of success and achievement in the future. Action verbs include ‘accomplished’, ‘improved’, ‘consolidated’, ’exceeded’ and ‘initiated’. Company standards/values: How does the company you are applying to talk about itself? What values does it express? What is its core message? For example, the company might express an intention to innovate through disruption or have a culture of diverse inclusivity. Industry/role-specific terms: These are words that show you are familiar with the role you are applying for and the related industry and that you are at the right level of knowledge and experience for that role. For example, a senior IT developer is also likely to include action verbs that express their level of achievement and understanding, along with technical terminology specific to their role.
Including the right power words in your resume demonstrates that your skills and knowledge are relevant and current. Discover more about the skills that employers are interested in by reading our article Top 10 Skills to Show on Your Resume.
Why Are Power Words More Important Than Ever?
Including power words in your resume is nothing new. But why are they important for applicants in today’s job market? The type of language an applicant uses, including the right power words, can express whether that individual:
Will be a good fit for the role, for the company and for the team they will be part of. Has the right level of understanding of the role beyond having the required skills and experience Shares the values of the employer
A well-thought-out resume can also demonstrate that the applicant has excellent communication and presentation skills. Improve the presentation of your application by considering The Best Resume Fonts to use.
Increasing Competition
According to the job and employer review website, Glassdoor, US corporate job vacancies attract an average of 250 resumes per vacancy, with only four to six of those applicants being called to interview. For many other roles, the average number of resumes per vacancy is even higher. A carefully considered resume, written specifically for the role you are applying for and including relevant power words, is often the step-up you need to stand above the competition.
Use Of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Also known as applicant management systems, one key use of an ATS is to search for specific words and phrases that are pertinent to the vacancy. For example:
A qualification or professional certification The same job title as the vacancy advertised Relevant skills Industry keywords
Including the right power words in your resume can make the difference between being flagged up as a ‘yes’ or at least a ‘next stage’ by an ATS, or ending the journey on the immediate ‘no’ pile. We can tell you more about how to handle this step of the application process in our article Applicant Tracking Systems.
Top 12 Power Words to Use On Your Resume
The specific power words you include in your resume will depend on your career path, the vacancy you apply for and the industry you work within, but here are our top 12 power words to use:
1. ‘Value’
When an employer, or their recruiter, reads your resume, not only do they want to check that you have the correct skills, experience and training to fulfill the position, but also they want to know that you will bring value to the company. Including the power word ‘value’ in your resume is a good way to flag up that you have already added value in your current and previous jobs and are aware of the value you would bring to your new job. For example: Using ‘redesigned’ in your resume demonstrates that you can re-think a process or find a new way to do something. For example: Demonstrate that you already have leadership skills in your descriptions of your current and past roles. For example: In the same way that you might include a skills section, you may also wish to have an achievements section, but using the active verb ‘achieved’ in the content of your job history may save space. For example:
5. ‘Mentored’
This again flags up your leadership potential. The fact that you have mentored others, whether in a work environment or perhaps as a volunteer, shows that you have the personality and skills to be of more value to the company than simply the role you have applied to. For example: For example: Using ‘won’ in your resume, just like ‘achieved’, points to your successes and accomplishments. For example: For example: Much of the way we learn in our job is through testing solutions to see if they work, followed by measurement of the results and reflection. For example: Using the word ‘resolved’ in your resume shows that you have this problem finding and solving skills and can also see a project or task through to its conclusion. For example: When you use ‘upheld’ in your resume, you demonstrate loyalty and trustworthiness. For example: This points to leadership and problem-identification skills. For example:
Do Your Research and Reflect
Do your research before you apply for a vacancy by examining:
The job advert The job description Any accompanying letter or information The company website and social media
Find out the exact requirements for the job, the type of words that the company expresses itself in and the company’s values. Now reflect on how you can choose the best word for your resume to match both the job and the company.
Be Specific
Each time you apply for a new job, your resume should be altered to express your suitability for that role. It might be that you place the focus on different skills and experiences or change the tone of voice to appeal to the culture of a specific employer. Alter your resume, including the power words you use, with that one role in mind.
Do Not Stuff Your Resume With Power Words
Now that you know about power words, the temptation might be to use as many as possible within your one or two pages, resulting in a busy and possibly unreadable mess. The page limit of a resume demands that you write concisely and give consideration to what you include. Power words are more powerful when used effectively and with constraint.
Words to Avoid
The antithesis of a power word, in this context, is an over-used, cliched word or phrase. Using terms such as ‘self-motivated’ or ‘hard worker’ in a resume may be an honest claim, but they also point to a candidate who is unwilling to put any real thought into their application. Other words and phrases to avoid include:
Go-getter Think outside the box Synergy Results driven Driven
Or any buzzword term that sounds as if it has been stripped from a business book.
Read It Aloud
Yes, the recruiter may well use an ATS to scan your resume or skim-read it at a glance, but inevitably it will end up on the desk of the employer. Once you feel that your resume is complete, read it aloud. If there are any phrases or sentences that you stumble over, re-word them. Make your resume easy to read for anyone, whether it is a recruiter, an ATS or a prospective employer.
Final Thoughts
In today’s competitive job market, every aspect of your application must be optimized to demonstrate that you are the best candidate for whatever vacancy you apply for. Your resume is the jewel in your application crown. Use the right power words in the best way possible to make that jewel shine. Interested in learning more about writing your resume? Visit our CV/Resume Resource.
