The post Job Search Tips: Top 15 Words to Include on Your Resume appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>Job consultants with hiring experience at the most competitive firms in the world agree: candidates making the most successful job searches make their resumes stand out with language that focuses on accomplishments, not just actions [2]. This is because about 40% of hiring managers spend fewer than 60 seconds reviewing any resume, so accomplishment-driven and numbers-based language offer the best chances of clearly communicating a candidate’s value than any other wording [3].
1. Breaking down daily tasks and responsibilities by the numbers
Productivity matters, and accomplishments tell a hiring manager more about potential value as an employee than just listing job duties.
Even in entry-level positions, it is possible to quantify performance. This includes, for example, number of customers helped per hour, number of projects managed at once, the average tipping percentage on severed tables, or the average customer rating for dedicated sales [4].
“accelerated,” “achieved,” “accomplished,” “changed,” “delivered,” “exceeded,” “expanded,” “generated,” “grew,” “improved,” “maximized,” “produced,” “sold,” “saved,” “streamlined.”
Given the above recommendations, it may be tempting to spend the duration of the resume boasting of superlative performance in every position. Yet job consultants also agree that nobody wants to hire a braggart, and the majority (75%) of hiring managers have caught a lie in a job seeker’s posturing [5, 3]. Candidates are therefore advised to frame accomplishments as actions taken to solve specific problems, particularly in ways that are familiar to the targeted hiring firm.
1. Use action-focused language
Action focused language elevates job seekers’ accomplishments from simply being incidental results of stellar performance to intentional outcomes of persistence and dedication.
An excellent resume identifies potential problems the hiring manager may be facing, then tailors the resume language to persuade them that you have relevant solutions.
“advised,” “assessed,” “bolstered,” “consulted,” “directed,” “facilitated,” “guided,” “implemented,” “influenced,” “lead,” “managed,” “oversaw,” “proved,” “results/resulting in.”
More recently, “power words” have gained traction among job seekers and job consultants alike. These words and phrases are rumored to dramatically increase the chances of making it past the lightning-quick initial resume review. This can lead to spending less time job searching and more time interviewing for new, better positions. While power words can prove helpful — potentially improving manual reviewers’ acceptance rates by as much as 20-30% — it is easy to overdo it [6].
Power words are most effective when you identify the power words most often present in job postings you’re interested in and practice mirroring them in relevant application materials [7].
As with persuasive language, power words used to brag or mislead hiring managers often has negative effects.
“administered,” “chaired,” “coordinated,” “controlled,” “devised,” “diagnosed,” “engineered,” “established,” “founded,” “influenced,” “launched,” “mobilized,” “remodeled,” “relaunched,” “transformed.”[8]
Related Post: Important Things You Need To Include In Your Resume
Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to BC Jobs, he served as a marketing advisor for high-profile blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM, and Ripple. He’s also worked with fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space.
The post Job Search Tips: Top 15 Words to Include on Your Resume appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
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