{"id":7242,"date":"2020-05-06T13:28:50","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T20:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/?p=7242"},"modified":"2021-08-25T22:37:16","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T05:37:16","slug":"job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/","title":{"rendered":"Job Search Tips: Top 15 Words to Include on Your Resume"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For many hiring managers, the wording of a candidate&#8217;s resume can make or break their chances of job search success. Using ineffective, misleading, or unvaried language leads to the rejection of as many as seven out of every ten applications for any given job posting [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessnewsdaily.com\/6972-resume-mistakes-fixes.html\">1<\/a>]. Consequently, job consultants frequently recommend learning what words to include on your resume to maximize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/the-job-search-and-the-little-white-lie\/\">job search<\/a> success rates.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_50 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-69ec1cbcde907\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69ec1cbcde907\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#Emphasize_Accomplishments_Over_ActionsDuties\" title=\"Emphasize Accomplishments Over Actions\/Duties\">Emphasize Accomplishments Over Actions\/Duties<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#How_to_Write_a_Resume_that%E2%80%99s_Accomplishment-Driven\" title=\"How to Write a Resume that&#8217;s Accomplishment-Driven\">How to Write a Resume that&#8217;s Accomplishment-Driven<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#2_Identifying_metrics_to_illustrate_job_performance\" title=\"2. Identifying metrics to illustrate job performance\">2. Identifying metrics to illustrate job performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#3_The_top_15_words_to_use_to_do_this_include\" title=\"3. The top 15 words to use to do this include:\">3. The top 15 words to use to do this include:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#Words_That_Are_Action-_Solution-Oriented\" title=\"Words That Are Action- &amp; Solution-Oriented\">Words That Are Action- &amp; Solution-Oriented<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#How_to_Frame_Accomplishments_as_Actions\" title=\"How to Frame Accomplishments as Actions\">How to Frame Accomplishments as Actions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#2_Frame_accomplishments_as_solutions\" title=\"2. Frame accomplishments as solutions\">2. Frame accomplishments as solutions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#3_The_top_15_words_to_use_to_do_this_include-2\" title=\"3. The top 15 words to use to do this include:\">3. The top 15 words to use to do this include:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#The_Best_Use_Of_Power_Words\" title=\"The Best Use Of Power Words\">The Best Use Of Power Words<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#Tips_when_using_Power_Words_in_Resume\" title=\"Tips when using Power Words in Resume\">Tips when using Power Words in Resume<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#1_Learn_the_most_high-value_power_words_in_the_industry\" title=\"1. Learn the most high-value power words in the industry\">1. Learn the most high-value power words in the industry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#2_Use_power_words_where_they_fit\" title=\"2. Use power words where they fit\">2. Use power words where they fit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#3_The_top_15_power_words_in_most_industries_include\" title=\"3. The top 15 power words in most industries include:\">3. The top 15 power words in most industries include:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/job-search-tips-top-15-words-to-include-on-your-resume\/#About_the_Author\" title=\"About the Author\">About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Emphasize_Accomplishments_Over_ActionsDuties\"><\/span>Emphasize Accomplishments Over Actions\/Duties<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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\u2019s value than any other wording [3].<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Write_a_Resume_that%E2%80%99s_Accomplishment-Driven\"><\/span>How to Write a Resume that&#8217;s Accomplishment-Driven<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>1. Breaking down daily tasks and responsibilities by the numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Productivity matters, and accomplishments tell a hiring manager more about potential value as an employee than just listing job duties.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Identifying_metrics_to_illustrate_job_performance\"><\/span><strong>2. Identifying metrics to illustrate job performance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>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].<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_top_15_words_to_use_to_do_this_include\"><\/span><strong>3. The top 15 words to use to do this include:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>\u201caccelerated,\u201d \u201cachieved,\u201d \u201caccomplished,\u201d \u201cchanged,\u201d \u201cdelivered,\u201d \u201cexceeded,\u201d \u201cexpanded,\u201d \u201cgenerated,\u201d \u201cgrew,\u201d \u201cimproved,\u201d \u201cmaximized,\u201d \u201cproduced,\u201d \u201csold,\u201d \u201csaved,\u201d \u201cstreamlined.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Words_That_Are_Action-_Solution-Oriented\"><\/span>Words That Are Action- &amp; Solution-Oriented<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Frame_Accomplishments_as_Actions\"><\/span>How to Frame Accomplishments as Actions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>1. Use action-focused language<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Action focused language elevates job seekers\u2019 accomplishments from simply being incidental results of stellar performance to intentional outcomes of persistence and dedication.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Frame_accomplishments_as_solutions\"><\/span><strong>2. Frame accomplishments as solutions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_top_15_words_to_use_to_do_this_include-2\"><\/span><strong>3. The top 15 words to use to do this include:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>\u201cadvised,\u201d \u201cassessed,\u201d \u201cbolstered,\u201d \u201cconsulted,\u201d \u201cdirected,\u201d \u201cfacilitated,\u201d \u201cguided,\u201d \u201cimplemented,\u201d \u201cinfluenced,\u201d \u201clead,\u201d \u201cmanaged,\u201d \u201coversaw,\u201d \u201cproved,\u201d \u201cresults\/resulting in.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Best_Use_Of_Power_Words\"><\/span>The Best Use Of Power Words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>More recently, \u201cpower words\u201d 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 &#8212; potentially improving manual reviewers&#8217; acceptance rates by as much as 20-30% &#8212; it is easy to overdo it [6].<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_when_using_Power_Words_in_Resume\"><\/span><strong>Tips when using Power Words in Resume<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Learn_the_most_high-value_power_words_in_the_industry\"><\/span><strong>1. Learn the most high-value power words in the industry<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Power words are most effective when you identify the power words most often present in job postings you&#8217;re interested in and practice mirroring them in relevant application materials [7].<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Use_power_words_where_they_fit\"><\/span><strong>2. Use power words where they fit<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>As with persuasive language, power words used to brag or mislead hiring managers often has negative effects.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_top_15_power_words_in_most_industries_include\"><\/span><strong>3. The top 15 power words in most industries include:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&#8220;administered,&#8221; &#8220;chaired,&#8221; &#8220;coordinated,&#8221; &#8220;controlled,&#8221; &#8220;devised,&#8221; &#8220;diagnosed,&#8221; &#8220;engineered,&#8221; &#8220;established,&#8221; &#8220;founded,&#8221; &#8220;influenced,&#8221; &#8220;launched,&#8221; &#8220;mobilized,&#8221; &#8220;remodeled,&#8221; &#8220;relaunched,&#8221; &#8220;transformed.&#8221;[8]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/important-things-you-need-to-include-in-your-resume\/\"><strong>Related Post: <\/strong>Important Things You Need To Include In Your Resume<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_Author\"><\/span><strong><em>About the Author<\/em><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Simon Chou<\/strong>\u00a0is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\">BCjobs.ca<\/a>. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development,\u00a0 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\u2019s also worked with fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many hiring managers, the wording of a candidate&#8217;s resume can make or break their chances of job search success. Using ineffective, misleading, or unvaried language leads to the rejection of as many as seven out of every ten applications for any given job posting [1]. Consequently, job consultants frequently recommend learning what words to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":7245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15,152,18],"tags":[357,386,387,388,190,389,390,189],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7242"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7242"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8032,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7242\/revisions\/8032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}