Best Practices for resume and cover letter writing Section 4: Power verbs:
Better Keywords that you can use in writing your CV / Resume
Planning
Example: Developed & implemented a training program that resulted in a 45% increase in employee satisfaction
Administered Developed Formulated Prepared Revised
Anticipated Devised Identified Prioritized Strategize
Commissioned Evaluated Observed Researched Studied
Determined Forecasted Planned Reserved Tailored
Organizing
Example: Coordinated weekly office schedules for 8 employees
Acquired Cataloged Designated Logged Routed
Activated Centralized Designed Mapped out Scheduled
Adjusted Charted Dispatched Neatened Selected
Allocated Classified Established Obtained Secured
Altered Collected Facilitated Ordered Simplified
Appointed Committed Housed Organized Sought
Arranged Confirmed Implemented Procured Straightened
Assembled Contracted Incorporated Programmed Suggested
Assessed Coordinated Instituted Recruited Tracked
Assigned Customized Issued Rectified Tracked
Authorized Delegated Linked Retrieved
Executing
Example: Handled 20-35+ customer calls per shift regarding coverage changes, renewal rates and billing procedures
Acted Displayed Input Processed Sold
Administered Distributed Installed Produced Stocked
Carried out Entered Labored Proofed Transacted
Collected Exercised Merchandised Prospected
Completed Forwarded Operated Proved
Conducted Handled Performed Shipped
Supervising
Example: Developed and supervised the implementation of new computer filing system that reduced paper use by 35%
Adjusted Correlated Indexed Overhauled Screened
Analyzed Developed Judged Oversaw Set
Apportioned Discovered Licensed Policed Scrutinized
Assessed Established Maintained Prohibited Supervised
Certified Examined Measured Refined Supplied
Compared Explored Modified Regulated Tightened
Controlled Graded Monitored Reviewed Traced
Corrected Inspected Officiated Revised Updated
Leading
Example: Trained 20+ new employees in customer service policies over a 2-year period
Accelerated Elected Guided Mentored Spearheaded
Assumed Employed Hired Motivated Stimulated
Caused Empowered Influenced Originated Strengthened
Chaired Encouraged Initiated Pioneered Supervised
Changed Enlisted Inspired Promoted Trained
Conducted Envisioned Involved Raised Transformed
Directed Fostered Led Recognized for Visualized
Disproved Founded Managed Set goals
Getting Results
Example: Increased student participation by 25% over a 6-month period
Accomplished Constructed Ensured Hastened Minimized Reduced (losses)
Achieved Contributed Excelled Heightened Modernized Rejuvenated
Added Delivered Expanded Improved Obtained Renovated
Advanced Demonstrated Expedited Increased Opened Restored
Attained Diminished Extended Innovated Orchestrated Targeted
Augmented Earned Finalized Integrated Overcame Uncovered
Boosted Eclipsed Fulfilled Introduced Prevailed
Built Eliminated Gained Invented Produced
Combined Enlarged Generated Joined Qualified
Completed Enjoyed Grew Launched Realized
Consolidated Enlisted Guaranteed Lightened Received
Problem Solving
Example: Streamlined ordering through the use of computer technology, decreasing wait time from 6-2 days
Alleviated Conceptualized Detected Found Repaired Solved
Analyzed Created Diagnosed Investigated Revamped Synthesized
Brainstormed Debugged Engineered Recommended Revitalized Theorized
Collaborated Decided Foresaw Remedied Revived
Conceived Deciphered Formulated Remodeled Satisfied
Quantitative
Example: converted files from COBAL to JAVA in order to increase compatibility with current systems
Accounted for Checked Dispensed Grossed Projected Tabulated
Appraised Compiled Dispersed Increased Purchased Totaled
Approximated Compounded Earned Inventoried Quantified
Audited Computed Enumerated Maximized Rated
Balanced Conserved Estimated Multiplied Reconciled
Budgeted Converted Figured Netted Recorded
Calculated Counted Financed Profited Reduced
Communicating
Example: Presented to groups of 30+ transfer students on a weekly basis concerning university policies and procedures
Acted Composed Elicited Justified Rendered Summarized
Adapted Consented Explained Lectured Reported Supplemented
Admitted Concluded Extracted Marketed Represented Supported
Addressed Convinced Fabricated Mediated Revealed Surveyed
Allowed Consulted Fashioned Moderated Sanctioned Synthesized
Amended Corresponded Greeted Negotiated Settled Systematized
Arbitrated Critiqued Highlighted Perceived Shaped Tested
Argued Dedicated Illustrated Persuaded Smoothed Taught
Ascertained Defined Improvised Presented Specified Translated
Attested Deliberated Indicated Publicized Spoke Transmitted
Briefed Demonstrated Inferred Queried Sold Verified
Clarified Drafted Informed Questioned Solicited Welcomed
Cleared up Dramatized Instructed Referred Submitted Wrote
Closed Edited Interpreted Reinforced Substantiated
Communicated Educated Interviewed Related Suggested
Helping
Example: Provided academic support for 30+ at-risk primary school students through comprehensive after-school program
Aided Bolstered Eased Familiarized Prescribed Returned
Accommodated Coached Elevated Helped Provided Saved
Advised Continued Enabled Interceded Protected Served
Alleviated Cooperated Endorsed Mobilized Rehabilitated Sustained
Assisted Counseled Enhanced Modeled Relieved Tutored
Assured Dealt Enriched Polished Rescued Validated
Click on “next page” below to Move to Best Practices for resume and cover letter writing Section 5:
Sample CVs: A look at some of the good CVs
( Junior – Mid – Senior Level )