Developing a resume is a job! You have to work to create a marketable document that is attractive to any organization. Those who do not invest in their future by purchasing professional resume development assistance -OR- the individuals who create their own and do not take the time to devise a “solid presentation of experience” fall short of the interview/hiring invitation. A couple bad practices I have witnessed are: misuse of words, minimum amount of keywords related to the industry, and formatting issues. But, the number one missed opportunity is the lack of action verbs utilized throughout the resume. Action verbs catch the attention of hiring managers because it provides a clear picture of what the applicant has accomplished while scanning over your resume, (your resume is hardly ever read completely). Remember, with your resume, you are trying to “show off” your accomplishments. Have confidence in yourself! This is about your work history, you earned those hard years of experience and it is time to step it up: get promoted, move to a more comfortable position, or transition into a new career.
For clarity, here are examples of a few action verbs that are eye catching:
Managed…
Generated…
Facilitated…
Responsible…(ummm no)
*NOTE*
When you are responsible for something, it means the duty is within your job scope and you should’ve performed the task, not that you have done it. Frankly, when you say, “Responsible for identifying misplaced inventory and…..”, it really doesn’t show that you performed the task (action). Consider this instead, “Identified misplaced inventory and….. Do you see the difference?
When it comes to resume development, you must remember to incorporate updated best practices at the same time, which is precisely why it becomes a job. It is wise to review, update, and change your resume on a monthly basis. If you were asked right now – at this moment to send your resume to a recruiter or hiring manager – is your resume ready to go? For a free list of action verbs that attract hiring personnel, click the tab “Career Services” on our homepage to provide an email.
