Take a blank piece of paper and give it its first breath of life. This isn't as easy as it sounds. If you shape and mold it the right way, your resume will become a vital sales piece for you, a document that presents your accomplishments and says "Read me!" to any prospective employer. If you don't put this next necessary effort into your resume, it will become just another dull, ineffectual resume that gets put to one side of someone's desk.
This article looks at the writing style you will use-the words and phrases you will select to make your resume lively and informative. Here are some basic guidelines you can follow:
- Use action words in short, clearly written phrases.
- Use the minimum number of words necessary to convey accurately what you wish to say.
- Select words that will mean something to the person who will read your resume. Use the jargon of your chosen field where appropriate.
- Avoid introductory phrases such as "my duties included" or "I was in charge of the section which. . . ." Start right out with the key benefits you can convey to an employer- such things as:
- Saved $100,000.
- Designed a better system.
- Organized political campaign.
- Created community programs.
6. Avoid extraneous information and don't try to convey too many ideas at once. You'll only dilute your key selling points.
7. Always keep the needs of a potential employer in mind, put them ahead of your own desires and concerns
Some Words and Phrases to Use
Create some of the phrases you could actually use in your resume. Following is a sample list of effective words to use in your resume. They are powerful, action-oriented words.
Designed was awarded expanded
Improved prepared presented
Researched maintained negotiated
Implemented oversaw organized
Trained handled operated
Established taught evaluated
Supervised directed exhibited
Analyzed developed supported
Contracted reduced costs reorganized
Invented planned cut
Administered wrote edited
Conducted managed produced
Was promoted sold created contacted
Notice how well these words can be used to introduce good resume phrases:
- Reorganized the entire work flow of the office, increasing output significantly
- Oversaw maintenance of $3 million worth of equipment.
- Wrote four publications in the field.
- Maintained all department sales records and performance targets.
- Developed new procedures to . . .
- Prepared bibliography on environmental hazards.
- Handled finances, organized meetings, and directed activities of 50 men and women.
- Taught two undergraduate courses while completing Ph.D. work.
- Designed and implemented innovative inventory system.
- Cut production time by 20 percent.
- Created a new product image and sold this concept to the marketing committee.
Designed established sold
Improved supervised planned
Researched analyzed organized
Implemented wrote evaluated
Trained conducted was promoted
Before you move on, take time to review some of the job advertisements to see what words and phrases potential employers are using in their ads. See if you want to incorporate some of these words into the resume, which you're now ready to start writing.
