10 Pack-a-Punch Verbs to Include on Your Résumé

Before you write a word of your new résumé, make certain that you understand its primary purpose: to demonstrate your ability to contribute to the bottom line of the company or organization you seek to join. You best do this when you begin each bullet point with an active verb that paints a vibrant picture of what you did, and couple it with the results you attained.

You might respond: "But I haven't been in sales, or marketing or management. I just do XX, and don't have any idea how to relate that to the bottom line." That might be so, but there is more to building a bottom line than sales and management. When you make processes run smoothly, avert or reduce costs or increase productivity, you add value to your company.

Here are some verbs favored by résumé writers, supplemented with questions to spur your thinking about how they might relate to what you have done. You can easily find expanded lists of such verbs, along with résumé templates. However, they only have value for you if you use them to relate your unique story. Don't risk being seen as a cookie cutter candidate, indistinguishable from all the other people who are using these same kinds of sources.

1. Catapult. Perhaps you have been involved with launching a new product or service, or done something that has dramatically moved your organization forward.

2. Commercialize. Have you somehow been involved with turning knowledge about some thing or process into creating a product or service? Have you figured out how to charge money for something that up to that point had been free?

3. Maximize. Have you somehow increased the size and scale of widget production? Have you maximized the number of widgets produced with the same raw materials, thereby decreasing costs? Have you expanded the marketing reach of your company? What has been greatly improved by your involvement?

4. Mentor. Have you increased profitability for both the short and long term by helping a person or group within the company to understand how to better fulfill their potential? Successful mentoring can save costs by increasing efficiency, grooming future leadership or by preventing or reducing employee turnover.

5. Facilitate. Have you made things go smoother by paving the way for others, coordinating communication or removing roadblocks? If you order the supplies, book a room, set up the audio/visual equipment or do any number of other tasks, you are facilitating the work of your boss or others.

6. Collaborate. You don't need to be the head of something to take appropriate credit for your role in its success. In fact, few accomplishments are achieved without the contributions of a team of individuals. This verb allows you to talk about your contribution and demonstrate your effectiveness as a team player.

7. Motivate. You can't necessarily attach a dollar value to motivation, but surely if you somehow inspire others you impact their productivity. When you inspire others to work at their best, your effects are magnified in all their accomplishments.

8. Align/Realign. Have you somehow helped to get disparate parts of an organization or process to mesh together more smoothly? Perhaps you have had a hand in changing incentives, penalties or re-engineering the relationship between different groups or departments. When you do any of these things, you potentially decrease or eliminate expenses, or enable new creativity through the synergies you engineer.

9. Document. Some roles don't necessarily create products or services, but simply track what is going on in a company. You might document how something gets done, verify that your company has received (or not received) the goods and services it is being charged for or that other processes have been followed according to policy. Documentation plays a key role in saving companies current expenses, and mitigating future potential costly liabilities.

10. Enforce. Many jobs have to do with ensuring corporate compliance to laws, governmental regulations, requirements of funders or corporate policy and procedures. Enforcement can improve the health and safety of employees or customers, reduce penalties associated with unfavorable audit outcomes and otherwise mitigate a company's expenses.

Of course these are only examples to get you thinking. There are numerous other great verbs you might utilize. When you couple your actions with your achievements in each résumé bullet point, you demonstrate your real value. This way you become a truly attractive candidate worthy of strong consideration.

Happy hunting!

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Author: Arnie Fertig is the head coach of JOBHUNTERCOACH.COM, where he utilizes his extensive background in HR Staffing and as owner of a recruiting company to help mid-career job-hunters land their next job.

Phone Interviewing Do's and Don'ts for Job-Seekers

Here are the keys to successful phone interviewing. Job-seekers who follow these simple rules and guidelines should achieve success in this important phase of job-hunting.

Do give accurate and detailed contact information in your cover letter so your interviewers can easily connect with you.

When in job-hunting mode, don't have a disproportionately silly or long greeting on your answering machine or voicemail.

Do ensure that household members understand the importance of phone messages in your job search.

Do know what job you are interviewing for.

Do practice, if possible. Have a friend call you to do a mock phone interview so you get the feel of being interviewed over the phone.

When being interviewed by phone, do make sure you are in a place where you can read notes, take notes, and concentrate.

If you cannot devote enough time to a phone interview, do suggest a specific alternate time to the recruiter. It's often best to be the one who calls back so you can be mentally prepared.

Do consider using a phone-interview log.

Do consider keeping some notecards or an outline in front of you to remind yourself of key points you want to cover with the interviewer. You don't want your responses to sound scripted, but you don't want to fumble for important points either. Do also have your resume in front of you so you can remember highlights of your experience and accomplishments.

Do ensure that you can hear and are being clearly heard.

Do consider standing when being interviewed on the phone. Some experts say you'll sound more professional than if you're slouching in an easy chair.

Do consider dressing nicely for the phone interview. It may sound silly since the interviewer can't see you, but you really will project a more professional image if you're dressed for the part instead of wearing, for example, a ratty bathrobe.

Don't feel you have to fill in the silences. If you've completed a response, but the interviewer hasn't asked his or her next question, don't start babbling just to fill in airtime. Instead, ask a question of your own related to your last response.

Do create a strong finish to your phone interview with thoughtful questions.

Don't panic if you have special needs. If you are hearing-impaired, for example, phone interviews are still possible.

Don't snuffle, sneeze or cough. If you can't avoid these behaviors, say "excuse me."

Don't chew gum or food, or drink anything noisy.

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Author: Maureen Crawford Hentz. She is a nationally recognized expert on social networking and new media recruiting. With more than 15 years of experience in the recruiting, consulting and employment areas, her interests include college student recruiting, disabilities in the workplace, business etiquette, and other issues. 

What Should a Woman Wear for a Job Interview?

1. Dress professionally. You may wear a great blazer or a fitted jacket with a tailored trouser.

2. Choose neutral colours.

3. A pair of comfortable shoes.

4. Always wear light make up.

5. And, above all, wear a confident smile.

"Tighten Up" Your Resume Cover Letter

Of the many thousands of job search cover letters that cross the desks of hiring managers each month, hundreds are sent directly to the gallows! They're tossed, forgotten, and shredded. What a sad state of affairs and such a waste of paper, print, and personality. Many receive barely a glance, let alone a full reading. Why?

The writing is pompous, pitiful, and pathetic! The job searchers who create such cover letters try hard to impress a potential employer but instead do just the opposite.

But you don't have to be among this crowd. You can take a moment to put these five steps into action before you write your next cover letter.

1.  Open your letter with a 'killer headline'—a phrase you carefully select to win the hiring manager's attention in a way that will compel him or her to finish reading. Example:

KEEP READING to find out why I'm the person most qualified to fill the position of [insert job opening title here].

           

2.  Create short sentences using simple words. Stay away from long-winded writing that causes the reader to gasp for a breath or run to the dictionary to understand what you're trying to say. Shorter is the order of the day. Examples:

                        I worked for XYZ Company for six years as Chief Operating Officer, exceeding all financial goals.

3. Keep your letter on one page. Be clear and focused on a single topic—why you're the one for the job and what makes you qualified. You can cover details and dates in your resume instead of adding pages to your cover letter.

4. Be sure to say 'thanks.' Whether or not you receive a job offer, be sure to express your appreciation for being considered. Courtesy counts!

Examples:

I am grateful for your taking time to read my letter.

5.   Include a P.S. after your signature line. This is an excellent way to remind the hiring manager of what you'll do next. Example:

P.S. On April 9 I'll give you a call to talk more about this outstanding position. I look forward to meeting and speak with you in person about (insert job title here). If you have any questions, please phone me at 555-555-5555. Thank you ahead of time.

Put together a cover letter with these five ingredients and you'll be among the few job seekers that know how to reach and relate to a hiring manager in a positive and encouraging way. What more could you want? And what more could a hiring manager want than a person like you who is willing and able and pleasant, yet professional?

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Author: Jimmy Sweeney

Instant Cover Letters - "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"