Resumes Need Action Verbs and Numbers

Recruiters spend an average of just six seconds looking at your resume, making it essential that you use the right resume words when applying for a job. Many applicants make the mistake of writing vague statements such as "responsible for organizing files" and "in charge of project research," but these phrases do nothing to sell your skills and convince recruiters that they want to learn more about you. If you want to make it to the next step in the hiring process, use action words and numbers to convince recruiters you are the right candidate for the job.

Using strong verbs makes your writing memorable, according to Stephen Wilbers, a writing consultant and syndicated columnist. If you don't use the right resume words, your resume won't stand out from the hundreds of resumes a recruiter sees each month. Action verbs help you tell a story about your career and let recruiters know what makes you such a great candidate. Replace some of the lackluster phrases in your resume with phrases such as "supervised three accountants" or "managed a monthly budget of $10,000."

In addition to making your resume stronger, action verbs also make it more concise. Recruiters want to read short phrases, not long sentences about your job duties or your skills. "Supervised five accounting clerks" is only four words, while "was responsible for the work of five accounting clerks" is nine. Using shorter phrases gives you more room to talk about your work history and lessens your chances of boring recruiters before they get to the end of your resume. If you're not sure which resume words to use, check the job description or job advertisement. Look for words such as organize, manage, supervise, analyze, appraise, calculate, and facilitate.

Using the right resume words is important, but so is using numbers to quantify your statements. "Reduced office-supply costs by 15 percent in 2013" is more powerful than "reduced expenses" because it shows recruiters exactly what you accomplished. If you're not sure where to use numbers in your resume, think about how you've saved your employer time and money. If you saved your department $10,000, include this in your resume. Let recruiters know you are efficient by using phrases such as "reduced response time by 70 percent." Using numbers along with the right resume words will help you strengthen your impact on recruiters.

Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever write, so give it the attention it deserves. Instead of using weak phrases, incorporate action words into each section of your resume. Back up your claims by using numbers to show how you've helped your employers save time or money. Using the right resume words will help you make it past the first step of the screening process and improve your chances of getting the job you want.

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