How to Use Action Verbs and Keywords to Showcase Your Achievements

When it comes to writing your resume and cover letter, it’s important to focus on showcasing your achievements in an easy to understand way while also keeping automatic tracking systems (ATS) in mind.

The words you choose to include on your resume and cover letter can make all the difference between your application documents being seen or immediately moved to File 13 (the trash bin).

Action verbs and keywords are powerful tools that can help you effectively communicate your achievements, making your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile stand out from the competition. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of using action verbs and keywords, and provide tips on how to incorporate them into your professional documents to create a strong, persuasive narrative of your successes.

Why Action Verbs and Keywords Matter

Action verbs are words that express action or accomplishment, such as ‘led,’ ‘managed,’ or ‘created.’ Using them in your professional documents is an excellent way to highlight your achievements and demonstrate the value you bring to potential employers. Keywords, on the other hand, are industry-specific terms that signal your expertise in a particular field. By including these terms, you can showcase your specialized knowledge and attract the attention of recruiters or hiring managers.

Here are some tips on how to use action verbs and keywords to make your achievements shine:

Start with Strong Action Verbs

Begin each bullet point or sentence in your professional documents with a strong action verb. This strategy helps to create a sense of energy and momentum, drawing attention to your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying “I was responsible for managing a team,” you could say, “Spearheaded team management, driving productivity and efficiency.”

Choose Relevant Action Verbs

Be sure to select action verbs that accurately convey the nature of your accomplishments. For example, if you played a significant role in improving a product, you could use verbs like ‘enhanced,’ ‘refined,’ or ‘optimized.’ Tailoring your verbs to the specific context of your achievements will make your descriptions more powerful and engaging.

Use a Variety of Action Verbs

To keep your professional documents fresh and interesting, use a diverse range of action verbs. Repeating the same verbs can make your writing feel stale, so aim to vary your language and showcase your achievements in different ways. You can use online resources, such as thesauruses or lists of action verbs, to find inspiration and alternatives.

Incorporate Industry-Specific Keywords

When describing your achievements, be sure to include relevant keywords that demonstrate your expertise in your field. For example, if you work in digital marketing, you might use terms like ‘SEO,’ ‘content strategy,’ or ‘conversion rate optimization.’ Including these keywords will help your documents resonate with recruiters and hiring managers who are familiar with the industry-specific terminology.

Quantify Your Achievements

Pair your action verbs and keywords with quantifiable data whenever possible. By providing concrete numbers or percentages, you can make your achievements more tangible and impressive. For example, instead of saying “Managed a team that significantly increased sales,” you could say, “Led a team that boosted sales by 35% in one year.”

Using action verbs and keywords strategically can help you showcase your achievements and create a compelling narrative of your professional successes. By incorporating these elements into your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, you can set yourself apart from the competition and increase your chances of landing your dream job. Remember to choose strong action verbs, tailor them to your specific accomplishments, use a variety of verbs, incorporate industry-specific keywords, and quantify your achievements whenever possible.