getting an interview

In any type of writing it is important to get your reader to take action in the case of writing a résumé you want your hiring manager to schedule you for interview.  you want them to want to know to know more about you. that is the goal of writing a good résumé and cover letter.  Below is a list of action verbs.  Action verbs are what writers use to inspire as implied action by the reader.  A résumé that is full of action verbs will create a sense of immediacy in the mind of the reader and give you a better chance of landing the interview.




Communication Section
Teaching Section
Technical Section
Research Section
Data/Financial Section
Detail/Clerical Section
Creative Section
Helping Section
Management Section

Communication

addressed
arbitrated
arranged
authored
communicated
corresponded
counseled
developed
defined
directed
drafted
edited
enlisted
formulated
influenced
interpreted
lectured
mediated
moderated
motivated
negotiated
persuaded
promoted
publicized
reconciled
reunited
renegotiated
reported
researched
summarized
spoke
translated
wrote

Teaching

adapted
advised
clarified
coached
communicated
coordinated
defined
developed
enabled
encouraged
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
informed
initiated
instructed
lectured
persuaded
presented
set goals
stimulated
taught
trained
updated

Technical

analyzed
assembled
built
calculated
computed
designed
devised
engineered
fabricated
inspected
maintained
operated
overhauled
programmed
remodeled
repaired
solved
trained
upgraded

Research

clarified
collected
conceived
critiqued
detected
diagnosed
disproved
evaluated
examined
extracted
identified
inspected
interpreted
interviewed
investigated
organized
researched
reported
reviewed
searched
studied
summarized
surveyed
systematized
wrote

Data/Financial

Administered
Adjusted
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Assessed
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Conserved
Corrected
Determined
Developed
Estimated
Forecasted
Managed
Marketed
Measured
Netted
Planned
Prepared
Programmed
Projected
Qualified
Reconciled
Reduced
Researched
Retrieved

adjusted
administered
allocated
analyzed
appraised
audited
balanced
budgeted
calculated
compared
computed
developed
estimated
forecast
forecasted
managed
marketed
planned
projected
reevaluated
reconciled
researched
sold

Detail/Clerical

activated
altered
assembled
approved
arranged
catalogued
classified
collected
compiled
described
dispatched
edited
estimated
executed
gathered
generated
implemented
inspected
listed
maintained
monitored
observed
operated
organized
overhauled
prepared
processed
proofread
published
purchased
recorded
reduced
retrieved
screened
specified
streamlined
systematized

Creative

acted
applied
composed
conceived
conceptualized
created
designed
developed
directed
established
evaluated
fashioned
formed
formulated
founded
illustrated
instituted
integrated
introduced
invented
loaded
molded
originated
perceived
performed
planned
presented
produced
refined
rewrote
updated

Helping

advised
aided
assessed
assisted
brought
clarified
coached
coordinated
counseled
dealt
demonstrated
diagnosed
educated
encouraged
enlisted
expedited
facilitated
familiarized
guided
helped
inspired
maintained
modified
performed
referred
rehabilitated
represented
supported
upheld

Management

achieved
administered
analyzed
assigned
attained
chaired
conceived
contracted
consolidated
coordinated
decided
delegated
developed
directed
encouraged
evaluated
executed
handled
implemented
improved
incorporated
increased
inspired
launched
led
managed
motivated
organized
outlined
oversaw
planned
prioritized
produced
recommended
reevaluated
rejected
reported
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
supervised
united

feel free to use any variation of these action verbs to help you get the interview.

Example:

“Helped to implement several management protocols over the period of three years saving the company over 20%.

this statement uses three action verbs to illustrate the fact that you were not only present but you are a leader in implementing these protocols.  The last action verbs saving the company 20% simply quantifies your actions showing that you have good judgment.

action verbs will be at the corner of any effective résumé or sales and marketing document.  Do not ignore these action verbs and be sure to look up the meaning and not to become overly flowery with the language they use just to use additional words and seem intelligent.  It is far better to be understood and not to isolate or intimidate the hiring manager with language that is not used in common speech in your area.