Resume Power Words Defined
So what exactly is a resume power word and how are they used? In simple terms, these
power words are really resume "buzz" words - popular words that add value to the
marketability and appeal of the resume itself. They're commonly called "power words"
because they invoke a positive feeling in the reader.
In more technical terms, resume power words are usually verbs - action words - or adjectives -
noun modifiers. They are powerful words that are used to describe the actions you’ve taken
or help you to powerfully describe what you’ve accomplished.
Resume Power Word Examples
When you're writing a resume, the way you write is not exactly the same as you'd write when
composing a white paper, report or email. The action word, or power word, usually appears
right up front to help describe what was accomplished.
The following examples use power words in a way that they might be used on a resume:
Assembled a team of five auditors that conducted a Sarbanes Oxley audit of financial
operations in less than three weeks.
Eliminated nearly $5 million in operating expenses by consolidating IT contracts under one
vendor.
Launched several new product extensions and offerings resulting in an increase in sales
revenue of nearly $15 million over a five year timeline.