Top 35 Power Words to Boost Your Jobstreet Profile and Resume

What’s in a word? Well, a lot. Words communicate what we think and how we feel. Moreover, if used properly, words can help convince and persuade people. So, choosing power words for your Jobstreet profile, resume, or online application can make all the difference.

For instance, you may have been job-hunting for some time, but all efforts have not produced an offer. You may wonder, were there better-qualified candidates? Still, when you review your qualifications, you feel that you should have gotten a call and landed the job.

So, what exactly went wrong? A possible answer to that is words. You did not use power words and phrases in your Jobstreet profile or resume. You lacked strong words in your application to compel the hirer to call you in for an interview.

What are power words?

Power words are included in your online profile, resume or application as a way of communicating your strengths to a potential employer. These include:

• Keywords that showcase your qualifications and highlight your skills
• Verbs or action words that make your resume come alive

Through power words, you can grab a potential employer’s attention and compel them to call you in for an interview. Remember, hirers go through dozens of resumes every day and see the same descriptions over and over again, so using strong words can go a long way in making you stand out among the competition. So, making a good first impression is vital.

After all, you may be qualified for your dream job, but how you say and show it matters. In the same way that the way you dress up for an interview says a lot about your personality, the words on your resume or online application should best represent you.

Another good reason to use power words and phrases? Some HR managers also use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).  This is a type of software that screens candidates by picking up keywords in the resume.

Below are 35 power words and phrases, that you can use to boost your resume and application to get you that dream job!

Power Words List

These power words on your CV or resume help to make it more active, impactful, and impressive. They also help communicate qualities such as leadership, initiative, commitment, and creativity.

1. Good planning and organizational skills
2. Strong interpersonal skills
3. Strong leadership skills
4. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
5. Strong communication skills
6. Highly adaptive and flexible
7. Self-motivated and self-reliant
8. Team player
9. Eager to learn and continuously improve self
10. Customer-oriented
11. Service-oriented
12. Goal-oriented
13. Detail-oriented
14. Result-oriented
15. Solution-oriented
16. Proficient in basic computer skills
17. Good at multitasking
18. Improved
19. Developed
20. Increased
21. Accomplished
22. Reduced
23. Initiated/Introduced
24. Organized/Implemented/Managed
25. Spearheaded/Launched
26. Produced/Created
27. Conceptualized
28. Revamped/Redesigned
29. Enhanced/Strengthened
30. Completed
31. Succeeded in…
32. In charge of…
33. Instrumental in…
34. Demonstrated skills in…
35. Proven track record in…

Match the job

In choosing the right words for your resume or application, you can also study the job ad closely and look at the words they used. Try to match their needs and the qualities they are looking for with your qualifications and accomplishments. Also, concrete achievements go a long way in showing your skills and abilities.

For instance, if you come across a posting that says they are looking for someone who is “able to manage events and trade marketing initiatives,” you may choose to state in your resume that you “managed corporate and branding events that increased company revenue by 40%.”

Moreover, add specific facts and concrete figures to back up your claim and strengthen your employability.

Not so strong words and phrases

While there are powerful words and phrases, there are also weaker and more commonly used words that you might do better to avoid as they do not help your resume. On the contrary, they might even weaken your profile or make the hirer not take notice.

Here are just a handful of examples of weak words to possibly avoid.

1. Exceptional
2. Outstanding
3. Smart
4. Seasoned
5. Proactive
6. Out-of-the-box thinker
7. Quick learner
8. Hard worker
9. Contributed
10. Supported

Like many candidates, you may have used these words before on your resume in an attempt to stand out and get ahead of others applying for the same position. However, these words can be general and vague, hardly telling anything about the applicant.

They may sound cliché and overused, or just weak attempts at self-promotion. In revising your resume, you can consider similar words or synonyms and choose the stronger one. For instance, instead of “contributed” or “supported” you can use “resolved” or “achieved,” depending on the context.

Try reading sample winning resumes. See which words jump out at you and grab hold of your attention, and which ones don’t quite do the job. You will start to notice that some words are stronger than others. This is especially true when you use active or action words rather than passive ones. Some words are fresher and more exciting than others. Some are more convincing and compelling than others. Familiarize yourself with these and use them in your resume whenever possible.

Be honest in presenting your skills

Tweaking your resume and application by using power words to describe who you are and what you do is great. But make sure this is an honest representation of your skills. Otherwise, your resume may not be entirely truthful or carry empty promises which will be found out sooner or later.

Remember, everyone is constantly progressing through their respective career paths. Keeping it real is still at the core. Meanwhile, sprucing it up with the right power words can boost your resume and online applications, grab the hirer’s attention, and get you that dream job you’ve always been looking for.

Ready to update your resume? #LetsGetToWork!

Update your Jobstreet profile. Then search jobs on our website or download the app on the App Store or Google Play.

And for more resume-writing tips, visit Career Resources.