{"id":1450,"date":"2016-11-17T22:00:31","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T03:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techrhet.com\/3213\/?page_id=1450"},"modified":"2016-11-17T22:00:31","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T03:00:31","slug":"resumes-3-verb-accomplishment-statements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/techrhet.com\/3213\/resumes-3-verb-accomplishment-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u00e9sum\u00e9s 3: Verb (Accomplishment) Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"
resume verbs: overview<\/a> | accomplishment statements<\/a> | weak vs. strong<\/a> | targeted verbs<\/a> | structure, punctuation, tense, etc.<\/a><\/div>\n

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Overview<\/h3>\n

The most common mistake resume writers make is to focus on the duties<\/em> they had at a previous job rather than results and accomplishments. Duties<\/em> are those things that everyone<\/em> who has ever had that job had to do. For instance, in a previous job at a retail shop, you may have been responsible for opening the store, for restocking shelves, balancing the register, or depositing cash at the end of the night. <\/p>\n

Those duties \u2013 opening, restocking, balancing, depositing \u2013 are things that every sales associate has to do (or at least sales associates in similar positions). Those are the minimum responsibilities of your job \u2013 if you didn’t do those things, you would be fired. worse than being an ineffective sales associate, you would be a former sales associate without a job.<\/p>\n

Simply suggesting that you do your responsibilities means that you fulfill the duties of your position \u2013 the bare minimum to keep your job. It does not<\/em> mean that you fulfill those duties effectively or fulfill those duties in a way that contributes to the goals and objectives of your organization. <\/p>\n

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Accomplishment Statements<\/h3>\n

Instead of speaking to your responsibilities (what you are expected to do) speak to your accomplishments (what you achieve\/d, what outcomes follow\/ed, and how you provid\/ed value to your organization, its mission, and its clients.<\/p>\n

Accomplishment statements take the form of: action + object + results.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Put another way: verb + subject + outcome. <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Princeton’s Career Services<\/a> suggests thinking of it this way: APR (Action + Problem\/Project + Result):<\/strong><\/p>\n

"APR" makes highlighting accomplishments easy. Think of a project you completed or problem you solved during a job or volunteer experience. Choose an action verb that describes your approach. Then describe the results you achieved, quantifying results when possible. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here is their example, followed by a few more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Action Verb<\/span>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\nProblem\/Project<\/td>\n <\/td>\nResult\/s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
coordinated<\/td>\n+<\/td>\nthree fundraising events for local shelters<\/td>\n+<\/td>\nwhich raised more than $8,000 (20% over goal) and increased community awareness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coordinated three fundraising events for local food banks, which raised over $8,000 (20% over goal) and increased community awareness.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
planned and promoted<\/td>\n+<\/td>\n5 guest speakers for the Engineering Departments Student Outreach Series<\/td>\n+<\/td>\n25% increase in student attendance
\n from the previous year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Planned and promoted 5 guests speakers for the Engineering Departments Student Outreach Series resulting in a 25% increase in student attendance from the previous year.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wrote <\/td>\n+<\/td>\nbylaws and governance documents<\/td>\n+<\/td>\nto found FAU’s Apple Users Group student organization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wrote bylaws and governance documents to found FAU’s Apple Users Group student organization.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
developed <\/td>\n+<\/td>\nsystem for server shift changes<\/td>\n+<\/td>\nto increase efficiency of administrative and operational tasks (servers were able to clock out 50% faster at the ends of shifts) and reduce unexpected overtime payments by 80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Developed a system for server shift changes to increase efficiency of administrative and operational tasks (servers were able to clock out 50% faster at the ends of shifts) and reduce unexpected overtime payments by 80%.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
led and coordinated<\/td>\n+<\/td>\nteam of four project group members by delegating responsibilities and tasks<\/td>\n+<\/td>\nensuring a successful project and an ‘A’ from the professor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Led and coordinated team of four project group members by delegating responsibilities and tasks ensuring a successful project and an ‘A’ from the professor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Weak vs. Strong Verbs<\/h3>\n

Verbs like worked, made, used, gave, and was are incredibly weak. They’re inspecific and don’t speak to the actions you took to accomplish various tasks, meet (or exceed) the obejectives of your position, and fulfill the purpose\/s of your organization. They don’t speak to action or success. They speak to bare minimums, responsibilies, and duties required of anyone in your position. <\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Intead of (Weak Verbs)<\/td>\nRevise to (Strong\/Action Verbs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Responsible<\/u> for customer accounts<\/td>\nUpdated<\/strong> and maintained<\/strong> customer accounts…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sent<\/u> customer invoices and overdue notices<\/td>\nCreated<\/strong> and sent<\/strong> invoices and overdue account notices…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Worked<\/u> with customers to make payment plans <\/td>\nNegotiated<\/strong> payment plans with customers…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Settled<\/u> and closed accounts <\/td>\nBalanced<\/strong> accounts… <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Was<\/u> leader in group project<\/td>\nLed<\/strong> team of five group members…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Made<\/u> sales <\/td>\nSold<\/strong> merchandice…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Worked<\/u> with staff members<\/td>\nCollaborated<\/strong> with staff members…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Used<\/u> accounting principles…<\/td>\nApplied<\/strong> accounting principles…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gave<\/u> presentations<\/td>\nDelivered<\/strong> presentations…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Made<\/u> newsletter<\/td>\nDeveloped<\/strong>, wrote<\/strong>, and published<\/strong> newsletter…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Browse these lists of precise action verbs organized according to skill categories like communication, creative, management, leadership, organization, and research (among others): Quint Careers Action Verbs<\/a>, CSU Action Verbs<\/a>, and ASU Action Verbs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Targeted Verbs<\/h3>\n

Take a look at the Indeed.com seach for “executive assistant” in Miami Florida. Note the words\/phrases highlighted in blue and green.<\/p>\n

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Take a look at the verbs in blue: coordinate<\/strong>, balance<\/strong>, implement<\/strong>, and respond<\/strong>. Because of the frequency of these and related verbs in similar job advertisements, if you were applying for "executive assistant" positions, it would probably be a good idea to work these into your verb statements. <\/p>\n

Of course, you shouldn’t make up details to use various verbs (that would be unethical), but you should see if you can shift your language to match the language that’s out there. <\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Instead of Generic Verbs<\/td>\nShift to Targeted Verbs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Communicated<\/u> administrative needs to staff … <\/td>\nCoordinated<\/strong> communication between administration and staff<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Managed<\/u> various tasks simultaneously…<\/td>\nBalanced<\/strong> various simultaneous tasks in order to fulfill responsibilities…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Resolved<\/u> customer complaints…<\/td>\nImplemented<\/strong> solutions to customer complaints….<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Answered<\/u> clients’ inquiries….<\/td>\nResponded<\/strong> to clients’ inquiries….<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Take a look at the adjectives in green: dynamic, flexible, adaptable, energetic, positive, proactive, and reliable.<\/p>\n

You can work those adjectives into your resume in other ways. Occasionally, you can shift them to verbs, as in the case of "adaptable" (adjective) to "adapt" or "adapted" (verbs). If not, perhaps those terms (or similar ones) can be worked into the objective statement, summary of qualifications, etc.<\/p>\n

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Structure, Punctuation, Tense, Sequence, & More<\/h3>\n

Structure:<\/h4>\n

In resumes, it’s acceptable (and perhaps even preferred) to write in sentence fragments and omit articles. According to Max Messmer<\/a>, author of Job Hunting for Dummies (2nd ed.):<\/p>\n

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Keep your sentences short and don’t worry about fragments. Resumes call for short, crisp statements. These statements do not necessarily have to be complete sentences; you can frequently leave out the articles a, an, and the.<\/p>\n

Instead of this:<\/p>\n

Spent three years working on major accounts, as both a lead generator and a closer, demonstrating proven skill in organizing and managing a territory with efficiency as well as in developing customer databases.<\/em><\/p>\n

Write this:<\/p>\n

Spent three years working on major accounts. Generated leads and closed sales. Demonstrated proven skill in organizing and managing a territory and in developing customer databases.<\/em><\/p>\n

Instead of this:<\/p>\n

I was involved in the creation and implementation of statistical reports for a large metropolitan hospital, which required the use of spreadsheet software for cost analysis and, in addition, the creation of a database to track patient visits.<\/em><\/p>\n

Write this:<\/p>\n

Created and implemented statistical reports for large metropolitan hospital. Analyzed costs with spreadsheet software. Created database to track patient visits.<\/em><\/p>\n

Or try a bulleted format: <\/p>\n