Resume Verbs Before and After

Resume Verbs Before and AfterResume Verbs Before and AfterCertified professional resume writers Andrew Pearl and Tina Harlan use examples to explain how to improve your resume using the right action verbs.Active verbs can inspire recruiters and hiring managers to follow through with scheduling an interview.Andrew Pearl and Tina Harlan, certified professional resume writers who work with Ladders, provided these before-and-after examples of how to improve your resume using the right action verbs.Sample 1 Senior-Level Technology Management ProfessionalResume writer Andrew PearlSection Skills SummaryBeforeI am a bilingual, seasoned business executive who successfully incorporates IT into the strategic mission of an enterprise. As a passionate leader I have engaged enterprise technology to maximize a strong return on assets. I have hands-on financial, project management, technical and operational experience that has resulted in successful IT capital planning and budgeting, disaster recove ry and IT security procedures and policies.The verbs deliver the message that the candidate has had a long history of success and profitability, but the passage uses passive language and too many words. For example, this candidate noted that he had engaged enterprise technology to maximize a strong return on assets a long-winded way to say that he improved the bottom line. He also used the passive voice when he stated that his experience has resulted in successful IT capital planning and budgeting- a construction that separates the candidate from the positive result.AfterStrategic and results-driven executive commanding 20+ years of progressive success within technical environments. Hands-on and resourceful professional providing track record of incorporating IT into strategic visions while maximizing return and improving operations. Diverse and customer-focused manager who demonstrates unique combination of technical, business, and financial savvy.Pearl paired strong action verbs, including commanding, maximizing and improving, with results-focused language about profitability and a history of success maximized returns, 20+ years of commanding success and improved operations. Potential employers are always alert for these words, which suggest that applicants are savvy about the bottom line.Sample 2 Professional Sales Representative, Pharmaceutical IndustryResume writer Tina HarlanSection Work HistoryBeforetraktament Avinza for chronic pain and Skelaxin for acute pain to both primary care physicians and pain specialists in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma.Made an immediate impact on prescription volume after only being in the field for three and a half months.Sold is brief and to the point, but it probably doesnt account for all the candidates responsibilities. The verb construction made an immediate impact is bogged down by a passive voice.AfterResponsible for selling and promoting Skelaxin and Avinza to pain specialists, surgeons, neurologists, and primary care physicians in the North Texas and Southern Oklahoma territory.Managed annual educational and entertainment budget averaging $70,000.Increased prescription volume despite being in the field for less than four months.The phrase responsible for selling and promoting, while longer than the original sold, expands the responsibility of the applicant to include promotion, which creates the impression of greater responsibility. Increased prescription volume is a slight change that infuses the description with action, turning the applicant into the catalyst for pumping up volume instead of simply being someone who made an impact.Harlan also paired the verb managed with a dollar-specific budget to strengthen the message.

7 clues youre about to be fired and what you can do about it

7 clues youre about to be fired and what you can do about it7 clues youre about to be fired and what you can do about itIf youre feeling that Monday morning dread every day of the week - you may be onto something.While its not always a great idea to trust your gut about every single work issue, heres when it may be worth wondering if your jobs in danger.1. Youre not that busyRyan Naylor, Founder of LocalWork.com, offered a few hints to keep an eye out for if you think you might be fired for performance reasons You might notice that you arent getting handed as many projects as you were before. Something might have happened, or maybe there was a series of events that caused these concerns to arise.2. Youre given loads of days offBelieve it or not, sometimes good things disguise really crummy things. If your boss is thinking about firing you, its entirely possible youll suddenly find yourself with a lot of vacation days. Maybe they readily grant you days off so they dont have to face you as they plan for your termination, Naylor said.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more3. Theyre cooling offIf your boss or manager sense that youll soon be on the way out, you may suddenly find yourself Being excluded from important department meetings that you are customarily included in, according to Scott Samuels of Horizon Hospitality. You might be receiving fewer lunch invitations or group emails, and Naylor says There could be a lack of eye contact and a disconnection that feels dismissive.4. Your company is downsizingIf you think the company is downsizing and your position may be eliminated, look for worried managers, a lot of executive meetings and listen for break room rumors, Naylor says.Ask yourself if what your department produces is still in need, or whether theres a slowdown in demand for your services in general. And while youre at it, Naylor says, think about whet her your department is bloated during a time of financial distress for the company.If any of these signs ring true, Naylor says you have to consider the tough fact that you may be let go. There isnt much you can do if downsizing is imminent, he says. What you should do though, is start planning. Your layoff may include a severance package, but this doesnt mean you should take a vacation, Naylor says. The longer you are unemployed, the less appealing you will be to recruiters and hiring managers.5. Theyre playing the fieldSamuels said a sure sign youre about to be fired is finding a listing on an web job board of your job (or one thats really similar) posted by your company. Even worse though, is when you find a posting of your job in your city listed as confidential.6. Theres a new kid in townSamuels said a sure sign youre probably going to be fired is when other individuals start becoming overly involved in your department and/or with your responsibilities, specifically ones theyd never been previously involved in.7. Youre on probationFinding out that youve been put on a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) by your direct supervisor and given a specific time frame to correct deficiencies, is never a great sign, according to Samuels.What you can doSo, should you give up entirely and hand in your resignation? Not just yet.Be proactive As painful as it feels, Samuels said you should be proactive in sitting down with your immediate supervisor and discussing/resolving issues that could result in termination.Step up your game Samuels also advises putting in extra time and hours to go above and beyond to show your commitment to the company.Consult with HR If at all possible, Samuels thinks its a good idea to Sit down with your Human Resource Manager/Director and advise them about your observations. Ask them if there is anything that you need to be concerned about. Be tactful and careful when doing this so you dont come across as being overly paranoid.Make nice Naylor says If you want to keep your job, there are some things you can do. The fact that you werent fired out of hand might mean that they are hesitating, considering whether you are still a value-add. Show them that you are. Apologize for the incidents that led to this precarious position you are in. Show humility. Offer to show them an improvement over a specific period of time. Be specific and, once again, be humble.Get moving And if the inevitable is just around the corner, start planning now. Naylor says Your layoff may include a severance package, but this doesnt mean you should take a vacation. The longer you are unemployed, the less appealing you will be to recruiters and hiring managers.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, accordin g to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

4 Things Your Resume Cant Do

4 Things Your Resume Cant Do 4 Things Your Resume Cant Do A great resume can further your career. The stronger it is, the more interviews youll land. An excellent resume can even get you headhuntedHowever, no matter how good your resume is, it cant do all of the heavy lifting in the job search process. While it canmake a fantastic first impression and provideemployers with adetailed account of your career history, here are four things your resume cant do1. ItCant Showcase Your Level of MotivationWhile many people write highly motivated on their resumes, it is much harder for your resume to prove that is true. Furthermore, because so many people include this genericstatement on their resumes, many recruiters dismiss it altogether.When it comes to proving your motivation, actions speak louder than words. Instead of saying that you are motivated, show it. abflug by writing a strong, tailoreddeckblatt letter- personally addressed to the hiring manager - to show off your commitment to the role. After submitting your application, call, email, or send a LinkedIn message to the recruiter to follow up. This simple act will show the employer you are highly interested in the role and keen to join the company.2. ItCant Fully Convey Your PersonalityMore and more businesses are hiring peoplebased on personality and culture fit rather than technical skill sets. While a resume can explain your career history, goals, and past experience, it is not an ideal medium for getting your personality across while remaining professional.The best way to show recruiters and hiring managers your personality is to speak to them. Push for a call or face-to-face meeting with the recruiter and/or hiring manager. This will give you an opportunity to convey your personality and passion through your tone of voice, body language, and verbal communication. As recruiters and hiring managers get to know you, theyll get a better feel for the kind of person you are and what you can bring to the team .3. It Cant Explain What You Want From a New RoleEveryone hastheir own reasons for applying for aposition. However, your resumeis not the place to explain what you want for the future. Instead, your resume should focus on what you can bring to the organization and what you have donefor previous organizations.Still,the hiring manager will want to know why you want to work for their company. Your cover letter is the place to share those reasons. Similarly, you can join networking groups related to the organization and its industry, which will show recruiters you are genuinely interested in the role as a vital piece of your career.4. It Cant Explain Why Youre Leaving Your Current RoleOn your resume, you only have a limited amount of space to sell yourself. You dont want touse any of that space to detail why you cant wait to get away from your current position.Once again, this is a scenario in which your cover letter is the better bet. Here, you have room to explain why you are leaving your current role. Remember Your reasons should be positive ones. Rather than complaining about your current employer, focus on seeking new challenges and outgrowing your position.It can alsohelp to pick up the phone and talk to the recruiter or hiring manager. That way, you can demonstrate your passion for the new role while explaining why it represents a positive progression from your existing position.Andrew Fennell is a former recruiter and founder ofStandOut CV.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.