Resumes are a powerful tool for the job seeker as they highlight your abilities and skills to a potential employer. It also can highlight what you are able to do for the company and why they should look no further than you. In order for this important information to make them take notice, you must write a powerful, informative and compelling piece.

A resume is basically a list of your accomplishments, skills and attributes as it will relate to any future position. You must be descriptive in your experience and education and using action words are key. Action verbs should fill the resume in such a way that the resume is readable, but grabs the reader’s attention.

You know you have developed skills and abilities, now it’s time to show them to companies. This doesn’t necessarily have to just be skills obtained from the work environment, but hobbies, education, classes and anything you have learned to do over the years. All these can be applied to a work environment and be necessary skills to have.

Choosing the right verb action words is important and you should use ones that highlight your abilities. Here are just a few you might want to include in your resume descriptions.

1. Accomplished

2. Achieved

3. Budgeted

4. Campaigned

5. Collaborated

6. Cultivated

7. Delegated

8. Demonstrated

9. Focused

10. Identified

11. Obtained

There are many more you can use, but as you can see powerful, descriptive verbs can really bring a resume to life. Instead of just writing vague descriptions of your duties or abilities, enhance them using action verbs to toot your own horn. Don’t use verbs though in excess, it will make the resume look overloaded and unreadable. Use them when relevant to what you are trying to get across to the reader.