In job descriptions, the most powerful way to state your duties is to use bullet points.
If you’ve never written a resume before, the blank page in front of you can be daunting. While you may be able to explain your duties to your peers, listing them in a resume and demonstrating how your previous experience aligns with your career goals is a daunting task.
To get started, you’ll need to figure out what kind of job you want. Your current and previous experiences must demonstrate that you are the best choice for the position you are applying for, just as your career purpose or summary should represent your professional objectives. Focus on certain roles that suggest you are qualified to take the next step in your career while listing your current and previous professional experiences. Since more and more businesses and job search sites are using scanning software to screen applicants, it’s critical that you use key terms, such as active verbs, to explain your abilities. Instead of starting your job descriptions with the phrase “responsible for,” consider using active verbs like:
– supervised
– constructed
– conceived
– verbalized
– interconnected
– completed, etc.
These key words get right to the point when it comes to explaining your duties, which is exactly what employers want. If you were only responsible for explaining the project to other associates, don’t claim you managed a project, which implies you were responsible for the whole job from start to finish. Instead, state that you developed and implemented a communication plan for associates, which more accurately describes your position and highlights your strengths.
The first job you mention on your resume is usually the one you have now. Make sure your duties are mentioned in the present tense in this situation, since you are still responsible for them. For instance, rather than Managed accounting activities, say Managing accounting activities. This will show your future employer what your daily tasks are like and how they complement the duties for which you are applying. All previous jobs should be described in the past tense, with active verbs like controlled, created, and accomplished at the top.
Also, double-check that the tasks you’re mentioning are important to your career goal. Only have duties that assist you in putting your best foot forward. Focus on your growth and involvement in community projects rather than solo tasks such as office organization if you are looking for a job that involves managing a team of people.
Make sure your roles are specified in bullet points in terms of formatting. Since it is easier to review easily, this formatting is preferred over paragraphs on a resume. Employers clearly search resumes for key terms and phrases. If the resume seems to be overwhelming, with a lot of copy and bad formatting, it will almost certainly be discarded. As a result, it’s important that your resume is well-formatted, with plenty of white space, and free of errors.