6
Your Verbs Matter
Emilie L. Duck
When you tell a story for the first time, you try to get it right. You choose your words carefully to create the most skillful rendition of what happened for your audience. Over time, these words can become your default. Sometimes you may even catch yourself mid-sentence, aware that you’ve told this story (using these words) before—though hopefully not to the same person.
The words we use to relate our stories can become a kind of shorthand. We’ve decided the best way to tell our story once, and that story becomes the official version of events.
Our tendency to slip into language patterns we find familiar is normal; in the case of a story to a friend or family member, these patterns may not matter at all. When it comes to resumes and cover letters, however, the language we use does matter. Each word you choose should be playing a role in describing the jobs you’ve done, the teams you’ve worked on, and the skills you’ve acquired—facets that make you an ideal candidate for the position you desire.
Although you may strive to think about word choice while you write, it can be difficult to focus on style when you’re struggling to translate your work experience into a resume. To ease the pressure, try making word choice changes after your initial draft is complete. Once you’ve committed your experience and achievements to paper, then you can begin to refine the picture that they create—starting with your verbs.
If you recall your seventh grade English class, perhaps you are remembering something about verbs and action (you and your seventh grade English class are correct). The right verb can demonstrate not only what you’ve done, but also the manner in which you did it. The verbs you choose can show thought patterns that are tired and well worn, or they can depict an individual who is interesting, innovative, and a welcome addition to any team.
When you reexamine your resume and cover letter, look at the verbs you’ve chosen and the kinds of action that they convey. Are your verbs specific? Do they fully convey the work that you did?
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Are you in need of new
verbs?
Check out this list to get your ideas flowing.