How to use action verbs to make your resume stand out

How to use action verbs to make your resume stand out Take a look at your resume. What words jump out at you? If you’re like most people, phrases like â€Å"was responsible for† or â€Å"worked on† are probably in there somewhere. And those phrases are totally†¦fine. But if you want to make your resume stand out from the rest of the people who were responsible for X and worked on Y, one of the easiest places to start is to make your language sparkle a little. Using strong, specific action words can help make your accomplishments seem even more impressive. Using next-level verbs in your resume shows the reader that you put particular care and effort into crafting your resume- your resume should show what you do and indicate to the reader how active and dynamic you are as an employee. Strong action verbs can also help you with non-human readers, or Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), as the software may be programmed to look for particular words as indicators of experience. Weak or ordinary verbs will just slip rig ht by the automated eye.This is not to say that every word in your resume needs to be straight out of a thesaurus. If every word is a five-dollar word, that gets repetitive as well. It can also seem very stiff and formal. Instead, use key verbs to punch up your resume writing. Your experience bullets are the best place to use varied words to show what you’ve done. This is where you can really take ownership of your experience and accomplishments, by using active verbs instead of passive ones.For example:I was tasked with organizing the large annual holiday party.orI coordinated a large annual holiday party. They’re similar, but look at the perspective here. In the first sentence, you were following someone else’s orders. In the second, you’re taking control. The only real difference here is the verb; sentence one is passive, while sentence two is active. And yet you don’t need to rewrite every word, just replace the main one.When you’re rewr iting your resume with power verbs, you should go for specificity and relevance over flashiness. Let’s look at some replacements for common resume words.Leadership VerbsIf you’re trying to demonstrate leadership, instead of words like â€Å"led† or â€Å"managed, try one of these:ChairedCoachedDirectedCultivatedEnabledCoordinatedExecutedService VerbsService verbs show how you work with clients, bosses, team members, or other people. Teamwork is a metric that’s more and more important to hiring managers, so be proactive about using them. Instead of words like â€Å"communicated with† or â€Å"dealt with,† try words like:LiaisedConsultedFacilitatedCollaboratedAnalysis VerbsAnalysis verbs show how you handle information or situations. Instead of words like â€Å"analyzed† or â€Å"determined,† try words like:ResearchedAssessedAuditedEvaluatedInvestigatedQuantifiedCommunication VerbsCommunication verbs are some of the most importa nt ones in your resume. Just about every job calls for good communication skills (verbal and written). What better place to show your stellar written communication skills than by picking the exact right words to show how well you communicate? Instead of words like â€Å"communicated,† try words like:ConveyedCorrespondedCampaignedBriefedConcludedPresented  Innovation VerbsInnovation verbs convey your creativity and ingenuity. Many employers are looking for forward-thinking employees who can help get new things accomplished. Instead of words like â€Å"improved† or â€Å"organized,† try words like:PilotedOptimizedCustomizedCreatedGeneratedOne of the trickiest part of your resume is showing, not telling, so the more you choose words that highlight your most important accomplishments, the more you’ll be able to convey to any reader in a limited space. Your resume has limited real estate, so make the most of it!

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to Private School

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to Private School Applying to private school is an exciting but demanding process. There is a wide range of schools to apply to, and its hard for the first-time applicant to know how to manage the process. To ensure a smoother process, try to start early, leave time to visit the schools, and look for the school that fits your child best. Here are common pitfalls to avoid when applying to private school: Mistake #1: Only applying to one school Parents often become enamored of the vision of their children at a very prestigious boarding or day school, and there is no doubt that the top boarding schools  have amazing resources and faculties. However, its important to make sure youre being realistic. Many of the top private schools have competitive admission cycles, and accept only a small percentage of applicants. Its always a good idea to have a top choice and at least one or two back up schools, just in case.  Ã‚   In addition, when looking at schools, consider more than just how the school is ranked, or where many of its graduates attend college. Instead, look at the entire experience for your child. If she loves sports or other extracurricular activities, will she be able to participate in them at that school? Consider how well she is likely to fit into the school, and what her quality of life (and yours) are likely to be at school. Remember, you are not just looking for prestige; you are ideally looking for the right fit between the school and your child. Mistake #2: Over-coaching (or under-coaching) Your Child for the Interview While there is no doubt that the private school interview can be very stressful, there is a line ​that  parents must walk between preparing their children  and over-preparing them. Its beneficial for a child to practice speaking about herself in a poised way, and it helps if the child has researched the school she is applying to and knows something about it and why she might want to attend that school. Letting your child wing it without any preparation is not a great idea, and can jeopardize her chances for admission. Showing up to an interview asking basic questions that can easily be found online or saying that she doesnt know why shes applying, isnt a good first impression. However, your child shouldnt be scripted and asked to memorize pat responses just to impress the interviewer (who can usually see right through that stunt). That includes coaching the child to say things that arent really true about her interests or motivations. This type of over-coaching can be detected in the interview, and it will hurt her chances. In addition, too much preparation will make the child often feel overly anxious instead of relaxed and at her best during the interview. Schools want to get to know the real child, not the perfectly poised version of your child that appears for the interview. Finding the right fit is important, and if youre not being genuine, its going to be hard for the school, and for your child, to know if this is where she needs to be.   Mistake #3:  Waiting for the Last Minute Ideally, the school selection process starts in the summer or fall the year before your child will actually attend the school. By the end of the summer, you shouldve identified the schools you are interested in applying to, and you can start to arrange tours. Some families opt to hire  an  educational consultant, but this isnt necessary if youre willing to do your homework. There are plenty of resources available right here on this site, as well as several others, to help you understand the admission process and make the right choices for your family. Use this calendar to organize your school search process  and check out this awesome spreadsheet that will help you organize your private school search.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Dont wait until the winter to get started with the process, as many schools have deadlines. If you miss these, you might jeopardize your chances of getting in at all, as the top private schools have limited spaces available for incoming students. While some schools offer rolling admission, not all do, and some will close their application to new families by February. These early application deadlines are especially important for families who need to apply for financial aid, as funding is usually limited and often given to families on a first come, first served basis.   Mistake #4: Having Someone Else Write the Parents Statement Most schools require both older students and parents to write statements. Though it may be tempting to farm out your parents statement to someone else, such as an assistant at work or an educational consultant, only you should write this statement. The schools want to know more about your child and you know your child best. Leave time to think and write about your child in a candid, vivid way. Your honesty enhances your chances of finding the right school for your child. Mistake #5: Not Comparing Financial Aid Packages If you are applying for financial aid, be sure to compare the financial aid packages at the different schools your child to which your child is admitted. Often, you can convince a school to match another schools financial aid package or at least get an offer increased slightly. By comparing financial aid packages, you can often manage to attend the school you like best for the best price.    Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski