1: Hello.

2: My name is Emma, and in today's video I am going to teach you about power verbs

8: and why you should be using them on your resume.

11: So this video is very, very good if you are looking for a job or even just looking to

16: become a better communicator.

19: So, first of all, what is a power verb?

22: Well, I have here two examples of a weak verb and a power verb.

28: So, "did" is an example of a weak verb.

31: Okay?

31: And I've put a sad face beside it.

34: These are the types of verbs that we don't really want to see on your resume because

38: they don't sound strong.

40: They make you sound like a weak candidate.

43: Now, compare this to a word like "implemented".

46: You'll notice the very happy face here.

49: "Implemented" is considered a power verb.

52: When we hear this word, it makes us think of the candidate or the person looking for

57: the job as a stronger person.

60: So, on your resume you want to use power verbs.

64: So I will teach you a whole bunch of different power verbs and we will go over many examples,

70: but before I do that I just wanted to give a couple of pieces of advice about when you

77: write your resume.

78: Okay?

79: So, my first piece of advice, as I've already said: Use power verbs.

85: Very important.

87: My second piece of advice: Understand how to use the power verbs.

92: Okay?

93: You don't want to make a mistake on your resume, and so you need to make sure that if you use

98: a word like "implemented", you use it correctly.

102: It's very important that you use these words correctly and you know when to use it.

108: So make sure you understand the meaning totally before you use the word.

113: Maybe check with a dictionary, or if you have a friend maybe they can look at your resume, too.

119: This leads to my next point: No mistakes on your resume.

123: Your resume needs to be perfect.

126: If you have mistakes people will not want to hire you for a job.

130: So make sure that you check these power verbs for their spelling.

134: Okay? They should be spelt correctly, and make sure you check them for grammar mistakes.

139: Okay?

139: You should look at it first, and then find a friend or a teacher to look at it after

144: you do to make sure there's no mistakes.

147: Okay, the next piece of advice I have for you is: Be specific on your resume.

154: So when we are using power verbs, for example, I have here a power verb "increased".

161: Okay?

162: "Increased gross sales by 4%."

165: So you might see this on a resume.

167: And now, how is it specific?

169: Well, I say specifically what I've done.

173: So imagine I work for a company and I sell some sort of product.

177: This is what I did, I increased gross sales by 4%.

183: So if you helped a certain number of people, you can write down that number.

188: If you did something by a certain percentage, you can write that down.

192: The more specific, the better.

194: Okay?

196: Another thing to know about when you write a resume is in a lot of areas, especially

201: under work summary, you will be using bullet points.

205: Okay?

205: So, what's a bullet?

207: This is a bullet.

208: Okay? So these are all bullets.

210: They're just dots, and beside it we write what we did.

215: Another piece of advice is you should be using a lot of variety on your resume, especially

222: with power verbs.

223: You don't want to keep using the same verb.

226: Okay?

227: So you do not want to write "implemented" 10 times on your resume.

232: You want to show that you have a lot of different verbs you know how to use, so try to use variety.

238: Use: "implemented", "initiated", "developed".

242: We're going to look at a lot of different power verbs that you can use, so try to use

246: a lot of different ones instead of the same one again and again and again.

251: Okay, and my final tip is about the grammar of power verbs.

256: Your resume, especially under work summary but also in other areas as well, we often

262: use the past tense.

264: Okay?

265: So a lot of the times you will see on a resume a bullet point with a verb in the past tense.

272: Often that means with "ed".

275: So if you used to work for a company in the past, you might say:

280: "Increased gross sales by 4%."

281: So you might use the past...

283: The simple past tense.

285: You'll also notice I don't write "I" here.

288: I did not write: "I increased".

291: A lot of the times on our resumes we do not use the subject, we do not use "I", we actually

297: just write the verb.

298: So you'll see a lot of things like this: "Increased gross sales by 4%."

303: Now, if you still work for the same company...

307: So imagine if I still work at a school, then instead of using the past tense I can use

315: the present.

316: So we use the past for previous or past work experience, but if you're still working at

323: the same place you can use the present tense.

327: So this is important, past or present tense, you can use both on your resume.

333: So now let's look at some examples of power verbs and how to use them. Power Verbs

338: Okay, so let's look at the first set of power verbs.

342: So we have here the word "did" or "do".

346: And again, this is a pretty weak verb to use on your resume.

350: I would try to avoid it where possible.

353: And instead, I would use a power verb.

355: So I have here just some power verbs that can mean the same thing as "did", although

361: some of these have maybe additional meanings.

363: So, again, it's good to check your dictionary, but these are all somewhat synonyms of "did".

370: So we have the word "implemented", and again, this is in the past tense.

373: I have a bullet point here.

377: I don't use the word "I", especially if it's work summary.

381: And I wrote: "I..."

382: Or, sorry, I didn't write "I".

383: I wrote: "Implemented a new system to better serve customers."

387: So this is an example of something I might write on my resume if it were true.

393: "Implemented" pretty much has the same meaning as "created" or "put into place".

399: So: "I implemented a new system to better serve customers."

404: You might see something like that on a resume.

407: We have another power verb: "handle".

409: Okay?

410: "Executed", "carried out", "processed",

416: "initiated", "facilitated", "conducted".

420: These are all very strong words that are similar to "did" and can, depending on the sentence

427: you're writing, can possibly create the word "did".

431: Okay? So, again, use a dictionary to make sure that your sentence makes sense for what you're

437: trying to say.

438: But these are all great power verbs to use on a resume.

442: One other thing I wanted to say, again, is you'll notice most of these have "ed".

447: So we often use the past tense, as I said before, on our resume.

452: But if we are still doing something, it's a part of the job we're doing now, we can

458: actually use the present tense, so in this case an "s".

461: So, for example, imagine if I handle customer complaints.

467: I can write on my resume: "Handles customer complaints" or "Handles refunds".

472: Okay?

473: So these are all great power verbs to use.

475: Now let's look at some other ones that are great for your resume.

480: Okay, so we have another weak verb: "made" or "make" that many students might want to

486: use on a resume.

487: This is not a good verb to use on a resume.

490: Instead, we have a lot of different synonyms or things that mean similar to "make" or are

496: very close in meaning that are power verbs and better to use.

500: So we have: "developed", we have "produced", "devised", "formulated",

506: "established", "created", "fostered", and this one "designed".

513: Here I actually have an example of how we would use a power verb on our resume.

518: So we might say something like:

520: "Designed PowerPoint presentations on best customer service practices.",

526: "Designed PowerPoint presentations for our weekly meeting."

530: Okay? So there's many things you can use with all of these things...

533: Or with all of these verbs, but again, try to use power verbs wherever you can. Help

539: Okay, so our next verb is "help".

541: "Help" is okay to use on a resume, but you know, again you want variety on your resume

547: so there are some power verbs that can really help you with this.

550: "Assisted" is great.

552: So a lot of the times at work you assist people in different jobs or projects.

558: In this case I've given the example: "Assisted veterinarians in the care of animals."

565: "Aided", "demonstrated", "provided".

569: And again, there are many more.

570: These are just an example of some of the power verbs you can use.

575: Okay, next up we have "led".

577: So, again, "led" is also okay to use on a resume, but if you're looking for variety

581: and you want something more than just "led"...

584: And "led" is pretty much "lead", it's the past tense of "lead", so this is for anyone

590: who is a leader in their place of work or a boss, or they have people who work for them.

597: You can use these verbs.

599: So we have: "managed", "coordinated".

602: I really like "coordinated". You...

604: This is a very, very common one to use on resumes.

607: "Supervised", "oversaw".

611: In this case I have the example:

613: "Oversaw the daily operations of a nuclear power plant."

618: Okay?

620: We have: "spearheaded" and "directed".

625: So just some examples of power verbs that look great on your resume.

628: Now let's look at some more. Research

631: So, "researched" is a great word and there are a lot of power verbs that also are similar to "research".

638: We have "analyzed".

639: In this case I've given an example:

642: "Analyzed trends and reported on opportunities for growth."

646: A lot of what we do at work is analyzing, so "analyzed" is a great one for your resume.

652: "Diagnosed", "measured".

655: Okay?

657: So, again, there are tons of power verbs.

659: These are just a couple of examples.

662: For "organized".

663: A lot of the times on resumes we're talking about how we organize something, so we can say: "maintained".

670: In this case: "Maintained a database for over two thousand customers."

674: And, again, notice how specific I am being.

677: Okay?

678: "Arranged", another word that has to do with organization.

683: "Communicated" is also a great verb to use, and there are a lot of ways to say "communicated".

690: The problem is on a resume we often use the word "communicate", so it's good to have a

694: lot of power verbs that have similar meanings.

698: I have "collaborated":

700: "Collaborated with other departments on special projects.",

704: "Collaborated with a team of, you know, 20 people on this project for my company."

711: Okay?

712: So, "collaborate" is a very good verb to use.

714: "Reported", "highlighted".

718: So these all have to do with communication and there are many more.

722: Now let's look at some power verbs that have to do with getting results. Results

727: Okay, so if you have done something at your work where you've gotten results, where you've

733: improved the company in some way, or where you've increased sales, or you've done something

739: and you've accomplished something, this is very good to mention in your resume.

744: So next we're going to look at some English for that.

748: So we have: "Got results".

749: This isn't really a good way to phrase what we're talking about.

754: It's better to use a power verb.

756: Okay? So if you increased business, you can say that:

761: "Increased gross sales by 4%.", "generated":

766: "Generated some new business for the company.",

769: "Identified new markets",

771: "strengthened".

773: Maybe you strengthened the relationship between your store and another store.

779: "Improved", "accomplished".

783: So these are very, like, great power verbs to use on your resume.

788: For some of you, maybe you used some sort of machinery at work.

793: So, "used" is a weak verb, just like "did" and "make".

797: There are way better power verbs to use.

799: And the one I'm going to leave you with today is "operated".

803: A lot of the times when we're talking about machines we use the word "operated".

808: So maybe you operate a forklift, or maybe you operate heavy machinery or some other

814: type of, you know, device.

818: So I can say: "Operated forklifts following best safety practices."

822: So this is an example of what maybe a construction worker would use on their resume.

828: So we've gone over some power verbs, but there are a lot.

832: I invite you to check out our website at www.engvid.com.

837: There, you can actually find a resource where you can look at more power verbs

842: and how to use them.

844: And that's very important.

846: What you...

847: What you should do is you should be very comfortable using these verbs before you put them on your

852: resume because you don't want to make a mistake, you don't want to maybe have a confusion or

859: be confused when it comes to the meaning of something, so it's very important you make

864: sure you know how to use these power verbs before you put them on your resume.

870: But again, they're very good on your resume, so I highly recommend you use these

876: when you're searching for a job.

878: I also want to invite you to come check out our quiz at www.engvid.com.

884: There, you can actually practice what you learned today, and you can make sure you understood

888: some of the key ideas of this video.

891: You can also subscribe to my channel.

893: There, you can find other resources, including things on pronunciation, videos on conversation,

900: vocabulary, grammar, IELTS, business, and many more things.

905: Also, if you come to our website at www.engvid.com, we have a lot of other resources that can

912: greatly benefit your English.

914: So I hope you check all of those out.

916: Until next time, thank you for watching and take care.