All you need is a recruiter or employer who has a bee in their bonnet about grammar, spelling, punctuation and so-on…if your CV/résumé contains one or more mistakes, you are toast.
So are your job prospects with that employer.
Unfair? [Read more…]
Why even one grammar mistake could cost you your new job
October 17, 2019 By 2 Comments
“I’m a business writer and business writing trainer. Questions, kids?”
December 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment
OK, that’s what I am … but who understands what it means, especially when you’re a teenager?
Recently I have been doing some (voluntary) work here in Milton Keynes, England, helping secondary/high school kids learn more about the realpolitik of the business world. We’re very lucky to have two organisations running schemes where business people go into these schools and talk to students: one is ProActive Education, and the other is the charity Worktree.
Students need to know that no matter how boring it may seem, correct grammar/spelling/punctuation in job applications and CVs/résumés can make the difference between getting a job … and not getting it.
So what exactly does this entail, and how much do these teenagers know – if anything – about the importance that business writing will have in their future careers? [Read more…]
Writing about yourself is tough. Here’s how to do it.
August 18, 2014 By 3 Comments
Does writing about yourself make you nervous? Here’s how to do it well.
We’re all the same. Even pro writers like me can write perfectly for clients, but when it comes to writing about me? I shrivel. I bet you shrivel too.
So here are some tips that might help make the process a lot easier for you. [Read more…]
The Write Way to Get a Job: 250 power words to power up your CV/résumé
November 29, 2012 By 6 Comments
It’s increasingly hard to get a job – and a good one – these days, and although there is a lot to consider when you’re looking to get a job, effective business writing plays a major part in helping you succeed. In this article, HTWB columnist Lynn Tulip from Assessment4Potential explains the best way to express your career information in your CV/résumé…here’s Lynn…
When you’re compiling your CV/ résumé you need to use strong, powerful words that resonate with readers so they feel your strength and confidence. It’s no good to say I “did” this or I “worked on” that; employers want to know that you contributed a lot more than a passing interest to your achievements.
Here is a list of more than 250 words to choose from. Use them to power on to that dream job!
Achieved
Acted
Adapted
Addressed
Adjusted
Administered
Advised
Altered
Analysed
Appraised
Arbitrated
Arranged
Assembled
Assessed
Audited
Balanced
Broadened
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Calibrated
Catalogued
Categorised
Chaired
Changed
Charted
Checked
Classified
Coached
Collated
Collected
Combined
Communicated
Compared
Compiled
Completed
Composed
Computed
Conceived
Concluded
Conducted
Configured
Considered
Consolidated
Constructed
Contracted
Contrasted
Controlled
Converted
Co-ordinated
Corrected
Corresponded
Counselled
Created
Critiqued
Cultivated
Decided
Decreased
Defined
Delegated
Delivered
Demonstrated
Described
Designed
Detected
Determined
Developed
Devised
Diagnosed
Differentiated
Directed
Discovered
Dispensed
Displayed
Dissected
Distributed
Diverted
Documented
Doubled
Drafted
Drew
Edited
Eliminated
Empathised
Encouraged
Enforced
Enhanced
Enlarged
Ensured
Established
Estimated
Evaluated
Examined
Expanded
Expedited
Explained
Expressed
Extracted
Fabricated
Facilitated
Filed
Finalised
Financed
Fixed
Followed
Forecasted
Formulated
Founded
Gathered
Gave
Generated
Guided
Power words that get you hired
Hired
Hosted
Identified
Illustrated
Implemented
Improved
Improvised
Incorporated
Increased
Informed
Initiated
Inspected
Installed
Instituted
Instructed
Integrated
Interacted
Interpreted
Interviewed
Introduced
Invented
Investigated
Itemised
Judged
Launched
Learned
Lectured
Led
Liased
Listed
Located
Maintained
Managed
Marked
Marketed
Measured
Mediated
Met
Minimised
Modelled
Moderated
Modernised
Modified
Monitored
Motivated
Narrated
Navigated
Negotiated
Observed
Obtained
Opened
Operated
Ordered
Organised
Oriented
Originated
Oversaw
Painted
Performed
Persuaded
Photographed
Piloted
Planned
Predicted
Prepared
Prescribed
Presented
Printed
Processed
Produced
Programmed
Projected
Promoted
Proofread
Proposed
Protected
Provided
Publicised
Published
Purchased
Raised
Received
Recommended
Reconciled
Recorded
Recruited
Redesigned
Reduced
Referred
Refined
Rehabilitated
Related
Rendered
Reorganised
Repaired
Reported
Represented
Researched
Resolved
Responded
Restored
Restructured
Retrieved
Reviewed
Revised
Revitalised
Saved
Scheduled
Searched
Secured
Selected
Separated
Served
Serviced
Sewed
Shaped
Shared
Showed
Simplified
Sized
Sketched
Sold
Solved
Sorted
Specified
Spoke
Started
Streamlined
Strengthened
Studied
Summarised
Supervised
Supplied
Talked
Taught
Tended
Tested
Traced
Trained
Transcribed
Transformed
Translated
Travelled
Treated
Trimmed
Troubleshot
Tutored
Uncovered
Unified
Updated
Upgraded
Used
Utilised
Verified
Weighed
Welded
Widened
Won
Wrote
Let us know what other power words you’ve used and how they changed your chances!
Lynn Tulip from Assessment4Potential
Watch out for Lynn’s tips next week…
Now: let’s make sure you get that job…
“Get That Job” by Lynn Tulip … The art of successful job hunting (print, Kindle)
“Can’t Get That Job?” by Lynn Tulip … Seven killer CV mistakes that destroy your chance of job success (print, Kindle)
“How To Write About Yourself” by Suzan St Maur … how to make the most of yourself, whatever you need to write (PDF download)
How To Write About Yourself: price slashed on this popular eBook
September 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Do you shiver at the thought of writing a short biography about yourself? Feel frightened to start writing a new CV? Get the heebies if you have to write a personal statement?
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- “About Us” pages for your business
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Will people like me when they read what I write about myself?
August 1, 2012 By 4 Comments
Writing to enquire about job vacancies? A personal statement? An “about” page on your website or blog? The answer is yes, you can make people think you’re good – provided that you observe a few useful tips and hints, and here they are. [Read more…]
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