Resume Guide for Cougs, 2024 Edition PDF Free Download
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Resume Guide for Cougs, Appendix | Page 1
Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) • Washington State University • ascc.wsu.edu • (509) 335-6000
Resume Guide for
Cougs, 2024 Edition
STRONG ACTION VERBS
Use skill-based action verbs to start your points – these words will provide powerful examples of your
skills and experience. Below are some sample verbs you may want to utilize - what verbs resonate
with you? Feel free to highlight or circle items in the table below.
Management Skills
Communication Skills
Clerical/Detailed Skills
Research Skills
Administered
Assigned
Chaired
Consolidated
Coordinated
Delegated
Executed
Improved
Organized
Oversaw
Prioritized
Produced
Recommended
Strengthened
Supervised
Trained
Addressed
Corresponded
Composed
Directed
Drafted
Enlisted
Influenced
Interpreted
Mediated
Moderated
Motivated
Negotiated
Promoted
Presented
Publicized
Recruited
Approved
Arranged
Classified
Collected
Compiled
Dispatched
Edited
Monitored
Prepared
Processed
Purchased
Recorded
Retrieved
Scheduled
Specified
Validated
Collected
Diagnosed
Examined
Extracted
Identified
Inspected
Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Organized
Reviewed
Summarized
Surveyed
Systematized
Tested
Tracked
Financial Skills
Technical Skills
Teaching Skills
Creative Skills
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Devised
Estimated
Forecasted
Projected
Researched
Assembled
Built
Calculated
Designed
Engineered
Fabricated
Installed
Maintained
Operated
Overhauled
Programmed
Repaired
Solved
Upgraded
Adapted
Advised
Coached
Communicated
Developed
Enabled
Encouraged
Evaluated
Explained
Informed
Initiated
Instructed
Persuaded
Stimulated
Acted
Created
Designed
Established
Illustrated
Instituted
Integrated
Introduced
Originated
Performed
Planned
Revitalized
Shaped
Accomplishments
Helping Skills
Accelerated
Achieved
Boosted
Enhanced
Delivered
Maximized
Pioneered
Promoted to
Reduced
Resolved
Surpassed
Succeeded
Spearheaded
Transformed
Assessed
Assisted
Clarified
Coached
Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Educated
Expedited
Facilitated
Familiarized
Guided
Mentored
Referred
Resume Guide for Cougs, Appendix | Page 2
Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) • Washington State University • ascc.wsu.edu • (509) 335-6000
Resume Guide for
Cougs, 2024 Edition
INCORPORATE NACE CAREER READINESS COMPETENCIES
Career readiness is a foundation from which to demonstrate and build requisite core competencies that
broadly prepare college students for success in the workplace and support lifelong career
opportunities.
Use the chart below to help you generate examples in which you have demonstrated these
competencies – and incorporate those examples in your resume! Learn more about Career Readiness
through the National Association of College and Employers (NACE). What is Career Readiness?
(naceweb.org)
Career
Readiness
Competencies
Description Sample Behaviors Sample Action
Verbs
Career & Self-
Development
Proactively develop oneself and career
through continual personal and
professional learning, acknowledging
one’s strengths and weaknesses, and
networking to build relationships within
and without one’s organization.
• Awareness of one’s own strengths
and areas for development.
• Accepts duties or positions that
help you progress professionally.
• Identifying opportunities in
education and training, helping
one professionally.
• Accepted
• Advocated
• Applied
• Developed
• Embraced
• Participated
• Volunteered
Communication
Clearly and effectively exchange
information, ideas, facts, and
perspectives with persons inside and
outside of an organization.
• Employing active listening and
influencing skills
• Communicating clearly and
organized in a way that others
understand.
• Respecting diversity, learning
styles, and cultural differences
when communicating.
• Composed
• Diagnosed
• Explained
• Presented
• Published
• Mediated
• Negotiated
Critical Thinking
Identify and respond to needs based
upon an understanding of situational
context and logical analysis of relevant
information.
• Making decisions and solving
problems using sound, inclusive
reasoning and judgement.
• Proactively anticipating needs and
prioritizing action steps
• Accurately summarizing and
interpreting data with awareness
of how personal biases affect
outcomes.
• Analyzed
• Anticipated
• Communicated
• Gathered
• Interpreted
• Multi-tasked
• Summarized
Resume Guide for Cougs, Appendix | Page 3
Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) • Washington State University • ascc.wsu.edu • (509) 335-6000
Resume Guide for
Cougs, 2024 Edition
Career
Readiness
Competencies
Description Sample Behaviors Sample Action
Verbs
Equity &
Inclusion
Demonstrate the awareness, attitude,
knowledge, and skills required to
equitably engage and include people
from different local and global cultures.
Engage in anti-oppressive practices that
actively challenge the systems,
structures, and policies of racism and
inequity.
• Demonstrating flexibility by
adapting to diverse environments.
• Using feedback from multiple
cultural perspectives to help with
decision.
• Identifying resources and
eliminating barriers from
individual and systemic inequities
and biases.
• Addressed
• Advocated
• Contributed
• Followed
• Identified
• Removed
• Solicited
Leadership
Recognize and capitalize on personal
and team strengths to achieve
organizational goals.
• Using innovative thinking to go
beyond traditional methods
• Serving as a role model to others
by approaching tasks with
confidence and a positive
attitude.
• Motivating others by encouraging
them and by building mutual trust.
• Advanced
• Evaluated
• Inspired
• Initiated
• Leveraged
• Persuaded
• Served
Professionalism
Knowing work environments differ
greatly, understand and demonstrate
effective work habits, and act in the
interest of the larger community and
workplace.
• Demonstrating dependability
(e.g., report consistently for work
or meetings).
• Prioritizing and completing tasks
to accomplish organizational
goals.
• Showing a high level of dedication
toward doing a good job.
• Assisted
• Dedicated
• Delivered
• Informed
• Prepared
• Prioritized
• Trained
Teamwork
Build and maintain collaborative
relationships to work effectively toward
common goals, while appreciating
diverse viewpoints and shared
responsibilities.
• Being accountable for individual
and team responsibilities and
deliverables.
• Exercising the ability to
compromise and be agile.
• Building strong, positive working
relations with supervisor and
team members/coworkers
• Collaborated
• Compromised
• Employed
• Listened
• Managed
• Used
Technology
Understand and leverage technologies
ethically to enhance efficiencies,
complete tasks, and accomplish goals.
• Quickly adapting to new or
unfamiliar technologies.
• Identifying appropriate technology
for completing specific tasks.
• Using technology to improve the
efficiency and productivity of your
work.
• Adapted
• Advanced
• Built
• Designed
• Programmed
• Upgraded
