How to Describe Yourself on a Resume
Your resume is your billboard, ready to broadcast your skills, experience, and unique qualities to the world. But how can you paint an accurate and compelling picture of who you are in such a limited space?
That’s the million-dollar question! Whether you’re just stepping into the workforce or aiming for that dream promotion, we’ve got the game-changing tips that will help your resume outshine the competition. Let’s get started!
Tips for Describing Yourself on a Resume
Can you get hired without a resume? In some rare cases, yes–but for most jobs, a resume is required to evaluate the qualifications of people who want to join a company. Here are some tips to properly describe yourself on a resume:
Start by Sell Yourself
Think of your resume as a sales pitch of yourself. You only have this space to prove your value to a company, so you have to make the most out of it. That means highlighting all the relevant details while hyping up the information you think will impress your recruiter.
Boost Those Adjectives With Achievements
It’s tempting to drop in multiple adjectives in your resume, but that won’t help if you don’t have any hard data to back it up. Choose your adjectives wisely, staying away from generic ones.
- Competent
- Creative
- Experienced
- Detail-oriented
- Decisive
- Self-motivated
- Flexible
- Efficient
- Organized
Then, make sure to back each adjective up with an accomplishment that’s relevant to it. For example, you can describe yourself as an organized project manager that successfully handled ten accounts simultaneously.
Don’t Forget to Use Strong Action Verbs
In the employment history or professional experience section of your resume, you must list your work and achievements in past positions. When describing this, make sure to lead with strong action verbs, such as:
- Produced
- Delivered
- Managed
- Achieved
- Spearheaded
- Completed
- Collaborated
- Facilitated
- Negotiated
Constructing your sentences this way also helps make your resume more concise and straightforward.
Let Your Experience Speak for Itself
If you have a lot of experience already, you shouldn’t worry too much about fluffing up your resume. Let your previous achievements speak for themselves, and focus on ensuring that your accomplishments are boosted with actual data.
Focus on the Highlights
Your resume isn’t an autobiography, so you don’t have to delve into all the details that led you to achieve what you have. Just focus on the most important information, taking extra care to highlight experience, accomplishments, and skills relevant to the specific job you’re applying for.
Be sure to check the job description so that you can mention the qualifications listed there. Note: Check out our list of the best professional resume-writing services if you are looking for some help!
Final Thoughts
Now that we’ve run through the art of describing yourself on a resume, it’s time for you to take the reins. Remember, your resume is the golden ticket to showcasing your unique skills, experiences, and personality traits to potential employers. It’s your story to tell, so be bold, authentic, and, most importantly, be you.
Follow the strategies we’ve outlined, and you’ll construct a resume that’s not only a reflection of your professional self but also a beacon to future employers. With your newly polished resume, you’re ready to take the job market by storm.
Here’s to the first step on your new career path – You’ve got this!
Author: Becky is a contributor for theJub. She’s a writing and talent acquisition specialist who loves to apply her skills through creative writing and editing.
