004_Resume_Power_Words

004_Resume_Power_Words

Kevin helps Maki improve her resume with English power words. The words develop, Implement and strengthen are discussed.

Kevin:

Welcome back to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A great place to review English words and phrases. This week I spoke with Nichibei student Maki about power words for resumes.

Maki:

Hi Kevin.

Kevin:

Hi Maki. What are you working on?

Maki:

I’m gonna make an English resume listing my job experience and stuff.

Kevin:

Sounds good. Do you have a question?

Maki:

Well I’ve heard that there’re some words in English which have more power than other words. Is this true?

Kevin:

Yes it is. Resumes in English often use power words. These are words which sound more active and powerful, and therefore more professional. So, how exactly can I help you?

Maki:

Well, could you ask some teachers what they think are good power words for a resume?

Kevin:

Sure Maki, I’d be happy to. First I’m going to ask Glenn Evanish. Glenn, Glenn, I’ve got this student who is writing a resume in English and she wants to put in some English power words. What’s your suggestion for a good English power word to use in a resume?

Glenn Evanish:

Hmm. Let me think, umm. A word that I’ve always liked is develop. I would use develop instead of, for example, made. A lot of people would make the mistake of saying ” I made this system” or something like that. (It) sounds much more dynamic to say “I developed this system” rather than just “I made it”.

Kevin:

Thanks Glenn.

Glenn Evanish:

No problem.

Kevin:

OK Maki. Are we on the right track? How’s that?

Maki:

Great!

Kevin:

Good. Then let’s move on. Next I’m going to ask Paul Stacey. Paul? I’ve got a student who’s writing an English resume and she’s looking for some power words to punch up her resume.

Paul Stacey:

Power words, power words, power words. Well, let me see, you have her resume there? Let me have a look.

Kevin:

Yeah, I’ve got one here.

Paul Stacey:

OK, OK let’s see here. “started a cost savings program”. See here start see that?That’s a kind of a plain word. You can …bring that up a little bit. Maybe “implement a cost savings program”?

Kevin:

Implement. What does that mean?

Paul Stacey:

Implement, Implement. It means basically the same as start but it means to put into effect or to carry out or to get something going. And it has a little more power, a little more force. So, if she’s implementing the cost savings program, it carries a little more weight! How about that?

Kevin:

Thank you very much Paul. OK Maki. Two down, one to go. Next let’s get the opinion of Jeff Hull. Jeff, do you have a minute?

Jeff Hull:

Yes I do.

Kevin:

Well, I’m helping this girl in class. And she got a…she’s writing an English resume and she need some help to improve it a little bit. Here, could you take a look at this resume?

Jeff Hull:

Yes, let me see. She has here “I she helped improve client relations”. Maybe she could improve that a little by changing “improve” to “strengthen”. “I helped strengthen client relations” it makes it sound a little…gives it a little more impact.

Kevin:

Makes it stronger.

Jeff Hull:

Yeah, I think it makes it a little bit stronger.

Kevin:

Thanks for your help Jeff.

Jeff Hull:

OK, you’re welcome.

Kevin:

OK Maki, How’s that?

Maki:

Fantastic, Thanks Kevin. I’m off to make my resume.

Kevin:

Great. Let’s review the words today. develop, implement, and strengthen. OK, that’s all the time we have for this podcast. A big thanks to Maki and the teachers who helped out today.
To find out more about Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, visit www.nichibei.ac.jp , and follow the podcast link for information and transcripts of this podcast. This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin and Live Mix Media.

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