USEFUL VOCABULARY FOR THE RESUME AND INTERVIEW

Below is a list of great verbs to help you express just exactly what you did with impressive vocabulary.
These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed:

acted
accomplished
adapted

edited

identified

administered

dealt

implemented

advanced

decided

improved

raised

advised

decreased

increased

recommended

allocated

defined

indexed

recorded

analyzed

delegated

initiated

recruited

applied

derived

inspected

rectified

approved

designated

installed

redesigned

arbitrated

detected

instituted

repaired

arranged

developed

interpreted

replaced

assisted

devised

introduced

restored

attained

directed

invented

reversed

blended

discovered

investigated

reviewed

brought

distributed

justified

revised

built

documented

led

saved

carried out

doubled

localized

screened

catalogued

encouraged

located

selected

changed

engineered

made

serviced

classified

enlarged

managed

set up

collaborated

escalated

maintained

solved

compared

established

mechanized

sorted

completed

estimated

merged

sparked

computed

evaluated

moderated

specified

conceived

examined

motivated

started

conducted

expanded

negotiated

stimulated

constructed

experienced

opened

strengthened

consulted

explored

operated

summarized

contracted

facilitated

organized

supervised

controlled

finalized

originated

supported

cooperated

formulated

overcame

systematized

coordinated

founded

perceived

tested

corrected

functioned

performed

trained

counseled

governed

pioneered

transacted

created

grouped

planned

transcribed

guided

prepared

transformed

handled

presented

tripled

harmonized

presided

upgraded

harnessed

processed

validated

headed

programmed

varied

promoted

verified

provided

vitalized

purchased

won

wrote

To describe your skills the following adjectives are useful

honest
innovative
logical
loyal
accurate

mature

active

methodical

adaptable

motivated

adept

objective

broad-minded

outgoing

competent

personable

conscientious

pleasant

creative

positive

dependable

practical

determined

productive

diplomatic

reliable

discreet

resourceful

efficient

self disciplined

energetic

sense of

enterprising

humor

enthusiastic

sensitive

experienced

sincere

fair

successful

firm

tactful

genuine

trustworthy

ANSWERS IN A JOB INTERVIEW

I graduated from University (College) in this is a sentence structure you can use
when telling what University or College you graduated and when it happened: I graduated
from Trinity College Dublin in 2007.
I majored in if youve been studying at a third-level institution such as a University,
youll know that soon after commencing your studies you have to choose a major (a specialty
within your field of study). This is how you explain to your job interviewer what your major
was: and I majored in Engineering.
I graduated as in heres an alternative way of saying what your specialty is and when
exactly you acquired the degree: I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 2009.
I enrolled for a degree in you may also want to tell your future employer when
exactly you started your studies, and theres no better way of doing it than this one: I
enrolled for a bachelors degree in 2010! You can also use the same word enroll when
describing what course, for example, youve just started: Ive enrolled for a PC maintenance
course and Im going to finish it in 7 months.
Obtained my degree this English collocation describes the simple fact of getting a
degree its just that the word obtain sounds a bit more fancy and will send the message to
the interviewer that youre a true professional: and I successfully obtained my masters
degree in 2 years.
Im an individual with a solid educational background do you want to praise
yourself a little bit during the job interview? Well, theres nothing wrong with that if done
sparingly! And this phrase is just what you need: Im an individual with a solid IT educational
background.

Engaged in extensive extra-curricular activities do you want to show to your potential

employer that youve always stayed active during your studies and did a lot of extra work?
This is the proper phrase to be used in such a situation!
DESCRIBING YOUR PROFILE
-

Im a wide profile sales/marketing/customer support professional this is a general

phrase used to describe industry/-ies youre been working in. If you say wide profile
instead of just Ive been working in , it will sound smarter and more professional!

I perform well under pressure is a phrase you can use to describe that youre an
employee very well capable of working when theres a lot of pressure and youll do your
best to get things done.

Im used to working in a busy environment similar to the previous one, and you can
use it interchangeably with I perform well under pressure during an interview so that
you dont constantly repeat yourself.

Customer-oriented means you value customers and youll be polite and efficient when
dealing with them. Remember customers are life-blood of every business, so this is
what every potential employer will want to hear from you!

Meeting targets is a professional way of saying getting things done in time. In terms of
work and professional environment, targets is the word thats used to describe tasks
and assignments, so you should use it to sound like a true professional.

Handle stress easily this phrase is especially relevant in customer support and other
industries when dealing directly with customers starting with catering and ending with direct
sales.
Team player if youre a likeable person who gets along well with others while at the same
time being able to maintain professional relationship instead of filling your workplace with
gossip then youre a team player!
Can-do attitude means you dont accept defeat and you dont get confused the moment
situation gets difficult and complicated at work. You just get things done, you cheer others up
in your workplace and youre the right person for the job youre going for!
Drive to succeed is one of characteristics of a typical career person, and you definitely want to
mention that during the interview or in your CV. Your future employer will look for someone
whos naturally driven by success, so make sure to describe yourself as such a person.

Results driven this phrase is somewhat similar to the previous one with emphasis on
results. Success is a more general term; results imply youre good at meeting targets, too.
Eager to learn use this English collocation to stress the fact that youre always taking
opportunities to acquire new knowledge. Its going to send a message to your interviewer that
youre not afraid of new duties and responsibilities!
Good at multitasking use this phrase to convince your future employer that youre not
easy to give into despair when things are getting hectic and you have to juggle a lot of
responsibilities at the same time.

DESCRIBING PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND YOUR CURRENT POSITION

I have years experience in the field this phrase allows you to describe your
experience precisely while using professional lingo at the same time.
Proven track record when you say, for example I have a proven track record in
telecommunication it means youve been working in the sector and you have an official
employment history and related references.
Work against the clock this is a perfect way of describing a fast-paced work environment
in your previous or current job. Another good job-seeking related word combination to go with
this one is to meet deadlines We often have to work against the clock to meet deadlines
during the busy season.
Liaise with other departments its a fancy way of saying to communicate with other
departments. If youre willing to get the job though, you may as well learn the word liaise.
When it comes to speaking about your communication between departments in your
company, youll know exactly what phrase to use!
EXPLAINING WHY YOU WANT THIS JOB
This question comes up during every job interview, and oftentimes interviewees arent quite
sure how to respond to it. Its essential therefore that you learn a few phrases you can use
exactly for this purpose! Also remember never speak ill of your previous/current jobs or
employers! Even if youre going for a new job because you hate your boss, never admit to it
during an interview. Thats when the following phrases come in handy:
I want to further my career in sales/marketing its a perfect way of saying that there
arent any promotional opportunities in your current job without admitting to it directly.

In line with my qualifications if you tell your future boss that you want to get this job
because its in line with your qualifications, its going to send a message that youre a person
fully aware of what your expertise is. And I dont think theyll keep probing you during the
interview until they get you to confess that youre just unhappy with your current job. Theyll
take this answer as a satisfactory response and be happy with it!
I want to take on more responsibility a totally valid phrase you can use when aiming for
a slightly higher position. Just like when using the first phrase in this section you can use this
sentence, highlight the fact that youre an ambitious professional but dont say directly
Nobody will promote me in my current company
I want to pursue a career in this is how you explain that you simply want to start a
career in a particular industry and thats why youre applying for this position: Having worked
10 years in the retail industry, I made the decision to up skill and now that I have my
certificate done, I want to pursue a career in accountancy.
This job would be a natural progression this is a great way of explaining why you
actually want this particular job. Well, obviously you have to highlight what features of the
new job would constitute the progression or else it will seem that youre just using this phrase
as a clich: Considering that Id be required to deal with the customers directly, this job
would be a natural progression for me as a sales professional!
THE TRICKY PART OF ANY INTERVIEW SALARY
In 9 situations out of 10 youre looking for a better pay when going for a new job, arent you?
But what if the advertised position doesnt have a price-tag attached to it? The problem is
you cant just tell your potential employer right upfront I want to get paid 12 euros/h!
Thats when you have to be smart and use the right phrases to send a message to the
interviewer that youre aware of what your experience and skills are worth.
Competitive salary you cant go wrong with this one if you say that youre expecting a
competitive salary, it means you know what the industry average is and youd like to get at
least that amount of hourly wage.
My remuneration was adequate if you dont want to reveal how much you earned in your
previous company, this is the phrase to use!
I expect experience based remuneration as I already told you mentioning numbers
during a job interview speaks of bad manners, so if youre quite an experienced professional

in a certain field, its safe to say that you expect your experience to reflect on your
remuneration package.
My salary expectations are in line with my qualifications and education same thing
as the previous phrase but with an emphasis on your qualifications and education. This is a
good way of emphasizing your educational background and its role in your career of course,
if you have something really relevant to bring to the table.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER CANDIDATES?
Its another one of those questions that can make or break your job interview. The thing is
while both you and your future employer know that youre probably not a unique person
among other job-seekers out there, youve just got to sell yourself as the best person possible
for the position!
And of course dont forget that being a foreign English speaker, you have to sell your spoken
English skills as well, so thats when the following phrases come in handy:
What sets me apart from other candidates is this is how you can actually start the sentence
to describe your unique qualities: What sets me apart from other candidates is my ability to
handle difficult customers.
is what makes me the best candidate for this position! and this is another handy phrase
used to make it 100% clear what you think is your best quality: So I strongly believe that my
ability to perform well under extreme pressure is what makes me the best candidate for this
position!
Im self-motivated this phrase is kind of overused, but if you really mean it, it says a lot
about you as a worker. It means you dont have to be constantly supervised and youre
mature enough to take on responsibility!
I take pride in my work this is a great phrase and I bet your future boss wants to employ
someone who takes pride in his/her job and is enthusiastic enough to make sure day-to-day
tasks are run effectively.
Im very attentive to detail heres a quality that can really set you apart from others. I
know from my own experience that small mistakes can lead to big expenses down the
road for your employer, so having someone on board whos going to be meticulous when it
comes data entry and similar tasks is very important!

Im 100% involved while performing work-related duties means youre really dedicated
and your future boss wont have problems with you not completing your tasks and
assignments.
Im good at resolving problem situations dont forget to mention a difficult situation
from your past which you resolved successfully. Typically it involves dealing with a difficult
customer, but it can also include resolving other problems delivery issues, technical
problems and whatnot.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Its of the utmost importance for you as a foreign English speaker to describe your English and
other language skills so that those descriptions properly portray your capability of using the
respective languages. Heres how to describe your English skills other than just fluent:
I have effective communication skills in English both verbally and in writing . Its a
perfect way of elaborating on the matter in your CV because it also explains that youre good
both at writing and speaking. Fluent is a term that can be stretched; this phrase,
however, leaves very few questions to be asked!
Ive been speaking English for the last years you can use this sentence to alleviate
any doubts that your English mightnt be good enough for the job.

Ive been working in an English speaking environment for the last years same as
the previous one, with a slight emphasis on your work-related spoken English skills. Its going
to send a strong message to your future employer that you wont have any problems
communicating with your fellow employees and supervisors!
My English is competent for this industry its a way of admitting that your English
mightnt be 100% fluent yet you can deliver 100% results in the respective industry. Youre
probably better off avoiding this phrase unless you run into some English fluency issues
during the interview and then this might be your last chance to salvage the situation.
wouldnt present any difficulties whatsoever this is how you explain that youre
really comfortable using the English language: Using English at work wouldnt present me
any difficulties whatsoever Ive been around English speakers for 5 years.