Power Verbsfor

Job Seekers

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Power Verbsfor

Job SeekersHundreds of Verbs andPhrases to Bring Your

Résumés, Cover Letters,and Job Interviews

to Life

MICHAEL LAWRENCE FAULKNER

WITH MICHELLE FAULKNER-LUNSFORD

Vice President, Publisher: Tim MooreAssociate Publisher and Director of Marketing: Amy NeidlingerExecutive Editor: Jeanne Glasser LevineEditorial Assistant: Pamela BolandOperations Specialist: Jodi KemperMarketing Manager: Megan GraueCover Designer: Chuti PrasertsithManaging Editor: Kristy HartProject Editor: Anne GoebelCopy Editor: Gill Editorial ServicesProofreader: Jess DeGabrieleSenior Indexer: Cheryl LenserSenior Compositor: Gloria SchurickManufacturing Buyer: Dan Uhrig

© 2013 by Michael Lawrence FaulknerPublishing as FT PressUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458

FT Press offers excellent discounts on this book when ordered in quantity for bulk purchases or specialsales. For more information, please contact U.S. Corporate and Government Sales, 1-800-382-3419, corpsales@pearsontechgroup.com. For sales outside the U.S., please contact International Sales at international@pearsoned.com.

Company and product names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of theirrespective owners.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without per-mission in writing from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

Second Printing September 2013

ISBN-10: 0-13-315872-1ISBN-13: 978-0-13-315872-4

Pearson Education LTD.Pearson Education Australia PTY, Limited.Pearson Education Singapore, Pte. Ltd.Pearson Education Asia, Ltd.Pearson Education Canada, Ltd.Pearson Educación de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Pearson Education—JapanPearson Education Malaysia, Pte. Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Faulkner, Michael.Power verbs for job seekers : hundreds of verbs and phrases to bring

your résumés, cover letters, and job interviews to life / MichaelFaulkner. — 1 Edition.

pages cmISBN 978-0-13-315872-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)1. Résumés (Employment) 2. Cover letters. 3. Job hunting. 4.

English language—Verb. 5. English language—Verb phrase. I. Title.HF5383.F38 2013650.14—dc23

2012050097

Dedicated to Ken Boyer, the gatekeeper.

Ken was my first college professor and had a powerfulinfluence on the direction of my life.

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Table of Contents

C H A P T E R 1 Why and How Power Verbs Can Pump Up Your Résumés, Cover Letters, Interviews, and PersonalNetworking Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

How to Use This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1How to Find the Right Power Verb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

C H A P T E R 2 Soft Skills Related to Professional Capabilities:Performance and Grooming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Accountability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Accuracy and Preciseness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Attendance and Punctuality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Attitude, Approachability, and Personality . . . . . . . . . . . .34Appearance and Personal Hygiene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Attention to Detail and Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Cognitive Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Common Sense, Street Smarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62Commitment and Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Communication, Speaking, Writing, Listening,

and Nonverbal Cues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Compassionate, Caring, Kind, Empathetic . . . . . . . . . . .89Creativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93Critical Thinking and Problem Solving . . . . . . . . . . . . .100Cross-Cultural Competency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113Computational Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118Customer Awareness, Able to Deal with Customers . . . .123Design Mind-Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125Drive and Passion, Tenacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135Flexibility, Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141Honesty and Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147Leadership and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149Learn, Grow, Teachable, Willingness to Learn . . . . . . . .158Motivated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163New Media Literacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167

Contents

Novel and Adaptive Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171Outgoing, Friendly, and Positive Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . .173Polite, Well Mannered, Courteous Phone and Email

Etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175Professional Demeanor and Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178Reliability, Dependability, Follow-Through,

and Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181Risk Tolerance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185Self-Confidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188Self-Manageable, Work Independently . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191Social Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200Take Direction, Follow Directions, Willing to Take

Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205Team Player, Transdisciplinary Skills, Works Well with

Others Across Departments and Disciplines, and as a Member of Virtual Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208

Time Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211Work Ethic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213

C H A P T E R 3 Hard Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217Accounting and Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217Administrative, Organizational, Time,

and Planning Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220Advertising, Branding, Public Relations, Sales, and

Marketing (Also See Branding, Marketing, SalesExperience) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225

Analytical/Research, Computational, and Math . . . . . .227Business and Business Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231Computer Literate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237Engineering, Research, and Development, Including

Software, New Products, and Services . . . . . . . . . . . .238Gather Data and Convert to Information . . . . . . . . . . . .242

C H A P T E R 4 Experience, Credentials, Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245Accomplishments and Achievements History . . . . . . . . .245Education and Training, Degrees, and Certifications . . .263

Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .267

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269

viii

Acknowledgments

There were many people who helped with this book in many ways. Much of this helpwas a family affair. My wife Jo-Ann lent her love, patience, support, and advice. Myson Kenny provided ideas for format when I was at a dead end. My grandsonsAndrew and Alex helped by looking up some words, and my daughter Michelle didyeoman’s work: performing edits, writing content, working on style, and givingadvice.

About the Authors

Dr. Michael Lawrence Faulkner is the author of six books. He is a Professor at theKeller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. He is a former U.S.Marine, who spent 30 years in a variety of leadership and executive managementpositions with Fortune 500 firms and major nonprofit trade associations, as well ashelping run the family business before beginning his second career in academics.Michael is a member of MENSA, a Rotary International Fellow, the Keller MasterTeacher Award, and holds a Silver Certification by the Toastmaster’s International. Inaddition to his Ph.D., Michael has earned two Master’s degrees, one from NYU andan MBA from NYIT.

Michelle Faulkner-Lunsford is a 2001 graduate of Middle Tennessee StateUniversity, where she majored in English and minored in Writing. Mrs. Lunsfordspent 10+ years in the world of advertising and marketing as an Account Managerand Director of Marketing and New Business Development, managing multi-milliondollar accounts ranging from male enhancement medications to beer ads. In 2011,Michelle left the corporate world for the opportunity to raise her daughter.

C H A P T E R 1

Why and How Power Verbs CanPump Up Your Résumés, Cover

Letters, Interviews, and PersonalNetworking Efforts

The power verbs in this book are those that can be used for job searching andnetworking. They are arranged alphabetically under major and minor cate-gories of the most desirable and sought-after human values, personality traits,personal characteristics, behaviors, and employability skills. There has beensubstantial empirical research done on the topic of what employers are reallylooking for in applicants. The results of these studies—what employers reallyseek in job applicants—were used to provide the framework for what powerverbs to include and how to best organize them for readers.

The authors have included hundreds of the most useful power verbs as part of the practical implicit approach to employers and networking contacts.Job searchers can pump up their résumés, cover letters, thank-you notes, inter-views, and other forms of human communications that are critical to jobsearching. In addition, individuals who want to enhance their personal, social, and business lives by building a powerful network can enhance theirnetworking skills.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Those of you searching for attention-grabbing, highly impactful power verbsshould think about the kinds of critical employability skills and the most desir-able employability and personality skills by broad topics (for example: accom-plishments and achievements, communication skills, ability to work withteams, and ability to find and fix problems). Once you’ve determined thesebroad categories of skills and traits, you can search alphabetically to refine thehunt for just the right power verbs. To help you find all possible power verbs,cross-check words in the index.

1

The power verbs that are not in common use have international pronuncia-tion included.

Each power verb has synonyms and abbreviated definitions to help youposition just the right power verbs for the impact and effect you desire.

In most cases, the power verbs include examples of the specific word inactual use as a “Résumé bullet point.” Bulleted points have a style purpose thatsays, “Something important follows.” Employment experts have recognized forsome time that smartly bulleted résumé points are the most effective, efficient,and productive method for job seekers to display their value to a prospectiveemployer. The problem is that good people have had exciting, responsible jobsand have accomplished significant achievements in their work and social lives,but fail to correctly display these achievements in bullet form. While manyemploy the bullet model, they have two fundamental but deadly flaws. First,résumés frequently include too many bullet points. Second, many of the bulletsincluded were somewhat dull narrations repeating, in synonyms, job descrip-tions that have already been indicated.

Résumé bullet points should draw attention to your accomplishments—your quantitative selling points. Résumé bullet points depict achievements andshould not just restate the job description. An achievement is anything that canbe measured in numbers, dollars, percentages, or some measure showingimprovement due to some action, attainment, decision, deed, endeavor, exploit,feat, step, success, undertaking, venture, or work attributed to you.

Hiring managers are busy people and appreciate applicants who respecttheir time by providing a few (3 to 4) simple, easy-to-read, yet impactful bul-lets of their achievements for each position. Note that we said achievements;we did not say restatements of their job description. Your résumé is a form ofan extended calling card, and its purpose is to get you a face-to-face interview,not tell your entire working history.

Some power verbs include a field titled “Collocates to.” This is a listing ofprimarily less familiar words that includes other terms that have a tendency tobe grouped or chunked together with that verb.

Some power verbs include the power verb that is used in a sentence, a quo-tation, a newspaper article, or a magazine article.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT POWER VERB

Soft skills are listed in Chapter 3: the critical employability skills, behaviors,and personality traits that employers are looking for in job seekers.

Hard skills are listed in Chapter 4: those personal skills and experiencesthat employers say are of equal importance to employability skills.

Experience, credentials, and education are listed in Chapter 5: achieve-ments and accomplishments likely to be of importance to employers.

2 Power Verbs for Job Seekers

Many power verbs can be used in multiple categories. When a power verbcan be employed in a crossover category, this is shown next to the power verb.

Every employer looks for a specific set of skills from job seekers thatmatch the skills necessary to perform a particular job. But beyond these job-specific technical skills, certain skills are nearly universally sought by employ-ers. The good news is that most job seekers possess these skills to some extent.The better news is that job seekers who have weaknesses in these areas canimprove their skills through training, professional development, or obtainingcoaching/mentoring from someone who understands these skills.

The best news is that once you understand the skills and characteristicsthat most employers seek, you can tailor your job-search communication—your résumé, cover letter, and interview language—to showcase how well yourbackground aligns with common employer requirements.

Numerous studies have identified these critical employability skills, some-times referred to as “soft skills.” We’ve distilled the skills from these manystudies into this list of skills most frequently mentioned. Look for ways toinclude, inject, weave, identify, and show examples of these characteristics inyour résumé, cover letters, and answers to interview questions.

Now, go search for the power verbs that will pump up your job searchingand networking!

3Chapter 1 • Why and How Power Verbs Can Pump Up Your Résumés, Cover Letters, Interviews, and Personal Networking Efforts

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269

Aabduce, 55aberrate, 113abet, 5, 68, 158, 163, 200abide, 5, 63, 68, 113, 178, 181, 191, 213abound, 40, 181abreach, 34abreact, 75, 188absorb, 6, 40, 55, 63, 68, 113, 141, 158,

192, 245absterge, 29, 41abstract, 56, 147aby, 178, 181accede, 6, 68, 123, 142, 173, 200, 205accelerate, 69, 163, 192, 211, 220, 245accentuate, 6, 29, 41, 56, 69, 75, 93, 135accept, 7, 113, 181, 206, 208accessorize, 38acclaim, 188, 200, 246acclimate, 41, 56, 63, 114, 142, 149, 159,

171, 178, 208, 213acclimatize, 159accommodate, 63, 89, 114, 123, 142, 173, 246accomplish, 7, 29, 41, 135, 150, 163, 171,

213, 246accomplishments. See achievementsaccord, 175, 200account for, 33, 42, 227, 231accountability verbs, 5-29accounting and finance verbs, 217-220accredit, 7, 42, 181, 221accredite, 123accrue, 100, 192accumlate, 247accuracy verbs, 29-33, 40-55accustom, 143achieve, 34, 135, 150, 163, 171, 185, 188,

247, 263achievements

finding in book, 2in résumés, 2verbs, 245-263

acknowledge, 8, 145, 159, 173, 178, 192acquaint, 114, 200acquiesce, 8, 35, 56, 89, 201

acquire, 123, 125, 186, 242, 247act, 150, 193act on, 42, 221activate, 69, 100, 171, 221, 247actualize, 42, 64, 150, 164, 172, 248actuate, 43, 93, 124, 151, 186, 248adapt, 35, 43, 64, 69, 94, 114, 143, 159,

238, 248adaptive thinking verbs, 171-173add, 126, 248address, 43, 76, 193adduce, 8, 76, 151, 249adhere, 100, 126adjudicate, 9, 57, 101, 126adjure, 76, 206adjust, 9, 64, 115, 143, 214, 217administer, 9, 182, 193, 217, 221administrative verbs, 220-225admire, 201adopt, 10, 70, 249adorn, 38adumbrate, 57, 151, 186advance, 193, 249advertise, 76advertising verbs, 225-227advise, 89advocate, 70, 90, 182, 188, 193affect, 249affirm, 10, 43, 101, 145aggregate, 118, 201, 221agree, 10, 143, 175aid, 10, 115alert, 193align, 44, 70, 126, 194, 201allay, 90, 115alleviate, 90allocate, 118allude, 57, 76ally, 115, 174, 201alter, 11alternate, 144amalgamate, 250amass, 136, 164, 194, 250, 264ameliorate, 11, 30, 44, 94, 151, 160, 172,

194, 250

Index

*Words in bold are power verbs.

270 Index

amend, 126amuse, 174analytical research verbs, 227-231analyze, 44, 101, 152, 227, 237-238, 242animate, 94annotate, 57answer, 76, 206answer for, 189, 194anticipate, 64, 186appeal, 175appearance verbs, 38-40appertain, 152applaud, 176apply, 194appoint, 11, 194apportion, 119appraise, 127apprise, 127approachability verbs, 34-38approve, 11, 127, 195arbitrate, 101, 144archive, 119, 167, 182argue, 101arrange, 12, 94, 221array, 95, 127, 228articulate, 77, 179ascertain, 12, 30, 44, 102, 152, 250ascribe, 12, 30, 45, 119, 145assemble, 33, 238, 250assent, 90, 209assert, 127, 228assess, 128, 239asseverate, 45, 57, 77, 128assign, 13, 31, 119, 222assimilate, 116, 152assist, 58, 90, 195, 209associate, 174assuage, 58, 70assure, 146atone, 176attain, 250, 264attend, 34attendance verbs, 33-34attention to detail verbs, 40-55attest, 77, 146attitude verbs, 34-38, 173-175attract, 124attribute, 45, 189audio conference, 167audit, 45, 120, 128, 217augment, 116authenticate, 13, 31, 46, 128, 153

author, 77, 95, 251authorize, 13, 182automate, 120, 167avail, 251availability verbs, 141-145aver, 35, 46, 146avert, 195

Bbackcast, 95backstop, 65, 71, 214balance, 13, 46, 102, 116, 218band together, 201bandy about, 77bankroll, 232banter, 78bar code, 167bargain, 195batch process, 128, 167battle, 136battle test, 46, 128bedazzle, 39bedeck, 39befriend, 90beget, 251begin, 13beguile, 251benchmark, 46, 129, 160, 179, 225, 232beta test, 129, 153, 186, 228bifurcate, 129bird dog, 225blandish, 78blazon, 78blog, 78bloviate, 189blue pencil, 14, 47blue sky, 58, 164boast, 189bolster, 129bookend, 129boost, 58, 179, 251bootstrap, 65, 129, 195bounce back, 189bowdlerize, 47brainstorm, 58, 78branch out, 116, 187brand, 232branding verbs, 225-227break through, 187, 195bring about, 71, 130bring around, 189

271Index

bring together, 124broaden, 116broke through, 136buddy up, 174, 201build, 14, 124built, 239bull dog, 195bulleted points in résumés, 2bump the shark, 65, 136buoy up, 214business sense verbs, 231-236

Ccache, 222cajole, 78, 164calculate, 14, 120, 218, 228, 239calenderize, 47calibrate, 47, 102call the shots, 195campaign, 71canvas, 214capitalize, 102captain, 195carry the water, 71, 125, 153, 189, 214carry through, 164, 182, 209, 214carve out, 95catalog, 14, 130catapult, 252categorize, 47, 95, 102cede, 202centralize, 47, 130, 222cerebrate, 147, 160, 179certification verbs, 263-265certify, 48, 130, 146, 182chair, 15challenge, 136, 187champion, 15, 71, 153, 172, 189channel, 137chart, 130cherry-pick, 48, 189chip away, 137chop wood, 65chope, 35choreograph, 222chronicle, 78cipher, 228circumnavigate, 252circumvent, 96, 187cite, 48classify, 48, 120, 243

clean up well, 39click stream, 225close ranks, 91, 202co-brand, 225coach, 91coadjute, 116, 209, 252coalesce, 15, 58, 72, 117, 144, 153, 160,

202, 209, 252code, 131codify, 120, 243cogitate, 59, 103cognitive load management verbs, 55-62cohere, 91, 202, 209collaborate, 72, 117, 196, 206, 214, 225, 252collate, 59, 131, 209, 243, 252collect, 154, 218, 243collocate, 121, 222command, 137commit, 72commitment verbs, 68-75common sense verbs, 62-67communicate, 79, 253communication verbs, 75-89compare, 154compassion verbs, 89-93compete, 137compile, 121, 196, 243complete, 15, 72, 196, 214, 253, 264comply, 176comport, 35, 73, 253compose, 79, 253computational thinking verbs, 118-122computational verbs, 227-231compute, 103, 218, 229computer literacy verbs, 167-170, 237-238computerize, 237concatenate, 48conceive, 15, 103, 196, 253conceptualize, 59, 79, 154, 161conciliate, 161, 174, 176concur, 144conduct, 137conduct needs analysis, 226, 239confide, 202confidence verbs, 188-191configure, 131connect, 202conserve, 211consign, 232consolidate, 103, 117construct, 103

272 Index

construe, 16, 79consulate, 202consult, 79, 179contemporize, 104contrast, 189contribute, 137, 202, 215control, 196, 222, 253convene, 138convert, 237convey, 80, 229convoke, 80, 154cooperate, 73, 203coordinate, 49, 104, 197, 222, 254cope, 197correlate, 49, 117, 121, 229corroborate, 49, 104coruscate, 36counsel, 36, 80, 91, 203countenance, 91, 203cowboy up, 65create, 96, 254creativity verbs, 93-100credential, 179critical thinking verbs, 100-112critique, 203cross-cultural competency verbs, 113-118crowd fund, 232crowd source, 66, 226crusade, 165, 187, 190cull, 104, 154cultivate, 73, 125, 147, 197, 203customer relationship verbs, 123-125customize, 73, 96cybernate, 168, 237

Ddata mine, 121, 168data warehouse, 121data-gathering verbs, 242-244database, 122debate, 80debug, 131, 168dedicate, 73dedication verbs, 68-75deduce, 49, 104, 161deduct, 59define, 16, 31, 50, 105, 131, 254defuse, 197defy, 187degrees and certification verbs, 263-265

deliberate, 105, 211, 222delimit, 50, 105, 132, 211delineate, 16, 50, 80, 229delve, 148, 161demarcate, 50, 132demystify, 59denote, 81depend, 182dependability verbs, 181-185depict, 16, 60, 81, 96depute, 132descant, 96design, 96, 239, 254design mind-set verbs, 125-134designate, 17, 132detail, 50determine, 105develop, 60, 197, 254develop and deliver, 240devise, 97, 255devote, 74, 91diagnose, 106dialogue, 81dig deep down, 215dig into, 198digitize, 122direct, 255direct market, 226direction-following verbs, 205-208disabuse, 36, 51, 81discover, 66, 106, 148, 244, 255disencumber, 138disentangle, 60, 132, 197display, 190dissuade, 106distribute, 138, 255dive into, 211diversify, 117, 144, 232document, 223double, 255double down, 215down scope, 232downscale, 232drill down, 168drive, 256drive verbs, 135-141dropbox, 168, 237dulcify, 81duplicate, 206dynamic price, 233

273Index

Ee-barter, 169e-source, 169, 237e-tail, 169, 226, 233earmark, 17, 31, 51, 74, 211earn, 256, 264earwig, 81edify, 60, 82, 91, 148, 161, 203edit, 17, 51, 82, 206educate, 51, 82, 148, 162education verbs, 263-265educe, 52, 60, 106, 148, 155effectuate, 32, 74, 162elaborate, 82elevate, 92elicit, 83elucbrate, 74, 83elucidate, 17, 32, 61, 83, 203, 207, 229embellish, 83embrace, 118emend, 74, 155empathize, 174, 204employability skills. See soft skillsempower, 18, 138, 215emulate, 190, 207encode, 97, 169encourage, 176encrypt, 169endorse, 18energize, 165enforce, 18engage, 207engender, 198engineer, 106, 211, 240engineering verbs, 238-242engross, 198enhance, 155, 165, 256enkindle, 97ensure, 18, 32entice, 204entrust, 204enumerate, 19, 83envisage, 97epitomize, 98espouse, 19, 198establish, 19, 107, 182, 190, 256estimate, 107etiquette verbs, 175-178evince, 84

exalt, 174examine, 107exceed, 19, 138, 257excel, 138, 215excite, 204execute, 139exemplify, 139exert, 215exhort, 36, 139expand, 257expatiate, 84, 183expedit, 139, 212, 257experience verbs, 245-263experiment, 187, 229expiate, 176explicate, 107explore, 108exposit, 108expound, 84extoll, 84extrapolate, 61, 108, 230

FFacebook, 84, 169, 237facilitate, 84, 155, 223factor, 146fast track, 140, 216, 233fathom, 108ferret out, 66, 108finance and accounting verbs, 217-220finding and fixing problems, 172fine-tune, 207finesse, 223firm up, 198fix, 109, 257flexibility verbs, 141-145focus, 52follow through, 109, 183following directions verbs, 205-208forge, 20formulate, 20, 109foster, 223found, 258franchise, 233fraternize, 174freelance, 146fulfill, 20, 183, 258further, 258

274 Index

G–Hgalvanize, 109, 156, 204gamble, 187garner, 61, 147gather, 20, 244gauge, 109gave, 92generate, 21gin up, 21, 66, 190give credence, 183give voice, 204glean, 85globalize, 233Google, 237graduate, 265grease the skids, 66guide, 21, 258

handle, 21, 198, 223hard skills

accounting and finance, 217-220administrative and planning, 220-225advertising, branding, public relations,

sales, marketing, 225-227analytical/research, computational,

mathematics, 227-231business sense, 231-236computer literacy, 237-238data gathering, 242-244engineering, research and development,

238-242held down the fort, 216help, 92, 177, 258hie, 212hire, 233honesty verbs, 145-147honor, 265hot desk, 170hot link, 226hunker down, 75, 216hyperlink, 170, 226hypothesize, 61, 110, 230

Iidentify, 52illustrate, 85imagine, 110imbibe, 61, 149, 162imbricate, 118imbue, 132

immerse, 204impact, 259impart, 85implement, 22, 223, 240, 259imply, 85impose, 22improve, 22, 241, 259improvise, 198impute, 23, 33, 207incandesce, 39incentivize, 156, 172increase, 23, 209inculcate, 183, 204independent work verbs, 191-200individualize, 205induce, 110inform, 85information-gathering verbs, 242-244infuse, 23, 98ingratiate, 205initiate, 110, 198, 259innerve, 85, 190, 205innovate, 98, 241insorb, 162, 205inspire, 98, 205install, 241institute, 24insure, 183integrate, 52integrity verbs, 145-147intelligence verbs, 147-149interject, 85interlard, 99intermesh, 205interpose, 24, 140interpret, 52, 149interview, 86invent, 241invigorate, 24, 205invoke, 165

J–K–Ljerry-rig, 67jockey, 67join, 210jump-start, 67justify, 184juxtapose, 53, 86

kick the tires, 67, 233kindle, 188

275Index

laud, 24, 86, 175, 210, 265launch, 140, 156lavish, 177lead, 184, 260leadership verbs, 149-158learn, 207learning verbs, 158-162leverage, 25, 156license, 233life stream, 39listen, 86lucubrate, 62

Mmaintain, 184, 223make, 241, 260make good, 207manage, 156, 224, 234, 242, 260management verbs, 149-158maneuver, 179manufacture, 208, 242market, 226marketing verbs, 225-227marshal, 140, 260mash up, 238mask, 39mass market, 227mastermind, 199mathematics verbs, 227-231maximize, 25, 140, 218, 261measure, 110measure up, 216mediate, 25meditate, 111meliorate, 25, 36mentor, 92merchandize, 227, 234merge, 234methodize, 53, 111micro publish, 170militate, 26, 157mobilize, 166model, 122moderate, 180mollify, 36monitor, 208motivate, 141, 166motivation verbs, 163-166multitask, 212

N–Onail down, 26nearshore, 234negotiate, 145netiquette verbs, 175-178network, 170, 180, 210, 234new media literacy verbs, 167-170note, 86novel thinking verbs, 171-173nuance, 53nurture, 92, 175

objectify, 86observe, 133, 208, 230, 244obviate, 62, 173, 177ogle, 39operate, 224opine, 87oppugn, 87optimize, 216, 219orchestrate, 26, 53, 133organizational verbs, 220-225organize, 111, 224, 261originate, 26, 261outperform, 26overachieve, 166, 216overdress, 40oversaw, 224, 235oversee, 26

Ppace, 212parlay, 87parse, 87participate, 216passion verbs, 135-141perceive, 62, 162perfect, 184perform, 27permit, 177perseverate, 53, 133, 184persevere, 37, 75, 184persist, 185personal hygiene verbs, 38-40personal skills. See soft skillspersonality verbs, 34-38pinpoint, 54, 190pioneer, 99, 141, 166, 191, 199, 261pique, 87

276 Index

plan, 111, 212, 224planning skills verbs, 220-225pontificate, 87posit, 27, 62, 111, 230positive attitude verbs, 173-175postulate, 87, 230precipitate, 27preciseness verbs, 29-33preempt, 27preen, 40prepare, 199present, 88prioritize, 54problem solving verbs, 100-112produce, 261professionalism verbs, 178-180profile, 54project, 133, 219promote, 235promulgate, 88proof, 88propitiate, 37prototype, 99, 235public relations verbs, 225-227publish, 88pull the trigger, 67punctuality verbs, 33-34

Q–Rquantify, 54, 112, 219, 230quarterback, 191, 262quicken, 212

R&D verbs, 238-242ratiocinate, 37, 133, 219rationalize, 28reach back, 191reach out, 175reallocate, 219rebut, 199recalculate, 219recapitalize, 219recertify, 265rechannel, 235recommend, 180recrudesce, 37recruit, 262rectify, 28, 219, 262refinance, 220reliability verbs, 181-185remit, 220

remunerate, 220represent, 180rescue, 191research, 231research and development verbs, 238-242reshore, 235responsibility verbs, 181-185restore, 199restructure, 220, 235résumés, bulleted points, 2retool, 236revamp, 157revivify, 99risk, 191risk tolerance verbs, 185-188roll out, 236ruminate, 88, 112, 231

Ssales verbs, 225-227sanction, 28, 33satiate, 185satisfy, 112save, 199schedule, 34, 54, 213scrutinize, 88, 112seagull, 37secure, 262segue, 62, 199, 213select, 262self-confidence verbs, 188-191self-management verbs, 191-200serve, 93, 210set goals, 236share, 177, 210shoot the moon, 191shoulder, 28, 180showcase, 191simulate, 231size up, 112smile, 177smooth over, 177social intelligence verbs, 200-205soft skills

accountability, 5-29accuracy and preciseness, 29-33appearance and personal hygiene, 38-40attendance and punctuality, 33-34attention to detail and accuracy, 40-55attitude, approachability, personality,

34-38

277Index

cognitive load management, 55-62commitment and dedication, 68-75common sense, 62-67communication, 75-89compassion, 89-93computational thinking, 118-122creativity, 93-100critical thinking and problem solving,

100-112cross-cultural competency, 113-118customer relationship, 123-125design mind-set, 125-134drive, passion, tenacity, 135-141etiquette, 175-178finding in book, 2flexibility, availability, 141-145following directions, 205-208honesty and integrity, 145-147intelligence, 147-149leadership, 149-158motivation, 163-166new media literacy, 167-170novel and adaptive thinking, 171-173positive attitude, 173-175professionalism, 178-180reliability, 181-185risk tolerance, 185-188self-confidence, 188-191self-management, 191-200social intelligence, 200-205teamwork, 208-211time management, 211-213willingness to learn, 158-162work ethic, 213-216

solo, 200solve, 99, 134, 220, 263sort, 122spearhead, 180, 188, 263start, 157storyboard, 227stove pipe, 134, 236streamline, 134street smarts verbs, 62-67styleflex, 89, 238suit up, 40supervise, 236support, 125surmise, 231synchronize, 134synthesize, 55systematize, 157

Ttabulate, 55, 122, 220, 231tackle, 67, 185take responsibility for, 200target, 185teachableness verbs, 158-162team build, 211teamwork verbs, 208-211temper, 38tenacity verbs, 135-141test market, 227, 236thinking skills verbs, 171-173time management verbs, 211-213, 220-225titivate, 40took charge, 157training verbs, 263-265transcend, 180transform, 29, 263troubleshot, 157tutor, 93

U–Zunderstood, 208unify, 93, 118, 158

venerate, 38verify, 244vet, 55visualize, 100

walk the walk, 158webcast, 170weigh in, 141welcome, 177white board, 134win, 263work ethic verbs, 213-216write, 89

yield, 178

zero in, 141zoom through, 213

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