Power statements can be quite helpful in creating strong and compelling job application materials. Power statements can be used in your summary or objective, in your previous job descriptions or even in your cover letter. When used effectively, power statements can help you get hired for the job you want. In this article, we define what a power statement is, describe the benefits of using a power statement, list a variety of power words and explain how to write a power statement.
For example, I applied product-design changes that resulted in fewer rejects. I am creative. For example, I designed a new product line that increased revenue by $250,000. I have organization management skills.
Determine the message
Once you have a list of power words, youll want to decide how you intend to use them. If you are crafting a summary or objective for the beginning of your resume, the words and phrases you use may be different than when you describe your previous responsibilities. You will also want to determine the audience for what youre writing, such as specific personnel at a specific company. This might include using words from a job description that the company has posted or keywords you find on the companys website.
Determining your message will help you target what youre writing more directly so that it applies to what youre describing and appeals to your desired audience. For instance, you are drafting a power statement that you intend to be part of your list of responsibilities from a previous position on your resume, and youve analyzed the job description for the position youre applying for.
How to write a power statement
Here are the steps for writing a power statement for your resume:
Benefits of a power statement
A power statement is beneficial on a resume because it shows prospective employers what you are capable of in a positive and concise way. Power statements highlight professional accomplishments and personal attributes. For those who might feel shy about their accomplishments, setting a goal to write power statements can allow you to explain things factually without feeling uncomfortable. Since power statements require you to be specific, including them can show your impact more effectively.
Power statements and power words tend to stand out to those who are reviewing resumes because of their value, so using them may get your resume noticed more easily. Additionally, as many companies are moving towards software for tracking and sorting through resumes, power statements can help you include the keywords and phrases that you need to pass the screening.
Words to include in a power statement
While power statements often include specific information about tasks youve done and achievements you have, the most important element is to include power words. Here are some examples of power words, which can be either verbs or adjectives:
Just what are Power Statements? To give you a visual, think of headlines when youre reading a newspaper. They draw you into the article. You decide on what youre going to read based on the excitement and interest generated by the headline. If the headline is boring, you just keep looking for one that catches your attention.
Simple statements that are the centerpiece of your career portfolio, resume, and marketing messages. Nobody but you can lay claim to these special accomplishments in your career. These Power Statements distinguish you from others who may hold the same position or in your industry.
Your Power Statements are the headlines of your career that draw people in. Youre expressing, not bragging, exactly what you did to help people or companies solve critical problems and create new opportunities.
“Designed a customer service training program that reduced the total problem resolution time from 10 minutes to 3 minutes per call.”
“Improved the performance of a sales organization from 50% to 100% of plan in 3 months.”
First students are asked to brainstorm at least eight to ten words that best describe them. While focusing on their uniqueness, students are instructed to think of words that could be used for school, admissions into a club, on scholarship applications, or in resumés in the near future. Individuals can also add attributes associated with their involvement in clubs, organizations, teams, or support groups. Those who have written a smaller number of words should be encouraged to use dictionary.com, to search for synonyms and antonyms of the words they have selected to develop more representative words. They should be taught and encouraged to use action words. After this introductory phase, students move into the descriptive phase. They are encouraged to ask themselves what each word depicts about them. Furthermore, students need to consider who their audience is, that is, whose attention they are trying to capture while constructing the power statement.
Third, students can also add a visual , such as a representative picture that best depicts the statement. The final product could be converted into a word cloud, printed, and hung on the wall in the school hallway, inside the locker, and/or at home. This becomes a constant source of validation of the uniqueness of the student authenticating their talents and self-worth. A power statement can be updated and modified to meet the needs of each student.
Cara DeAnn Cockman-Bliss is a middle and high school business education teacher in the Jessieville School District in Jessieville, Arkansas. The author has completed 26 years in education, teaching courses including: Computerized Accounting I, Computerized Business Applications, Office Management, Keyboarding, and Career Development. Additional duties include serving as the Middle Level Future Business Leaders of America Sponsor and the Career and Education Facilitator for the district. In October 2014, she received her Career Development Facilitators Certification, and is currently awaiting National Board of Professional Teachers results. She can be reached at [email protected]
Second, students are then asked to select the six words that would provide a more relevant visual of who they are. Once the words are selected, they are to organize these into a powerful phrase. This may take several attempts before a final acceptable phase emerged. The statement must be logical and should flow well. The final statement should captivate the attention of the targeted audience such as a scholarship reviewer, admissions committee, and/or an employment interviewer.
In closing, this activity is designed to allow students the opportunity to create a representative statement of who they are, including their unique attributes. Career counselors should encourage their students to continue to revise and rework their individual power statements, which can be used in completing college applications, scholarship applications, job applications, and resumés, prior to graduation. Developing personal power statements take effort and time, but will procure substantial rewards now and in the future.
For those seeking career guidance in an effort to remake their lives.
I was reading my favorite Career Development publication recently (Career Convergence Magazine) and came across an article by Cara D. Cockman-Bliss entitled “Creating a Personal Power Statement.” In the article, the writer stresses that “creating a personal power statement is imperative for all persons at any level.”
“A personal power statement?” you ask. Yes. A personal power statement is an affirmation or summary of the essence of who you are – your values, your needs, your strengths, your style… all wrapped up into one robust, meaningful statement. This declaration is helpful, not only when you are searching for the most effective way to communicate your strengths and accomplishments to others, but it can be an excellent tool for helping you to formulate the mindset you need to go out there and conquer the world!
An example of an effective personal power statement is: “I am brilliant, creative and resourceful; I make good decisions and I achieve results.”
Cockman-Bliss’s process for developing a personal power statement are as follows (amended just a little):
1. Brainstorm AT LEAST eight to ten words that best describe you (for some of us, the list may be very long)
2. Select the SIX words that provide the most relevant, visual of who you are (whittling down your list may require time and patience, but the goal is to get a the best depiction of who you are)
3. Organize these words into a powerful phrase. Now, this may take several attempts before THE phrase emerges, but remember, it should be logical and flow well so that it captivates the attention of the your targeted audience.
4. Add a visual (think of one of those Successories posters, for example), that best depicts your statement.
Besides being memorized, your final product could be converted into a word cloud (using http://www.worlde.net – like I’ve done below), printed, and hung on a wall you will regularly view.
Feel free to post your personal power statement in the comments!
FAQ
What is your personal power statement?
- Use the Job Description to Craft Your Resume Summary. …
- Keep It Concise and Clear. …
- Highlight Three Things That Define Your Professional Self. …
- Don’t Let “Entry Level” Make You Feel Inexperienced. …
- Showcase Your Personality, When Relevant.
How do you write powers on a resume?
What is power resume?
