Let’s say you’ve just finished writing your resume. It has probably taken you a while. But then you’ve given your resume one final look and it just didn’t sound right. Why could that be?

The chances are you didn’t pick the right adjectives. Of course, your resume could suffer from other problems, like mundane verbs or meaningless buzz phrases. But at the end of the day, it’s adjectives that give your resume color and personality. Which is why you should pay close attention to how you use them.

The resume experts over at ZipJob recommend looking for adjectives mentioned in the job description and adding them to your resume. Your resume should always be tailored to the position you’re applying for.

In the end, adjectives determine the tone of your text and help breathe life into otherwise dull descriptions. Which means they come particularly handy when writing a resume. After all, you’re trying to make a good impression on your potential employer. And these are the words that will significantly impact that impression.

But all of the above is easier said than done. Good writing always takes practice, skill and a bit of alchemy. Fortunately, there are shortcuts to take and crutches to help you achieve the desired result. Like the cheat sheet below.

We’ve created an extensive list of 200 power adjectives that will help you write a resume that stands out in any setting. See for yourself! They’re crunchy, juicy, irresistible! (See how it works?) 

(And if you’re asking how we’ve come up with these words, it’s easy. We went through our database of real resume examples by people who got hired at the world’s top companies. Check it out!)

200 Most Powerful Adjectives to Use On a Resume

adjectives to use on a resume infographic