Resume Magic: How to Make ‘I Worked at a Small Company’ Sound Impressive

That "small company experience" you’re downplaying? Big mistake. Employers don’t care about company size – they care about your impact. Compare:

❌ "Answered customer questions at a local shop"
✅ *"Resolved 50+ daily client inquiries, improving satisfaction scores by 25%"*

See the magic? Specifics + metrics = interview invitations.

The 3 Golden Rules of Power Wording

1. Verb Choice is Everything
Swap weak verbs for power words:

2. Quantify Like a Pro
Even estimates work:

• "Managed social media" → "Grew Instagram following by 150% in 3 months"

3. Tailor to Job Keywords
Mirror the job posting’s language:

• If they want "team player," say "Collaborated with 5 departments on X project"

Small Experience? Big Makeover Examples

Before: "Cashier at family restaurant"

After: *"Processed 100+ daily transactions with 99% accuracy in fast-paced environment"*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before: "Intern at local clinic"

After: *"Coordinated patient records for 20+ daily appointments, reducing admin errors by 40%"*

Vocabulary Builder (B1/B2 Level)

1. Spearhead (v.) – To lead an initiative
   Example: "She spearheaded the company’s sustainability program."
2. Optimize (v.) – To make as effective as possible
   Example: "He optimized workflows to save 10 weekly hours."
3. Retention (n.) – Keeping customers/employees
   Example: "Their client retention rate increased dramatically."
4. Streamline (v.) – To simplify a process
   Example: "The new software streamlined our reporting system."
5. Leverage (v.) – To use something advantageously
   Example: "Leverage your bilingual skills in the job market."

Activity: Rewrite one bullet point from your resume using 3 vocabulary words.