100+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Powerful

July 17, 2024
Resume Writing
4 min read
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From 'Responsible for' to 'Transformed'

The words you choose to describe your experience on your resume matter immensely. One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is using passive, boring language. Phrases like 'responsible for,' 'duties included,' or 'worked on' do nothing to convey your impact. They describe a state of being, not a history of accomplishment. To create a dynamic, compelling resume, you need to start every bullet point with a strong, specific action verb.

Why Do Action Verbs Work?

Action verbs are powerful because they:

  • Grab the Reader's Attention: They are more engaging and create a more vivid picture of you as a proactive and effective employee.

  • Demonstrate Initiative: They show you as a 'doer'—someone who takes ownership and makes things happen, rather than someone who just passively fulfills a set of duties.

    • Add Specificity and Clarity: They force you to think about and describe what you *actually did. You can't just say you 'Analyzed' something; you have to explain what you analyzed and what the result was.

    Before and After: The Impact of Action Verbs

    Let's look at a few examples of how a simple change of verb can transform a bullet point from weak to powerful.

  • Before: 'Was responsible for managing a team of 5 sales representatives.'

    • After:** '**Coached**, **mentored**, and **supervised** a team of 5 sales representatives to *exceed quarterly sales targets by 15%.'

  • Before: 'Involved in the development of a new company mobile app.'

    • After:** '**Collaborated** with a cross-functional team of 10 to **design**, **develop**, and **launch** a new mobile app, *acquiring 50,000 users in the first three months.'

  • Before: 'My duties included improving the website.'

    • After:** '**Overhauled** the company website's user interface, **improving** user satisfaction scores by 25% and *decreasing bounce rate by 30%.'

    The Ultimate Action Verb List

    Here is a comprehensive list of over 100 action verbs, categorized by the type of skill they demonstrate. Use this list to find the perfect word for every bullet point on your resume.

    Leadership & Management

  • Accelerated

  • Administered

  • Approved

  • Assigned

  • Chaired

  • Coached

  • Consolidated

  • Coordinated

  • Delegated

  • Directed

  • Enabled

  • Enforced

  • Guided

  • Hired

  • Inspired

  • Led

  • Managed

  • Mentored

  • Motivated

  • Organized

  • Oversaw

  • Recruited

  • Shaped

  • Spearheaded

  • Supervised

  • Trained

    • Communication & Teamwork

  • Advised

  • Advocated

  • Authored

  • Clarified

  • Collaborated

  • Communicated

  • Composed

  • Corresponded

  • Defined

  • Documented

  • Edited

  • Explained

  • Facilitated

  • Influenced

  • Lobbied

  • Mediated

  • Negotiated

  • Partnered

  • Presented

  • Promoted

  • Publicized

  • Reported

  • Synthesized

  • Wrote

    • Problem-Solving & Analysis

  • Analyzed

  • Assessed

  • Audited

  • Calculated

  • Discovered

  • Evaluated

  • Examined

  • Forecasted

  • Identified

  • Interpreted

  • Investigated

  • Measured

  • Modeled

  • Projected

  • Qualified

  • Quantified

  • Researched

  • Resolved

  • Solved

  • Tested

  • Tracked

  • Uncovered

    • Improvement & Growth

  • Advanced

  • Boosted

  • Centralized

  • Decreased

  • Enhanced

  • Expanded

  • Expedited

  • Generated

  • Grew

  • Improved

  • Increased

  • Lifted

  • Maximized

  • Optimized

  • Overhauled

  • Reduced

  • Redesigned

  • Refined

  • Reorganized

  • Restructured

  • Revamped

  • Revitalized

  • Saved

  • Streamlined

  • Strengthened

  • Transformed

    • Creation & Development

  • Architected

  • Automated

  • Built

  • Conceived

  • Created

  • Designed

  • Developed

  • Devised

  • Engineered

  • Established

  • Founded

  • Implemented

  • Initiated

  • Instituted

  • Introduced

  • Invented

  • Launched

  • Pioneered

  • Prototyped

  • Standardized

    • Before your next application, take 15 minutes to go through your resume and replace every passive phrase with a powerful, specific action verb. The difference will be dramatic.

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