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225 Strong Action Verbs For Your Resume

Verb! It's what you do!

Woman jumping in front of a yellow wall with an umbrella
Photo courtesy of Edu Lauton

The words you choose to explain your responsibilities on a resume may seem like an afterthought, but recruiters only spend 6 seconds scanning resumes, meaning every word carries weight. Many resume bullet points begin with the same overused words: led, created, managed, improved...the list goes on. Anyone can say they’re “creative” or “experienced,” but what does that really mean in action? Your resume will inevitably show years of work experience and creative endeavors, so how do you actively detail your unique expertise and achievements?

The answer—action words. Action words describe the responsibilities, achievements, and skills on your resume in a bold, concise manner by removing linking verbs and the passive voice. Overused and generic words like “led” or “improved” are still action words, but they aren’t going to do you any favors when you’re attempting to stand out in a sea of applicants.

An example: 

Passive: I was responsible for writing a list of action verbs for job seekers to use when rewriting their resume.

Active: I assembled a list of 225 action verbs for job seekers to use when tweaking their resume.

See the difference? Now, it’s your turn—here are 200 strong action verbs for your resume.

Read more: The 6-Second Scan: What Recruiters Look for First on Your Resume

When detailing a project or assignment you led, use:

  1. Chaired

  2. Controlled

  3. Coordinated

  4. Conceptualized

  5. Executed

  6. Headed

  7. Operated

  8. Orchestrated

  9. Oversaw

  10. Planned

  11. Produced

  12. Programmed

  13. Administered

  14. Built

  15. Charted

  16. Designed

  17. Developed

  18. Devised

  19. Founded

  20. Engineered

  21. Established

  22. Formalized

  23. Formulated

  24. Adapted

  25. Applied

  26. Condensed

  27. Customized

  28. Fashioned

  29. Modified

  30. Patched

  31. Piloted

  32. Revitalized

  33. Incorporated

  34. Initiated

  35. Instituted

  36. Introduced

  37. Spearheaded

  38. Displayed

  39. Modeled

  40. Launched

  41. Performed

  42. Pioneered

Read more: How to List Work History on Your Resume

When highlighting your problem-solving skills, use:

  1. Conserved

  2. Consolidated

  3. Coded

  4. Decreased

  5. Deducted

  6. Diagnosed

  7. Mechanized

  8. Lessened

  9. Reconciled

  10. Reduced

  11. Yielded

  12. Accelerated

  13. Achieved

  14. Sequenced

  15. Advanced

  16. Amplified

  17. Boosted

  18. Capitalized

  19. Delivered

  20. Enhanced

  21. Expanded

  22. Digitized

  23. Expedited

  24. Toggled

  25. Furthered

  26. Gained

  27. Generated

  28. Improved

  29. Lifted

  30. Maximized

  31. Outpaced

  32. Stimulated

  33. Sustained

  34. Budgeted 

  35. Calculated

  36. Converted

  37. Crafted

  38. Hosted

  39. Migrated

  40. Estimated

  41. Duplicated

  42. Inventoried

  43. Projected 

  44. Recorded

  45. Verified

  46. Debugged

  47. Troubleshooted

  48. Fixed

  49. Rectified

  50. Remodeled

  51. Rebuilt

  52. Corrected

  53. Critiqued

  54. Identified

  55. Prototyped

  56. Invented

  57. Proved

  58. Refined

  59. Reorganized

  60. Restructured

  61. Validated

  62. Virtualized

  63. Saved

Read more: How to Make the Business Case for the Work You Do

When discussing how you improved a process within the company, use:

  1. Centralized

  2. Clarified

  3. Influenced

  4. Merged

  5. Overhauled

  6. Redesigned

  7. Refocused

  8. Rehabilitated

  9. Replaced

  10. Revamped

  11. Simplified

  12. Standardized

  13. Streamlined

  14. Transformed

  15. Implemented

  16. Recommended

  17. Prioritized

  18. Elaborated

  19. Grew

  20. Integrated

  21. Raised

  22. Slashed

  23. Strengthened

  24. Updated

  25. Upgraded 

When emphasizing your experience managing a team, use:

  1. Aligned

  2. Cultivated

  3. Directed

  4. Enabled

  5. Fostered

  6. Guided

  7. Hired

  8. Mentored

  9. Mobilized

  10. Motivated

  11. Recruited

  12. Shaped

  13. Supervised

  14. Taught

  15. Trained

  16. Unified

  17. United

  18. Aided

  19. Encouraged

  20. Facilitated

  21. Inspired

  22. Supported

  23. Collaborated

  24. Evaluated

  25. Instructed

  26. Regulated

Read more: How to Be a Good Manager, According to Experienced Managers

When expressing your customer service abilities, use:

  1. Advised

  2. Advocated

  3. Arbitrated

  4. Coached

  5. Consulted

  6. Educated

  7. Fielded

  8. Informed

  9. Resolved

When discussing your research capabilities, use:

  1. Analyzed

  2. Assembled

  3. Assessed

  4. Audited

  5. Discovered

  6. Examined

  7. Explored

  8. Forecasted

  9. Interpreted

  10. Investigated

  11. Mapped

  12. Measured

  13. Qualified

  14. Quantified

  15. Surveyed

  16. Tested

  17. Tracked

  18. Experimented

  19. Detected

  20. Probed

  21. Searched

  22. Surveyed

  23. Studied

When showing your writing or content creation skills, use:

  1. Authored

  2. Briefed

  3. Campaigned

  4. Co-authored

  5. Composed

  6. Conveyed

  7. Convinced

  8. Corresponded

  9. Counseled

  10. Defined

  11. Documented

  12. Edited

  13. Illustrated

  14. Lobbied

  15. Persuaded

  16. Promoted

  17. Publicized

  18. Reviewed

  19. Composed

  20. Constructed

  21. Organized

  22. Perfected

  23. Prepared

  24. Pursued

  25. Undertook

When explaining how you reached a goal, use:

  1. Attained

  2. Awarded

  3. Completed

  4. Demonstrated

  5. Earned

  6. Exceeded

  7. Outperformed

  8. Reached

  9. Showcased

  10. Succeeded

  11. Surpassed

  12. Targeted

Read more: Aspirational? Here’s Our Guide to Achieving Your Goals

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