Need help finding strong action verbs for our resume?

action-verbs-for-resume

A few tips:

  • Use the “find” function for commonly used words (e.g., developed, estimated) to make sure that you are not over-using any words
  • Try not to use the same verb more than 3 times (not a hard rule, but you want to demonstrate your ability to communicate, and variety is key)
  • Check this list and/or use thesaurus.com if you’re stuck, try to vary your language

 

Analytics & Problem-Solving verbs:

AllocatedDevelopedModeled
AnalyzedEstimatedOptimized
AssessedEvaluatedProjected
BudgetedExaminedReduced
BuiltExploredResolved
CalculatedForecastedSized
DecreasedIdentifiedSolved
DeterminedIncreasedValidated

 

Communication verbs:

ClarifiedDocumentedPublished
Communicated DraftedReported
CraftedEditedReviewed
CreatedExplainedSummarized
Demonstrated InstructedSynthesized
DesignedInterviewed Translated
DetailedPresentedWrote

 

Leadership:

AchievedGovernedLed
AdvisedGuidedManaged
DeterminedInstitutedMentored
DeliveredInitiatedMotivated
DroveInnovatedOversaw
EnforcedImplementedRecommended
EnhancedImprovedShaped
FinalizedLaunchedStrategized

 

Teamwork verbs:

AdvancedContributedPartnered
AlignedCultivatedSupported
CollaboratedEnabledTaught
ConnectedMitigatedTrained

 

Impact:

Remember, you’ll want to show a range of the skills above. Impact is a little different. You want to demonstrate an impact in every bullet point on your resume. You can lead with the impact, or structure your bullet as “(action verb)...(impact).” Some suggestions for how to include impact in your bullets are below.

...achieving a 15% increase......improving...optimizing
...driving ...informing...resulting in
...enabling...modernizing...scaling