Action verbs convey doing. You need them on your resume to describe your accomplishments. In fact, studies show that using strong action verbs on your resume can increase your chances of getting an interview by 140%!
Some action verbs are more exciting than others. Here are some examples of boring vs. exciting action verbs:
- Boring: “Managed a team of five sales associates.”
- Exciting: “Orchestrated a team of five sales associates to exceed monthly targets.”
- Boring: “Handled customer inquiries and complaints.”
- Exciting: “Navigated customer inquiries and complaints to ensure swift resolution and satisfaction.”
- Boring: “Performed market research for product development.”
- Exciting: “Executed comprehensive market research to drive strategic product development initiatives.”
Exciting action verbs give your resume power and direction. They make your achievements come alive and show potential employers what you can bring to the table.
To help you find the perfect action verbs when writing your resume, we’ve compiled a list of 500 action verbs that will make employers sit up and take notice.
Remember, using these words on your resume will increase your chances of getting a job interview!
PRO TIP: Try not to use the same action verb twice on your resume. This can make your document feel monotonous and diminish the impact of your accomplishments.
When you managed a project or group…
- Advised
- Approved
- Authorized
- Chaired
- Coached
- Coordinated
- Counseled
- Delegated
- Determined
- Developed
- Diagnosed
- Directed
- Disseminated
- Empowered
- Enabled
- Enforced
- Ensured
- Examined
- Explained
- Established
- Facilitated
- Governed
- Guided
- Headed
- Influenced
- Initiated
- Inspired
- Installed
- Instituted
- Instructed
- Integrated
- Launched
- Lectured
- Managed
- Mediated
- Mentored
- Moderated
- Monitored
- Motivated
- Negotiated
- Orchestrated
- Organized
- Overhauled
- Oversaw
- Pioneered
- Presided
- Prioritized
- Processed
- Promoted
- Recommended
- Redirected
- Referred
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Responded
- Reviewed
- Revitalized
- Routed
- Spearheaded
- Sponsored
- Streamlined
- Strengthened
- Supervised
- Taught
- Trained
- Trimmed
- Validated
For additional synonyms, see The Best Synonyms for Manage and The Best Synonyms for Managed.
When you were creative or communicated…
- Acted
- Adapted
- Addressed
- Arranged
- Assessed
- Authored
- Briefed
- Built
- Clarified
- Composed
- Conceived
- Conceptualized
- Conducted
- Constructed
- Corresponded
- Created
- Critiqued
- Curated
- Demonstrated
- Designed
- Developed
- Directed
- Drafted
- Edited
- Enabled
- Facilitated
- Fashioned
- Formulated
- Illustrated
- Influenced
- Initiated
- Interpreted
- Interviewed
- Introduced
- Invented
- Launched
- Lectured
- Performed
- Photographed
- Planned
- Presented
- Produced
- Projected
- Proofread
- Published
- Publicized
- Recruited
- Remodeled
- Reported
- Revitalized
- Revised
- Scheduled
- Screened
- Shaped
- Stimulated
- Storyboarded
- Summarized
- Taught
- Trained
- Translated
- Wrote
For additional synonyms, see The Best Synonyms for Created.
When you performed clerical duties…
- Adhered
- Administered
- Allocated
- Applied
- Assisted
- Assured
- Attained
- Awarded
- Balanced
- Budgeted
- Built
- Charted
- Completed
- Contributed
- Coordinated
- Defined
- Determined
- Developed
- Dispensed
- Distributed
- Documented
- Drafted
- Enacted
- Enforced
- Enlarged
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Executed
- Followed up
- Formalized
- Formulated
- Fulfilled
- Hired
- Identified
- Implemented
- Improved
- Installed
- Instituted
- Justified
- Maintained
- Managed
- Operated
- Ordered
- Organized
- Packaged
- Performed
- Planned
- Prepared
- Prescribed
- Processed
- Provided
- Recorded
- Repaired
- Reshaped
- Resolved
- Scheduled
- Screened
- Searched
- Secured
- Solved
- Started
When you researched and analyzed…
- Administered
- Amplified
- Analyzed
- Applied
- Articulated
- Assessed
- Audited
- Augmented
- Balanced
- Calculated
- Charted
- Collected
- Compared
- Compiled
- Composed
- Concentrated
- Conducted
- Constructed
- Consulted
- Critiqued
- Detected
- Determined
- Discovered
- Documented
- Drafted
- Edited
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Exhibited
- Experimented
- Explored
- Extracted
- Focused
- Forecast
- Found
- Generated
- Identified
- Integrated
- Interpreted
- Interviewed
- Investigated
- Located
- Measured
- Obtained
- Organized
- Pinpointed
- Planned
- Prepared
- Processed
- Researched
- Reviewed
- Screened
- Summarized
- Surveyed
- Systematized
- Unearthed
When you helped with a project…
- Advanced
- Advised
- Aided
- Arbitrated
- Assisted
- Attended
- Backed
- Boosted
- Clarified
- Coached
- Co-authored
- Collaborated
- Consulted
- Contributed
- Coproduced
- Diagnosed
- Encouraged
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Fostered
- Furthered
- Guided
- Helped
- Joined
- Melded
- Mentored
- Merged
- Motivated
- Negotiated
- Nursed
- Nurtured
- Optimized
- Participated
- Partnered
- Promoted
- Provided
- Reassured
- Reformed
- Rehabilitated
- Repaired
- Represented
- Served
- Settled
- Supplied
- Supported
- Stabilized
- Streamlined
- Trained
- Treated
- Tutored
- Unified
For additional synonyms, see The Best Synonyms for Assist and The Best Synonyms for Assisted.
When you used technical skills…
- Analyzed
- Assessed
- Broadened
- Charted
- Classified
- Coded
- Collected
- Communicated
- Compiled
- Computed
- Conceived
- Conducted
- Constructed
- Coordinated
- Debugged
- Deployed
- Designed
- Detected
- Developed
- Devised
- Diagnosed
- Discovered
- Drafted
- Edited
- Educated
- Eliminated
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Excelled
- Expanded
- Expedited
- Explored
- Fabricated
- Facilitated
- Forecast
- Formed
- Gathered
- Generated
- Improved
- Increased
- Inspected
- Installed
- Instituted
- Integrated
- Interfaced
- Investigated
- Launched
- Lectured
- Maintained
- Mapped
- Mastered
- Measured
- Modified
- Molded
- Networked
- Operated
- Overhauled
- Packaged
- Pioneered
- Prepared
- Probed
- Processed
- Programmed
- Published
- Reconstructed
- Reduced
- Reported
- Researched
- Restored
- Revamped
- Streamlined
- Studied
- Supplemented
- Surveyed
- Systematized
- Tested
- Trained
- Updated
- Upgraded
- Wrote
When you used numbers…
- Adjusted
- Administered
- Allocated
- Analyzed
- Appraised
- Assessed
- Audited
- Balanced
- Bought
- Budgeted
- Calculated
- Computed
- Converted
- Cut
- Decreased
- Developed
- Disbursed
- Dispensed
- Distributed
- Doubled
- Downsized
- Economized
- Eliminated
- Estimated
- Evaluated
- Exceeded
- Financed
- Forecast
- Funded
- Gained
- Generated
- Increased
- Invested
- Lowered
- Maintained
- Managed
- Marketed
- Measured
- Netted
- Planned
- Projected
- Purchased
- Quadrupled
- Qualified
- Reconciled
- Reduced
- Reported
- Researched
- Retailed
- Returned
- Saved
- Shopped
- Secured
- Sold
- Solicited
- Sourced
- Specified
- Supplemented
- Systematized
- Tested
- Tripled
- Underwrote
- Upgraded
- Upsized
- Vended
When you were the teacher…
- Acquainted
- Adapted
- Advised
- Answered
- Apprised
- Augmented
- Briefed
- Built
- Certified
- Charted
- Clarified
- Coached
- Collaborated
- Communicated
- Conducted
- Coordinated
- Delegated
- Delivered
- Demonstrated
- Designed
- Developed
- Directed
- Dispensed
- Distributed
- Educated
- Effected
- Empowered
- Enabled
- Encouraged
- Enlarged
- Evaluated
- Explained
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Generated
- Grouped
- Guided
- Implemented
- Individualized
- Influenced
- Informed
- Initiated
- Innovative
- Instructed
- Integrated
- Lectured
- Listened
- Motivated
- Persuaded
- Presented
- Responded
- Set goals
- Stimulated
- Summarized
- Taught
- Trained
- Translated
- Tested
- Tutored
How to use action verbs on your resume
Action verbs are one of the most important elements of a strong resume, but they can sometimes be tricky to use. Here are five tips for using action verbs on your resume effectively:
1. Avoid commonly used action verbs
While some action verbs pack a punch, others are so familiar to recruiters that their eyes may skim right over them. The top 10 most overused action verbs are:
- Managed
- Led
- Created
- Implemented
- Improved
- Achieved
- Developed
- Resolved
- Planned
- Assisted
Use Jobscan’s resume optimization tool to help you replace generic, overused words with more relevant, targeted keywords.
2. Use numbers to be specific
Action verbs are a prelude to words that describe your accomplishments. You analyzed what? You researched what?
When describing the what of an accomplishment, always try to use numbers. Don’t just list your job duties. Numbers are a great way to be specific. They paint a clear picture of how well you did something. Here are three examples:
- Increased sales revenue by 30% through strategic marketing campaigns.
- Reduced customer wait time by 50% by implementing a new customer service queuing system.
- Streamlined inventory management processes, resulting in a 20% decrease in overhead costs.
Wondering if your resume has enough relevant numbers? Jobscan’s resume optimization tool checks and helps you measure your achievements, making sure you stand out to employers.
3. Be active, not passive
Always try to use active voice on your resume. For example, “The batter hit the ball.” Avoid writing in passive voice. For example, “The ball was hit by the batter.”
One simple way to tell if you are using active voice or passive voice on your resume is to see if your verbs contain one word or two. For example, the verb “was grown” comprises two words, meaning that it is in the passive voice. If it were in the active voice, it would have only one word, “grew.”
You can also easily check to see if your resume is using the passive voice with a free online tool called HemingwayApp. Just paste your resume into the app and it will highlight where you used passive voice.
4. Try to use industry-specific verbs
It’s important to use language that is specific to your areas of expertise. For example, if you’re applying for a job in the financial industry, using power verbs like “invested,” “audited,” or “calculated” will impress hiring managers and show that you have the relevant skills, experience, and knowledge they are looking for.
5. Tailor your resume to get more job interviews
You must tailor each resume to the job you’re applying to if you want to get interviews. That’s because most companies today used computer software to help them in the hiring process.
This software is called an ATS, or Applicant Tracking System. It’s a database that contains all the resumes a company receives. Hiring managers search through the database by typing in keywords. These keywords are usually hard and soft skills (also known as transferable skills).
Just like websites need to be optimized for Google, your resume needs to be optimized for the ATS.
The way you optimize your resume is by adding specific job-related keywords to it. Where do you find these resume keywords? In the description of the job you’re applying to.
To speed up the process use an online tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner. Paste your resume and the job description into the scanner. You’ll then receive a resume score that tells you how closely your resume matches the job description. The higher the score the more likely you are to get an interview.
Here’s an example of a match report:
In the above example, the keyword “answering phones” is an important requirement for the job but is missing from the applicant’s resume. By adding this keyword, the match score will increase.
Try Jobscan’s resume scanner for free here…
FAQs
Action verbs describe doing. Examples of action verbs include “run,” “jump,” “think,” and “read.” A variety of action verbs can really spice up your resume and make it more interesting to read.
The best place to use action verbs when you build your resume is in your work experience section. Start off your resume bullet points with action verbs. You can also use action verbs on your resume summary.
Try not to use the same action verb twice on your resume. Check out our library of resume examples to see the best way to use action verbs.
Action verbs grab and hold the reader’s attention. They paint a clear and convincing picture of your accomplishments. They also convey a sense of enthusiasm and energy. Studies show that using action words on your resume increases the chance of getting an interview by 140%.
A list of action verbs for students includes organized, coordinated, led, collaborated, contributed, participated, volunteered, initiated, assisted, conducted, presented, created, designed, developed, implemented, researched, analyzed, evaluated, communicated, adapted, demonstrated, managed, facilitated, supported, mentored.
Here are 50 popular action verbs: achieved, adapted, analyzed, assisted, built, collaborated, communicated, completed, conducted, created, designed, developed, directed, earned, established, executed, facilitated, generated, implemented, improved, innovated, led, maintained, managed, mentored, negotiated, organized, oversaw, participated, performed, presented, prioritized, produced, promoted, provided, resolved, reviewed, solved, streamlined, supported, supervised, taught, trained, updated, utilized, verified, volunteered, wrote, adapted, served.
Avoid overused action verbs like managed, led, created, implemented, improved, achieved, developed, resolved, planned, and assisted on your resume and cover letter.
