Action Verbs for Resumes
Categorized list of Resume Verbs for Effective Phrases - Jon Wittwer, 2/25/2010
Using action verbs in your resume is a simple way to dramatically improve the effectiveness of your resume. Action verbs help you accomplish three of the 5 C's of Resume Writing (see Resume Tips).
Concise: Starting phrases with action verbs helps you avoid using personal pronouns and diluting words like "I was responsible for ..."
Convincing: Using powerful action verbs like Negotiated, Invented, Increased, etc. at the beginning of each phrase makes the reader want to continue reading to find out what you did.
Consistent: Starting each bullet point using a verb helps you maintain a consistent grammatical style throughout your resume.
Action Verbs by Skills / Industries
Below is a categorized list of action verbs that I compiled from various sources (see refs [1] and [2]) and from reviewing many sample resumes.
Tip: Another handy way to find more action verbs is to use the Thesaurus (Shift+F7) in Microsoft Word.
General Achievements | ||||
| Accelerated Achieved Attained Completed Convinced |
Discovered Doubled Earned Eliminated Expanded |
Expedited Founded Improved Increased Launched |
Mastered Originated Overcame Overhauled Pioneered |
Reduced Spearheaded Strengthened Transformed Upgraded Won |
Management Skills | ||||
| Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired Conceived Consolidated Contracted |
Coordinated Decided Delegated Developed Directed Encouraged Evaluated Executed |
Handled Implemented Improved Increased Inspired Led Managed Motivated |
Organized Oversaw Planned Prioritized Produced Recommended Reorganized Reviewed |
Revitalized Scheduled Spearheaded Strengthened Supervised Transformed |
Communication Skills | ||||
| Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Co-Authored Collaborated Corresponded Counseled |
Defined Developed Directed Drafted Edited Enlisted Formulated Influenced |
Interpreted Lectured Mediated Moderated Motivated Negotiated Persuaded Presented |
Promoted Proposed Publicized Published Reconciled Recruited Resolved Spoke |
Summarized Translated Wrote |
Technical Skills | ||||
| Clarified Collected Compiled Critiqued Detected |
Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Extracted Identified |
Inspected Interpreted Interviewed Investigated Organized |
Published Reported Researched Reviewed Studied |
Summarized Surveyed Systematized |
Research Skills | ||||
| Analyzed Assembled Built Calculated Computed |
Designed Devised Engineered Fabricated Installed |
Maintained Operated Overhauled Pinpointed Programmed |
Remodeled Repaired Solved Trained Troubleshot |
Upgraded |
Creative Skills | ||||
| Acted Composed Conceived Conceptualized Created Customized Designed |
Developed Directed Discovered Established Fashioned Founded Illustrated |
Innovated Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Originated Performed |
Pioneered Planned Produced Revised Revitalized Set Up Shaped |
Streamlined Structured |
Teaching Skills | ||||
| Adapted Advised Clarified Coached Communicated Conducted |
Coordinated Defined Developed Enabled Encouraged Evaluated |
Explained Facilitated Guided Informed Initiated Instructed |
Lectured Persuaded Presented Set Goals Stimulated Taught |
Team-Taught Trained Tutored Updated |
Clerical Skills | ||||
| Approved Arranged Assembled Catalogued Classified Collected |
Compiled Dispatched Edited Executed Filed Generated |
Implemented Inspected Listed Monitored Operated Organized |
Prepared Processed Purchased Recorded Retrieved Screened |
Specified Systematized Tabulated Validated |
Financial Skills | ||||
| Adjusted Administered Allocated Analyzed Appraised |
Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Compared |
Computed Developed Estimated Forecasted Increased |
Managed Marketed Planned Projected Reconciled |
Reduced Researched Sold |
Helping Skills | ||||
| Aided Assessed Assisted Clarified Coached Consulted Counseled |
Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated Encouraged Expedited Facilitated Familiarized |
Gave Guided Helped Inspired Motivated Participated Provided |
Referred Rehabilitated Reinforced Represented Resolved Served Strengthened |
Supported Taught Trained Verified |
Sales Skills | ||||
| Built Collected Conducted Convinced Delivered |
Distributed Doubled Expanded Expedited Improved |
Increased Installed Launched Managed Negotiated |
Ordered Performed Performed Sold Streamlined |
Supervised Tripled |
Medical Skills | ||||
| Aided Assisted Consulted Decreased Detected |
Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Handled Helped |
Identified Increased Performed Rehabilitated Researched |
Served Strengthened Studied Trained Treated |
|
References
- [1] The Damn Good Resume Guide by Yana Parker, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, via https://careers.unc.edu/
- [2] To Boldly Go: Practical Career Advice for Scientists, by Peter S. Fiske, via https://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/actionverbs.html (See also: Career Handbook)
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only.
How to Write a Resume