Action words that improve even your resume
When writing your resume, your goal is to present your skill set and accomplishments in the best possible light to potential employers. One of the best ways to do this is by honing your job descriptions using powerful action verbs. By reading this part of your resume, hiring authorities should be able to get a firm grasp on the work you’ve done and are capable of doing for them. By choosing the right verbs, you can help them to visualize you at work!
By reading this part of your resume, potential bosses should be able to get a firm grasp on the work you’ve done and are capable of doing for them. By choosing the right verbs, you can help them to visualize you at work!
As a first step, go through your resume and look at the verbs you have now. Don’t have any? Consider turning short phrases like “Web design” into statements like “Designed over 20 websites using HTML, Flash, and PHP.” Are the verbs you do have descriptive? If not, use a thesaurus or brainstorm to find better word choices. Instead of “Gave reports to the marketing team,” try “Analyzed consumer data and presented findings to the marketing team.”
Don’t overload your resume with action verbs. Instead, use them to highlight your biggest achievements and most valuable skills. Below is a list of some top action verbs that can help you start! Looking it over may even help you to remember other responsibilities that you have not already listed.
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1. Accelerated |
35. Empowered |
69. Motivated |
|
2. Accomplished |
36. Enabled |
70. Negotiated |
|
3. Achieved |
37. Encouraged |
71. Obtained |
|
4. Acted |
38. Engineered |
72. Operated |
|
5. Adapted |
39. Enhanced |
73. Orchestrated |
|
6. Administered |
40. Enlisted |
74. Organized |
|
7. Allocated |
41. Established |
75. Originated |
|
8. Analyzed |
42. Evaluated |
76. Overhauled |
|
9. Approved |
43. Examined |
77. Oversaw |
|
10. Assembled |
44. Executed |
78. Performed |
|
11. Attained |
45. Expedited |
79. Pinpointed |
|
12. Boosted |
46. Focused |
80. Planned |
|
13. Budgeted |
47. Forecasted |
81. Prepared |
|
14. Built |
48. Formulated |
82. Prioritized |
|
15. Calculated |
49. Founded |
83. Processed |
|
16. Catalogued |
50. Generated |
84. Produced |
|
17. Chaired |
51. Guided |
85. Reconciled |
|
18. Coached |
52. Harnessed |
86. Repaired |
|
19. Collaborated |
53. Identified |
87. Researched |
|
20. Communicated |
54. Illustrated |
88. Revitalized |
|
21. Compiled |
55. Implemented |
89. Selected |
|
22. Consolidated |
56. Improved |
90. Solved |
|
23. Coordinated |
57. Increased |
91. Spearheaded |
|
24. Created |
58. Initiated |
92. Stimulated |
|
25. Cultivated |
59. Instituted |
93. Strengthened |
|
26. Decreased |
60. Integrated |
94. Succeeded |
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27. Demonstrated |
61. Introduced |
95. Surpassed |
|
28. Designed |
62. Invented |
96. Synergized |
|
29. Developed |
63. Launched |
97. Troubleshot |
|
30. Diagnosed |
64. Led |
98. Uncovered |
|
31. Directed |
65. Maintained |
99. Upgraded |
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32. Documented |
66. Managed |
100. Utilized |
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33. Doubled |
67. Mastered |
|
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34. Educated |
68. Mediated |
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Simple but effective changes will change you from the “rejected pile” to the “must interview” file immediately.
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