Action Verbs for Resumes 320+ Powerful Resume Action Words

Action Verbs for Resumes 320+ Powerful Resume Action Words Action Verbs for Resumes: 320+ Strong Action Words Need some strong action verbs for your resume? You’ve come to the right place. Learn the most powerful action verbs and how to use them the right way with our comprehensive list. Build My Resume Now The Importance of Using Action Verbs for Your Resume Imagine you’re the hiring manager at a large company: to find a qualified candidate, you have to shuffle through hundreds of resumes. Eventually, you start to see the same words and phrases pop up over and over again â€" “tasked with,” “worked on,” “responsible for.”   Words like these get repetitive, and fast. Employers don’t just want to be told that you’re qualified for the position â€" they want to see it. That’s where resume power verbs come in. Strong action verbs not only command the hiring manager’s attention because they’re uncommon (and interesting), but they also illustrate your strengths in a compelling way â€" specifically by guiding them toward your relevant work achievements. Tip Including decisive resume words in your application is one of the quickest ways to draw attention to your qualifications. But finding the right words can be challenging. So we assembled a comprehensive list of resume action verbs for every scenario, and then broke down exactly how to use them. The Ultimate Resume Action Verbs List Not sure what action verbs to include on your resume? No problem. This list of action verbs for resume writing includes over 320 strong verbs that can be used by candidates from hundreds of industries. Resume Action Words for When You Increased Something Positive Whether you increased revenue or improved efficiency, showing that you’ve made a positive impact at work is one of the easiest ways to impress an employer. Leverage these action verbs to highlight your resume accomplishments: Raise Expand Maximize Generate Gain Enhance Improve Increase Outpace Advance Amplify Propel Enlarge Accrue Multiply Inflate Magnify Boost Lift Bolster Strong Resume Verbs for When You Decreased Something Negative Employers love candidates who can reduce production time and eliminate bottlenecks. Use these resume action verbs to demonstrate how you mitigated a problem: Lower Slash Reduce Drop Shrink Diminish Minimize Cut Trim Lessen Curtail Shave down Decrease Save Drive down Eliminate Consolidate Shrink Example of problem-solving verbs in action Here’s how a candidate used these action verbs to demonstrate their accomplishments (the action verbs have been highlighted): Consolidated office supply contracts and implemented inventory control, slashing office expenditures by $12,000 annually. Resume Action Verbs for Communication Ask any hiring manager and they’ll tell you the same thing: employers love candidates who can communicate effectively. However, putting “excellent communicator” in your resume skills section doesn’t prove you can communicate well. Instead, demonstrate your communication skills by using one of these strong resume verbs: Convey Verbalize Present Relay Advise Address Correspond Brief Discuss Negotiate Write Consult Liaise Persuade Introduce Network Compose Converse Illustrate Listen Specify Explain Powerful Verbs for Managing (Projects or People) Management skills are essential if you manage a team, or wish to become a manager. But telling the hiring manager that you’re “good at managing” won’t convince them. You have to show them what you’re capable of. To help you do just that, here are some resume action words that demonstrate your management prowess: Direct Facilitate Guide Mobilize Head Supervise Run Administer Oversee Shape Facilitate Command Govern Coordinate Conduct Mastermind Helm Steer Superintend Conduct Pilot Manage Example of a management verb in action Here’s an example of how a sample candidate used these resume verbs to highlight their management skills: Oversaw a team of 10 engineers to develop a new app user interface, launching the product 2 months before the deadline. Tip If you’re seeking a promotion or lateral transfer at your company, you’ll likely need to submit a cover letter for internal position to formally apply for the new role. Good Resume Verbs for Taking Initiative Everyone knows managers love employees who take initiative. Use these action words on your resume to prove that you go out of your way to get things done: Anticipate Spearhead Forecast Carry out Undertake Deliver Handle Volunteer Overhaul Improve Shoulder Endeavor Specialize Commit Example of an initiative verb in action Here’s how one candidate put these resume action verbs to use: Undertook a full overhaul of the marketing department’s outreach methods, leading to a 14% raise in email open rate. Resume Verbs for Leadership Every workplace needs team members with good leadership skills â€" employees who guide by example and help everyone produce their best work. Demonstrate your talent for inspiring others with these strong leadership resume verbs: Foster Coach Enforce Mobilize Guide Command Enlist Enlighten Orchestrate Facilitate Aid Nurture Oversee Appoint Hire Delegate Designate Supervise Train Mentor Educate Champion Good Resume Verbs for Organization From basic tasks like keeping your calendar organized to holding entire projects together, employees with great organizational skills are always in high demand. Here’s an action verbs list to help you showcase your organizational expertise: Accumulate Chart Integrate Divert Merge Rank Reorganize Classify Divide Label Officiate Rate Standardize Allocate Document Organize Research Compile Arrange Reposition Collect List Example of organization verbs in action Here’s an example of a candidate who used strong resume verbs to highlight their organizational skills: Standardized our data-entry system by labeling over 500 out-of-date spreadsheets. Resume Verbs for an Occasion You Brought People Together Any office would collapse without employees with adept people skills. Being able to support those on your team and collaborate with others is crucial to everything running smoothly. Demonstrate your knack for bringing everyone together with these key resume verbs: Unite Reconcile Unify Motivate Guide Participate Support Suggest Collaborate Enable Involve Assist Cooperate Contribute Meet Join Cultivate Foster Example of people skills verbs in action Here’s an example of a candidate who used these resume action verbs to showcase their leadership talents: Assisted representatives from 3 different departments in drafting new code-of-conduct rules, cultivating a more accepting office environment for new employees. Tip Interpersonal skills are especially important if you frequently have to collaborate on projects. Power Verbs for Achievements Launched a new product? Broke a sales record? Use these resume power verbs to highlight your resume accomplishments: Accomplish Execute Raise Produce Realize Revitalize Transform Debut Establish Outperform Overcome Earn Surpass Succeed Reach Top Win Exceed Resume Power Verbs for Innovation In today’s job market, employees capable of thinking up innovative solutions to problems are highly sought after. To catch the attention of any hiring manager, use these action words on your resume and demonstrate your knack for innovation and creative thinking: Pioneer Spearhead Build Draft Launch Formulate Engineer Devise Design Create Invent Mastermind Conceive Conceptualize Charter Unveil Improvise Revolutionize How to Use Action Words for Your Resume One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make when leveraging resume action words is assuming all they have to do is sprinkle some verbs into their experience section, and they’ll suddenly have a strong resume. Here’s the bottom line: Resume action verbs alone â€" no matter how attention-grabbing â€" are only as strong as the sentences they’re attached to. To effectively use resume power verbs, focus first on filling out your experience section with specific, quantified examples of your accomplishments. Then, use action verbs to enhance your examples. Here’s the bottom line: Resume action verbs alone â€" no matter how attention-grabbing â€" are only as strong as the examples they’re attached to. Here’s a sample bullet point where the candidate improperly included resume action verbs: Don't Went to all weekly company meetings to share department news This example starts with a weak and non-descript verb. By indicating they went to meetings, the applicant didn’t convey any positive information besides stating that they simply did what was expected of them. Hiring managers want to see that you went beyond what was expected and actually performed something impressive. Now, here’s the same example enhanced with resume action words: Do Spearheaded weekly company meetings by communicating departmental growth and productivity. Right from the start, the applicant opens with a much more targeted action verb. Unlike “went to,” the word “spearheaded” is decisive and suggests the candidate has leadership abilities, organizational skills, and a knack for planning. The applicant then includes the strong verb communicating, a common resume keyword recognized by corporate applicant tracking systems (ATS). Finally, the candidate ends their bullet point by stating explicitly what they communicated. The first example is vague, only saying that news was shared. The improved version specifies exactly what was communicated: departmental growth and productivity. Tip Looking for other ways to enhance your resume? Including compelling resume adjectives in your experience section can help set your resume apart from other applicants. Use Action Verbs on Your Resume With Care Used correctly, resume power verbs can strengthen your application, and make your work experience more impressive. But even the most actionable verbs are useless without a strong foundation. So before you start updating your experience section, learn how to write a resume that effectively highlights your skills and qualifications. If you’re short on time, our easy-to-use resume builder will help you write a strong resume in a few short minutes â€" one that meets the expectations of recruiters from any industry.