Good Resume Action Words to Use: List of Examples
Give your resume more pep with these 100 action words for a resume, plus our list of resume words you can use in place of overused, cliche phrases.
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Use your resume words wisely
When you write a resume, it’s important to feature the right skills and qualifications, but you should pay special attention to your words. Hiring managers don’t just care about what you’ve done in the past; they also care about how you talk about it. That’s where resume verbs and action verbs come in!
To help your resume stand out, on this page we will:
- Give you a full understanding of how to use resume verbs.
- Provide action words you can use to cover a variety of job situations and achievements.
- Give you a list of synonyms to replace the tired catchphrases most job seekers use on their resumes.
Resources for Your Next Career Move
- Business Letters
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- Job Description
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- Bullet Points for Resumes
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- Combination Resume Format
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- Cover Letter Headings
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- Date Format on Resumes
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Explore our complete resume examples selection for tips and resources tailored to every career path.
What are resume action words?
Resume action words are a way you can highlight strengths on your resume. You can use them in your resume summary or resume objective and work experience sections.
Action verbs remove the need for personal pronouns like I, me or my, they make your statements stronger and more straightforward, and they allow you to talk about your technical skills, hard skills and soft skills in different ways.
For example, say you’re a customer service professional writing a bullet point in your work history section; instead of saying “Was responsible for taking phone calls” an action word like “answered” will strengthen your statement so that you could write instead, “Answered an average of 40 incoming calls per day.” Notice how using an action word gives a stronger impression, showing you’re fully in charge of your responsibilities and achievements.
Or imagine you’re a software developer and want to tell the recruiter how many people you worked with on projects. Instead of writing “I worked with six people to successfully launch new apps,” you could say, “Collaborated with six people across departments to successfully launch new apps.”
How do you use action verbs in a resume?
Here are a few resume writing tips to properly use action verbs:
- Look at resume examples from your field. They can give you an idea of the type of wording you can use and are an excellent source of inspiration.
- Tailor your resume to the job description. Beyond giving you instructions on how and where to submit your resume, the job posting should serve as a guide to determine what resume skills and work accomplishments you should highlight. Including some of these keywords in your resume will also help it make it past the applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use, and determine the action words you use. For example, if the job stresses financial analysis, you’ll likely use resume verbs like analyzed, organized, budgeted, and oversaw.
- Keep your phrases concise. Get straight to the point in your statements and make sure the wording you’re using matches the action verb. “Facilitated patient screening for 100+ bed hospital” is more impactful than “I was responsible for screening patients for a hospital with 100 beds,” and also gives you more room on your resume to add other major qualifications and skills.
- Pack an extra punch with quantifiable metrics. Ensure your action verbs are extra powerful by combining them with a number. So instead of just saying “Tasked with editing articles,” you should say, “Edited an average of eight articles a day.”
Resume words to use: group and project management
If you managed a project and have management skills or leadership skills that are important for the job, here are some strong action verbs you can use:
- Oversaw
- Conceptualized
- Streamlined
- Mentored
- Tutored
- Critiqued
- Advised
- Familiarized
- Guided
- Organized
- Arranged
- Assembled
- Shaped
- Counseled
- Conducted
- Planned
- Recruited
- Supervised
- Managed
- Trained
Example of a resume action verb in action:
For the job of an account executive:
- Streamlined conversation between agency and seven clients to successfully navigate marketing campaigns.
Resume words to use: problem solving
Do problem-solving skills come naturally to you? Here are other words you can use in your resume to show potential employers:
- Clarified
- Refined
- Refocused
- Redesigned
- Overhauled
- Remodeled
- Reorganized
- Transformed
- Strengthened
- Updated
- Upgraded
- Replaced
- Budgeted
- Delegated
- Consolidated
- Catalogued
- Grouped
- Tested
- Verified
- Improved
Example of a resume action verb in action:
For a programmer resume:
- Updated internal servers every month and increased performance by 50%.
Resume words to use: analysis
If you had to actively use your research skills or analyze numbers and the competition, mix up your wording by including some of the following resume action verbs:
- Analyzed
- Investigated
- Researched
- Forecasted
- Measured
- Modeled
- Projected
- Monitored
- Anticipated
- Assessed
- Compared
- Detected
- Evaluated
- Reported
- Verified
- Surveyed
- Measured
- Computed
- Tracked
- Identified
Example of a resume action verb in action:
For the job of a research assistant:
- Analyzed new data and compared it to data found in previous research to determine new course of action.
Resume words to use: communication
If there’s one universal soft skill that is needed in every single job, regardless of industry, it would be communication. Here are some action verbs that express good verbal and written communication skills:
- Authored
- Presented
- Edited
- Drafted
- Outlined
- Counseled
- Composed
- Campaigned
- Wrote
- Articulated
- Spoke
- Rewrote
- Refined
- Responded
- Reported
- Represented
- Publicized
- Created
- Illustrated
- Documented
Example of a resume action verb in action:
For the job of a copywriter:
- Wrote a total of eight unique and original campaign slogans for agency’s major clients.
Resume words to use: achievements
Did you accomplish something big at work? Did you successfully complete a project? These are all important snippets that you should include in your resume’s work experience section, with power words like:
- Completed
- Won
- Outperformed
- Showcased
- Finished
- Demonstrated
- Exceeded
- Reached
- Accelerated
- Accomplished
- Acquired
- Delegated
- Designed
- Developed
- Encouraged
- Targeted
- Reduced
- Shaped
- Simplified
- Solved
Example of a resume action verb in action:
For the job of a car salesman:
- Exceeded monthly sales goal by 80%, selling a total of 10 units.
Synonyms for overused words
Nailing down how to write a resume can be tough when you’re not sure what words to use to substitute cliché words and phrases. Not to worry! Here are synonyms for overused resume words that you can use:
“Responsible for…”
- Created
- Produced
- Executed
- Achieved
- Accomplished
“Tasked with…”
- Prepared
- Fashioned
- Developed
- Constructed
- Composed
“Worked on…”
- Arranged
- Navigated
- Forged
- Organized
- Pursued
“Improved…”
- Boosted
- Customized
- Redesigned
- Refined
- Integrated
“Managed…”
- Directed
- Guided
- Shaped
- Supervised
- Piloted
“Served…”
- Administered
- Offered
- Provided
- Dispatched
- Brought
“Assisted…”
- Aided
- Facilitated
- Supported
- Cooperated
- Collaborated
FAQ: Resume action words
Have questions? We’re here to help.
What are some overused resume phrases to replace with action words?
Some terms to describe yourself have been so overused that they’re often regarded as tired buzzwords. Avoid them when you can and substitute action words instead. Here are a few buzzwords to avoid:
- Go-getter
- Hard worker
- Outside the box
- Expert
- Innovative
- Team player
- Teamwork
- Synergy/synergized
- Results-driven
- Focused
These buzzwords don’t tell the hiring manager anything. Saying that you “think outside the box” doesn’t give any extra information about how you think; it just fills out a checklist. You want to show off your skills and how you’ve used them, and using action verbs can make a difference.
How can I make sure I’m not being overly flashy with my action verbs?
Even action verbs can be carried too far. Check our resume examples or resume templates for how to best use action verbs and hold back from being too casual or “colorful.” For instance, you wouldn’t want to use words like “destroyed” or “smashed,” even if you’re using them in a positive context. Not only do these words very rarely actually provide anything extra to your resume but they can also be read in a negative light rather than a positive one.
Saying “Systematized paperwork submission processes” is much more effective than saying “Destroyed paperwork issues at previous workplace.” The second reads very unprofessionally, but the first gives helpful information.
What are keywords in a resume?
Keywords are certain words that you’ll find in the job description during your job search that tell you the specific skills and experiences an employer is looking for. These words will be picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers often use to scan resumes and make sure you’re qualified for a specific job.
Resume action words, on the other hand, describe how you do certain things in your job (e.g., “Oversaw production line of 50 employees”). Both words you’ll use all throughout your resume, but one of them helps with ATS and the other helps when it actually gets to a hiring manager.
What are some examples of action verbs?
Some powerful resume verbs you can use include:
- Directed
- Oversaw
- Managed
- Pioneered
- Cataloged
- Quantified
- Computed
- Critiqued
- Systemized
- Streamlined
- Debugged
- Organized
- Facilitated
- Furthered
- Arbitrated
- Mediated
What action word you use will depend on the job you are applying for and the industry. It’s important to add them to your resume to give the recruiters and hiring managers the impression that you’re a proactive and energetic professional.
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