Use action words (verbs) to describe your strengths — your abilities and accomplishments — in a resume. Effective action words zero in on abilities and achievements. Include words of substance and power, such as improved, upgraded, reconciled.
For example, consider the difference between "Was the head of a team that . . ." and "Managed a team of 10 that . . ." Which is more direct? Which conveys more strength?
Try not to use the same word twice on your resume — the thesaurus in a word-processing program can give you more possibilities.
Take a look at the action words in these categories and choose the words that work for you:
Administration and management
| advised | initiated | prioritized |
| approved | inspired | processed |
| authorized | installed | promoted |
| chaired | instituted | recommended |
| consolidated | instructed | redirected |
| counseled | integrated | referred |
| delegated | launched | reorganized |
| determined | lectured | represented |
| developed | listened | responded |
| diagnosed | managed | reviewed |
| directed | mediated | revitalized |
| disseminated | mentored | routed |
| enforced | moderated | sponsored |
| ensured | monitored | streamlined |
| examined | motivated | strengthened |
| explained | negotiated | supervised |
| governed | originated | taught |
| guided | oversaw | trained |
| headed | pioneered | trimmed |
| influenced | presided | validated |
Communications and creativity
| acted | edited | proofread |
| addressed | enabled | publicized |
| arranged | facilitated | published |
| assessed | fashioned | realized |
| authored | formulated | reconciled |
| briefed | influenced | recruited |
| built | initiated | rectified |
| clarified | interpreted | remodeled |
| composed | interviewed | reported |
| conducted | introduced | revitalized |
| constructed | invented | scheduled |
| corresponded | launched | screened |
| costumed | lectured | shaped |
| created | modernized | stimulated |
| critiqued | performed | summarized |
| demonstrated | planned | taught |
| designed | presented | trained |
| developed | produced | translated |
| directed | projected | wrote |
Financial management
| adjusted | economized | reported |
| administered | eliminated | researched |
| allocated | exceeded | reshaped |
| analyzed | financed | retailed |
| appraised | forecast | returned |
| audited | funded | saved |
| balanced | gained | shopped |
| bought | generated | secured |
| budgeted | increased | sold |
| calculated | invested | solicited |
| computed | maintained | sourced |
| conciliated | managed | specified |
| cut | marketed | supplemented |
| decreased | merchandised | systematized |
| developed | planned | tested |
| disbursed | projected | tripled |
| dispensed | purchased | underwrote |
| distributed | quadrupled | upgraded |
| doubled | reconciled | upsized |
| downsized | reduced | vended |
Helping and caregiving
| advanced | encouraged | reassured |
| advised | expedited | reclaimed |
| aided | facilitated | rectified |
| arbitrated | familiarized | redeemed |
| assisted | fostered | reeducated |
| attended | furthered | referred |
| augmented | guided | reformed |
| backed | helped | rehabilitated |
| balanced | instilled | repaired |
| boosted | liaised | represented |
| braced | mentored | served |
| clarified | ministered | settled |
| collaborated | negotiated | supplied |
| comforted | nourished | supported |
| consoled | nursed | stabilized |
| consulted | nurtured | streamlined |
| contributed | obliged | translated |
| counseled | optimized | treated |
| demonstrated | promoted | tutored |
| diagnosed | provided | unified |
Office support
| adhered | distributed | managed |
| administered | documented | operated |
| allocated | drafted | ordered |
| applied | enacted | organized |
| appropriated | enlarged | packaged |
| assisted | evaluated | planned |
| assured | examined | prepared |
| attained | executed | prescribed |
| awarded | followed up | processed |
| balanced | formalized | provided |
| budgeted | formulated | recorded |
| built | hired | repaired |
| charted | identified | reshaped |
| completed | implemented | resolved |
| contributed | improved | scheduled |
| coordinated | installed | screened |
| cut | instituted | searched |
| defined | justified | secured |
| determined | liaised | solved |
| dispensed | maintained | started |
Research and analysis
| administered | detected | interviewed |
| amplified | determined | invented |
| analyzed | discovered | investigated |
| applied | documented | located |
| articulated | drafted | measured |
| assessed | edited | obtained |
| audited | evaluated | organized |
| augmented | examined | pinpointed |
| balanced | exhibited | planned |
| calculated | experimented | prepared |
| charted | explored | processed |
| collected | extracted | proofread |
| compared | focused | researched |
| compiled | forecast | reviewed |
| composed | found | riveted |
| concentrated | generated | screened |
| conducted | grouped | summarized |
| constructed | identified | surveyed |
| consulted | integrated | systematized |
| critiqued | interpreted | unearthed |
Sales and persuasion
| arbitrated | judged | purchased |
| catalogued | launched | realized |
| centralized | lectured | recruited |
| consulted | led | reduced |
| dissuaded | liaised | reported |
| documented | maintained | repositioned |
| educated | manipulated | researched |
| established | marketed | resolved |
| expedited | mediated | restored |
| familiarized | moderated | reviewed |
| identified | negotiated | routed |
| implemented | obtained | saved |
| improved | ordered | served |
| increased | performed | set goals |
| influenced | planned | sold |
| inspired | processed | solved |
| installed | produced | stimulated |
| integrated | promoted | summarized |
| interpreted | proposed | surveyed |
| investigated | publicized | translated |
Teaching
| acquainted | designed | influenced |
| adapted | developed | informed |
| advised | directed | initiated |
| answered | dispensed | innovated |
| apprised | distributed | installed |
| augmented | educated | instituted |
| briefed | effected | instructed |
| built | empowered | integrated |
| certified | enabled | lectured |
| chaired | enacted | listened |
| charted | enlarged | originated |
| clarified | expanded | persuaded |
| coached | facilitated | presented |
| collaborated | fomented | responded |
| communicated | formulated | revolutionized |
| conducted | generated | set goals |
| coordinated | grouped | stimulated |
| delegated | guided | summarized |
| delivered | harmonized | trained |
| demonstrated | implemented | translated |
Technical ability
| analyzed | expedited | operated |
| broadened | fabricated | packaged |
| charted | facilitated | pioneered |
| classified | forecast | prepared |
| communicated | formed | processed |
| compiled | generated | programmed |
| computed | improved | published |
| conceived | increased | reconstructed |
| conducted | inspected | networked |
| coordinated | installed | reduced |
| designed | instituted | researched |
| detected | integrated | restored |
| developed | interfaced | revamped |
| devised | launched | streamlined |
| drafted | lectured | supplemented |
| edited | maintained | surveyed |
| educated | marketed | systematized |
| eliminated | mastered | trained |
| excelled | modified | upgraded |
| expanded | molded | wrote |
Action words for many skills
| accomplished | evaluated | overhauled |
| achieved | executed | performed |
| adapted | facilitated | prioritized |
| adhered | forecast | promoted |
| allocated | founded | proposed |
| appraised | governed | reconciled |
| arbitrated | guided | rectified |
| arranged | illustrated | remodeled |
| articulated | improved | repaired |
| assured | increased | reshaped |
| augmented | initiated | retrieved |
| collected | integrated | solved |
| communicated | interpreted | stimulated |
| composed | invented | streamlined |
| conceptualized | launched | strengthened |
| conserved | led | trained |
| contributed | navigated | upgraded |
| coordinated | optimized | validated |
| demonstrated | organized | won |
| dispensed | originated | wrote |