Selling Yourself in a Resume with Action Words
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 |
