Action Verbs to Elevate Your Resume

In today’s competitive job market, recruiters often sift through countless resumes, so it’s essential to make yours stand out. One way to achieve this is by avoiding weak or passive language, tired business clichés, and overused phrases. These can dull your resume’s impact. Instead, harness the power of action verbs to clearly convey your skills, experiences, and achievements.

What Are Action Verbs?

Action verbs are words that depict proactive, results-driven actions. On your resume, they’re your secret weapon for creating a powerful narrative. Action verbs offer specificity, clarity, and a confident tone. The right verbs help you grab employers’ attention and increase your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.

Example:

• Weak: "Held weekly status meetings to share client updates."
• Strong: "Spearheaded weekly status meetings to communicate agency revenue growth."

The second option shines by using action verbs, giving it more impact and precision.

Pro Tip: Quantify Your Achievements

To maximize the effect of action verbs, pair them with measurable results. For example:
"Championed the use of user feedback in program improvements, resulting in a 50% boost in customer satisfaction."

Resume Action Verbs

Here’s a list of carefully chosen action verbs, categorized for different resume sections:

Action Verbs to Showcase Accomplishments

Achieved | Amplified | Attained | Capitalized | Chaired
Consolidated | Deciphered | Decreased | Discerned | Drove
Enacted | Endeavored | Established | Exceeded | Founded
Pioneered | Outperformed | Overhauled | Sharpened | Shattered
Sparked | Spearheaded | Steered | Stimulated | Streamlined
Strengthened | Supervised | Surpassed

Action Verbs to Explain Responsibilities

Accelerated | Accomplished | Analyzed | Assembled | Built
Charted | Created | Constructed | Coordinated | Delivered
Developed | Executed | Expanded | Facilitated | Finalized
Forged | Guided | Handled | Headed | Improved
Increased | Initiated | Implemented | Instituted | Operated
Organized | Produced | Reached | Simplified | Volunteered

Action Verbs to Express Communication Skills

Briefed | Campaigned | Collaborated | Composed | Conveyed
Convinced | Documented | Enlivened | Instructed | Performed
Presented | Promoted | Spoke | Trained

Action Verbs for Creative Experience

Authored | Brainstormed | Communicated | Conceptualized | Curated
Customized | Derived | Designed | Diagramed | Drafted
Edited | Illustrated | Imagined | Influenced | Inspired
Intensified | Modeled | Proofread | Published | Redesigned
Researched | Strategized | Storyboarded | Transformed | Visualized | Wrote

Action Verbs for Sales Experience

Acquired | Boosted | Captured | Conserved | Converted
Earned | Gained | Generated | Maximized | Negotiated
Outpaced | Won | Yielded

Action Verbs for Leadership and Management

Advised | Aligned | Arranged | Augmented | Centralized
Championed | Cultivated | Differentiated | Directed | Empowered
Enabled | Endorsed | Enforced | Ensured | Forecasted
Formalized | Formed | Fostered | Furthered | Hired
Identified | Implemented | Integrated | Leveraged | Mentored
Merged | Motivated | Orchestrated | Optimized | Predicted
Reconciled | Reduced | Refocused | Renovated | Reorganized
Replaced | Resolved | Restructured | Revitalized | Shaped
Supervised | Sustained | Trained

Action Verbs for Finance Experience

Audited | Calculated | Classified | Collected | Equalized
Evaluated | Dispensed | Halted | Investigated | Lowered
Maintained | Minimized | Recognized | Secured

Action Verbs for Technical Experience

Advanced | Architected | Automated | Coded | Deployed
Detected | Devised | Diagnosed | Discovered | Engineered
Enhanced | Expedited | Formulated | Installed | Launched
Modified | Networked | Planned | Programmed | Remodeled
Rewrote | Refined | Tested | Troubleshot | Updated | Upgraded