Is it OK to repeat skills or keywords from my summary in the rest of the resume?

Yes, it’s OK to repeat skills from your resume summary in other areas of your resume, as long as they are requirements from the job description. Doing so helps your resume stand up to the scrutiny of applicant tracking systems (ATS), which scan applications for the most relevant keywords. A good rule of thumb is to apply two to three times the words that are used frequently or are called out as the most important, essential or must-haves in the job description. But be honest — you will be called upon to use essential skills and knowledge if hired! For example, if the job requires outstanding planning skills and you know you can prove you have them, then mention you are a planner in your summary statement, but make sure it’s highlighted in your job history section and list it as a skill in your skills section .

Is a personal branding statement the same as a resume summary?

No. Personal branding statements are often placed near a job seeker’s name on their resume. Because they are often used as a tagline or slogan, they are repeated on every resume, in social media profiles and in portfolios. For example, “I streamline processes and increase productivity!” On the other hand, a personal summary is a longer statement used to tell employers what a job applicant’s biggest strengths are, what they can do for an employer, and why they are the best candidate for the position. Although like branding statements, they are also used to market a job applicant, they are customized for each job and they are much more detailed.

How do you write a summary for a resume with no experience?

You should not use a resume summary if you do not have work experience. An objective statement is a better approach for you. If you have some work experience, review our resume summary examples for entry level positions.

Can a summary statement have bullet points?

Yes. When formatting a resume , it’s acceptable to use bullet points in the professional summary for a resume to highlight important skills for quick scanning if it’s a functional or skills-based resume. For example, a skills-based resume summary for a home health aide would look like this: Multitasking: Provide quality daily health care, including blood testing, monitoring, washing and wound care to 10 patients with very different needs. Verbal communication: Interface daily with family members and doctors concerning patients’ treatments. Compassionate: Stellar customer reviews for the ability to provide emotional comfort to patients. Knowledgeable: Stay updated on all new medical tests and procedures. However, most job applicants will use either a chronological or a combination resume format . These job seekers should use the brief paragraph format because it allows them to address more than just skills.

What should I avoid when writing a professional summary sample for my resume?

The top things to avoid when writing a resume summary are: Personal pronouns, such as “I,” “they” and “she.” Long paragraphs Repetition Unnecessary personal information such as your age, hobbies and gender Salary or benefits Mistakes Generic statements Lies

What should I include in a resume summary if I’m switching careers?

We do not recommend a professional summary statement for job applicants switching careers. In that case, it’s best to write a resume objective statement instead.

150+ Resume Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume

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Table of contents

What are resume action words?
How to use resume action verbs to your advantage
Resume words to showcase skills and accomplishments
15 great resume synonyms
Add interesting resume adjectives
FAQ

Create My Resume

To get your resume through an applicant tracking system (ATS) and into the hands of a recruiter, it must contain not only the right keywords but also compelling resume action words. Here, learn more about resume action verbs and how they can boost your resume. We will cover the following topics:

What are resume action words?
How to use resume action verbs to your advantage
150 resume action words to showcase skills and accomplishments
Overused buzzwords on a resume (and better words to use)
Frequently asked questions about action verbs.

What are resume action words?

Freelance Writer Resume Example

Resume action words describe the tasks you perform on the job. Also called resume power words, these words also describe the skills you use to get the job done.

It’s critical that you learn how to write a resume that utilizes compelling language to articulate your impact and get a recruiter’s attention. For a hiring manager who is reading dozens of resumes for a single job opening, reading resumes that use tired phrases like “responsible for” or “in charge of” gets dull. Instead, learn how to write a work experience section that uses eye-catching action words to stand out from the crowd and convince a potential employer to invite you for an interview.

Choose from our premade resume templates and download your perfect resume today.

How to use resume action verbs to your advantage

Choosing the right resume action words can make even the most mundane work tasks sound fresh and exciting. Pair them with data and numbers to show recruiters the impact of work. Here’s how:

Why do good resume action words strengthen your resume?

Using strong language through resume action words will make your application stand out from the competition. Busy recruiters can sometimes read hundreds of resumes in a single day, so ditch boring, overused resume words when writing your professional summary, skills section and work experience. Avoiding generic terms can help persuade a recruiter to take a closer look at your credentials and increase your chances of landing a job interview. Choosing the right action words for your resume is an excellent way to ensure you outshine the competition.

How data and numbers increase the power of strong resume action verbs.

Resume action words describe the tasks you perform and the skills you use daily. To make them shine, you’ll also want to show the impact your work has had on the company. This is where data and numbers can boost the impact of already strong resume action words.

Consider which of these statements paints a more vivid picture:

“Responsible for answering phone calls and greeting customers.”
“Succeeded in answering up to 50 incoming calls daily while greeting dozens of in-store customers and directing their inquiries to the appropriate salesperson.”

If you chose the second statement, you’d be correct. The second bullet point not only states the day-to-day responsibilities of the applicant — taking calls and greeting customers — but also gives employers a sense of the traffic volume the job seeker handles daily. The combination of strong action verbs and numerical figures paints a vivid picture of the applicant’s abilities and experience, clearly showing that this applicant has a strong ability to multitask effectively.

Resume words to showcase skills and accomplishments

Choosing the right words to describe your skills and experience can be a bit overwhelming to some job seekers, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we have provided a list of resume action words you can use to explain why you’re the right person for the role. A strong action verb is active rather than passive, showcasing the applicant’s initiative and impact. For more inspiration, or if you don’t find what you need on this resume action word list, look at our resume templates and resume examples to see how to do it properly.

Action verbs to explain work responsibilities:

1. Acted As
2. Executed
3. Negotiated
4. Accomplished
5. Completed

6. Forged
7. Created
8. Navigated
9. Undertook
10. Operated

11. Created
12. Produced
13. Completed
14. Delivered
15. Managed

Words to showcase your interpersonal or soft skills:

1. Insightful
2. Genuine
3. Attentive
4. Compassionate
5. Funny

6. Professional
7. Diligent
8. Dedicated
9. Self-starter
10. Knowledgeable

11. Curious
12. Persuasive
13. Reliable
14. Competent
15. Motivated

Action verbs that describe your communication skills:

1. Conveyed
2. Moderated
3. Negotiated
4. Authored
5. Informed

6. Presented
7. Persuaded
8. Explained
9. Illuminated
10. Outlined

11. Announced
12. Disseminated
13. Disclosed
14. Broadcasted
15. Circulated

Action verbs to highlight your technical skills:

1. Mastered
2. Accelerated
3. Fabricated
4. Developed
5. Rebuilt

6. Assembled
7. Merged
8. Restored
9. Recovered
10. Standardized

11. Launched
12. Maintained
13. Calculated
14. Fine-tuned
15. Finalized

Action words that demonstrate your creativity and vision:

1. Conceived
2. Drafted
3. Crafted
4. Built
5. Designed

6. Overhauled
7. Initiated
8. Spearheaded
9. Devised
10. Established

11. Invented
12. Envisioned
13. Reenvisioned
14. Piloted
15. Created

Action verbs that underscore management and leadership skills:

1. Managed
2. Assigned
3. Delegated
4. Led
5. Mentored

6. Oversaw
7. Trained
8. Facilitated
9. Created
10. Designated

11. Selected
12. Orchestrated
13. Planned
14. Coordinated
15. Directed

Action verbs for experience with finance and sales:

1. Negotiated
2. Increased
3. Gained
4. Accelerated
5. Saved

6. Conserved
7. Raised
8. Boosted
9. Delivered
10. Yielded

11. Maximized
12. Improved
13. Generated
14. Lifted
15. Delivered

Action verbs for when you improved something:

1. Reimagined
2. Clarified
3. Modernized
4. Restructured
5. Overhauled

6. Customized
7. Refined
8. Digitized
9. Integrated
10. Merged

11. Modified
12. Redesigned
13. Reorganized
14. Streamlined
15. Optimized

Action words for research and analysis skills:

1. Surveyed
2. Tested
3. Examined
4. Tracked
5. Interpreted

6. Analyzed
7. Forecasted
8. Calculated
9. Assessed
10. Audited

11. Measured
12. Projected
13. Mapped
14. Identified
15. Evaluated

Action verbs to describe collaboration:

1. Teamed up
2. Gathered
3. Participated
4. Volunteered
5. Joined

6. Merged
7. Interacted
8. Recruited
9. Assembled
10. Consulted

11. Cooperated with
12. Associated with
13. Allied with
14. Partnered with
15. Worked with

15 great resume synonyms

When building your resume, it is tempting to repeat certain words and phrases. After all, sometimes it feels impossible to avoid overusing common resume words like “managed,” “assisted,” “helped” and “led.”

To help you keep your resume readable and engaging, we’ve compiled a list of synonyms for “collaborate,” and other easy-to-overuse resume phrases. Even some of the strongest action verbs for resumes can wind up feeling robotic if they are used too much. So, to keep busy recruiters reading your resume content, concentrate on using engaging language to describe your skills and experience.

Avoid overused resume verbs and consider these resume synonyms instead:

Better words for a resume

Add interesting resume adjectives

When you describe yourself as a worker, what are the words that you use? Does the skills section of your resume say things like “talented,” “efficient,” or “ambitious?” These are all adjectives and they play a major role in how you use a resume to characterize yourself and your skills. Including soft skills in the skills section of your resume is important, but not all resume soft skills are created equally.

The adjectives listed above are overused resume words. Part of what makes an adjective overused is how frequently job seekers add them to their resume. It’s also very easy to recycle the same few resume adjectives over and over again throughout your resume. You may not notice as you’re writing, but the result is a repetitive reading experience that doesn’t sell your qualifications as effectively as it could.

The best resume is one that communicates your candidacy in a way that is clear, concise and professional. Check out our list of impactful resume adjectives to use alongside your resume action words and verbs!

Resume adjectives for efficient workers:

1. Methodical
2. Driven
3. Organized

4. Productive
5. Industrious
6. Studious

7. Detailed
8. Meticulous
9. Precise

Resume adjectives for creative workers:

1. Imaginative
2. Visionary
3. Artistic

4. Pioneering
5. Original
6. Innovative

7. Enthusiastic
8. Curious
9. Inventive

Resume adjectives for leadership:

1. Decisive
2. Accountable
3. Diligent

4. Diplomatic
5. Thorough
6. Attentive

7. Assertive
8. Confident
9. Adaptable

Resume adjectives for educators:

1. Motivated
2. Eager
3. Uplifting

4. Innovative
5. Imaginative
6. Communicative

7. Resilient
8. Stimulating
9. Respectful

FAQ

Strong action words are any verbs that help paint a picture for a potential employer. Steer clear of overused resume buzzwords like, “responsible for” and be creative. Choose from our list of resume action words above, or use an online thesaurus to breathe life into the language of your resume. For auto-generated text suggestions for strong action words, use a professional resume builder.

Action words have three main functions on a resume:

They introduce interesting language that will compel a hiring manager to continue reading your resume.
They show the impact your work has had for a past employer.
They can help energize and elevate even the most common or mundane job responsibilities.

When learning how to write a resume, follow these five tips:

Include only the most relevant information for the role to which you are applying. Since resumes should be at most two pages, brevity and relevance are critical.
Be sure to include a mix of both hard and soft skills. Technical skills are important but employers also look for candidates with skills like communication and collaboration since these competencies are difficult to teach.
Use straightforward headers on your resume. It’s wise to stick to the basic sections, such as professional summary, work experience, skills and education to make it easy for recruiters to find what they are looking for.
Use an easy-to-read resume template. Both applicant tracking systems and recruiters need to be able to easily scan your resume to determine whether you have the required skills and experience. A great template can help.
Study resume examples for the job title you seek. To write a good resume, seeing examples of professionally written resumes will show you exactly what a strong resume should look like.

Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.

150+ Action Verbs, Synonyms and Adjectives for Your Resume