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?
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 entice a potential employer to invite you for an interview.
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. Learning how to write your professional summary, your skills section and your work experience section without using boring, overused resume words can help persuade a recruiter to take a closer look at your credentials and increase your chances of landing a job interview.
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 — specifically, dozens of customers and up to 50 calls per day. This sends the message that this applicant has a strong ability to multitask.
150 resume action 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 are the right person for the role. 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. Partnered with
- 4. Volunteered
- 5. Joined
- 6. Merged
- 7. Interacted
- 8. Recruited
- 9. Assembled
- 10. Consulted
- 11. Cooperated with
- 12. Associated with
- 13. Allied with
- 14. Participated
- 15. Teamed up
Overused buzzwords on a resume (and better words to use)
FAQ
Strong action words are any verbs that help paint a picture for a potential employer. Steer clear of dull, 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 prewritten 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 enliven 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.
