300+ Powerful Action Verbs for Resume that make you look like an Achiever

A recruiter reviews thousands of resumes a day, and adding responsibility-oriented language like “did,” “responsible for,” and “made” can easily get overlooked. Including clichés and weak verbs in your resume makes it sound boring.

You need to showcase yourself as an achiever in your resume, not a doer. Action verbs for Resume are the best way to showcase your impact on your resume.

Action verbs like “spearheaded,” “led,” and “managed,” when used in your resume, add weight to your experience by highlighting what you did, how you did it, and what results you brought to the company.

Here’s an example:

Your Resume without Action Verb:

• Was responsible for leading the marketing team and increasing sales.

Your Resume With Action Verb:

• Spearheaded the marketing team, boosting sales by 25% in one year.

This post lists down 350+ action verbs for resume that can help make your resume more effective in 2024.

What are Action Verbs for Resume?

An action verb is a type of verb that describes the action the subject of a sentence is performing. (e.g., Whitney analyzed the data to find patterns.)

An action verb in a resume refers to strong and impactful verbs that one can add to make their experience sound impactful.

The language of a resume plays a very crucial role. It can make or break your chances of being selected.

While writing a resume, one should focus on emphasizing the impact and result of the work done rather than listing job responsibilities.

Starting your resume bullet points with action verbs (e.g., Analyzed, Quantified, Measured) helps showcase the impact you aim to make.

Related: Get a Resume filled with Action Verbs by us!

Why are Action Verbs for Resume Important?

When describing your experience in your resume, it’s essential to incorporate powerful action verbs.

These verbs are more likely to grab the attention of the hiring manager.

Let’s have a closer look:

Bullet Points Without Action Verbs:

• Responsible for managing a team.
• Involved in project management and delivery.

Bullet Points With Action Verbs:

• Managed a dynamic team of 10, enhancing team productivity by 20%.
• Spearheaded project management, ensuring timely delivery and exceeding quality standards.

Action verbs help create an impact when you’re delivering information to a reader.

When used within a resume or cover letter, action verbs help your application stand out among the rest.

Action verbs for Resume also help job applicants get past ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software that filters for the top candidates.

List Of 300+ Action Verbs for Resume (With Example)

Here’s a comprehensive List Of Action Verbs that you can incorporate in your resume and cover letter.

1. Leadership

1. Commanded
2. Directed
3. Encouraged
4. Governed
5. Guided
6. Influenced
7. Motivated
8. Orchestrated
9. Overseen
10. Spearheaded
11. Steered
12. Supervised
13. Championed
14. Delegated
15. Mentored

Examples:

• Directed a team of 10 in completing a complex project under budget and ahead of schedule.
• Spearheaded a new initiative that increased overall productivity by 15%.

2. Communication

1. Addressed
2. Articulated
3. Authored
4. Conveyed
5. Documented
6. Illustrated
7. Lobbied
8. Persuaded
9. Presented
10. Promoted
11. Reported
12. Translated
13. Communicated
14. Corresponded
15. Negotiated

Examples

• Authored a comprehensive user manual that improved client onboarding process.
• Negotiated a crucial contract that resulted in a 20% reduction in supply costs.

3. Problem Solving

1. Alleviated
2. Analyzed
3. Diagnosed
4. Engineered
5. Rectified
6. Resolved
7. Restored
8. Revised
9. Simplified
10. Solved
11. Streamlined
12. Systematized
13. Troubleshot
14. Unraveled
15. Adapted

Examples:

• Diagnosed an ongoing issue that saved the company over $500,000 annually.
• Engineered a new application that improved data processing time by 40%.

4. Initiative

1. Built
2. Created
3. Designed
4. Developed
5. Founded
6. Initiated
7. Launched
8. Pioneered
9. Implemented
10. Instituted
11. Introduced
12. Innovated
13. Established
14. Formulated
15. Originated

Examples:

• Created and implemented a customer feedback strategy that increased customer satisfaction by 25%.
• Launched a new market research program that identified two major growth opportunities.

5. Impact – Action Verbs to show your result/impact

1. Achieved
2. Boosted
3. Delivered
4. Exceeded
5. Expanded
6. Gained
7. Generated
8. Grew
9. Improved
10. Increased
11. Maximized
12. Optimized
13. Produced
14. Yielded
15. Enhanced

Examples:

• Exceeded sales targets by 30% for three consecutive quarters.
• Optimized operational processes, resulting in a 20% improvement in efficiency.

6. Management – When you managed people/process

1. Administered
2. Consolidated
3. Coordinated
4. Executed
5. Handled
6. Headed
7. Operated
8. Organized
9. Planned
10. Produced
11. Scheduled
12. Managed
13. Controlled
14. Governed
15. Monitored

Examples:

• Coordinated a team of 15 across multiple projects to ensure timely deliveries.
• Managed annual budgeting and forecasting, reducing costs by 10% annually.

7. Technical Skills – To Showcase your Technical Expertise

1. Automated
2. Coded
3. Configured
4. Debugged
5. Designed
6. Developed
7. Engineered
8. Programmed
9. Refined
10. Tested
11. Upgraded
12. Validated
13. Integrated
14. Installed
15. Maintained

Examples:

• Developed a proprietary software that reduced data processing time by 50%.
• Automated routine tasks, which saved up to 30 hours per month.

8. Research Fields

1. Analyzed
2. Assessed
3. Evaluated
4. Examined
5. Explored
6. Identified
7. Investigated
8. Mapped
9. Measured
10. Tested
11. Surveyed
12. Quantified
13. Reviewed
14. Studied
15. Tracked

Examples:

• Investigated emerging market trends that led to a pivotal shift in product development.
• Evaluated competitor strategies and provided comprehensive reports that shaped marketing tactics.

9. Financial Skills

1. Allocated
2. Audited
3. Balanced
4. Budgeted
5. Calculated
6. Cut
7. Forecasted
8. Managed
9. Projected
10. Reduced
11. Saved
12. Secured
13. Analyzed
14. Assessed
15. Enhanced

Examples:

• Reduced annual spending by negotiating better rates with suppliers, saving the company $200,000.
• Forecasted financial trends that enabled the company to adjust its strategic plan effectively.

10. Teaching

1. Advised
2. Clarified
3. Coached
4. Educated
5. Explained
6. Instructed
7. Mentored
8. Taught
9. Trained
10. Tutored
11. Developed
12. Facilitated
13. Guided
14. Informed
15. Lectured

Examples:

• Coached a team of new hires, bringing them to full productivity 30% faster than the previous groups.
• Mentored over 20 junior staff members, significantly enhancing their professional development and skills.

11. Sales & Persuasion

1. Closed
2. Convinced
3. Influenced
4. Negotiated
5. Pitched
6. Promoted
7. Reconciled
8. Sold
9. Secured
10. Acquired
11. Captured
12. Engaged
13. Increased
14. Persuaded
15. Won

Examples:

• Negotiated major deals with key clients, increasing company revenue by 15%.
• Promoted product features effectively, achieving a 40% increase in sales in one year.

12. Creativity

1. Conceptualized
2. Created
3. Designed
4. Developed
5. Devised
6. Innovated
7. Invented
8. Originated
9. Reformulated
10. Reimagined
11. Shaped
12. Visualized
13. Crafted
14. Composed
15. Constructed

Examples:

• Designed an award-winning marketing campaign that increased brand visibility by 70%.
• Innovated a new product line that captured a new market segment and increased revenues by $1M.

13. Collaboration

1. Allied
2. Collaborated
3. Contributed
4. Cooperated
5. Partnered
6. Shared
7. Merged
8. Networked
9. United
10. Joined
11. Supported
12. Combined
13. Synchronized
14. Coordinated
15. Integrated

Examples:

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline the production process.
• Partnered with other industry leaders to host a successful international conference.

14. Organizational

1. Arranged
2. Categorized
3. Filed
4. Implemented
5. Ordered
6. Organized
7. Prepared
8. Processed
9. Scheduled
10. Systematized
11. Cataloged
12. Documented
13. Structured
14. Coordinated
15. Standardized

Examples:

• Organized the company’s annual event, managing logistics for 300+ attendees.
• Implemented a new filing system that increased departmental efficiency by 25%.

15. Customer Service

1. Assisted
2. Cared for
3. Delighted
4. Helped
5. Resolved
6. Responded
7. Served
8. Supported
9. Welcomed
10. Advised
11. Accommodated
12. Managed
13. Retained
14. Satisfied
15. Guided

Examples:

• Resolved customer issues, achieving a 95% satisfaction rate.
• Assisted over 50 customers daily, ensuring a positive experience and efficient service.

16. Quantitative

1. Calculated
2. Measured
3. Quantified
4. Estimated
5. Assessed
6. Evaluated
7. Tallied
8. Valued
9. Weighed
10. Counted
11. Summarized
12. Analyzed
13. Compared
14. Priced
15. Appraised

Examples:

• Quantified performance outcomes and presented results to management, leading to increased budget allocations.
• Calculated quarterly budget needs with a 98% accuracy rate.

17. Logistics

1. Coordinated
2. Dispatched
3. Shipped
4. Managed
5. Scheduled
6. Streamlined
7. Tracked
8. Delivered
9. Expedited
10. Monitored
11. Routed
12. Transported
13. Organized
14. Distributed
15. Handled

Examples:

• Streamlined shipping processes, reducing delivery times by 20%.
• Coordinated logistics for international shipments, ensuring compliance with global regulations.

18. Efficiency Improvement

1. Accelerated
2. Consolidated
3. Enhanced
4. Hastened
5. Improved
6. Increased
7. Maximized
8. Optimized
9. Reduced
10. Streamlined
11. Upgraded
12. Advanced
13. Boosted
14. Elevated
15. Refined

Examples:

• Streamlined office operations, cutting unnecessary costs by 30%.
• Optimized workflow to accelerate project completion time by 15%.

19. Ethical/Integrity

1. Advocated
2. Championed
3. Ensured
4. Modeled
5. Protected
6. Safeguarded
7. Upheld
8. Verified
9. Witnessed
10. Authenticated
11. Certified
12. Defended
13. Preserved
14. Supported
15. Maintained

Examples:

• Advocated for fair trade practices, enhancing the company’s reputation in the industry.
• Upheld strict data protection policies to ensure customer privacy and trust.

20. Project Management

1. Administered
2. Charted
3. Controlled
4. Executed
5. Managed
6. Orchestrated
7. Oversaw
8. Planned
9. Produced
10. Programmed
11. Scheduled
12. Supervised
13. Undertook
14. Directed
15. Governed

Examples:

• Managed a cross-functional team in a complex project delivering results 3 weeks ahead of schedule.
• Orchestrated a project revamp that improved output quality and team morale.

How To Use Action Verbs for Resume

Here’s a two-step formula on how to incorporate action verbs for resume:

Step 1: Identify Action Verbs Aligning with Your Experience and Job Requirements

If the job description for a project manager states that the candidate must be able to “oversee large-scale projects from conception to completion” and “optimize workflows to increase efficiency,” you’ll want to choose verbs that align with overseeing and optimizing.

Let’s say in your previous job, you managed a team that developed a new software product, which you led from development through to launch, and you also implemented a new system that reduced project timelines by 15%.

Find the appropriate action verbs matching the job description and your accomplishments.

In this case:

• For overseeing projects, you might use verbs like “Directed,” “Managed,” “Administered,” or “Supervised.”
• For optimizing processes, appropriate verbs could be “Enhanced,” “Streamlined,” “Optimized,” or “Refined.”

Step 2: Incorporate the Action Verbs at the Start of Bullet Points

Start the bullet point with an action verb; this sounds impactful and powerful.

Key Tip: Quantify your achievements by mentioning what you achieved in the work.

Examples:

• Directed the development and launch of a new software product, leading a team of 12 developers and coordinating cross-departmental efforts to bring the project to market 3 months ahead of schedule.
• Streamlined project workflows, integrating new software tools that optimized team productivity and reduced project completion times by 15%.

And here is an impactful bullet point for your resume.

Conclusion

Incorporating action verbs into your resume is a proven strategy to capture the attention of hiring managers. As you prepare your resume for 2024, leverage this list of 300+ action verbs to highlight your accomplishments and stand out in the job market.

FAQ’s

Q1. How to Choose the Right Action Verb for Your Resume

Start by analyzing the job description and identifying the skills and experience employers are looking for; now choose verbs that accurately describe your accomplishments in previous roles.

Let’s say: If a company is looking for a candidate to “oversee large-scale projects” you can add action verbs like “Directed”, “Managed”, or “Administrated”

Q2. Can I Use the Same Action Verb Multiple Times?

It is not recommended to use the same action verb multiple times it can lead to loss of impact and the resume may sound redundant. However, if you performed similar tasks in different roles, it may be necessary to use the same verb. If you do, try to vary the context or combine it with different results or metrics each time.

Q3. How Do Action Verbs Differ from Other Verbs?

Action verbs are dynamic verbs describing the action or result in the project. Unlike static verbs (e.g., “was,” “had,” “did”), which can appear passive or vague, action verbs (e.g., “engineered,” “orchestrated,” “implemented”) show your involvement and effectiveness directly and make your contributions clear and impactful.

Q4. What’s the Impact of Action Verbs on ATS?

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords that match the job descriptions. Action verbs that align with those listed in the job description can help your resume pass ATS checks more effectively. They contribute to a higher match rate in keyword scanning algorithms, potentially pushing your resume to the top of the pile.

Q5. Are Action Verbs Necessary for Every Resume Section?

While action verbs are crucial in the experience section of your resume, they may not be necessary in every part.

For example, your education section might not need as many dynamic verbs. However, in sections detailing your professional achievements, projects, and responsibilities, action verbs are essential for creating a powerful narrative.