185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome

[Md. Anikuzzaman]

Most resume bullet points start with the same words. Frankly, the same tired old words hiring managers have heard over and over—to the point where they've lost a lot of their meaning and don't do much to show off your awesome accomplishments.

So, let's get a little more creative, shall we? Next time you update your resume, switch up a few of those common words and phrases with strong, compelling action verbs that will catch hiring managers' eyes.

No matter what duty or accomplishment you're trying to show off, we've got just the verb for you. Check out the list below, and get ready to make your resume way more exciting.




If you were in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip "led" and instead try:

Chaired
Controlled

Coordinated

Executed

Headed

Operated

Orchestrated

Organized

Oversaw

Planned

Produced

Programmed




And if you actually developed, created, or introduced that project into your company? Try:

Administered
Built

Charted

Created

Designed

Developed

Devised

Founded

Engineered

Established

Formalized

Formed

Formulated

Implemented

Incorporated

Initiated

Instituted

Introduced

Launched

Pioneered

Spearheaded




Hiring managers love candidates who've helped a team operate more efficiently or cost-effectively. To show just how much you saved, try:

Conserved
Consolidated

Decreased

Deducted

Diagnosed

Lessened

Reconciled

Reduced

Yielded




Along similar lines, if you can show that your work boosted the company's numbers in some way, you're bound to impress. In these cases, consider:

Accelerated
Achieved

Advanced

Amplified

Boosted

Capitalized

Delivered

Enhanced

Expanded

Expedited

Furthered

Gained

Generated

Improved

Lifted

Maximized

Outpaced

Stimulated

Sustained




So, you brought your department's invoicing system out of the Stone Age and onto the interwebs? Talk about the amazing changes you made at your office with these words:

Centralized
Clarified

Converted

Customized

Influenced

Integrated

Merged

Modified

Overhauled

Redesigned

Refined

Refocused

Rehabilitated

Remodeled

Reorganized

Replaced

Restructured

Revamped

Revitalized

Simplified

Standardized

Streamlined

Strengthened

Updated

Upgraded

Transformed




Instead of reciting your management duties, like "Led a team..." or "Managed employees..." show what an inspirational leader you were, with terms like:

Aligned
Cultivated

Directed

Enabled

Facilitated

Fostered

Guided

Hired

Inspired

Mentored

Mobilized

Motivated

Recruited

Regulated

Shaped

Supervised

Taught

Trained

Unified

United




Were you "responsible for" a great new partner, sponsor, or source of funding? Try:

Acquired
Forged

Navigated

Negotiated

Partnered

Secured




Because manning the phones or answering questions really means you're advising customers and meeting their needs, use:

Advised
Advocated

Arbitrated

Coached

Consulted

Educated

Fielded

Informed

Resolved




Did your job include research, analysis, or fact-finding? Mix up your verbiage with these words:

Analyzed
Assembled

Assessed

Audited

Calculated

Discovered

Evaluated

Examined

Explored

Forecasted

Identified

Interpreted

Investigated

Mapped

Measured

Qualified

Quantified

Surveyed

Tested

Tracked




Was writing, speaking, lobbying, or otherwise communicating part of your gig? You can explain just how compelling you were with words like:

Authored
Briefed

Campaigned

Co-authored

Composed

Conveyed

Convinced

Corresponded

Counseled

Critiqued

Defined

Documented

Edited

Illustrated

Lobbied

Persuaded

Promoted

Publicized

Reviewed




Whether you enforced protocol or managed your department's requests, describe what you really did, better, with these words:

Authorized
Blocked

Delegated

Dispatched

Enforced

Ensured

Inspected

Itemized

Monitored

Screened

Scrutinized

Verified




Did you hit your goals? Win a coveted department award? Don't forget to include that on your resume, with words like:

Attained
Awarded

Completed

Demonstrated

Earned

Exceeded

Outperformed

Reached

Showcased

Succeeded

Surpassed

Targeted


Source: https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome