Resume action verbs: 180+ strong words by skill
Updated ·3 min read
Every bullet on your resume should start with a verb that says what you did. Strong, specific verbs make your achievements sound like achievements, and they save words. "Led" says more than "was responsible for leading".
Below are more than 180 action verbs grouped by the skill they show, followed by the phrases to cut.
How to use action verbs
- Start every bullet with one. Past tense for past jobs, present tense for your current one.
- Pick the most specific verb that's true. "Negotiated" is stronger than "handled" if you negotiated.
- Follow it with a result. The verb gets attention; the number proves it.
- Vary them. Five bullets in a row starting with "Managed" read like a list of duties.
Weak
Was responsible for managing the social media accounts.
Strong
Grew Instagram from 20K to 140K followers with creator partnerships.
Weak
Helped with the move to a new accounting system.
Strong
Led the move from QuickBooks to NetSuite with no disruption to reporting.
Weak
Worked on reducing costs.
Strong
Cut cloud costs 28% by right sizing instances and removing unused storage.
Action verbs by skill
Leadership
- Led
- Directed
- Headed
- Managed
- Supervised
- Mentored
- Coached
- Delegated
- Oversaw
- Championed
- Mobilised
- Spearheaded
- Hired
- Recruited
- Trained
Achievement and results
- Achieved
- Exceeded
- Surpassed
- Delivered
- Earned
- Won
- Attained
- Completed
- Outperformed
- Secured
- Awarded
- Reached
- Ranked
- Doubled
- Tripled
Improvement
- Improved
- Increased
- Reduced
- Cut
- Streamlined
- Simplified
- Accelerated
- Optimised
- Upgraded
- Revamped
- Modernised
- Strengthened
- Enhanced
- Consolidated
- Standardised
Creating and building
- Built
- Created
- Designed
- Developed
- Launched
- Founded
- Established
- Introduced
- Pioneered
- Initiated
- Produced
- Authored
- Engineered
- Formulated
- Devised
Communication
- Presented
- Wrote
- Edited
- Published
- Negotiated
- Persuaded
- Advocated
- Briefed
- Explained
- Promoted
- Pitched
- Corresponded
- Facilitated
- Moderated
- Translated
Analysis and research
- Analysed
- Assessed
- Evaluated
- Investigated
- Researched
- Examined
- Measured
- Modelled
- Forecast
- Audited
- Surveyed
- Tested
- Identified
- Diagnosed
- Quantified
Organisation and planning
- Planned
- Organised
- Coordinated
- Scheduled
- Prioritised
- Arranged
- Budgeted
- Allocated
- Administered
- Catalogued
- Tracked
- Maintained
- Implemented
- Executed
- Orchestrated
Sales and growth
- Sold
- Closed
- Generated
- Grew
- Expanded
- Acquired
- Converted
- Prospected
- Upsold
- Retained
- Renewed
- Captured
- Cultivated
- Partnered
- Sourced
Helping and service
- Supported
- Assisted
- Resolved
- Served
- Guided
- Advised
- Counselled
- Cared for
- Educated
- Accommodated
- Responded
- Welcomed
- Answered
- Helped
- Volunteered
Technical
- Programmed
- Automated
- Deployed
- Migrated
- Integrated
- Configured
- Debugged
- Refactored
- Architected
- Scaled
- Secured
- Containerised
- Monitored
- Troubleshot
- Shipped
Finance
- Reconciled
- Balanced
- Calculated
- Projected
- Invested
- Saved
- Recovered
- Allocated funds
- Appraised
- Priced
- Underwrote
- Valued
- Invoiced
- Collected
- Controlled
Teaching and training
- Taught
- Instructed
- Tutored
- Onboarded
- Enabled
- Demonstrated
- Adapted
- Differentiated
- Inspired
- Motivated
- Clarified
- Informed
- Developed curriculum
- Assessed learning
- Mentored
Creative work
- Illustrated
- Photographed
- Filmed
- Composed
- Styled
- Branded
- Crafted
- Conceptualised
- Visualised
- Animated
- Directed shoots
- Curated
- Storyboarded
- Sketched
- Prototyped
Weak phrases to replace
These phrases describe a job rather than what you did in it. Replace them with a specific verb and a result:
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Responsible for | Led, Managed, Owned, Ran |
| Helped with | Supported, Contributed to, or the specific thing you did |
| Worked on | Built, Designed, Improved, Delivered |
| Duties included | Start each bullet with what you achieved |
| Participated in | Collaborated on, Contributed, Presented |
| Handled | Resolved, Processed, Negotiated, Managed |
| Utilised | Used, or name the tool in the result |
And be honest. "Led" and "Spearheaded" should mean you led. An interviewer will ask.
Let the words do more of the work
If you're rewriting a resume full of "responsible for", it can help to see stronger versions of your own lines. Sembis suggests AI rewrites of each bullet that keep to the facts you gave it, shown next to your original so you approve each one. For finished examples in your field, browse the resume examples.
Frequently asked questions
What are action verbs on a resume?
Verbs that start each bullet point and say what you did, such as led, built, reduced or negotiated. They make achievements clearer and more direct than phrases like "responsible for".
Should resume bullets be in past or present tense?
Past tense for previous jobs and finished achievements, present tense for ongoing work in your current job.
Can I use the same verb twice?
Occasionally, but vary them within a job. Repeating one verb makes the bullets blur together.
