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Writer's pictureCareer Development & Exploration

185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome

You led a project:

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

  1. Chaired

  2. Controlled

  3. Coordinated

  4. Executed

  5. Headed

  6. Operated

  7. Orchestrated

  8. Organized

  9. Oversaw

  10. Planned

  11. Produced

  12. Programmed


You envisioned and brought to life a project:

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

  1. Administered

  2. Built

  3. Charted

  4. Created

  5. Designed

  6. Developed

  7. Devised

  8. Founded

  9. Engineered

  10. Established

  11. Formalized

  12. Formed

  13. Formulated

  14. Implemented

  15. Incorporated

  16. Initiated

  17. Instituted

  18. Introduced

  19. Launched

  20. Pioneered

  21. Spearheaded


You saved the company time or money:

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

  1. Conserved

  2. Consolidated

  3. Decreased

  4. Deducted

  5. Diagnosed

  6. Lessened

  7. Reconciled

  8. Reduced

  9. Yielded


You increased efficiency, sales, revenue or customer satisfaction:

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:

  1. Accelerated

  2. Achieved

  3. Advanced

  4. Amplified

  5. Boosted

  6. Capitalized

  7. Delivered

  8. Enhanced

  9. Expanded

  10. Expedited

  11. Furthered

  12. Gained

  13. Generated

  14. Improved

  15. Lifted

  16. Maximized

  17. Outpaced

  18. Stimulated

  19. Sustained


You changed or improved something:

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:

  1. Centralized

  2. Clarified

  3. Converted

  4. Customized

  5. Influenced

  6. Integrated

  7. Merged

  8. Modified

  9. Overhauled

  10. Redesigned

  11. Refined

  12. Refocused

  13. Rehabilitated

  14. Remodeled

  15. Reorganized

  16. Replaced

  17. Restructured

  18. Revamped

  19. Revitalized

  20. Simplified

  21. Standardized

  22. Streamlined

  23. Strengthened

  24. Updated

  25. Upgraded

  26. Transfer


You managed a team:

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

  1. Aligned

  2. Cultivated

  3. Directed

  4. Enabled

  5. Facilitated

  6. Fostered

  7. Guided

  8. Hired

  9. Inspired

  10. Mentored

  11. Mobilized

  12. Motivated

  13. Recruited

  14. Regulated

  15. Shaped

  16. Supervised

  17. Taught

  18. Trained

  19. Unified

  20. United


You brought in partners, funding, or resources:

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

  1. Acquired

  2. Forged

  3. Navigated

  4. Negotiated

  5. Partnered

  6. Secured


You supported customers:

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

  1. Advised

  2. Advocated

  3. Arbitrated

  4. Coached

  5. Consulted

  6. Educated

  7. Fielded

  8. Informed

  9. Resolved


You were a research machine:

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

  1. Analyzed

  2. Assembled

  3. Assessed

  4. Audited

  5. Calculated

  6. Discovered

  7. Evaluated

  8. Examined

  9. Explored

  10. Forecasted

  11. Identified

  12. Interpreted

  13. Investigated

  14. Mapped

  15. Measured

  16. Qualified

  17. Quantified

  18. Surveyed

  19. Tested

  20. Tracked


You wrote or communicated:

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

  1. Authored

  2. Briefed

  3. Campaigned

  4. Co-authored

  5. Composed

  6. Conveyed

  7. Convinced

  8. Corresponded

  9. Counseled

  10. Critiqued

  11. Defined

  12. Documented

  13. Edited

  14. Illustrated

  15. Lobbied

  16. Persuaded

  17. Promoted

  18. Publicized

  19. Reviewed


You oversaw or regulated:

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

  1. Authorized

  2. Blocked

  3. Delegated

  4. Dispatched

  5. Enforced

  6. Ensured

  7. Inspected

  8. Itemized

  9. Monitored

  10. Screened

  11. Scrutinized

  12. Verified


You achieved something:

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

  1. Attained

  2. Awarded

  3. Completed

  4. Demonstrated

  5. Earned

  6. Exceeded

  7. Outperformed

  8. Reached

  9. Showcased

  10. Succeeded

  11. Surpassed

  12. Targeted


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