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289 Resume Verbs To Show You’re the Best Candidate

September 27, 2019

Verb: a word used to describe an action.

And essentially one of the best tools at your disposal to showcase your qualifications on your resume. Your resume should be used to portray your professional persona to the best of your ability. It’s a document that answers the question: what have you done with your career?

A great way to showcase yourself is through the use of action verbs. These verbs tell potential employers exactly what your duties and accomplishments were in your former roles. Action verbs specifically detail your professional achievements and tell recruiters how your past experience could fit into a future role.

Quantifying your work is done most efficiently through the use of action verbs. With the use of resume parsing, it’s more important than ever that you include the right types of action verbs on your resume. Failure to do could me that your resume is thrown out by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) before ever being seen by a real person.

Skim through this extensive list and find the action verbs that fit your skills and qualifications best. 

Need a verb that describes a specific competency? Jump ahead to one of these groupings: 

Action verbs for your resume

So what’s so great about using action verbs on a resume?

Action verbs bring strength and clarity to your statements. They help your writing come across as specific and confident. Using the right verbs can make your accomplishments clear and impactful.   

Analysis resume verbs

analyzed ascertained assessed compared computed
conceptualized concluded confirmed critiqued deciphered
deliberated determined devised diagnosed estimated
evaluated examined forecasted formulated integrated
investigated justified measured negotiated prescribed
prioritized projected questioned rated recommended
researched scrutinized studied substantiated synthesized
validated verified      

Communication resume verbs

addressed apprised arbitrated attested authored
clarified communicated composed convinced corresponded
drafted edited explained informed interpreted
lectured marketed persuaded presented promoted
publicized queried reported spoke summarized
translated wrote      

Creativity resume verbs

brainstormed constructed designed engineered envisioned
fabricated illustrated produced shaped visualized

Flexibility resume verbs

accommodated adapted adjusted altered amended
balanced converted grew improvised tailored

Initiative resume verbs

accelerated accomplished achieved acquired advanced
bolstered boosted built coordinated created
dedicated demonstrated enriched established expanded
expedited implemented improved increased initiated
innovated inspired introduced launched minimized
mobilized modernized modified multiplied overhauled
pioneered revamped revised spearheaded stimulated
suggested updated upgraded    

Leadership resume verbs

administered advised allocated allowed appointed
approved assigned authorized chaired coached
delegated designated directed educated elicited
employed empowered enabled encouraged endorsed
enhanced facilitated fostered founded guided
hired influenced instructed interviewed judged
led moderated monitored motivated officiated
recruited sanctioned supervised trained  

Organization resume verbs

arranged assembled budgeted calculated catalogued
centralized charted classified collected compiled
consolidated correlated indexed linked orchestrated
organized oriented planned processed purchased
recorded regulated scheduled systematized tabulated

Problem-solving resume verbs

aided alleviated ameliorated counseled customized
debugged eased elevated enlarged extended
extracted finalized fulfilled generated identified
interceded invented polished procured reconciled
rectified reduced refined reformed rehabilitated
reinforced rejuvenated relieved remedied remodeled
repaired restored retrieved revitalized revived
settled solicited solved streamlined strengthened
supplemented transformed      

Teamwork resume verbs

assisted collaborated contributed cooperated mediated
participated partnered transacted transmitted valued

Other resume verbs to consider

acted activated added admitted apportioned
appraised approximated attained audited certified
commissioned committed consented contracted disbursed
dispatched displayed enlisted excelled executed
exercised familiarized figured guaranteed indicated
instituted involved issued licensed maintained
operated performed prepared programmed realized
related reserved reviewed satisfied screened
secured served set smoothed sought
specified submitted surveyed sustained traced

Get ahead

Having a good resume is just one piece to the puzzle. If you want to get ahead in your career, learn how to upload your resume to LinkedIn or check out our Career Advice Hub. Dozens of guides on how to progress in your professional life are just a click away.

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