185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome

185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome

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:

1. Chaired

1. Controlled

2. Coordinated

3. Executed

4. Headed

5. Operated

6. Orchestrated

7. Organized

8. Oversaw

9. Planned

10. Produced

11. Programmed

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

1. Administered

1. Built

2. Charted

3. Created

4. Designed

5. Developed

6. Devised

7. Founded

8. Engineered

9. Established

10. Formalized

11. Formed

12. Formulated

13. Implemented

14. Incorporated

15. Initiated

16. Instituted

17. Introduced

18. Launched

19. Pioneered

20. Spearheaded

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

1. Consolidated

2. Decreased

3. Deducted

4. Diagnosed

5. Lessened

6. Reconciled

7. Reduced

8. 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:

1. Accelerated

1. Achieved

2. Advanced

3. Amplified

4. Boosted

5. Capitalized

6. Delivered

7. Enhanced

8. Expanded

9. Expedited

10. Furthered

11. Gained

12. Generated

13. Improved

14. Lifted

15. Maximized

16. Outpaced

17. Stimulated

18. 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:

1. Centralized

1. Clarified

2. Converted

3. Customized

4. Influenced

5. Integrated

6. Merged

7. Modified

8. Overhauled

9. Redesigned

10. Refined

11. Refocused

12. Rehabilitated

13. Remodeled

14. Reorganized

15. Replaced

16. Restructured

17. Revamped

18. Revitalized

19. Simplified

20. Standardized

21. Streamlined

22. Strengthened

23. Updated

24. Upgraded

25. Transformed

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

1. Cultivated

2. Directed

3. Enabled

4. Facilitated

5. Fostered

6. Guided

7. Hired

8. Inspired

9. Mentored

10. Mobilized

11. Motivated

12. Recruited

13. Regulated

14. Shaped

15. Supervised

16. Taught

17. Trained

18. Unified

19. United

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

1. Acquired

1. Forged

2. Navigated

3. Negotiated

4. Partnered

5. Secured

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

1. Advised

1. Advocated

2. Arbitrated

3. Coached

4. Consulted

5. Educated

6. Fielded

7. Informed

8. Resolved

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

1. Analyzed

1. Assembled

2. Assessed

3. Audited

4. Calculated

5. Discovered

6. Evaluated

7. Examined

8. Explored

9. Forecasted

10. Identified

11. Interpreted

12. Investigated

13. Mapped

14. Measured

15. Qualified

16. Quantified

17. Surveyed

18. Tested

19. Tracked

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

1. Authored

1. Briefed

2. Campaigned

3. Co-authored

4. Composed

5. Conveyed

6. Convinced

7. Corresponded

8. Counseled

9. Critiqued

10. Defined

11. Documented

12. Edited

13. Illustrated

14. Lobbied

15. Persuaded

16. Promoted

17. Publicized

18. Reviewed

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

1. Authorized

1. Blocked

2. Delegated

3. Dispatched

4. Enforced

5. Ensured

6. Inspected

7. Itemized

8. Monitored

9. Screened

10. Scrutinized

11. Verified

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

1. Attained

1. Awarded

2. Completed

3. Demonstrated

4. Earned

5. Exceeded

6. Outperformed

7. Reached

8. Showcased

9. Succeeded

10. Surpassed

11. Targeted