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75 Action Verbs to Enhance Your Resume

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resume verbs

Summary: Give your resume new life by replacing the same old boring verbs with new action verbs to make your resume stand out.

You may be wondering why action verbs are so important to have on your resume and cover letter. Verbs describe our actions so using action verbs will add life to your work. These words will make your resume stand out because everyone else uses the same old tired words. Can you imagine what some of these words are? How about “motivated,” “managed,” or “talked.” While it is okay to leave a common verb in your resume here and there, try to switch out some with appropriate replacements.

Action verbs related to management positions:

  1. Orchestrated
  2. Chaired
  3. Operated
  4. Controlled
  5. Executed
  6. Coordinated
  7. Advised
  8. Spear-headed
  9. Commissioned
  10. Collaborated
  11. Headed
  12. Programmed
  13. Established
  14. Planned
  15. Organized
  16. Delegated

Actions verbs related to direct work with clients

  1. Enabled
  2. Clarified
  3. Facilitated
  4. Guided
  5. Explained
  6. Motivated
  7. Unified
  8. Updated
  9. Interfaced
  10. Resolved
  11. Informed
  12. Mediated
  13. Arbitrated
  14. Consulted
  15. Fielded
  16. Advocated

Action verbs related to being a corporate money/time saver:

  1. Boosted
  2. Arbitrated
  3. Influenced
  4. Standardized
  5. Negotiated
  6. Elevated
  7. Eased
  8. Reconciled
  9. Settled
  10. Strengthened
  11. Solved
  12. Maximized
  13. Stimulated
  14. Expedited
  15. Enhanced
  16. Capitalized

Action verbs for innovators:

  1. Clarified
  2. Remodeled
  3. Fabricated
  4. Restored
  5. Regulated
  6. Debugged
  7. Engineered
  8. Adapted
  9. Transformed
  10. Restructured
  11. Redesigned
  12. Overhauled
  13. Modified
  14. Integrated

Action verbs for communicators:

  1. Informed
  2. Discussed
  3. Publicized
  4. Disbursed
  5. Conveyed
  6. Synthesized
  7. Formulated
  8. Defined
  9. Lobbied
  10. Persuaded
  11. Illustrated
  12. Corresponded
  13. Composed

Remember it is just as important to use some of these words in your interview as it is in your resume. It would be odd for the interviewer if your resume was filled with great action verbs but you personally used only tired boring verbs when discussing your experience.

To learn more about writing a better resume, read these related articles:

Photo: flickr.com

75 Action Verbs to Enhance Your Resume by
Authored by: Amanda Griffin