Definitive List of Powerful Action Words for Resumes
When most people sit down to write their resume, there’s a habit of wheeling out the same old phrases and cliches. Candidates talk about “assisting,” being “tasked with,” or having “experience in.” The result is a bland, boring CV. Yet, candidates are often resistant to changing anything – they don’t want to be the odd one out.
Except: the whole point of a resume is to stand out. It’s your one shot to sell yourself to a recruiter.
Resume action words are the solution. Powerful and punchy, they can transform your CV, conveying the kind of can-do, self-motivated attitude recruiters dream about.
Let’s take a deep dive into action words, understanding what they are and how to integrate them into your resume. Oh, and we’ve also got a comprehensive action word list to get you started.
In this article:
⟩ When You Should Use Action Words?
⟩ How Often Should You Use Action Words?
⟩ 500+ List of Action Words for Resumes
What are Action Words?
Action words, or action verbs, are all about doing. Rather than talking in a passive voice about yourself and your accomplishments, you put yourself in the driving seat. Instead of being “responsible for” something, you “coordinated,” “initiated,” “streamlined,” and “guided.”
Worrying about the kind of verbs you use might seem a little bizarre. But remember, your CV is a page or two long. Aside from the resume summary, most of what you write will be bullet points about previous job positions. You need to seize every opportunity to communicate your personality and attitude.
Such words also provide greater specificity in your resume. You didn’t just “teach” a new employee the ropes. You “mentored,” “tutored,” or “motivated” a recent hire. Each term relates to a specific skill set. Anyone can “teach” something, but only a few people can “motivate” or “mentor.”
That’s what action words do! They personalize your CV, making your achievements hard to forget.
When You Should Use Action Words?
The big question is when you should add action words to your resume. As a general rule, every bullet point should begin with an action word. Combined with a quantifiable achievement, e.g., a 10% efficiency saving, it acts as a powerful testament to your capabilities.
That being said, it depends on which CV action words we’re referring to. Words like “teach,” “led,” or “handled” are technically action words. However, they’re at the weaker end of the spectrum. You should try to go for more specific, powerful words that explain how you did something.
Let’s go through an example of how to write an overview for your current job:
Look at the difference between the two sections. In the first example, the bullet points are weak and lack detail. We get an overview of the role's responsibilities, but it does nothing to separate the person from the other candidates.
The second example, on the other hand, is much more energetic. Not only does this candidate use situation-specific resume action words, but there are quantifiable statistics related to their achievements. Taken together, the result is night and day—the second candidate is confident, capable, and commanding (without being arrogant or boastful).
Ask yourself, which candidate would you hire?
How Often Should You Use Action Words?
Use a word too often and it can lose its meaning. Everyone has met someone who describes everything as “amazing,” “brilliant,” or “wonderful.” It’s exhausting. If everything is “fantastic,” nothing is.
The same is true for action words. Starting every sentence with the strongest CV action words can make your resume seem a little grandiose. Match the most powerful action words with your greatest achievements. Saying you “spearheaded” a 2-person team is a little much.
That’s where your weaker action words come in. They can help fill in the gaps, ensuring your punchiest action words don’t lose their value.
How to Add Action Words
You should have a pretty good idea of when action words are needed. But there are a few other aspects to make the best use of these linguistic tools.
Most recruiters have a list of resume keywords they look for when appraising your CV. Your resume is automatically scanned for these keywords to determine its relevance to the role. You’ll often find these words in the original job listing.
When you sit down to write your CV, go through the job listing highlighting these terms or skills. Then, list your achievements related to each skill. Finally, turn these achievements into a bullet point, using an action word at the beginning, followed by the resume keyword and a quantifiable achievement.
For example, if the resume keyword is “content creation,” you could write:
§ Spearheaded content creation initiatives, resulting in a 40% increase in website traffic and a 25% boost in user engagement over six months.
§ Developed a comprehensive content creation strategy that led to a 50% growth in social media followers and a 35% rise in content shares within a year.
§ Optimized content creation processes, which resulted in a 30% reduction in production time and a 20% increase in content output quality.
Remember, keep it as personal as possible. You’re advertising your skills and achievements. There’s also no room for subjectivity above. You haven’t said that you’re “incredible at” content creation. You’ve provided tangible, verifiable achievements. It’s sure to grab a recruiter’s attention.
500+ List of Action Words for Resumes
Achievement-Oriented Resume Action Words
1. Achieved
2. Attained
3. Awarded
4. Completed
5. Contributed
6. Delivered
7. Demonstrated
8. Designed
9. Developed
10. Directed
11. Discovered
12. Earned
13. Effected
14. Enhanced
15. Established
16. Expanded
17. Excelled
18. Exceeded
19. Finalized
20. Founded
21. Generated
22. Improved
23. Increased
24. Innovated
25. Inspired
26. Integrated
27. Launched
28. Mastered
29. Maximized
30. Modernized
31. Optimized
32. Outperformed
33. Overcame
34. Pioneered
35. Produced
36. Realized
37. Received
38. Recognized
39. Reduced
40. Reformed
41. Reinforced
42. Revamped
43. Saved
44. Secured
45. Spearheaded
46. Strengthened
47. Succeeded
48. Surpassed
49. Transformed
50. Won
Leadership and Management Resume Action Words
51. Administered
52. Allocated
53. Analysed
54. Assigned
55. Authorized
56. Chaired
57. Consolidated
58. Coordinated
59. Delegated
60. Developed
61. Directed
62. Enabled
63. Encouraged
64. Enhanced
65. Facilitated
66. Formulated
67. Fostered
68. Guided
69. Headed
70. Implemented
71. Improved
72. Incorporated
73. Influenced
74. Inspired
75. Instituted
76. Led
77. Managed
78. Mentored
79. Mobilized
80. Motivated
81. Navigated
82. Organized
83. Oversaw
84. Planned
85. Prioritized
86. Produced
87. Recommended
88. Resolved
89. Restructured
90. Supervised
91. Supported
92. Sustained
93. Trained
94. Transformed
95. Unified
96. United
97. Utilized
98. Validated
99. Verified
100. Yielded
Communication and Interpersonal Resume Action Words
101. Addressed
102. Arbitrated
103. Articulated
104. Briefed
105. Clarified
106. Collaborated
107. Communicated
108. Composed
109. Consulted
110. Conveyed
111. Convinced
112. Corresponded
113. Counseled
114. Debated
115. Defined
116. Delivered
117. Demonstrated
118. Described
119. Drafted
120. Edited
121. Educated
122. Emphasized
123. Explained
124. Expressed
125. Formulated
126. Illustrated
127. Informed
128. Interpreted
129. Interviewed
130. Lectured
131. Marketed
132. Mediated
133. Negotiated
134. Notified
135. Persuaded
136. Presented
137. Promoted
138. Publicized
139. Published
140. Referred
141. Reported
142. Represented
143. Resolved
144. Spoke
145. Suggested
146. Summarized
147. Taught
148. Trained
149. Translated
150. Wrote
Analytical and Research Resume Action Words
151. Analysed
152. Assessed
153. Audited
154. Calculated
155. Cataloged
156. Categorized
157. Charted
158. Classified
159. Compiled
160. Computed
161. Conducted
162. Confirmed
163. Correlated
164. Critiqued
165. Diagnosed
166. Discovered
167. Dissected
168. Documented
169. Evaluated
170. Examined
171. Experimented
172. Explored
173. Extracted
174. Forecasted
175. Formulated
176. Gathered
177. Identified
178. Illustrated
179. Interpreted
180. Investigated
181. Measured
182. Modeled
183. Monitored
184. Observed
185. Predicted
186. Probed
187. Processed
188. Profiled
189. Projected
190. Quantified
191. Questioned
192. Recorded
193. Researched
194. Reviewed
195. Studied
196. Summarized
197. Surveyed
198. Tested
199. Tracked
200. Verified
Technical and Creative Resume Action Words
201. Adapted
202. Assembled
203. Built
204. Calculated
205. Coded
206. Computed
207. Configured
208. Constructed
209. Created
210. Customized
211. Debugged
212. Designed
213. Developed
214. Devised
215. Engineered
216. Enhanced
217. Fabricated
218. Fixed
219. Formulated
220. Generated
221. Installed
222. Integrated
223. Launched
224. Maintained
225. Modified
226. Operated
227. Optimized
228. Overhauled
229. Patented
230. Planned
231. Programmed
232. Rectified
233. Redesigned
234. Remodeled
235. Repaired
236. Replaced
237. Resolved
238. Restored
239. Revamped
240. Revised
241. Simulated
242. Solved
243. Standardized
244. Streamlined
245. Structured
246. Tested
247. Troubleshot
248. Upgraded
249. Utilized
250. Verified
Financial and Administrative Resume Action Words
251. Accounted
252. Allocated
253. Analysed
254. Appraised
255. Audited
256. Balanced
257. Budgeted
258. Calculated
259. Classified
260. Compiled
261. Computed
262. Conserved
263. Consolidated
264. Controlled
265. Decreased
266. Documented
267. Estimated
268. Evaluated
269. Financed
270. Forecasted
271. Formulated
272. Identified
273. Implemented
274. Improved
275. Lowered
276. Managed
277. Maximized
278. Minimized
279. Negotiated
280. Organized
281. Planned
282. Prepared
283. Projected
284. Recorded
285. Reconciled
286. Reduced
287. Reported
288. Researched
289. Retrieved
290. Secured
291. Simplified
292. Tabulated
293. Tracked
294. Transacted
295. Verified
296. Budgeted
297. Calculated
298. Conserved
299. Controlled
300. Decreased
Support and Customer Service Resume Action Words
301. Accommodated
302. Addressed
303. Aided
304. Assisted
305. Attended
306. Clarified
307. Consulted
308. Counseled
309. Delivered
310. Educated
311. Enabled
312. Ensured
313. Expedited
314. Facilitated
315. Guided
316. Helped
317. Informed
318. Listened
319. Monitored
320. Provided
321. Referred
322. Rehabilitated
323. Represented
324. Resolved
325. Responded
326. Served
327. Settled
328. Solved
329. Supported
330. Transferred
331. Verified
332. Advised
333. Advocated
334. Clarified
335. Communicated
336. Conducted
337. Coordinated
338. Counseled
339. Diagnosed
340. Directed
341. Educated
342. Enrolled
343. Ensured
344. Explained
345. Guided
346. Liaised
347. Participated
348. Provided
349. Reconciled
350. Resolved
Teaching and Training Resume Action Words
351. Adapted
352. Advised
353. Assessed
354. Clarified
355. Coached
356. Conducted
357. Coordinated
358. Critiqued
359. Demonstrated
360. Developed
361. Directed
362. Enabled
363. Encouraged
364. Evaluated
365. Explained
366. Facilitated
367. Fostered
368. Guided
369. Illustrated
370. Informed
371. Instructed
372. Mentored
373. Motivated
374. Observed
375. Organized
376. Prepared
377. Presented
378. Proctored
379. Programmed
380. Reinforced
381. Reviewed
382. Scheduled
383. Stimulated
384. Supported
385. Taught
386. Tested
387. Trained
388. Translated
389. Tutored
390. Adapted
391. Advised
392. Assessed
393. Clarified
394. Coached
395. Conducted
396. Coordinated
397. Critiqued
398. Demonstrated
399. Developed
400. Directed
Creative and Design Resume Action Words
401. Animated
402. Arranged
403. Blended
404. Brainstormed
405. Conceptualized
406. Composed
407. Crafted
408. Created
409. Customized
410. Designed
411. Devised
412. Directed
413. Drafted
414. Drew
415. Enhanced
416. Envisioned
417. Fashioned
418. Formulated
419. Generated
420. Illustrated
421. Imagined
422. Innovated
423. Invented
424. Modeled
425. Originated
426. Painted
427. Photographed
428. Planned
429. Produced
430. Programmed
431. Redesigned
432. Reimagined
433. Renovated
434. Revitalized
435. Shaped
436. Sketched
437. Styled
438. Visualized
439. Wove
440. Adorned
441. Beautified
442. Decorated
443. Displayed
444. Engraved
445. Exhibited
446. Formulated
447. Integrated
448. Modified
449. Refined
450. Sculpted
Sales and Marketing Resume Action Words
451. Advertised
452. Advised
453. Analysed
454. Boosted
455. Brandished
456. Campaigned
457. Captured
458. Clarified
459. Closed
460. Communicated
461. Compiled
462. Concluded
463. Convinced
464. Demonstrated
465. Developed
466. Directed
467. Distributed
468. Enhanced
469. Expanded
470. Explained
471. Generated
472. Identified
473. Implemented
474. Improved
475. Increased
476. Influenced
477. Informed
478. Initiated
479. Innovated
480. Launched
481. Marketed
482. Maximized
483. Negotiated
484. Networked
485. Persuaded
486. Positioned
487. Promoted
488. Proposed
489. Prospected
490. Publicized
491. Recommended
492. Represented
493. Researched
494. Secured
495. Sold
496. Strategized
497. Targeted
498. Unified
499. Verified
500. Yielded
Operational and Logistics Resume Action Words
501. Administered
502. Allocated
503. Analysed
504. Assembled
505. Assured
506. Audited
507. Balanced
508. Catalogued
509. Centralized
510. Checked
511. Coordinated
512. Dispatched
513. Distributed
514. Eliminated
515. Enforced
516. Ensured
517. Facilitated
518. Forecasted
519. Formulated
520. Implemented
521. Inspected
522. Installed
523. Integrated
524. Linked
525. Managed
526. Mapped
527. Minimized
528. Monitored
529. Ordered
530. Organized
531. Oversaw
532. Planned
533. Prioritized
534. Processed
535. Procured
536. Rationalized
537. Recorded
538. Regulated
539. Routed
540. Scheduled
541. Secured
542. Shipped
543. Standardized
544. Streamlined
545. Supervised
546. Supported
547. Systematized
548. Tracked
549. Updated
550. Validated