Action verbs for when you led a project
in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip “led” and instead try:
- Administered
- Arranged
- Chaired
- Coordinated
- Directed
- Executed
- Delegated
- Headed
- Managed
- Operated
- Orchestrated
- Organized
- Oversaw
- Planned
- Produced
- Programmed
- Spearheaded
envisioned and brought a project to life
And if you actually developed, created, or introduced that project into your company? Try:
- Built
- Charted
- Created
- Designed
- Developed
- Devised
- Founded
- Engineered
- Established
- Formalized
- Formed
- Formulated
- Implemented
- Incorporated
- Initiated
- Instituted
- Introduced
- Launched
- Pioneered
- Proposed
increased efficiency, productivity, profit, sales, revenue, or customer satisfaction (or reduced costs or time spent)
If you can show that your work boosted the company’s numbers in some way, you’re bound to impress. In these cases, consider:
- Accelerated
- Achieved
- Advanced
- Amplified
- Boosted
- Capitalized
- Conserved
- Consolidated
- Decreased
- Deducted
- Delivered
- Enhanced
- Expanded
- Expedited
- Furthered
- Gained
- Generated
- Improved
- Increased
- Lifted
- Maximized
- Outpaced
- Reconciled
- Reduced
- Saved
- Stimulated
- Sustained
- Yielded
Action verbs for when you changed or improved something
Did you bring your department’s invoicing system out of the Stone Age and into the 21st century? Talk about the amazing changes you made at your office with these words:
- Centralized
- Clarified
- Converted
- Customized
- Digitized
- Integrated
- Merged
- Modernized
- Modified
- Overhauled
- Redesigned
- Refined
- Refocused
- Rehabilitated
- Remodeled
- Reorganized
- Replaced
- Restructured
- Revamped
- Revitalized
- Simplified
- Standardized
- Streamlined
- Strengthened
- Transformed
- Updated
- Upgraded
Action verbs for when you managed a team
While “managed” may have a place on your resume (especially if it’s a keyword), phrases like “Managed a team…” or “Managed employees…” are just reciting your job duties. Instead, you can show what an inspirational leader you were with terms like:
- Aligned
- Cultivated
- Directed
- Enabled
- Facilitated
- Fostered
- Guided
- Hired
- Mentored
- Mobilized
- Motivated
- Recruited
- Shaped
- Supervised
- Taught
- Trained
- Unified
- United
Action verbs for when you brought in partners, funding, resources, or clients
Were you “responsible for” a great new partner, sponsor, source of funding, or client? Try:
- Acquired
- Closed
- Forged
- Navigated
- Negotiated
- Partnered
- Pitched
- Secured
- Signed
- Sourced
- Upsold
Action verbs for when you supported customers
Because monitoring the phones, answering questions, or providing customer service really means you’re advising customers and meeting their needs, use:
- Advised
- Advocated
- Coached
- Consulted
- Educated
- Fielded
- Informed
- Recommended
- Resolved
Action verbs for when you did research or analysis
Did your job include research, analysis, or fact-finding? Mix up your verbiage with these words:
- Analyzed
- Assembled
- Assessed
- Audited
- Calculated
- Compiled
- Discovered
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Explored
- Forecasted
- Identified
- Interpreted
- Interviewed
- Investigated
- Mapped
- Measured
- Modeled
- Projected
- Qualified
- Quantified
- Reported
- Surveyed
- Tested
- Tracked
- Visualized
Action verbs for when you communicated
Was writing, speaking, lobbying, or otherwise communicating part of your gig? You can explain just how compelling you were with words like:
- Authored
- Briefed
- Campaigned
- Coauthored
- Composed
- Conveyed
- Convinced
- Corresponded
- Counseled
- Critiqued
- Defined
- Documented
- Drafted
- Edited
- Illustrated
- Lobbied
- Outlined
- Persuaded
- Presented
- Promoted
- Publicized
- Reviewed
- Wrote
Action verbs for when you oversaw or regulated
Whether you enforced protocol or managed your department’s requests, describe what you really did, better, with these words:
- Adjudicated
- Authorized
- Blocked
- Dispatched
- Enforced
- Ensured
- Inspected
- Itemized
- Monitored
- Screened
- Scrutinized
- Verified
Action verbs for when 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:
- Attained
- Completed
- Demonstrated
- Finished
- Earned
- Exceeded
- Outperformed
- Overcame
- Reached
- Showcased
- Succeeded
- Surpassed
- Targeted
- Won