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Written by Paul DruryPaul Drury

300+ Powerful Resume Action Verbs (with Examples)

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22 min read
300+ Resume Action Verbs (with Examples)
Do you have writer’s block when it comes to describing what you’ve accomplished on your resume? Don’t worry! Discover our list of 300+ resume action words that you can use to highlight your achievements and craft a resume that stands out from the crowd.

Every one of your resume words matters, so choose the ones you use carefully. The right action verbs for resumes can make all the difference if you want to showcase your contributions, value, and achievements. 

In this guide, we provide a list of 300 powerful resume action words that you can use to show a prospective employer exactly what you’re capable of doing on the job.

What are resume action verbs?

Back in elementary school, you probably learned that a verb is a “doing” word. When it comes to your resume, verbs are the star of the show. They’re the words you use to show how you accomplish goals, take initiative, and make an impact in the workplace.

Using the right resume verbs can  make you stand out from other candidates who are using overused phrases like “responsible for” or “assisted with.” By carefully choosing the best action words for your resume, you can spotlight your contributions and show an employer what you can do for them.

300+ action words for a resume

Despite the breadth of verbs available in the English language, the same action words dominate the majority of resumes. We’ve created this list of 300 resume action words to help you separate yourself from the crowd.

We’ve broken this list into 15 categories, so you can easily choose the resume words that best apply to your work history and career goals. 

These categories include:

  1. Leadership resume action words
  2. Achievement resume words
  3. Teamwork action verbs
  4. Communication resume verbs
  5. Project management resume words
  6. People management action verbs
  7. Customer service action words
  8. Problem-solving resume action verbs
  9. Improved synonym verbs
  10. Researched action verbs
  11. Organization resume words
  12. Creativity resume verbs
  13. Worked on resume action words
  14. Increased synonym verbs
  15. Reduced action verbs
Resume action verbs

1. Leadership resume action words

Use these resume action verbs when you want to show how you took charge or guided others with your  leadership skills:

  1. Appointed
  2. Approved
  3. Chaired
  4. Coached
  5. Directed
  6. Enforced
  7. Enlightened
  8. Headed
  9. Instructed
  10. Merged
  11. Nurtured
  12. Orchestrated
  13. Oversaw
  14. Predicted
  15. Presided
  16. Recommended
  17. Sculpted
  18. Shaped
  19. Spearheaded
  20. Strengthened
Leadership verb on a resume

Chaired a 10-member project team through a change process, trimming 5% off of the base project cost.

Copied!

2. Achievement resume words

Highlight your  work accomplishments and share how you’ve made a measurable impact in past roles with these verbs:

  1. Accelerated
  2. Accomplished
  3. Attained
  4. Boosted
  5. Combined
  6. Developed
  7. Founded
  8. Furthered
  9. Generated
  10. Hit
  11. Lifted
  12. Maximized
  13. Measured
  14. Outperformed
  15. Produced
  16. Raised
  17. Showcased
  18. Stimulated
  19. Sustained
  20. Targeted
Achievement verb on a resume

Outperformed quarterly sales targets by 67% through effective negotiation and upselling techniques.

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Expert tip

Use achievement verbs in your work experience section

A hiring manager expects to read about your accomplishments in your  work experience section. Choose thoughtful action words for your resume to make your achievements sound as impressive as they are!

3. Teamwork action verbs

Demonstrate your  ability to collaborate and contribute to a team’s success with these resume action verbs:

  1. Arranged
  2. Contributed
  3. Embraced
  4. Encouraged
  5. Energized
  6. Established
  7. Explored
  8. Forged
  9. Fostered
  10. Intervened
  11. Joined
  12. Moderated
  13. Organized
  14. Participated
  15. Partnered
  16. Planned
  17. Reorganized
  18. Taught
  19. United
  20. Volunteered
Teamwork verb on a resume

Moderated cross-functional team meetings to streamline collaboration between sales, marketing, and product development, leading to a 15% faster project turnaround.

Copied!

4. Communication resume verbs

Include these words on your resume to show  how well you communicate and connect with clients, customers, and team members:

  1. Advertised
  2. Articulated
  3. Briefed
  4. Clarified
  5. Conveyed
  6. Corresponded
  7. Debated
  8. Defined
  9. Documented
  10. Elicited
  11. Explained
  12. Expressed
  13. Interpreted
  14. Lectured
  15. Lobbied
  16. Mediated
  17. Outlined
  18. Persuaded
  19. Reinforced
  20. Transmitted
Communication verb on a resume

Briefed senior leadership on a $1.2M business continuity plan to ensure alignment on project execution, deliverables, and timeline.

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5. Project management resume words

These  project management verbs can show your ability to plan, execute, and deliver projects on schedule and within scope:

  1. Automated
  2. Brainstormed
  3. Charted
  4. Consolidated
  5. Contracted
  6. Controlled
  7. Deployed
  8. Discovered
  9. Engineered
  10. Envisioned
  11. Evaluated
  12. Executed
  13. Forecasted
  14. Governed
  15. Integrated
  16. Overhauled
  17. Patched
  18. Performed
  19. Plotted
  20. Projected
Project management verb on a resume

Executed the software rollout across 12 departments within two months while maintaining zero system downtime.

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6. People management action verbs

Illustrate your  people skills and show how you make an impact on others with these action verbs:

  1. Appraised
  2. Assigned
  3. Delegated
  4. Educated
  5. Empowered
  6. Enabled
  7. Facilitated
  8. Groomed
  9. Guided
  10. Hired
  11. Influenced
  12. Instilled
  13. Mentored
  14. Motivated
  15. Promoted
  16. Sponsored
  17. Supervised
  18. Tracked
  19. Trained
  20. Unified
People management verb on a resume

Mentored four colleagues, two of whom were promoted within three years, through weekly check-in sessions and one-on-one feedback.

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Expert tip

Use active voice, not passive

The verbs on your resume need to make clear what you’ve accomplished or how you’ve  contributed to a team’s success. Using an active voice enables you to take ownership of these achievements.

Here’s an example of active vs. passive voice:

  • Active: “Completed the project in two months.”
  • Passive: “Project was completed in two months.”

See the difference? Stick with an active voice on your resume to show potential employers how you get the job done.

7. Customer service action words

Go beyond merely saying that you “serve customers,” using these action verbs to describe how you resolve conflicts and deliver  top-notch customer service:

  1. Advised
  2. Advocated
  3. Assisted
  4. Attracted
  5. Concluded
  6. Consulted
  7. Cooperated
  8. Counseled
  9. Delivered
  10. Handled
  11. Hosted
  12. Incorporated
  13. Informed
  14. Interacted
  15. Negotiated
  16. Resolved
  17. Settled
  18. Supported
  19. Updated
  20. Verified
Customer service verb on a resume

Resolved a company-record 150 customer complaints per week by using conflict resolution techniques and maintaining consistent response times.

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8. Problem-solving resume action verbs

These resume words provide insights into your  critical thinking skills and your ability to find solutions to tough problems:

  1. Addressed
  2. Allocated
  3. Arbitrated
  4. Catalogued
  5. Centralized
  6. Collected
  7. Compared
  8. Debugged
  9. Deciphered
  10. Derived
  11. Detected
  12. Estimated
  13. Experimented
  14. Fulfilled
  15. Identified
  16. Interceded
  17. Logged
  18. Rectified
  19. Synthesized
  20. Troubleshot
Problem-solving verb on a resume

Rectified over 50 outstanding issues that had been dormant for more than a year by developing streamlined workflows for increased productivity.

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9. Improved synonym verbs

Be specific about the ways you’ve used  your strengths to achieve better processes or results with these action verbs:

  1. Acquired
  2. Adapted
  3. Advanced
  4. Amplified
  5. Augmented
  6. Championed
  7. Constructed
  8. Critiqued
  9. Differentiated
  10. Enhanced
  11. Exceeded
  12. Expanded
  13. Focused
  14. Ignited
  15. Launched
  16. Optimized
  17. Rebuilt
  18. Reconciled
  19. Restructured
  20. Transformed
Improved verb on a resume

Ignited a renewed focus within the management team to deliver an extra $950k in sales through strategic motivation and encouragement.

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10. Researched action verbs

Use these verbs to showcase your ability to gather, evaluate,  and analyze complex information:

  1. Analyzed
  2. Captured
  3. Checked
  4. Classified
  5. Compiled
  6. Conducted
  7. Considered
  8. Diagnosed
  9. Discerned
  10. Examined
  11. Inspected
  12. Quantified
  13. Reviewed
  14. Screened
  15. Scrutinized
  16. Steered
  17. Surveyed
  18. Traced
  19. Uncovered
  20. Undertook
Researched verb on a resume

Scrutinized market trends and uncovered a new product opportunity, leading to a successful launch that doubled market share within six months.

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Expert tip

Include action verbs in your resume summary

Don’t forget to add some impactful action verbs to your  resume summary as well. The verbs you use in your summary should be highly  targeted to the job, showing what you can do and how you can contribute in the new role.

11. Organization resume words

Highlight your efficiency and attention to detail with these resume action words centered on  organizational skills:

  1. Administered
  2. Aligned
  3. Authorized
  4. Customized
  5. Effected
  6. Ensured
  7. Filed
  8. Fixed
  9. Formulated
  10. Gathered
  11. Implemented
  12. Itemized
  13. Maintained
  14. Mapped
  15. Modified
  16. Networked
  17. Oriented
  18. Regulated
  19. Remodelled
  20. Upgraded
Organization verb on a resume

Implemented a new software solution that streamlined development workflows and reduced build time by 34%.

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12. Creativity resume verbs

These resume action verbs can showcase the  original ideas and innovative contributions you bring to the table:

  1. Architected
  2. Authored
  3. Composed
  4. Conceived
  5. Conceptualized
  6. Crafted
  7. Created
  8. Designed
  9. Drafted
  10. Fabricated
  11. Fashioned
  12. Illustrated
  13. Imagined
  14. Inspired
  15. Invented
  16. Piloted
  17. Probed
  18. Sparked
  19. Storyboarded
  20. Visualized
Creativity verb on a resume

Drafted an optimized contract that increased compliance by 45% while simplifying client onboarding.

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13. Worked on resume action words

Instead of saying that you “worked on” a project or task, impress an employer with one of these action-oriented resume words:

  1. Acted
  2. Adjusted
  3. Assembled
  4. Assessed
  5. Audited
  6. Calculated
  7. Collaborated
  8. Coordinated
  9. Curated
  10. Devised
  11. Initiated
  12. Investigated
  13. Made
  14. Mobilized
  15. Monitored
  16. Operated
  17. Perfected
  18. Processed
  19. Pursued
  20. Refined
Worked on verb on a resume

Initiated a recruitment drive that led to hiring 15 qualified people within three months, reducing overtime costs by 14%.

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14. Increased synonym verbs

Include these action words on your resume to share how you make a difference and  deliver real results for businesses:

  1. Bolstered
  2. Built
  3. Capitalized
  4. Computed
  5. Cultivated
  6. Doubled
  7. Drove
  8. Enlivened
  9. Escalated
  10. Expedited
  11. Fortified
  12. Gained
  13. Intensified
  14. Multiplied
  15. Outpaced
  16. Revamped
  17. Revised
  18. Revitalized
  19. Surpassed
  20. Yielded
Increased verb on a resume

Revamped the overall online marketing strategy with a focus on paid advertising and organic search traffic, delivering a 25% uptick in sales.

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15. Reduced action verbs

If you’ve lowered costs, saved time, or minimized pain points for organizations, highlight your accomplishments with these resume action words:

  1. Condensed
  2. Conserved
  3. Corrected
  4. Curtailed
  5. Decreased
  6. Deducted
  7. Diminished
  8. Dispensed
  9. Eliminated
  10. Extracted
  11. Lessened
  12. Lowered
  13. Minimized
  14. Saved
  15. Shattered
  16. Shrunk
  17. Slashed
  18. Streamlined
  19. Terminated
  20. Trimmed
Reduced verb on a resume

Lowered average surgery wait times by 15 minutes through efficient scheduling protocols, increasing patient satisfaction by 25%.

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Tips for using resume action words

On your resume, action verbs can  highlight your skills and accomplishments and prove that you can get things done. 

Here’s how to use action verbs most effectively on your resume:

  • Start strong. In your work experience section, start each  bullet point with a strong action verb. Choose unique verbs, like “coached” or “mobilized,” to get a hiring manager’s attention quickly.
  • Choose verbs thoughtfully. Be as specific as possible when using action words on your resume. Think carefully about the situation and the action you took, and find a verb that best matches your experience.
  • Tailor action verbs to the role. Read the job description and highlight the verbs an employer uses to describe the role’s requirements. Use those same verbs on your resume to show why you’re a good fit. These words can also help your resume pass an  applicant tracking system (ATS).
  • Replace overused phrases. Anyone can say they’re “detail-oriented” or a “team player.” Ditch these overused phrases and use more specific power verbs that show these traits in action.
  • Pair verbs with quantifiable data. When you can, pair your resume action verbs  with numbers or statistics, such as dollar amounts, rates, or percentages. These numbers support the verbs you’ve chosen and show your measurable impact in previous jobs.
  • Don’t overuse action verbs. Action words are an essential part of your resume, but balance is key. Your resume should have a healthy mix of verbs, adjectives, and other information, including data and  applicable keywords.
  • Be authentic. While you should use strong verbs, make sure the final version of your resume sounds like you. If you have to look up a word’s definition because you’ve never used it before, it’s probably not the right one for your resume.

If you need help crafting a compelling resume with action verbs and powerful tips to impress employers, check out our  online resume builder with market-tested  resume templates!

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