267 Powerful Resume Action Words

Using powerful resume action words is key to communicating your professional experiences, skills, and accomplishments in as few words as possible. Whether you’re a first-time job seeker or simply want to beef up your current resume, strong action words are a necessity.

To help you incorporate some into your resume, we’ve put together a list of powerful action words that you can use to describe a variety of skills and experiences.

Key Takeaways

• Resume action verbs and power words are used to showcase your professional skills, experience, and passion.

• When using action words in your resume, choose phrases that refer to your particular skills and experience, write in the active voice, and use the correct verb tense.

• Three of the top action verbs to showcase management and leadership skills are oversaw, planned, and coordinated.

What are resume action words?

Resume action words are verbs that bring your resume to life, showcase your hireability, and demonstrate your biggest professional strengths, skills, and abilities.

The best resume action verbs convey your passion, enthusiasm, and drive. They also aren’t overused buzzwords, but instead paint a vivid picture of what you’ve accomplished.

When writing your resume, no matter what sort of job you’re applying for, it’s important to use unique and specific action verbs. These powerful words can help you capture a hiring manager’s attention and move forward in the hiring process.

How to use action verbs in your resume

To use action verbs in your resume effectively, you need to choose relevant words, write in the active voice, and use the correct tense.

If your resume is poorly written and riddled with generic, overused verbs and adjectives, you’re not going to get the same effect as you would if you properly structure your resume with significant and relevant action verbs.

The key to properly using action verbs in your resume is:

• Choosing action verbs that specifically enhance your personal skill set and experiences. Action verbs can give hiring managers a lot of insight into your accomplishments, so pick the ones that accurately describe the extent of your work experience.

• Writing in the active voice. This means using phrases like, “Led a team of 30” rather than “Team of 30 led by me.” This not only saves space but also makes your bullet points more powerful.

• Using the correct tense when discussing your career highlights.When using action words to describe your professional skills or your responsibilities at a current job, use the present tense. When discussing your responsibilities at previous jobs, use the past tense.

Double-checking your grammar and tenses, and working to only include action words that closely align with your skills and experiences will enable you to properly and efficiently use resume action verbs and power words.

Action verbs for management and leadership

Having solid leadership and management skills is a huge plus when applying for jobs. No matter the industry or job, hiring managers are always on the lookout for their company’s future leaders. If you have experience overseeing projects or coordinating a team, it’s essential to showcase this on your resume.

Here are some of the most powerful words you can use to showcase your leadership abilities:

• Oversaw

• Planned

• Coordinated

• Headed

• Produced

• Orchestrated

• Administered

• Chaired

• Hired

• Implemented

• Cultivated

• Directed

• Fostered

• Enabled

• Empowered

• Supervised

• Shaped

• Trained

• Refocused

• Optimized

• Championed

• Coached

Action verbs for accomplishments

Since your resume is a document used to showcase your professional accomplishments and abilities, you must use strong verbs to describe your biggest and most relevant achievements.

To show your best professional accomplishments, try using verbs like these:

• Modified

• Replaced

• Remodeled

• Customized

• Clarified

• Integrated

• Revamped

• Streamlined

• Upgraded

• Transformed

• Achieved

• Sharpened

• Spearheaded

• Exceeded

• Drove

• Capitalized

• Surpassed

• Enacted

• Established

• Amplified

• Earned

• Guided

• Formalized

• Proposed

• Boosted

Action verbs for job responsibilities

Clearly and concisely conveying your previous job responsibilities is immensely important when creating your resume and searching for your dream job. Efficiently communicating your previous work experience and responsibilities will give you a leg-up among competing applicants.

Here are some of the most impactful verbs you can use to illustrate your previous job responsibilities:

• Analyzed

• Handled

• Improved

• Executed

• Initiated

• Created

• Accomplished

• Delivered

• Developed

• Constructed

• Built

• Assembled

• Operated

• Organized

• Facilitated

• Engineered

• Incorporated

• Devised

• Launched

• Centralized

• Led

• Grew

• Formulated

Action verbs for communication skills

Being able to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, is necessary to finding professional success in nearly every industry. Whether you’re applying for a job as a delivery driver or a chief executive officer, you’ll be expected to have good communication skills.

When describing communication skills on your professional resume or CV, consider using words like these:

• Promoted

• Illustrated

• Informed

• Negotiated

• Moderated

• Persuaded

• Consulted

• Corresponded

• Explained

• Clarified

• Defined

• Consulted

• Advocated

• Convinced

• Presented

• Documented

• Collaborated

• Campaigned

• Edited

• Reviewed

• Motivated

• Partnered

Action verbs for creativity

Creative thinkers are usually very highly regarded by hiring managers and prospective employers. Showcasing your creativity on your resume will help you land the job of your dreams.

Here are some of the best action verbs you can use to express creativity and originality:

• Imagined

• Inspired

• Drafted

• Customized

• Published

• Translated

• Designed

• Visualized

• Edited

• Curated

• Conceptualized

• Storyboarded

• Modeled

• Authored

• Redesigned

• Piloted

• Fashioned

• Crafted

• Graphed

• Drew

• Modernized

• Bolstered

Action verbs for technical experience

Having technical experience and the job-specific skills and knowledge needed to complete tasks and be successful in your role is essential. This is particularly true if you’re applying for a role in information technology, project management, programming, or business intelligence.

When showcasing technical skills on your professional resume or CV, consider using words like these:

• Reengineered

• Fine-tuned

• Finalized

• Formatted

• Backed-up

• Equipped

• Accelerated

• Automated

• Reconstructed

• Balanced

• Coded

• Tested

• Expediated

• Installed

• Architected

• Discovered

• Diagnosed

• Programmed

• Refined

• Deployed

• Consolidated

• Delegated

Action verbs for work efficiency

Using strong action verbs on your resume to showcase your work efficiency will illustrate your passion and drive and help you get hired.

Here are some of the top action verbs you can add to your resume to illustrate your work efficiency and high productivity levels:

• Maximized

• Stimulated

• Furthered

• Gained

• Generated

• Sustained

• Lifted

• Rewrote

• Enhanced

• Discerned

• Pioneered

• Outperformed

• Sparked

• Steered

• Endeavored

• Founded

• Expanded

• Completed

• Outpaced

• Configured

• Obtained

• Solved

Action verbs for research skills

These days, research skills are important in a wide range of professional careers, not just science and research analyst occupations. Hiring managers are looking for job-seekers who are well-versed in collecting data, exploring and investigating new ideas, and analyzing information.

To showcase your state-of-the-art research skills on your professional resume or CV, try using action verbs like these:

• Calculated

• Forecasted

• Evaluated

• Audited

• Assessed

• Identified

• Tracked

• Surveyed

• Qualified

• Investigated

• Inspected

• Verified

• Screened

• Inspected

• Targete

• Detected

• Updated

• Networked

• Troubleshoot

• Collected

• Classified

• Elicited

• Extracted

Action verbs for teamwork

Companies want employees who are team players, so including a few resume action words that highlight your teamwork skills is key to setting you apart as a job candidate.

• Merged

• Volunteered

• United

• Diversified

• Encouraged

• Collaborated

• Partnered

• Facilitated

• Mentored

Action verbs for sales and customer service

• Aquired

• Negotiated

• Secured

• Closed

• Piteched

• Navigated

• Delivered

• Generated

• Supported

• Solved

Best power words to add adjectives to your resume and cover letter

Resume action verbs are essential in highlighting your strongest skills, experiences, and accomplishments, but that’s not to say that powerful adjectives aren’t equally as important. Incorporating a few thoughtfully placed and impactful adjectives around the action verbs in your resume will make your job application even stronger.

When using adjectives in your resume, it’s important to select the most relevant descriptors for them to have the biggest impact on hiring managers and future employers.

Here’s a list of the top adjectives you can add to your resume to help you stand out and get hired:

• Fast-learning

• Adaptable

• Passionate

• High-level

• Diligent

• Driven

• Confident

• Enthusiastic

• Organized

• Reliable

• Versatile

• Analytical

• Innovative

• Insightful

• Complex

• Intelligent

• Methodical

• Strategic

• Meticulous

• Practical

• Cutting-edge

• First-class

• Progressive

• Robust

• Revolutionary

• Imaginative

• Groundbreaking

• Sophisticated

• Expert

• Strong

• Significant

• Cost-effective

• Superior

• Proficient

• Skillful

• Sincere

• Committed

• Devoted

• Genuine

• Wholehearted

• Alert

• Focused

• Persistent

• Detailed

• Precise

• Structured

• Systematic

• Timely

• Detail-oriented

• Accurate

• Loyal

• Punctual

• Professional

• Dependable

• Consistent

• Clear

• Diplomatic

• Personable

• Flexible

• Multifaceted

• Unique

• Competent

• Ingenious

• Knowledgeable

• Honest

• Disciplined

• Dynamic

• Astute

Resume action words FAQ

1. What are good action words for a resume?

   Good action words for a resume include:

   • Coordinated

   • Negotiated

   • Piloted

   • Optimized

   • Coached

2. What are the weak action verbs on a resume?

   Weak action verbs on a resume include:

   • Tried

   • Attempted

   • Experienced

   • Made

   • Watched

   • Worked with

   • Experienced

   These words are vague and make you sound wishy-washy rather than confident. They also don’t tell hiring managers much about your accomplishments and responsibilities.

Final thoughts

Making use of powerful and insightful verbs and adjectives when writing your professional resume will help you highlight your key skills, stand out among job seekers, make a great first impression on hiring managers, and get the job of your dreams.

When applying for jobs, whether you’re looking for a gig right out of college, switching careers, or searching for a new role to grow in your chosen industry, writing an effective resume is an essential step in the hiring process.

Since hiring managers typically review your resume and cover letter before ever meeting or speaking to you, you must use the professional documents to professionally introduce yourself, describe your qualifications, and make a lasting first impression.

The best resumes stand out during the hiring process through the intelligent incorporation of action verbs, power words, and buzzwords.

By using the resume tips and action words outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to writing an impressionable professional resume, highlighting your strongest career successes during the hiring process, and landing the job of your dreams.

References

1. University of Colorado Boulder – Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume

2. The Ohio State University – Action Verbs for Resume Development

Author

Elsie Boskamp

Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.