Powerful action verbs can separate good resumes from great ones. In addition, using action words or action verbs will help you clearly communicate your skills and experience.
Why are Resume Action Verbs Important?
Using action verbs will help improve the overall readability of your resume. It will also help you be more specific in communicating your results and achievements.
Each bullet on your resume should be an accomplishment that describes the action you took. Accomplishment statements on your resume should start with a past-tense verb. You can learn more about writing resume accomplishments in this blog post, ‘How To Write Your Accomplishments On A Resume‘.
For example:
- Raised monthly premium from $120K to $220K in 12 months, building and maintaining relationships with key partners through new multi-channel marketing programs.
- Directed $80M annual operational budget, bolstering tracking of key financial targets, generating operational efficiency, and improving financial margins.
- Achieved 80% customer retention rate over 5 years, leading 50+ training sessions and reviewing call centre agent calls weekly.
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Here is a list of 120 Resume Action Verbs:
Did you increase something?
- Accelerated
- Advanced
- Boosted
- Doubled
- Drove
- Elevated
- Enhanced
- Expanded
- Gained
- Grew
- Hiked
- Maximized
- Multiplied
- Procured
- Propelled
- Raised
- Sparked
- Spiked
- Supplemented
- Surged
Did you improve something?
- Accentuated
- Accelerated
- Bolstered
- Clarified
- Corrected
- Detailed
- Developed
- Diversified
- Enhanced
- Emphasized
- Matured
- Maximized
- Modernized
- Optimized
- Overhauled
- Perfected
- Progressed
- Realigned
- Reinformed
- Revamped
- Restored
- Sharpened
- Simplified
- Standardized
- Supplemented
- Systematized
- Transformed
- Unified
- Updated
- Upgraded
Did you change something?
- Adapted
- Altered
- Aligned
- Bolstered
- Converted
- Disrupted
- Engineered
- Expanded
- Innovated
- Integrated
- Invented
- Merged
- Pivoted
- Raised
- Remade
- Replicated
- Reorganized
- Reshaped
- Restructured
- Reorganized
- Separated
- Sharpened
- Shifted
- Streamlined
- Transitioned
Did you accomplish something?
- Achieved
- Acquired
- Attained
- Awarded
- Captured
- Concluded
- Completed
- Delivered
- Discovered
- Earned
- Elected
- Exceeded
- Initiated
- Mastered
- Navigated
- Obtained
- Overcame
- Succeeded
- Surpassed
- Won
Did you lead something?
- Accommodated
- Aligned
- Coordinated
- Directed
- Discerned
- Drove
- Empowered
- Explored
- Fostered
- Founded
- Governed
- Instituted
- Introduced
- Launched
- Mapped
- Mediated
- Mentored
- Modelled
- Moderated
- Motivated
- Mobilized
- Operated
- Propelled
- Served
- Spearheaded
Conclusion
This list will help you diversify your choice of words and clearly communicate the impact and results achieved of your resume.
Lastly, remember not to repeat the same resume action verb for each bullet statement on your resume.
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