200+ Action Verbs you Should Immediately Try on Your Resume

Do you know how many resumes a hiring manager sees on a regular basis? It could be 100, maybe even 1000. However, they spend only 6-second on one resume. That’s a very little time. Isn’t it? So how do we get their attention in this little time?

To do that you need to make your resume more powerful. Using action verbs on resume is a great way to power up a resume. But you must be wise enough to put them in the right place and in the right way. It is also important to get rid of the most common buzzwords and find out what words can be used instead.

In this article we will teach you what is an action verb and why do we use them on our resumes. This article is great for you if you are looking for a job. After getting this quick read you can apply these mentioned action verbs directly on your document to make it a perfect resume.

What is an Action Verb?

Action words are very powerful words which you can use on a resume instead of ordinary boring verbs. These action verbs or power words help to describe your skills or achievements in a potential way. This will increase the value of your resume and will not hurt you at all.

Do not use ordinary verbs such as “Did” on your resume because they do not sound strong. It will depict that the candidate is a weak person. But instead if you use a power word like “Implemented”, the recruiter will have the idea that the particular candidate is a very strong person.

So be smart to use power words or action verbs where possible on your resume as much as you can.

What is the Best Place to Put Power Words on Resume?

This is the next question you will face in resume writing. You already know that there are different sections on a resume. But can you use action verbs in all those sections? The answer is, no.

There are some ideal sections in which you can use action verbs on a resume. A resume summary is a great place to put action verbs. Because resume summary is the first place most recruiters will look at a resume. If you can use a couple of great action verbs in your profile or summary that will be a great thing which will help you to pass the 6-second resume scan.

The work experience section is also a good place to include some powerful words on your resume. When you list job descriptions with bullet points you can get the assistance of action verbs. Job description in the sense is not actually your duties, but your achievements or results by performing certain tasks. So according to the career experts’ opinion, bullet points in work experience is the best place to enter action verbs for resume. Adding more resume tips to your resume will boost the chance to get selected.

Let’s See some Examples for Action Verbs.

If you did something you can use following action verbs:

• Implemented
• Assembled
• Handled
• Executed
• Processed
• Initiated
• Facilitated
• Conducted
• Carried out
• Dedicated

If you made something use below power verbs in your resume:

• Developed
• Designed
• Produced
• Devised
• Established
• Created
• Fostered
• Formulated

These are ideal action verbs if you helped:

• Assisted
• Aided
• Demonstrated
• Provided
• Effected
• Protected
• Motivated
• Referred
• Served
• Represented
• Empowered
• Dealt

If you led a team try these action verbs:

• Managed
• Coordinated
• Supervised
• Oversaw
• Directed
• Trained
• Mentored
• Spearheaded

If you researched you can used followings:

• Analyzed
• Diagnosed
• Measured
• Collected
• Discovered
• Surveyed
• Evaluated
• Identified
• Interviewed
• Reviewed
• Investigated
• Critiqued
• Inspected
• Summarized
• Detected
• Spotted

Try these power words if you organized anything:

• Maintained
• Arranged
• Scheduled
• Charted

These action words are great if you communicated:

• Collaborated
• Reported
• Highlighted
• Defined
• Authored

If you got results start the bullet point with:

• Increased
• Generated
• Identified
• Strengthened
• Gained
• Accomplished
• Improved
• Boosted
• Expanded
• Lifted
• Exceeded

Action Verbs based on different skill areas

First of all, find the skill sets required by the employer for you to have. Then scan action verbs for the particular skill from the following list and include the most relevant power verbs directly on your resume. Then your resume will automatically stand out from the crowd.

Action words to enhance your Analytical Skills

These Power Words will help you to show your Leadership Skills

Prove your Organizational Skills by these Action Verbs

To show more of your Teamwork Skills

To highlight Technical Skills

These Power Words will enhance your teaching skills

Top action verbs to describe financial skills

Want to explore Resume Action Verbs by industry?

Just try out Resume Keyword Finder by Cresuma. This is the only resume action verb finder tool available which enables the job seekers to find out different specific action verbs and keywords related to different industries and use on their resumes/cvs.

Using Cresuma's Resume Keyword Finder Tool is really easy. All you need to do is, to just filter or select the industry you are in and hit search. This is how it looks like.

Want to make the recruiter impressed about your resume? Simply avoid buzzwords in your resume and use these resume action verbs instead.

Want to know about resume tips and hacks more? Head over to how to write a perfect resume