Action Verbs and Phrases
Resume StrategiesAction verbs make your resume come alive. Begin each resume bullet point with an action verb. Use the present tense for positions you currently hold and the past tense for earlier positions.
This table provides some sample action verbs. Choose the words that most appropriately describe your responsibilities, and vary your language.
| Accelerated | Doubled | Led | Resolved |
| Accomplished | Earned | Lightened | Responded to |
| Achieved | Edited | Liquidated | Restored |
| Acquired | Educated | Located | Revamped |
| Activated | Effected | Managed | Reviewed |
| Addressed | Eliminated | Manufactured | Revised |
| Administered | Employed | Marketed | Revitalized |
| Advanced | Enabled | Mastered | Revived |
| Advised | Encouraged | Mobilized | Satisfied |
| Advocated | Energized | Modified | Saved |
| Allocated | Enforced | Monitored | Scheduled |
| Analyzed | Engineered | Motivated | Secured |
| Anticipated | Enhanced | Negotiated | Selected |
| Applied | Envisioned | Nominated | Served |
| Appointed | Established | Normalized | Serviced |
| Appraised | Estimated | Obtained | Set up |
| Appreciated | Evaluated | Officiated | Settled |
| Approved | Examined | Operated | Shaped |
| Arranged | Exceeded | Ordered | Showed |
| Aspired | Executed | Organized | Simplified |
| Assessed | Exercised | Oriented | Solved |
| Assigned | Exhibited | Originated | Sparked |
| Attained | Expanded | Overcame | Specified |
| Audited | Experienced | Overhauled | Sponsored |
| Avoided | Extended | Oversaw | Stabilized |
| Broadened | Extracted | Participated | Staffed |
| Budgeted | Facilitated | Perceived | Standardized |
| Built | Finalized | Perfected | Started |
| Calculated | Financed | Performed | Stimulated |
| Captured | Forecasted | Piloted | Streamlined |
| Centralized | Formalized | Pinpointed | Strengthened |
| Clarified | Formulated | Pioneered | Stretched |
| Collaborated | Founded | Placed | Structured |
| Combined | Framed | Planned | Studied |
| Commanded | Fulfilled | Pleased | Substantiated |
| Completed | Generated | Popularized | Succeeded |
| Composed | Governed | Prepared | Suggested |
| Conceived | Guided | Presented | Summarized |
| Concluded | Handled | Presided | Supervised |
| Conducted | Headed | Prevented | Supported |
| Connected | Helped | Processed | Surpassed |
| Consolidated | Hired | Procured | Surveyed |
| Constructed | Identified | Produced | Sustained |
| Consulted | Implemented | Programmed | Tailored |
| Contributed | Improved | Projected | Taught |
| Controlled | Improvised | Promoted | Terminated |
| Converted | Increased | Prompted | Tested |
| Cooperated | Induced | Propelled | Tightened |
| Coordinated | Influenced | Proposed | Traded |
| Corrected | Initiated | Proved | Trained |
| Created | Innovated | Provided | Transacted |
| Cultivated | Inspected | Published | Transferred |
| Decentralized | Inspired | Purchased | Transformed |
| Decided | Installed | Reestablished | Translated |
| Decreased | Instituted | Realized | Trebled |
| Defined | Instructed | Recognized | Trimmed |
| Delegated | Insured | Recommended | Tripled |
| Delivered | Integrated | Reconciled | Uncovered |
| Demonstrated | Intensified | Recruited | Undertook |
| Designated | Interpreted | Redesigned | Unified |
| Designed | Interviewed | Regulated | Used |
| Detailed | Introduced | Reinforced | Utilized |
| Determined | Invented | Rejected | Verified |
| Devised | Invested | Related | Widened |
| Directed | Investigated | Renegotiated | Withdrew |
| Discovered | Judged | Reorganized | Won |
| Displayed | Justified | Reported | Worked |
| Distinguished | Keyed | Represented | Wrote |
| Distributed | Keynoted | Researched | |
| Documented | Launched | Reshaped |
Useful Phrases:
The following phrases may help you to organize your accomplishment statements for both resumes and employment correspondence. When choosing the phrase that best describes the situation, read it over once or twice in the context of your sentence to be certain that the selection is correct and that the phrase reads well.
- Acted/Functioned as ...
- Company engaged in ...
- Consistently ...
- Contracted/Subcontracted by ... to ...
- Covered assigned territory consisting of ...
- Demonstrated expertise in ...
- Ensured maximum/optimum/minimum ...
- Exceeded by ...
- Extensively involved in ...
- Extensively trained in ...
- Honored as ...
- Initially employed to / Joined organization to ...
- Interacted heavily with ...
- More than ... years’ / Extensive / Diverse experience in ...
- Newly established company / Entity engaged in ...
- Promoted from ... to ...
- Promoted to ...
- Proven track record of/in ...
- Provided technical assistance to ...
- Reported to / Reported directly to ...
- Selected as / Elected to ...
- Specialized in ...