Using powerful resume words is essential to make your resume stand out and grab a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention. According to The Ladders study, you have just 7.4 seconds to impress a recruiter when they read your resume for the first time, so using the right words is crucial.
In this blog post, we share some action words, descriptors, and measurable goals to add to your resume. We also share additional resources to help you craft the ideal resume.
39 Action words to use on a resume to help make it more impactful
Think of the verbs that describe what you did at your last job or internship. For example: “managed” or “organized.” If those words don’t come naturally to mind, try thinking about other ways of saying them (e.g., “planned,” “directed”).
Then, look for a verb that fits with them–for example, if one of your responsibilities was managing employees’ schedules and projects, then “directed” might be an appropriate choice here because it implies directing others towards achieving goals; however if another responsibility was overseeing budgets or spending limits then perhaps something like managed would work better since it’s more focused on controlling resources than directing others’ actions (although both could work depending on context). Here are some more action verbs to consider:
- Achieved
- Coordinated
- Developed
- Implemented
- Led
- Managed
- Negotiated
- Organized
- Produced
- Resolved
- Supervised
- Trained
- Analyzed
- Communicated
- Designed
- Established
- Improved
- Innovated
- Motivated
- Researched
- Streamlined
- Succeeded
- Advised
- Collaborated
- Created
- Delegated
- Executed
- Generated
- Influenced
- Mentored
- Oversaw
- Planned
- Presented
- Reorganized
- Spearheaded
- Strategized
- Targeted
- Validated
- Yielded
20 Action words in a phrase form to use on a resume
- Led and/or Managed: Led or managed a team, project, or department to achieve specific goals.
- Improved: Improved a particular process, system, or outcome measurably.
- Increased/Decreased: Increased or decreased a specific metric, such as revenue, productivity, or expenses.
- Developed/Implemented: Developed or implemented a new system, process, or product.
- Collaborated: Collaborated with team members, stakeholders, or clients to achieve a specific goal.
- Achieved/Attained: Achieved or attained a specific goal or objective within a given timeframe.
- Streamlined: Streamlined a process or system to increase efficiency or reduce waste.
- Resolved: Resolved a particular issue or conflict to improve overall outcomes.
- Trained/Mentored: Trained or mentored team members to improve their skills and knowledge.
- Innovated: Innovated or introduced new ideas, products, or processes to improve outcomes.
- Coordinated: Coordinated cross-functional teams, events, or initiatives to achieve specific goals.
- Implemented: Implemented new policies, procedures, or initiatives to improve overall outcomes.
- Negotiated: Negotiated contracts, deals, or partnerships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Researched: Conducted research or analysis to inform decision-making or improve outcomes.
- Standardized: Standardized processes, procedures, or systems to ensure consistency and quality.
- Monitored: Monitored progress, performance, or outcomes to ensure goals were being met.
- Spearheaded: Spearheaded a new project, initiative, or strategy to achieve specific goals.
- Developed: Developed new skills, processes, or systems to improve overall outcomes.
- Communicated: Communicated effectively with team members, stakeholders, or clients to achieve specific goals.
- Analyzed: Analyzed data, trends, or market conditions to make informed decision
Important Tip | Replace “strong candidate”
In addition to citing actions, you would need to use appropriate words to refer to yourself. If you find yourself using “strong candidate” repeatedly, consider substituting it for:
- Self-starterntent
- Experienced professional
- Skilled job candidate
- Accomplished individual
- Talented applicant
- Expert in [Field/Industry]
- Proven performer
- Results-driven professional
- Highly qualified candidate
- Proficient and competent candidate
- Qualified applicant
- Demonstrated achiever
- Knowledgeable applicant
- Accomplished leader
- Capable and results-oriented candidate
- Exceptional candidate
- Well-versed professional
- Resourceful and innovative job seeker
- Strong and reliable applicant
- Skilled and experienced individual
- Highly motivated and dedicated candidate
- Goal-oriented professional
- Consistent performer
- Versatile and adaptable candidate
- Detail-oriented and organized applicant
- Dynamic and proactive individual
- Reliable and committed professional
- Confident and competent job candidate
- Goal-driven and achievement-oriented applicant
Beyond the List: How to Choose the Right Word for the Right Impact
Having a list of 39 action verbs is a great start, but the secret to a standout resume is contextual precision. Not all “leadership” words are created equal. Choosing the wrong one can actually undersell your experience.
Here is how to strategically select words from your list based on the story you want to tell:
1. The “Ownership” Strategy: Spearheaded vs. Managed
If you were the person who came up with an idea and saw it through to the end, “Managed” is too weak.
- Use “Spearheaded” or “Innovated”: If you were the primary driver or the creator.
- Use “Managed” or “Oversaw”: If you were maintaining an existing process or leading a team through a routine cycle.
2. The “Efficiency” Strategy: Streamlined vs. Organized
If you made a process faster or cheaper, you need words that imply “trimming the fat.”
- Use “Streamlined” or “Reorganized”: These suggest you looked at a messy system and made it logical.
- Use “Organized” or “Coordinated”: These suggest you kept a complex situation running smoothly without necessarily changing the underlying system.
3. The “Growth” Strategy: Generated vs. Yielded
When talking about money or data, your verbs should sound like an investment.
- Use “Generated”: Best for sales, leads, or new business (bringing something in from the outside).
- Use “Yielded”: Best for investments, internal productivity, or long-term results (getting more out of what you already have).
Why the “7.4 Second Rule” Matters for Your Word Choice
As mentioned earlier, recruiters spend less than 8 seconds on their first pass. This means they are not “reading” your resume; they are keyword spotting.
To pass this test, you should place your most powerful action words in the F-Pattern:
- The Top Third: Use your “Self-Referential” terms (like Results-driven professional) in your professional summary at the very top.
- The Bullet Points: Ensure the first word of every bullet point is one of the 39 action verbs. Never start a bullet point with a date, a soft skill (like “Hardworking”), or a weak phrase (like “Responsible for”).
Words to Avoid: The “Buzzword” Trap
While you are adding strong words, you should also be removing “empty” words. Recruiters often ignore these overused terms because they lack evidence:
- Avoid: “Team Player” — Use Instead: “Collaborated with cross-functional teams to…”
- Avoid: “Hard Worker” — Use Instead: “Consistently exceeded quarterly quotas by 15%…”
- Avoid: “Detail-Oriented” — Use Instead: “Validated complex datasets to ensure 100% accuracy…”
- Avoid: “Self-Starter” — Use Instead: “Spearheaded a new initiative without prior departmental oversight…”
Pro-Tip: The “Verb-to-Job” Alignment
Before you finalize your resume, do a “Word Match” with the job description.
- Highlight the verbs used in the Job Requirements section of the posting.
- If they use the word “Coordinate” three times, make sure “Coordinated” appears at least once in your experience section.
- This doesn’t just impress the human recruiter; it helps you pass the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) filters that are looking for those exact matches.
Your Words are Your Brand
Your resume is more than a list of where you’ve worked; it is a marketing document. By replacing passive language with the 39 Action Words and 20 Phrases listed above, you transform your history from a list of “things you did” into a portfolio of “things you achieved.”
Next Steps for You:
- Pick three bullet points on your current resume.
- Swap the first verb for a “Power Word” from our list.
- Add a measurable goal (a number, %, or $) to the end of that sentence.
- Watch how much more “expensive” your experience looks!
